Doctrine Erasmus is an example of so-called humanism beyond the Alps.Many believe that the term "Renaissance" can be attributed to Northern Europe only with a high degree of conditionality.In any case, this area was not very similar to the Italian Renaissance.Humanists Northern Europe is not so much trying to revive the traditions of antiquity, but to understand the essence of Christianity.Most of the free time they have not worked through Plato and Aristotle, but the Bible.Therefore, "beyond the Alps Renaissance" A characteristic feature of another phenomenon - the Reformation.But the majority of the representatives of the Northern Renaissance (such as, for example, the humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam), for all the criticism of the Roman Catholic Church, did not go to the camp of Protestants.Moreover, they wanted to reform the denomination to which belonged, but a complete break with it frightens them.Erasmus is known as the creator of a new theological system, where he attempted to answer the question of what should be the obligation of man to God, and what place it occupied in the whole morality and morality.
Who was Erasmus
summary of this extraordinary man can say the following.He was the illegitimate son of a priest and a doctor's daughter, she was born in a suburb of Rotterdam under the name of Gouda.Hence his nickname, as was the custom in those days.So-called spiritual people, mostly monks - by name and place of birth.Since his parents died early, guardians persuaded the young man to take the veil.But because it was not his choice, it is hard for a monk was given to the future of philosophy.Even before the vows, he was familiar with the ancient classics that struck his fancy.Education has helped him change his biography.One of the bishops needed the Secretary-Latin scholar.Erasmus could take this place with the help of his boss leave ascetic life.Nevertheless, he always had a deep religiosity.Erasmus traveled.He has the opportunity to study at the Sorbonne.There he pretended to be studying theology, but in fact he studied Latin literature.Erasmus dreamed of Bible study.But for this it was necessary to learn the Greek language.This future philosopher engaged seriously.He also visited England, where he met Thomas More, and with humor and positive comments about there the customs.
Home activities
views Erasmus began to take shape at Oxford.There he met with admirers of antiquities, who dragged him into their circle.When thousand five hundred, the future scientist returned to Paris, the first thing published a book on Greek and Latin aphorisms.She subsequently went through several editions.Life scientists have received new impetus.Now, to Erasmus there were two objectives - to promote the ancient authors in their homeland and publish authentic text of the New Testament, translated from the Greek.Theology was not his main ridge.The doctrine of Erasmus was rather moral and philosophical.He worked so much that the contemporaries wondered how one man could write so much.It creates scientific works, popular journalism and hundreds of translations into Latin, Greek manuscripts.Only one of his letters to his friends survived nearly two thousand.
writing major works
After completing his studies at the Sorbonne Erasmus to live in straitened circumstances.He often travels from Paris to the Netherlands and back, living in Leuven, Orleans, improved in the study of Greek.It was during these years Erasmus wrote "Weapons of the Christian warrior."This book became the basis of his doctrine, though popular philosophy has brought other work.In it, he like the second main motive of the Italian Renaissance.The main idea of this work is that the torch of Christianity to be connected with the achievements of antiquity.In 1506 he went to Italy, where he spent about three years.Here it is possible to obtain a doctorate, to visit Venice and Rome.In 1509, Erasmus again went to England, where he was invited by Sir Thomas More, who at the time was Chancellor of King Henry VIII.The latter, while still a prince, too, was a friend of the philosopher and his highly esteemed.For some time the hero of our story has taught at Cambridge.In England, Erasmus wrote his most famous work - the playful "Praise of Folly", which are derived characters such as scientist donkey and the clown-wise.This book was published in Paris in 1511, and since then its author has become a real star of contemporary Europe.
«Basel hermit»
Crowned Another admirer of Erasmus - Emperor Charles the Fifth - appointed him as his advisor with a good salary and the lack of any obligations.This allowed the philosopher to surrender completely to the beloved and travel.A few years later he managed to realize his cherished dream.In Basel leaves the fruit of his many years of work - a Greek text of the Gospel.However, Bible scholars say that this edition also contains errors, but nevertheless it formed the basis for further critical study of the New Testament.Since then, many more books written by Erasmus of Rotterdam.Proceedings of it at the time - this is basically transfers.Plutarch and Seneca, Cicero and Ovid, Origen and Ambrose, the ancient poets, historians and the Fathers of the Church - and all you name it.Although Erasmus constantly traveled between Switzerland, Freiburg and Besancon, it was called "Basel hermit."Although already at that time he began to get sick, illnesses did not prevent him taking an active part in various intellectual debates with his contemporaries.For example, the Erasmus vehemently argued with Luther.In the book "Basel hermit" "Freedom of Choice" great reformer said work "Slavery will."None of them did not agree with the reviewer.The works of Erasmus Basel period - it is also treatises on a variety of topics.This philological delights on how to correctly pronounce the Greek and Latin words and pedagogical reflection on the education of the right of rulers, and an essay on eternal peace and the search for the unity of the Church, and even the New Testament stories loosely paraphrase.The bloody events of the Reformation terrified and repelled him, but he held to his opinion, always being between the two opposing camps.Erasmus died in 1536, in the same Basel.
Humanist
Historians distinguish two generations of German and Anglo-Dutch Renaissance.Erasmus belonged to the youngest of them.It was not a real homeland Holland, not France or Germany, and his beloved antiquity.Her heroes he knew as intimately as his friends.Humanism Erasmus manifested in the fact that he used science, literature and printing to exert unprecedented influence on people's minds.For a friendship with him contended the powerful, and many of the city offered him a permanent salary just for the fact that he lived there.To him for advice - both in the field of philosophy and politics - turning kings, princes and simply educated people.Latin and ancient literature he knew, perhaps better than anyone else in Europe at that time, and his views on how to pronounce certain sounds in the Greek text, became the leading universities.
moralist, satirist, philosopher
Those works of Erasmus of Rotterdam, which brought him enormous popularity and worldwide fame, were written by him, in his own words, "nothing better to do."For example, "Praise of Folly" only in the author's life was published about forty times.This complacent satire with some sarcasm was cheerful and positive - she castigated not undermine the foundations.Therefore, he enjoyed success with the authorities.But the author of more importance was attached to his books on pedagogy, in particular the education of Christian princes and teaching children languages.The pinnacle of his quest as he considered the religious and educational activities.He called her "philosophy of Christ."Basics were laid her in Oxford.There, together with other members of the circle lovers of antiquity first formulated the basics of Christian humanism was Erasmus.The main ideas of this teaching he set in one of his first books.
«Dagger Christian warrior»
fact that Erasmus wrote in his youth, he served as a guiding light for all life.Title also has a deeper meaning.The metaphor often used to describe the living conditions of a true believer.He had every day to go into battle, to fight for their values, to act against the sins and temptations.For this purpose it is necessary to simplify Christianity to make it clear to everyone.Release him from the heavy scholastic clothes that hide the essence.We must return to the ideals of early Christianity, to understand what it is believed people who created the first community.We must adhere to strict moral rules that will lead a perfect life and help others.Finally, it should imitate Christ himself, to be able to implement the ideas and precepts of Scripture.And for this it is necessary to correctly understand and interpret the Gospel, which brought the Savior, in all its simplicity, with no scholastic distortions and excesses.This is the philosophy of Christ.
new theology Erasmus
It has been said that this is very prolific writer left a huge number of essays, treatises and books for a long time every educated European, especially of noble birth, trained it on them.After all, a role model for all civilized people of that era it became Erasmus.The main ideas of his theological research also became the subject of study and admiration.Attention contemporaries drew what the philosopher did not use traditional theological methods.Moreover, he strongly derided scholasticism still in the "Praise of Folly".Yes, and in other works he did not complain.The author criticizes its titles, methods, conceptual and logical apparatus, considering that its scientists philosophizing Christianity lost.All these pompous doctor with his barren and empty discussions trying to replace God with different kinds of definitions.The philosophy of Christ is free from all this.It is designed to replace all the trumped-up issues so fiercely discussed in the scientific environment, ethical.Talking about what is happening in the sky - not the goal of theology.It must deal with temporal things, the fact that people need.Turning to theology, one must find an answer to the most pressing questions.An example of this type of reasoning dialogues Socrates Erasmus said.In his book "The benefits of talking," he wrote that the wisdom of the ancient philosopher forced to come down from heaven to live among humans.That's right - in the game, including banquets and feasts - should discuss the sublime.These conversations become godly character.Is not that the Lord spoke to his disciples?
compound different traditions
his satirical risible teachings Erasmus is often compared with the "Sealion Alkviada" - ugly terracotta figurines, which are hidden in the amazing beauty and proportionality of the statues of the gods.This means that not all of its statements should be understood literally.If he says that the Christian faith - is akin to stupidity, the author should not be taken for an atheist.He simply believes that it is incompatible with the so-called scholastic wisdom.It is in the period of the "heaven of madness" People can connect with God, even if for a brief moment.So Erasmus justified attempt to revise the ancient traditions in the Christian spirit.However, he was far from being, like Luther, to cross the Rubicon and discard the Church Fathers and the Holy Tradition.On the other hand, as the reformers, he called back to the times of the apostles and disciples of the Savior.But the philosophy of Christ had its cornerstone.He was still the real humanism of the Renaissance type.Yes, Erasmus and denounces the Catholic clergy, and he monastic order, which, in my opinion, just a parasite on the name of Christ and for the people's stupidity.It is also (though covertly) said about the inadmissibility of war and violence in the name of religion.Yet beyond the Catholic tradition can not go.
Christian humanism of Erasmus
One of the key concepts in this new theology is cleansing.Yes, a person can become a center of the universe, as called for by the Italian humanists.But to realize this ideal, it must simplify their faith, make it sincere and begin to imitate Christ.Then he will become what was supposed to be on the plan of the Creator.But the modern man Erasmus, according to the author, as well as all the institutions created by it, including the state and the Church, yet is very far from this ideal.Christianity is actually a continuation of the pursuit of the best of ancient philosophers.Do not they acted with the idea of a universal religion, which will lead to a global consensus?Christianity is simply the natural end of their aspirations.Because the Kingdom of Heaven to present Erasmus - it is something like Plato's Republic, where all the beauty that created the Gentiles, the Lord also picked up.He even expressed surprise to anyone since the idea that the spirit of Christianity is much broader than it is accepted to speak.And among the saints of God are so many of those whom the church canonized this absented.Even his philosophy of Christ Erasmus calls revival.By this he means not only to restore the original purity of the church, but also of human nature, which was originally created good.And for him the Creator created this world, we should enjoy.It should be said that the ideas of Erasmus disagreed not only Catholic authors, but primarily Protestant thinkers.Their discussion of freedom and human dignity is very instructive and shows that each of them has seen his different facets of our nature.
