Notes

The Green Angel book – Chapter 10

The Church and Papal Development 461-1073

A centralized structure of the church was made in order to resolve exactly what the Bible said and to form a position from those conclusions. This is because even heretics use Scripture to back up their points. The bishop in Rome quickly gained the power over the other four patriarchs. Once Charlemagne came along, they were soon called archbishops. Because Rome was looked at as the Mother Church and the most important city, it was most often assumed that the bishops and ministers of Rome were more important then those of any other city. The bishops there even used Scripture to back up their position, claiming that Peter was instructed to lead everyone and he did set up the church in Rome thereby setting it as the leader church. This was the foundation of the first papacy and hence the reason why the papal throne is often referred to by the Roman Catholic Church as “the chair of St. Peter”. The barbarians invaded but stood in awe of the Roman church, soon after to convert to Christianity. Even when they destroyed the emperor in Rome, it helped the church there by removing any power that might stand in its way. The Roman church sent out missionaries, which helped secure the held position of a higher and more important church. It seemed that every act was meant for the furtherment of the church in Rome. No matter how disastrous or devastating, everything strengthened and brought more power to the church there. There were several false documents that mysteriously emerged that appeared to be by deceased emperors or rulers stating that the Roman Church was to be the ultimate power. Nicholas I believed that all the bishops were under the pop and so making the pope the ultimate ruler of the entire church. He also believed that the church was superior to all earthly things.

Notes for Christendom

Duty - it was their duty to live up to the code of chivalry, also known as the code of honor. Nowadays, we are much more focused upon feelings. You feel this way and so I will act this way as opposed to it is my duty to do this for you. Duty works into every area of your life.

REFORMATION

Family:
They had a genuine respect for women even in their pagan world. The culture is shaped by how they treated the women. This then weaves itself into their daily habits.

Church:
There was a revival for nightly vigils, prayers, fasting, and all-night vigils. These were brought to life again making the church the foundation of the community once again.

Kingdom:
The relations within the civil realm were strengthened. They found their individual Biblical identity. They had common culture, tastes, and values...but each with distinct. This is called Regionalism. There are different communities, each unique, but rooted on the same point: Christianity.

Education:
Discipleship - rigorous training. They were taught to learn discernment, how to know yourself, but most importantly how to actually think. They taught them not only the daily lessons of life and knowledge, but also how to think critically.

Literature:
This kind of a culture is where we get the chivalric stories, and the "buddy" stories. They are expanding your thoughts with romanticism. It was a culture filled with heroics, damsels in distress and chivalry. Novels are very powerful. They easily fill your head with theology whether good or bad without you even realizing it.

Lesson 12 - Feudalism: Rooted in Accountability

Within this time period there was hierarchy which made everyone accountable to the person above or below you.

Emperors expected collected taxes and if they did they could get x, y, or z. There is an over-arching covering of accountability. There was attempted covenantalism. Being responsible for someone is part of the 5th commandment. Honoring your father and mother also means honoring and respecting as well as being accountable to those above you or in authority over you. At the same time, you are in authority to or above someone else making you accountable for them as well.

Feudalism is aimed at covenantal community stacked like intertwined blocks. It wants to connect cultures together with strength and stability, always being rooted in Christianity. The good and true communities will be very obvious, their actions mean something. Think about the code: they did their actions with honesty and duty was thoroughly ingrained in the medieval and feudal mindset. If you had the choice to deal with an honest business man or just any business one, you would be more inclined to trust the honest one. This would lead to a flowering of the honest, accountable, and Christian culture.

In 476, the Goths sacked Rome under the commander Odoacer who then pledged loyalty to Zeno, the Eastern Roman emperor. Neither of the two men thought that Rome fell at that time. They firmly believed that it remained strong and grounded after they sacked it. They saw the beginnings of a new form; a base of unity within diversity. They all had a common faith, heritage, and destiny. After this, they made a confederated republic. Feudalism, no matter how great in accountability and no matter how new a social order, it still had flaws. We are still fallen and every social order, every culture will always have weaknesses.

Argumentation for this week

Consider your alternatives - show how your idea is better than any other one out there. Look to see if there is a better way to do something. Everyone is out to find the best solution.

Argumentation Essays:
Launch right into your point. Don't waste words and don't state the obvious.
Contract your words as much as possible.
Hit your point home. Tell them time and time again but don't make yourself repetitive.
Make a definite proposal or claim. "Something needs to be done".
Be as simple as you can. State it clearly but simply. Make it clear if you're not addressing the whole problem, but rather just the matter at hand.
But most importantly is lucid brevity. Make it short and easy to comprehend. This can't be stressed enough. Don't beat around the bush, but get right to the matter.

Christendom notes

Song of Roland - a song of chivalry and honor. Within this story, we see poetic justice. Everybody gets what they deserve. In this story, we also see Trial by combat. This was not at all uncommon back then. Another thing we see is Trial by ordeal. There must be some kind of trial going on. We see a lot of similarities from Song of Roland also going on in Lord of the Rings. Good qualities going on are bravery, courage, honor, and sacrifice. Some bad qualities are deceit, treason, and a type of Wormtongue. Weaving yourself in and filling everyone's heads with lies, or fancy talk.

Manners are thought to make you look sophisticated, suave, and well-bred. Rather, the origin of manners is to honor women as a sign of respect.

If a man besmirches a lady's virtue, it was proper cause for a duel to take place. He deserved a bullet to his chest. Men were called to be gentlemen. The Bible set up this kind of thought: honor, respect, and virtue.

Just war - you avoid the civilization, crops, orchards, women, children etc. Is there such a thing as true and just revenge? All wars must be rooted in justice. There is no other reason which justifies it.

A squire is under a warrior. He might own a cottage, garden, and a little land. He would watch the battles and would fit the warrior with his armor.

The title of a knight is normally passed on by birthright. A bachelor knight was one who build from the ground up. He began as a page, but eventually became a knight. This would be a knight of true virtue who really earned his title. A Banneret is a page who is is knighted in the midst of battle when he proves his mettle in the thick of the battlefield.

Courtly love was platonic and sisterly. It was not romantic as we often assume.

The men back then had the strong conviction to defend their families and their land. They eventually formed the Knights Templar. From this, they developed a code of chivalry.

1) Your word was your bond - Trustworthy
2) Truth is fleshed out in the bonds that are never violated - Loyal
3) Always seeking ways to help others - Helpful
4) Seeking others out to bless them. The person who notices, sees, and acts - Friendly
5) To enter into community fully, respecting those in it. Gentlemanly or ladylike - Courteous
6) Friendly, but with justice and mercy; chivalric, showing the mercy of God - Kind
7) To take one thing and understand it in another perspective; refer; understood in terms of relationships; Walking together in harmony; submitted and responsible to someone at all times - Obedient
8) Be rooted in joyous contentment finding your place in the world and doing what you love to do - Cheerful
9) Being an excellent steward and living within your means and going with what you've got - Thrifty
10) Strengthening of the soul and bravery in the face of adversity - Brave
11) Application of grace to the body, soul, mouth etc. "O God, give me a clean heart" - Clean
12) The Lord's righteousness is pure, holy, and beautiful - Reverence

This whole code is completely based upon covenant and community. This is what brings people together.

T - Transcendence - ultimate
H - Hierarchy - obligated to transcendence
E - Ethics - a covenantal code
O - Oaths - promises made, promises kept
S - Succession - means by which covenant is passed on

Book notes

Chapter 8

The East was struck hard by invading Germanic tribes. It took a long time for them to recover. Mohammed arose from Arabia in the city of Mecca. He believed that there was one god, Allah, and that he was his chief prophet. Visions from Allah were from Mohammed's mouth and were to be written down as the Koran. However, he was not very well liked and so had to flee for his life to Medina. There, he was received warmly and gained many converts. Even after Mohammed died, his influence continued and the religion grew. The band of Muslims became a fighting band and so swept across Arabia, Persia, India, Asia Minor, tried to take Constaninople twice, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Gibraltar, Spain, Pyrenees, and Gaul. The emblem of Islam is the crescent moon. It appeared that the Muslims might entirely take over Europe. The Franks now came forward at Europe's most needed hour. Charles, the leader of the Franks called to every Frankish man to answer the call of duty. To fight for Christianity. This was called the Battle of Tours. Here, the Franks defeated the Arabs who retreated in Spain. Charles was now known as Charles Martel, or Charles the Hammer. Many Christian countries were now Muslim. This was a great loss to Christianity.

History of Christendom notes - 1/12

Charlemagne -

He fought 31 wars with the barbarians, 21 against the Muslims, and 10 against other rivals in the Frankish realm, all within a matter of a few years. He organized the Old Latin law, the Salic law, the Gothic law, and the Byzantium Law and made it all into a new law order. This is characteristic of a Christian kingdom. Christians must be separate and distinct among a world full of chaos (or even calm). We must look different. This means a different law, a different culture, a different overall. Parliament means to speak into the law or government.

He made it to where churches were very easily accessible. Churches were built everywhere with strong and solid pastors. He also made it to where the church now spoke in the Venacular language. Another thing that was introduced was the fame of homilarium. Charlemagne united the people religiously and so politically as well. Another thing he added were parishes.

Alcuin was someone who was greatly influenced by Charlemagne. He established parishes and schools call the Scriptoriums along with independent academies (some of which were residential).

Charlemagne advanced many churches and palaces, the education and arts, agriculture, trading and manufacturing, commercial redevelopment, communication, and transportation. By doing this, he was creating a strong, Christian culture, while becoming very powerful and even invincible.

The Muslims:

They had three holy cities: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Mecca was, however, the most holy. Muhammad would wander around Mecca seeking "wisdom and truth". He would "speak" to djinn (ghosts). In fact, the idea of Allah came from this other idea of ghosts. This is where he first originated.

At age 40, Muhammad had a sudden revelation. There was not multiple gods, but rather one god. Every religion was a part of the real religion and god. Muhammad spread out and gained followers.

In 622, there was an attempt on his life, but he did escape. At this point, he was exiled. This began his Hijra pilgrimage where he traveled to Medina. He dictated the Qur'an and a motivation for his followers to become a fighting band. In 630, they marched back for a conquest and cleansing fo the city for whoever wouldn't adapt to their belief. He established Allah and himself there. At this point, he was 60 years old. In 632, he died under "mysterious" circumstances. It is rumored that he married his cousin's daughter, although I found no evidence of this, I did find a young girl he married, Aisha, who became one of his wives at around age 8. Abu Baker, her father, was appointed Muhammad's successor and survived for 2 years before he too died under "mysterious" circumstances as well.In 634, Umar took over leading the religion. He had a fierce fighting force. the Byzantines moved out of Arabia and began fighting the Muslims. Umar began his great conquests but died rather quickly. Uthman also moved the group on even more, but also died rather suddenly. I sense a pattern.

At about this time, there began a succession of civil wars. The Shi'as and Sunnis were at wars with each other. They had each been pitted against the other. This is a religion that is filled with murders, assassinations, rebellions, and so forth. What does this tell you about the religion?

5 Tenets:
1) Allah - impersonal judge of the universe
2) Muhammad - ultimate prophet (though there was to be another prophet to come)
3) The truth revealed from Muhammad is the Qur'an
4) All believers are the Unma. They are saved by works which are judged by Allah. (Man is good and is saved by works)
5) Ji'had - the Holy War and the internal, fleshly struggle.

5 Pillars:
1) Shaha'dah - profession of faith. Allah is good and Muhammad is his prophet.
2) Sa'lat - prayers to Mecca
3) Za'kat - alms for the poor
4) Saw'm - fasting during the Ramadan season
5) Hajj - in their lifetime, every Muslim has to travel to Mecca.

There was conflicts between the Western liturgy. Dante, Shakespeare, Scott, Bunyan, Buchan, Milton, Chaucer, Cervantes.

The song of Roland - it is fiction and more inaccurate then most history books. It had great oral tradition, however. Fiction can be truer then fact. It's not being historical, but more moral.

Chansons de Gest - a culture with memory and cohesion which led to a code of chivalry.

Argumentation 1/12/11

Argumentation:

You write an observation and then make it into a specific argument. You should probably try to have 3-5 different premises and then back them up. You think of your issue, and then work it out into an argument that has simple and easy steps. Make sure your mind is very organized and ordered. Don't be sloppy, but rather be prepared to connect the dots and back up what you believe and argue. Structure your mind.

There is not always the connection that people immediately assume. More times then not, it cannot be proven and is irrelevant to the real subject at hand. So pound out the matters, and see the reasons and motives that really matter.

Good thoughts...

January 1 – God has a master plan for your life, and that plan does not change. It is a plan designed specifically for you. It is a plan that God intends for you to live out fully, beginning at the moment of your birth and continuing until the moment of your death. God’s plan for you has a purpose, a blueprint for your particular life, a character-development plan, a communication plan, a call to service, a guidance plan, and a blessing plan….Your destiny is to be the person God has created you to be.

John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

January 2 – God is involved with you every moment of your life. You cannot shut Him out or turn Him away. There is not a single moment or situation with which He is unfamiliar or uninvolved. He cares about every thing that you care about. God is concerned with the things that we worry or are nervous about. He cares about our feelings and our problems.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him

January 3 – We must choose to pursue wisdom. It’s up to each of us to determine how we will walk through this life. Wisdom…must be sought out and pursued. The person who walks in wisdom is very aware of his life, how he affects the world, and how the world affects him. He recognizes that every person faces three enemies in life: the world system, the flesh, and the devil. He seeks to know God’s plan and purpose – not only for his personal life but also for every situation involving other people around him.

Ephesians 5:17 Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

January 4 - God’s peace is not an escape from reality. We are not transfixed or somehow mentally “removed” from feeling pain or struggling….Rather, peace is an undergirding rock-solid foundation so that no matter the tears we cry or the sorrow we feel, deep down inside we know with an abiding assurance that God is with us. God is in control, and the joy of the Lord is going to emerge far greater than any depth of agony we may be experiencing.

1 John 4:4 He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

January 5 – If there ever was a group who should have been able to live a consistent Christian life by just doing their best, it was the apostles. Think of all their advantages. They had been trained by the Master. They had seen lame men walk, blind men see, and the dead rise….They had even performed miracles themselves!...Yet in their last encounter with the Savior, He let them know that they were still missing something….They would need more than their human spirit to carry them….They needed the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

January 6 – Be quick to serve others. In giving, you will receive. There’s an old but try phrase, “To make a friend, be a friend.” To give acceptance to others is to receive acceptance. To widen your circle of friend to include others is to be included in the broader circles of their lives. Jesus taught, “Give, and it will be given to you.” When you give to others a sense of belonging, you feel a greater sense of belonging.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you.

January 7 - Paul defined the Lord’s work as “whatever you do.” Because we are servants of God, everything we do is considered part of that service. God makes no distinction between what is spiritual and what is secular….All of us who know the Lord – homemakers, bankers, mechanics, assembly line workers, construction workers – are involved in God’s work….It takes just as much dependency on the Holy Spirit to do any of these jobs well as it does to preach a sermon or sing in the choir. In some cases, it takes much more.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

January 8 – In Christ, we are made ready, we are equipped, for any crisis or circumstance that may come….The children of Israel wandered in a wilderness, but their shoes didn’t wear out, even though they wandered there for forty years. When the children of Israel needed water, God supplied it. When they needed food, He sent manna….When they were surrounded by enemies, He delivered them. His means were sovereign and supernatural, and His provision was complete and sure. We can trust the Lord to do the same for us.

Colossians 2:10 You are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The Greek word for peace means to “bind together” something that has been broken or disjointed. I think this is a superb illustration for how alienated men and women – so often feeling empty and disconnected from each other and God – can find a way to unity and wholeness. God’s peace comes to them when they are united by faith with God. This Greek word also refers to a prevailing sense of quietness and rest in a person’s heart and emotions….Peace is synonymous with being tranquil, serene, untroubled, and calm.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.