While reading of the weary, sad, tragically pathetic life of Peter Abelard, I cannot help but scoff a little at his emphasis on how miserable his life was. Granted, in the class God, Evil, and Suffering, we are reading about the Holocaust, so in comparison, I have little sympathy for Abelard.
On the other hand, it stands out to me the fact that the "Christian" community seems to be the worst for discord and violence against one another. It was so bad for Abelard that he sought community with the pagans rather than his own "kin". That is truly what is pathetic. I do not know if I consider Abelard a martyr for his sufferings. Yes, he devoted himself to doctrine and logic and teaching, but his attitude is much less humble and pious than Augustine. What I have read so far of Abelard's devotion to the faith is stale and two-dimensional compared with Augustine's devotion and pure love of who God is.
I have not completed reading Abelard yet, but I am finding it very dull and uninspiring. Perhaps it is because Abelard complains so much about himself and does not seem inspired by his doctrine that he is giving his life too, he seems more interested in empty knowledge.
p.s. I have no posts to comment on yet because I am the first one for this week. But I will.
This is /exactly/ what was running through my mind as I read his thoughts, down to the comparisons of Abelard's life to the Holocaust accounts. Of course you can't compare one person's suffering with another's and say that one of them is allowed to hurt, and one of them isn't. But then that's what he's trying to tell us to do, so he's really a bit inexcusable.
ReplyDeleteI don't sense much of Christian love at all - just resentment, bitterness, and wounded pride.