God, Freedom, & human Dignity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

God, Freedom, & human Dignity - Essay Example The author Highfield starts with depicting the modern conceptions about relationship. In previous ages, the relationships would be natural or socially given. We could not be free from the social web and from the relationship imposed on us by the society. Highfield calls this understanding of self as â€Å"me – centred† This identity is not selfish or narcissistic but it is based on self desire and not on identity conferring relationship. Chapter 1 of the part one is based on the work of moral philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle In ancient culture, the identity of the person would be decided in a moral space, where respect, fullness and dignity were recognized by the external things such as the person’s family status, war and the glory he had achieved. Earlier Plato and later Augustine and Hippo put forward the theory of inwardness. Augustine gave importance to the purity of heart. Unlike the previous philosophers, Galileo saw the world as a machine, a dead matt er. Rene Descartes, the French philosophers accepted the same view of Galileo, though he was not completely atheist. There were slight differences between both of these experts’ philosophy. Unlike the teleological views of Plato and Aristotle, another philosopher, John Locke was anti-teleological. He opined that human nature seeks only pleasure and avoid any pains. For Plato wisdom is more important than military glory and honour. Christianity strongly supports the idealness of life only through the complete dedication and commitment towards God. The medieval Christian thought that the path towards God can be found only by renouncing worldly pleasure. Sixteen century Protestant Reformation movement on the other hand aimed at breaking down the medieval spiritual hierarchy. They were of the view that salvation came by faith alone and not by self-negating works. The devotees do not need any mediator between him and God. While discussing the principles of Deism the author makes i t clear that Deism believes in the existence of God, though they reject all religious books and dogma and demagogy and believe that God has given human being an ability of reasoning. Hence following the rules of the nature is the only way to believe in God. Happiness and sorrow are the two paradoxical sides of the same coin. The happiness and grief are subjective and circumstantial. He tells different views of the people about God. Some feel that God is hostile towards humanity. Some are doubtful about His existence. Some consider God as their arch-enemy. The second chapter mainly throws the light of the characters who are challenging the omnipotent divine power i.e. God. Among them are Prometheus and Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost. Many of the literary experts have glorified Prometheus as he challenged God fearlessly. Many think that God is a threat to their freedom and dignity. Chapter three argues the two concepts, i.e. deviance and subservience. God is omnipotent. The wr iter informs the reader about the influence of God on the primitive man when man used to get afraid of the natural calamities and he realised that there is a supreme power controlling the universe and the same power is the creator of human being also. To please this power for the sake of a secure and comfortable life, man started worshiping the power and the power is God. Since the time of creation, man has been worshiping God to attain something and to accomplish his desires. But no one worshiped Him for love. The writer confesses that he would be jealous to God