Christianity Essays (719 words) - God, Antigone, Civil Disobedience

Christianity And Greek Gods The Revolutionary War was an enormous part of American history. The revolution in Russia, that sparked the overthrow of communism, was a huge part of Russian history. The revolution of Christianity from the concepts of Greek gods was also a large part of religious history. Christianity and Greek gods have many comparisons, contrasts, and these contrasts resulted in Christianity being revolutionary. The concepts of Christianity and the religious concepts of the Greek gods are comparatively alike. To begin, in both religions, humans believe that there are speakers for their God/gods. Gods do not speak to mere mortals. These people are the priests who teach of the gods? ways and wants. Some are fortune tellers or prophets, as they were called in Greek times, that foretell the future. For example, Tiriesias, in the plays Oedipus the King and Antigone, was a blind prophet who could see the future and foretell it to people. In Greek times the prophets were of high social status. Also, the people believe that their God or gods are above all human ranks. They believe a god is above all and listens to people when they need help. This is why humans pray to the God/gods for forgiveness. The two religious views also believe that the God/gods are watching over their followers. The God/gods decide either before or after a person?s life on earth where the person will live in the afterlife, depending on the person?s values. Both believe one would either go to a bad place, called Hell or Hades, or a good place, called heaven or the Elysian Fields. Likewise both believe in an afterlife that is eternally chosen. The ideas of the followers of Christianity and Greek religions are also very different. To begin, Christians believe in one almighty God. This is also known as monotheism. Christians believe this God gave the world his only son. When that son was put to death by a human, He told the people He would die to forgive their sins. This shows that God and His son were both caring and forgiving beings. They are respected by the followers of Christianity. God helps humans. Humans pray to this God for help and forgiveness. People also go to church to learn about their religion and to pay their respects to God. The church is thought to be God?s house. This is why people get dressed up and try to look nice when they are guests in God?s house. God and Jesus are thought to live in heaven. Greeks, however, are very different from Christians. They believe in many gods. This is also known as polytheism. These gods are mean and torture the humans for doing wrong. In the play Antigone, the leader speaks, ?Must, King and quickly too. The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down.?1 This quote proves how quick tempered the gods are. These same gods destine a human?s fate. Fate is also determined usually by a family curse. As in Antigone, the Greek tragedy, Antigone states, ?What more do you think could Zeus require of us to load the curse that?s on the House of Oedipus2 This quote shows how Zeus, a Greek god, has determined Antigone's fate by the curse that has been placed on her family. A human?s fate is foretold and is kept by the oracles. Oedipus? oracle states that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This oracle comes true even though many people of the city of Thebes do not know that Oedipus is Jocasta and Liaus? son because they ordered their son to be put to death. People of Greek times do not attend church; they are told of their futures by prophets or by other family members. They do, however, also try to please the gods so that they are not punished. The Greek gods are thought to live above the Greek citizens on a mountain named Olympus. Christianity was considered revolutionary by many. Revolutionary is defined as: ?having the nature of, characterized by, tending toward, and causing a revolution, or drastic change.?3 Christianity was a major change in beliefs causing many to think it was wrong. The evolution of Christianity was hampered by the beliefs of the people and their familiarity with the ways of the Greeks. This was such a giant change, many did not like it. Thus, although Christianity may seem similar to the concepts of the Greek gods it has many distinct differences. These differences explain why Christianity can be considered revolutionary.