Illiad, Sagas, Mahabharata

Started by Tennessean, April 14, 2023, 02:51:49 AM

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Fuerza

Quote from: Tennessean on April 18, 2023, 12:30:36 AM
Quote from: Fuerza on April 17, 2023, 02:33:47 PMThese are mostly not religious texts. While they feature pagan mythology, they are really just stories for entertainment and teaching of natural virtues, and were never used for the promotion of pagan teachings. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid in particular are staples of a classical Catholic education. Aside from being used for centuries to teach Greek and Latin, they also serve as a main part of the source material for Dante's Divine Comedy (The Inferno is directly based on book 6 of the Aeneid, and elements of Greek mythology feature heavily in the work). Were they actually forbidden, we never would have had the greatest example of Catholic epic poetry ever written. This is not even to mention the impact that Aristotle had on Aquinas, and the fact that the Lord of the Rings is largely based on a "Catholicized" version of Norse mythology.

Mahabharata, on the other hand, is a sacred text for Hinduism, even though it does contain an epic which is also studied for secular purposes. I would be more careful with that one.
How would I be careful reading other epics from now on? Or how were the saxon monks close to the pagan times careful copying pagan legends? From reading some, like The Kings of Denmark, I got the impression they were recasting the old stories for a Christian audience. They didn't do that with Homer.

What exactly concerns you? Catholics have been reading these works for centuries. Homer's works are not religious texts, nor are the Aeneid or the sagas. Even Hesiod's Theogony, which is entirely about the Greek gods, is not a religious text. Simply containing pagan elements does not make them unsuitable for reading, and as already pointed out, the Divine Comedy is largely based on pagan sources. As a matter of fact, the majority of the great books read in traditional Catholic colleges are either based on or partially inspired by the pagan authors of Greece and Rome.

Gullskjegg

I believe the point is to not read the doctrine of other religions, their "bibles" as it were.

If you can't read historical or even old non-fiction or fictional stories from other peoples throughout history then I don't really know what to say.  I don't think it's a good idea to live blind and with your head in the sand, knowledge is a beautiful thing.

For example, my ancestors are Scandinavian, it's beneficial to me to know where I came from and how my ancestors lived and were converted.  Especially since I am being converted myself.

Tennessean

Quote from: Fuerza on April 18, 2023, 06:39:29 AM
Quote from: Tennessean on April 18, 2023, 12:30:36 AM
Quote from: Fuerza on April 17, 2023, 02:33:47 PMThese are mostly not religious texts. While they feature pagan mythology, they are really just stories for entertainment and teaching of natural virtues, and were never used for the promotion of pagan teachings. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid in particular are staples of a classical Catholic education. Aside from being used for centuries to teach Greek and Latin, they also serve as a main part of the source material for Dante's Divine Comedy (The Inferno is directly based on book 6 of the Aeneid, and elements of Greek mythology feature heavily in the work). Were they actually forbidden, we never would have had the greatest example of Catholic epic poetry ever written. This is not even to mention the impact that Aristotle had on Aquinas, and the fact that the Lord of the Rings is largely based on a "Catholicized" version of Norse mythology.

Mahabharata, on the other hand, is a sacred text for Hinduism, even though it does contain an epic which is also studied for secular purposes. I would be more careful with that one.
How would I be careful reading other epics from now on? Or how were the saxon monks close to the pagan times careful copying pagan legends? From reading some, like The Kings of Denmark, I got the impression they were recasting the old stories for a Christian audience. They didn't do that with Homer.

What exactly concerns you? Catholics have been reading these works for centuries. Homer's works are not religious texts, nor are the Aeneid or the sagas. Even Hesiod's Theogony, which is entirely about the Greek gods, is not a religious text. Simply containing pagan elements does not make them unsuitable for reading, and as already pointed out, the Divine Comedy is largely based on pagan sources. As a matter of fact, the majority of the great books read in traditional Catholic colleges are either based on or partially inspired by the pagan authors of Greece and Rome.
You said I should be more careful. I wasn't concerned, I wanted to know what you mean.

Tennessean

Quote from: Gullskjegg on April 18, 2023, 12:18:25 PMI believe the point is to not read the doctrine of other religions, their "bibles" as it were.

If you can't read historical or even old non-fiction or fictional stories from other peoples throughout history then I don't really know what to say.  I don't think it's a good idea to live blind and with your head in the sand, knowledge is a beautiful thing.

For example, my ancestors are Scandinavian, it's beneficial to me to know where I came from and how my ancestors lived and were converted.  Especially since I am being converted myself.
Welcome.

Fuerza

Quote from: Tennessean on April 18, 2023, 10:09:18 PM
Quote from: Fuerza on April 18, 2023, 06:39:29 AM
Quote from: Tennessean on April 18, 2023, 12:30:36 AM
Quote from: Fuerza on April 17, 2023, 02:33:47 PMThese are mostly not religious texts. While they feature pagan mythology, they are really just stories for entertainment and teaching of natural virtues, and were never used for the promotion of pagan teachings. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid in particular are staples of a classical Catholic education. Aside from being used for centuries to teach Greek and Latin, they also serve as a main part of the source material for Dante's Divine Comedy (The Inferno is directly based on book 6 of the Aeneid, and elements of Greek mythology feature heavily in the work). Were they actually forbidden, we never would have had the greatest example of Catholic epic poetry ever written. This is not even to mention the impact that Aristotle had on Aquinas, and the fact that the Lord of the Rings is largely based on a "Catholicized" version of Norse mythology.

Mahabharata, on the other hand, is a sacred text for Hinduism, even though it does contain an epic which is also studied for secular purposes. I would be more careful with that one.
How would I be careful reading other epics from now on? Or how were the saxon monks close to the pagan times careful copying pagan legends? From reading some, like The Kings of Denmark, I got the impression they were recasting the old stories for a Christian audience. They didn't do that with Homer.

What exactly concerns you? Catholics have been reading these works for centuries. Homer's works are not religious texts, nor are the Aeneid or the sagas. Even Hesiod's Theogony, which is entirely about the Greek gods, is not a religious text. Simply containing pagan elements does not make them unsuitable for reading, and as already pointed out, the Divine Comedy is largely based on pagan sources. As a matter of fact, the majority of the great books read in traditional Catholic colleges are either based on or partially inspired by the pagan authors of Greece and Rome.
You said I should be more careful. I wasn't concerned, I wanted to know what you mean.

I meant that the Mahabharata is actually a religious text, unlike the others, so you should be aware of that if that's something that concerns.

Tennessean

Ok. I was looking for their epic, too. I want to Romance of the 3 Kingdoms and Tales of Heiki(?) too.

My concern was simply based on a post somebody made in another thread saying we can't religious texts, but all of these epics are or were part of polytheist canon, at one point. Plenty of pagans drew spiritual significance from Homer, so I asked. I ask questions.

benedicite

Quote from: Tennessean on April 14, 2023, 02:51:49 AMIs it ok to read these? Is it ok to read books, watch movies, or play games that dip into them at all? I just read we aren't supposed to read other religious texts, so do I need to delete them or confess to having read and enjoying them? I assumed it was ok to read them, because they are not bibles, but they have guided many religions and souls on their way to hell. How puritanical do I need to be? Honestly. I don't own a protestant bible, so I guess I shouldn't own these either?
I think you should be able to read them if you can tell the difference between make believe and real life.

Tennessean