Prompt 3

Sam Bacurin

AP English

8/12/13

The Middle Ages

          Most of the time the Middle Ages are thought of as a dark time for science and reason, with the Church bearing down on people who taught things that weren't canon. Some brave thinkers still managed to get their opinions and teachings out despite the oppression. Air conditioning was invented during the middle ages so not all creativity was stifled. St. Augustine brought out his creativity and the creativity of others during the middle ages as well as by likening ancient philosophers Socrates and Plato to Jesus.

          This was a bold move by Augustine. Some officials in the church would see Socrates and Plato as heretics to Church teachings. Augustine wanted to get people thinking critically in a time when it wasn’t just frowned upon, it was almost illegal. Most everyone at the time knew that Jesus died for their sins, some of the peasants may not have fully understood what that meant, but they got the gist of it, that Jesus selflessly sacrificed himself for them. Earlier in the book Socrates’s martyrdom was pointed out. Socrates could have escaped imprisonment, but chose to stay to make his point that he was a philosopher and didn’t fear death. Even though his only crime was questioning those who prosecuted him, he drank hemlock and died to make his point. Socrates’ death shares many similarities with Jesus’ death. Being a miracle worker, Jesus could have escaped as well, but refused. Both of them became martyrs for their own cause and to the general masses who may not of saw death as anything more than terrifying, the sacrifice was made even more significant.

          Now that St. Augustine had successfully gotten the attention of the masses by making Socrates into a Christ-like figure it opened the door to Socrates as well as Plato’s teachings being widely accepted. Augustine made a smart decision; the Church wouldn't call someone’s teachings a heretic if at the same time they were being likened to Christ. St. Augustine’s motives were to get people thinking with reason and the teachings of Jesus. He believed that there was a place for both because it didn't have to be one or the other. Augustine’s efforts led into the Renaissance when education started to become more common place so people could appreciate both men’s teachings.