Religion is superior in understanding western civilization
...ypically involve gods and supreme beings. I believe that myths played a very integral role in Greek societies. For example, Greek poets such as Homer, author of the Illiad and the Odyssey around 750 BCE convey moral and ethical values that become the foundation for civilization. Homer presents gods as being all powerful but human. Hesoid is another Greek poet and author of the Theogony from around 700 BCE. The Theogony deals with religion of Greek gods and outlines conception of gods and the universe. Another aspect of how religion functioned in politics can be seen in Persia. Usually in history when lands were conquered a new religion came into that land and people were forced to practice all of its traditions. However, Persian kings such as Cyrus, Cambyses, and Darius won the support of the people in the land in which they conquered by permitting their subjects to practice their own native customs and religions (pp. 48). This is important because this illustrates the idea of religious tolerance. Although Jesus, in the first century CE, stressed religious tolerance, it could not be seen in societies until many years later. Jesus of Nazareth was born a Jew in Judea. During the first century CE he stressed the concept of ethics, love of god and one another, and following the golden rule, of treating others how you want to be treated. Jesus was a non-violent reformer and his teachings angered people. People claimed that he was a false Messiah. The Romans saw Jesus as a political threat of the Roman Empire because his ideas brought new ways of thinking about religion and everything in Roman society was based on religion. Therefore, Roman judges found him guilty of treason and sentenced him to death by crucification. Paul of Tarsus (5-67 CE) is responsible for transplanting Christianity from Judaism to his own religion. He believed Religion should be taught to everyone because religion is inclusive. He also believed that Jesus was a savior sent from god to save humanity. This new religion of Christianity gave men and women a chance to achieve salvation. Other religions did not offer this path of individual salvation and putting faith in just one god. Many of the followers of Christianity were put to death in order to try to stop its spread. The Roman emperor Constantine supports Christianity and in 313 CE sets forth the Edict of Milan which officially established tolerance of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Constantine also calls the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE which is a meeting of all bishops in order to decide what it means to be a Christian. Everyone did not believe the same way and as a result there is a split in the church. The east supports that Jesus is the same substance of god while the west supports Jesus is mortal but has devine powers. Constantine wanted all bishops to be equal, but the bishops wanted a more centralized church. Therefore, the bishops created patriarchs which are like leaders. The Council of Nicaea is very important because its resolutions were enunciated in the Nicene Creed and worked toward the creation of the New Testament. This convocation of bishops from all over the world was an important step in building the organized institution that would have much influence for many years. Later in 380 CE Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman Empire. Roman Empire is a good example of how religion can unify as it was made up of many different customs from different Germanic and Greco-roman tribes. Without the events of 325 CE, the Catholic Church never would have achieved the power and influence it wielded throughout medieval times. Europe during the middle ages was not so much a political empire as a spiritual empire. One example where religious power is seen as being greater than political power is in the investiture controversy. The Investiture Ceremony is a ceremony in which church officials are appointed by secular leaders. The idea of secular leaders appointing spiritual leaders was very rejected by Pope Gregory 7th. He said that the church should have the authority and if people had problems they should come to the church because spiritual power is greater than political power. Henry 4th 1056-1106 CE was the king of Germany and opponent to Pope Gregory. The king was allowed to appoint church officials but in 1075 CE, Pope Gregory took that right away. Henry 4th disregarded Gregory and appointed the Bishop of Milan. Pope Gregory then excommunicated Henry. This meant that Henry was denied all the rights of Christianity and people could not associate with him. Any feudal oaths were null and void and those who swore allegiance did not acknowledge him. Eventually he would lose his power and Henry 4th realized it. In 1077 Henry 4th in Italy begged Pope Gregory to take him back. Gregory then lifted the excommunication. The investiture controversy is important because it illustrates the Pope establishing himself as an authority figure. Leaders in history focused many of their aspirations to religion such as Charlemagne, whose goal was to create a universal Christian identity. On Christmas day 800 CE he was crowned head of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo 3rd. The pope again here is seen as an authority figure. Throughout European history, religion has both unified and divided civilizations often bringing extreme human casualty in the case of division or creating new cultures in unification. The crusades are a good example of division caused by religion. The crusades were religious wars in which the east tried to take back the holy land of Jerusalem from the Muslims. In 1095 Pope Urban 2nd calls the council of Clermont where he challenged Christians to pick up their weapons and take back t...