We had the martyr Boethius. This dude got imprisoned for his non-Christian beliefs. He could have sacrificed his dignity, pretended to take on the Christian belief structure, and gotten one of those fabled Get-outta-jail-free cards...but did he? No.
Our factual question:
What was the book Boethius wrote titled?
A. Consolation of Philosophy
B. Consolations of Philosophy
C. Pickles and Philosophy
(Answer: A!)
Our discussion questions:
1. Would you have done the same as Boethius?
My answer? Heck naw! I would have sacrificed my pride and pretended to be a good little Christian. So what if they think I believe what they do? I would still have my own thoughts AND my life. I could leave the country, have a family, and keep on keepin' on. Dignity is only useful if you actually care what other people think about you. And what kind of a person would you be if you based your own self image off of what those around you think? I don't think the answer is "awesome human being".
2. What gives Christians the right to expect full tolerance of their religion, yet persecute ALL who deny it?
This one is tricky. We are always told about how Christians were persecuted first...but I'm a little baffled as to when and by whom and how much. I do not doubt that there are many cases (outside of Jesus) of Christian persecution...but Hypatia and Boethius were around the same era of the birth of Christianity. So, just how much persecution went down before Christian radicals started flaying people alive and imprisoning them for their beliefs? Furthermore, what of the next centuries where Christians continue to persecute EVERYONE but their fellow believers? What exactly did free thinkers do to deserve all of that violence? Other than think peacefully to themselves. Even Jesus' martyrdom was, according to the new religion, planned out by God and Jesus to help save humanity from their sins, right? So, we can't even count that as persecution of a Christian, being that it was supposed to happen for all of us to be saved...So...Where on earth is the equality here? Why do we HAVE to believe in their religion, regardless of right and wrong, and they get to set fire to anyone otherwise? Yet, we can't talk about opposing beliefs, or WE'RE the ones who aren't tolerant of their beliefs....Say whaaaat?
I know I was a little repetitive, but this requires it. It is completely illogical to expect everyone around you to completely accept your belief structure, not ask any questions, and leave you alone when you preach about it being the only truth, but if they say anything contradictory to your beliefs, SET THEM ABLAZE!! Silliness, folks, pure silliness.
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