Both Silence and The Mission revolve around pushing Christianity on civilizations known for their violence in hope of making them civilized. Father Christovao Ferreira from Silence and Cardinal Altamirano from The Mission are the one at the highest level of authority in the Christian Church in the stories. They were the role model that Father Rodrigues and Father looked up to and even they had to re-evaluate their relationship with the status quo of their beliefs and made decisions that greatly affected how the fate of their missions was decided. This essay will analyze why and how both father Ferreira and Cardinal Altamirano followed a similar path in destroying the missions in their stories. Father Ferreira and Cardinal Altamirano are authoritative figures that represent the foundation of …show more content…
It is still extreme up to this day. With Isis, the Iraq war, and Trump wanting to deport all Muslims, it is clear that this issue will not be going anywhere soon. Father Ferreira and Cardinal Altamirano are interesting in that they are the type of people that makes up of today’s society in the United States. Ferreira and Altamirano represent working people, everyday commuters that might witness religious intolerance or bullying but won’t do anything about it. They represent the people that will either continue on to their daily task or conform to the law or people that will actually join in with the ridiculing because they are too scared to stand up against by themselves. It is not because they are bad people, it is because they have knowledge past experiences to have know that they themselves will not be able to change anything and it is more effective to just conform to the norm. However, it was these two character’s job to fight against what the status quo is in their respected stories. The outcome of the missions was based on their hands solely. They both wiped out the chances of future missions being
One of the most interesting aspects of Diaz’s narrative is towards the end when Cortés broaches the subject of Christianity with Montezuma. Conversion and missionary work was one of the most important and lasting goals of the conquistadors and other contemporary explorers, they were charged with this duty by the rulers who sent t...
When first reading about the directions for this essay, I was curious on what you, Dr. Ehman, meant by the question: Was Saint Manuel a saint or a charlatan? The descriptors were obviously opposite of each other and I thought to myself.. is it possible for someone to be both? Like most, when I first began to read the story by Manuel de Unamuno, I immediately considered the priest, Don Manuel, to be a saint. In fact, from what I read I considered him to be the definition of a saint and wondered if later in the story a connection to God (other than his appointment as a priest) would be discussed. I even thought it was silly to ask this question because it was obvious that he was a saint and as we can see the title of saint was evident in his name. Regardless, I could not help but to think that somewhere in the story lied a twist. After Lazaro appeared I knew a secret about the great priest himself was sure to happen and after reading the story I realized that there indeed seemed to be a dilemma: Was Don Manuel a saint or a charlatan? With great thinking I believe he was both.
Rodriguez makes a point of stating that there are tensions between the “brother religions”, religions that should be unified but instead are “united and divided by the masculine sense of faith”, still this same pattern is shown within the church (146). Rodriguez acknowledges the fact that the church is being divided each day due
The study of religion is often a rigorous process because the central tenets of the subject: image, ritual, and myth are often copious in their complexity. For example, consider the multiple meanings that are inherent in the image of a crucifix. Some Christians might view it as an image of suffering, whilst others would reject that notion and instead perceive it to be one of love. These differences may seem inconsequential at first, but they can overtime shape the beliefs of an individual and by extension a community. To understand this dynamic better one only has to analyze the Christo Aparecido (Christ Appeared), an authentic Mexican crucifix with a fascinating history from the colonial era to the present. This history is made known by the text, Biography of a Mexican Crucifix: Lived Religion and Local Faith from the Conquest to the Present by Jennifer Hughes, from which I contend that over the life of the Christo Aparecido there continues to be an understanding among devotees that this crucifix is sacred because it displays animus while being a vestige for the sacred to occupy. To support my position I will attempt to relate the moments where the Christo Aparecido is said to show signs of life, in particular his stay in Mexico City during the colonial era and his role in more modern times with rival groups clashing over its efficacy in the village of Totolapan.
Chapter one, ‘Beginnings at Assisi,’ offers a vivid description of the social, political, economic, cultural, demographic description of Assisi and its inhabitants. Here, the author describes the life of Francis and the situations and circumstances prompting his journey to spread the ideal gospel life to the world. This chapter is relevant in determining the circumstances that instigated a need for reforms in the Catholic Church. This chapter is applicable in my life because it offers insight on the fundamental Christian I can rely on in my daily life.
St. Francis of Assisi was born in Umbria in the year 1182. He was a child every father hoped for, he was filled with life, a determined and courageous individual. He was gifted with rather good looks, qualities that attracted friends and a gift of leadership. His father was an extremely wealthy merchant in Assisi. But this son, his favourite, was the one who broke Peter Bernardone’s heart. The boy turned on his father, and in a vicious event that eventually resulted into a public scene. St. Francis of Assisi stepped away from his father, his business and left his father in a state of immense emotional suffering.
The Roman Catholic Church was trying to find a way to have the communities be part of the church through attending services once a week. During this time of French history, going against the Roman Catholic Church could have lead to imprisonment or even death. But, it shows just how one woman was able to take Miguel De Molino ideas and translate them into her own life. Through her book, one is able to practice Quietism, as the Spanish theologian had wanted other people to practice. A Short and Easy Method of Prayer also shows how ideas spread further and wider at the turn of the
Silence is the story of a search for God's presence and voice in the midst of persecution, betrayal and doubt that seemed overshadowed by God's silence. It tells a story of Christian perseverance in the face of terrible danger, a story that continues to unfold today. Through the character of Father Sebastian Rodrigues and the story of Silence, Endo also explores the viability and relevance of Christianity in Japan. Was the Catholic mission to Japan doomed from the start? Was reforming the notion of God necessary for the Gospel to flourish in the Japanese context? From the way Endo crafted the book, it is clear that he does not believe Christianity was doomed in Japan. He does not seem to suggest that reforming the idea of God would have made it easier for Christianity to grow in peace.
Silence: the absence of any sound or noise. The act of being silent or quiet is something that happens everyday, and as a result, often possesses no significance. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston addresses that silence can have a purpose through the main character Janie. Janie, a woman struggling to find and express herself, is often silenced along her journey towards self-revelation. Silence is often an obstacle of hers, yet at the same time it allows time to take in the situation and analyze. Noise can be a distraction or a wall covering a bigger problem. Being quiet allows the true issue to show in its rawest form. Silence, although physically insignificant, can take deeper meaning. Zora Neale Hurston silences Janie to varying degrees to expose male dominance, emphasize conscious thought, and express the lack of a listener.
A true spiritual leader follows the example of God. In the allegory, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Parris’ actions prove that ordination does not necessarily mean sound spiritual leadership. Miller uses the backdrop of the 1692 witch hunts to criticize the flawed society of Puritanism. The play is also a critique of McCarthyism in the United States of America which occurred in the 1950’s. Goody Proctor, a simple farmer’s wife, is the moral centre for John and becomes the voice of his salvation. Elizabeth’s honesty is compromised when she gives it up in an attempt to save her husband. Elizabeth’s
In the movie The Mission, even though Cardinal Altamirano deeply regrets destroying the missions to the Indians, he believes it is the right thing to do. Altamirano is a wise man and tries his best to remain just. He makes a difficult decision that helps the Portuguese create the boundaries of Central America, and he is filled with sorrow at the knowledge that his influence and decisions will result in many deaths. The cardinal is not only misunderstood by the Jesuits, he is also easily overlooked. He is also quite worldly, as he is bathed in riches, he has his own personal servants, and all his decisions are fuelled by greed. He is not the film’s main character, but he is the character who stands out the most to me. He makes difficult decisions and has to carry that burden with him. Altamirano is not someone we should strive to be like, but I believe we should strive to analyze situations as thoroughly as he does. Cardinal Altamirano is a conscientious man, he is also worldly, and he is very tenacious.
The Story of Christianity is a very informative summation; a continuation of Volume 1 which covered the beginning of the church up to the Protestant Reformation, while Vol. 2 dealt with the Protestant Reformation up to more modern time period. This author delivers a more comprehensive and deeper look into the development of Christianity, which includes particular events which had transpired throughout the world; particularly how Christianity has expanded into Central and South America. Gonzalez opens up this book with the “Call for Reformation,” where he shares with his readers the need for reform; the papacy had started to decline and was corrupt, in addition to the Great Schism, which had further weakened the papacy (p.8). The author explains how the church was not the only issue but that the church’s teachings were off track as well, seeing that the people had deviated from...
In my opinion Christian and secular leadership vary greatly. Although they share the same basic principles of what a leader should be, Christian leaders take leadership a step further. First off, Christian leaders are called to lead by Him. This means He has chosen these individuals as His people to take on the responsibility of leading in a Christian manner. Christian leaders lead in a way that exemplifies Christ. They are caring, passionate, and invested in the organization in a way that differs from a secular leader. Some companies or organizations treat there employees poorly and only value them for what they can do for the company. On the other hand an organization lead by a Christian cares about the individual
Francis of Assisi lived about eight hundred years ago. He was born in the city of Assisi, Italy, in 1182. He was the son of Piero of Bernadone, who was a wealthy merchant. He received a education and seemed to follow his father's footsteps as a wealthy merchant. In 1201 he took part in an attack on Perugia, was taken hostage, and remained a captive there for a year. After his release, Francis joined the army but couldn't complete his time because he got sick. This period of time would change his life forever. During his sickness, Francis would spend hours meditating on the Lord in an old church, and he felt God drawing near to him. Some people come to Jesus with a memorable experience, but others come to Christ through a process. Francis' conversion wasn't an overnight experience, but it was definitely real.
Saint Francis of Assisi was a uniquely spiritual man who gave up a life of wealth and position to lead a life of poverty in accordance and service to God. Embracing a life according to the Gospels, Francis went on to establish a Monastic Order, known as the Franciscans. In the midst of the political climate within the religious community of Italy, Francis emerged a champion for the poor and sick, with humility and no regard for himself. Francis exhibited his love for God through his love and admiration for all of God's creation including nature. The principles of Saint Francis are as relevant today as they were in thirteenth century Italy; service and love to all of God’s creation.