The author proposes the exploration of formless and undetermined ideas to seek truth, submitting them to the judgments of others. The author expresses his commitment to the authority and teachings of the Catholic Church, despite his inclination to question and criticize certain aspects. The author advocates for the frequent use of the Lord’s Prayer in various daily activities, believing it encompasses all necessary requests.
The author reflects on the tendency of people to call upon God’s help without considering the justness of their cause, emphasizing the importance of having a clean soul when praying. The author references Plato’s beliefs about harmful misconceptions regarding the gods and highlights the inseparability of God’s justice and power.
The author criticizes those who engage in hypocritical religious practices, emphasizing the need for genuine change and reformation in one’s actions. The author questions the morality of individuals who mix acts of love and loyalty with a life of cruelty and evilness. The author criticizes the superficiality of praying out loud without true devotion and the inconsistency between religious acts and immoral behavior. The author marvels at the ability of individuals to maintain a sense of righteousness while engaging in both good and evil actions.
The essay discusses the dilemma of a man who is constantly burdened by his awareness of his sins and feels unworthy to speak to God. It questions the sincerity of those who base their lives on material gain and seek to pay for their sins. The essay criticizes the acceptance of trades and jobs that have evil and violent qualities.
It mentions a person who practices a religion opposite to what he truly believes in order to maintain his reputation and employment. The essay raises the question of how men can justify their actions in the face of divine justice. It suggests that those who seek temporary relief without true repentance are in the same condition as those who base their lives on material gain.
The essay discusses the phenomenon of people criticizing others’ religious beliefs and assuming that everyone shares their own beliefs. It mentions the author’s resistance to temptation in his youth due to the dangers and uncertainties associated with it. The essay argues against the disrespectful use of religious songs and the casual handling of holy books.
It emphasizes the need for reverence and respect when engaging with religious texts and beliefs. The essay criticizes the translation of religious texts into common language, suggesting that it leads to a loss of understanding and a greater risk of misinterpretation. It compares the approach of other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, in preserving the original language of their sacred texts.
The Greek history expert criticizes the fact that the secrets of the Christian religion have been made accessible to everyone, leading to disrespect and ruin by the general public. The expert compares this to how non-Jewish people forbade smart individuals like Socrates and Plato from discussing the secrets of the priests of Delphi.
The expert argues that discussions and arguments about religious matters should be avoided, and people should adhere to the established formulas of faith. The essay mentions an isle called Dioscorides, where the residents are devout Christians who follow strict religious practices and have simple lives.
The essay highlights the simplicity and loyalty of these people, contrasting it with the limited knowledge of idol-worshipping Pagans. The essay includes a quote from the beginning of Euripides’ “Menalippus” and discusses the importance of maintaining a distinction between human thinking and religious beliefs. The essay suggests that discussions about religion should be reserved for public professors of religion and should be approached with utmost respect and loyalty.
Xenophon suggests that we should rarely call upon God unless we can achieve a state of calmness, patience, and loving loyalty. Otherwise, our prayers are not only useless but also evil and violent. People often call upon God for help in their selfish and unnecessary pursuits, such as protecting their riches, seeking victory, or aiding in their evil designs.
Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, tells a story of a prince who, despite engaging in immoral behavior, always kneels down to pray when passing through a church. The true intentions behind his prayers are left for others to judge. A genuine prayer and religious devotion to God cannot exist in an impure soul under the influence of Satan. Calling upon God’s help while engaging in wrongdoing is akin to a thief seeking a judge’s assistance or using God’s name to certify a lie.
Few people dare to make their prayers public, but the Pythagoreans believed in making prayers public to prevent indecent or unfair requests. The gods punished Oedipus for his evil prayers by granting them, leading to his downfall. We should not pray for everything to go our way, but rather with caution and intelligence.
The author suggests that prayers are often used as a form of language, similar to how experts use holy words for sorceries and magical operations. The benefit one expect to receive from prayers is believed to depend on the arrangement, sound, and rhythm of the words, as well as the seriousness of our facial expressions.
The author criticizes the act of presenting prayers to God without genuine remorse for past sins or seeking reconciliation. The author emphasizes the ease, sweetness, and goodness of the divine law, which invites even guilty and terrible individuals to seek forgiveness.
However, in return for this forgiveness, one is expected to view the divine law with respect, receive pardon with gratitude and submission, and be fully aware of the sins we have committed. The author quotes Plato, stating that neither the gods nor good men will accept offerings from evil individuals. A reference is made to a quote by Horace, suggesting that a simple offering can appease the offended gods more effectively than expensive sacrifices.
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