Divine Comedy †Pagans in Paradise Essay -- Divine Comedy

augur Comedy Pagans in ParadiseIn the beginning when God created humanity, it was utter that He created all humans in His image of goodness (Genesis 127). Dante then adds in his Divine Comedy that God has instilled a real predetermined capacity of goodness in each human beingness as He wills, which should be utilized fully during life (Paradise 384). It would then be assumed, in Dantean thought, that all humans progress to the extract to live fully to this capacity and assume a mastermind in heaven upon death, to fail to utilize this capacity and suffer in Hell for eternity, or to sin and seek repentance at several(prenominal) point in their lives, allowing them to enter Purgatory. Yet, this statement seems to take a crap certain restrictions when we showtime look at Dantes Divine Comedy. Dantes Inferno shows staring(a) pagans in the first circle of Hell and has the reader believe that ace must be a deliverymanian to enter Heaven, or Purgatory. As the reader continues i nto Paradise, he discovers that there atomic number 18 indeed some pagans who have risen to Heaven, but only because they were allowed the mercy to be baptized after(prenominal) death. This idea seems unjust to those who have lived sinless lives without being given the choice to embrace Christ. It is understood that direct refusal of Christianity would result in an eternity in Hell, but for those sinless and impeccable people who lived before Christ or beyond the reaches of Christian teachings, it seems absurd to deny them entrance into Heaven. With careful tryout of the Divine Comedy, it can be understood that the actual act of baptism and the comprehend of Jesus Christ symbolize the ideas and significance each act represents and are not intended for the reader to take these acts for their literal meanings. The presence ... ...l salvation.throughout the entire work of Dantes Divine Comedy, pagans play an integral role. Pagans are present in each of the three parts of Dantes time to come and a pagan is even chosen to be Dantes guide. The prevalence of these individuals suggests the idea that God loves all people and rewards those who have embraced the ideas and morals of the Christian religion and lived virtuously and without sin. Dantes Divine Comedy provides enough home to form the argument that one does not necessarily have to be Christian to enter Heaven, but only needs to embrace the ideals that Christ and baptism represent. Also, through using Emperor Trajan as an example of a virtuous pagans successful entrance to Heaven, it is seen that possession of these ideals along with the law of humility is what allowed certain pagans into Paradise and excluded others for eternity.