Let's begin with a question: how firm are you in your faith? It's a simple question, really. But it's the answer the one gives that can make things complicated.
I'll be honest and tell you what my response would be: I'm a believer in Christ, but I'm not as deep into my faith as I would like to be. I struggle everyday to follow the lifestyle that Jesus wants me to live, and many times I fail to do so. When God wants me to do one thing, I'll go and do right the opposite. Then I suffer the consequences. And then I cry out to Jesus as to why I'm being punished.
It's a cycle.
But I wonder how it's possible for people to be so resolute in their beliefs that they will risk everything to appease the thing they believe in most. Trial after trial they overcome, and I just watch in amazement because I know that if I were in their shoes I wouldn't be able to accomplish the feats that they do.
Take Aeneas for example.
In The Aeneid, written by Virgil, we're introduced to the son of a mortal man and the Roman goddess Venus. Aeneas is a warrior from the fallen city of Troy who embarks on an epic journey, and all because the gods tell him to. His first wife dies. He has to flee his home. He goes hungry. He faces the wrath of Juno. He is attacked by Harpies. He has to leave another love.
All because the gods tell him to.
In Book I of The Aeneid, I figured his faith was because he was some superhuman. No one would be able to accomplish the things he did. I truly thought of him as some pompous war hero who just "listened to Mommy." He was half-god. Of course he had a firm faith. But then in Books II and III, I read more about his journey and what he had to suffer through. I began to sympathize with Aeneas more, but I still thought it was easier for him to do what the divine beings wanted.
And then Book IV completely changed my opinion. He falls in love with Carthage's queen, Dido, and it's in this book that I saw his character actually grow. He forgets about his Fate for awhile and just pleasures himself with how he saw fit. Mercury shows up in a dream to tell Aeneas that he needs to leave Carthage and continue his journey, but I read as Aeneas shows actual emotion. He knows he's going to hurt Dido by leaving, and for a fleeting moment, the hero considers staying. But his duty to the gods is more important to him than the queen, and he leaves.
He leaves. Aeneas leaves the woman he loves because he has such a strong faith and sense of duty to the gods.
It's impressive.
I can admit now that I would never be able to do such a thing. And as I watch Aeneas grow more as a character, it becomes clear how resolute in his sense of duty to the gods is. But Virgil write his character in such a way that Aeneas becomes more human and more devote in his faith with each passing chapter.
Again, it's impressive.
And I hope one day I'll have a faith as strong as one in a classic epic.
In another world some aspects of Aeneas would indeed make an excellent Christian. His willingness to trust and follow the gods is incredible to the highest degree. I would say a word of warning, the qualities that are seen in Aeneas must be carefully checked against Biblical examples. It appears Aeneas does moderately live "blind", just trusting that the gods will show him the way. This may be through a new vision or they might have to appear in person. When Aeneas is not directly told by the gods the plan for him, he tends to sit and wait. That is unlike God's calling for a Christian, our hands should always be doing His work, and He will use our imperfect work to bring about His perfect plan. We should not be waiting for some sign or miracle to happen before we proceed.
ReplyDeleteI want to start this by saying that normally I don't write long comments on stuff like this. That being said, I agree with you about aneas's faith. It really does take a lot of trust to give up everything you care about to do something you're uncertain about. I have personally experienced that feeling before. It is amazing what happens when you do though.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting perspective that I hadn't thought about. I had been thinking of Aeneas as following the gods because he didn't believe he had a choice, but I actually think you're right. Aeneas saw another option (in the form of staying in Carthage with Dido), but he chose to follow the gods' will anyway. I honestly didn't like Aeneas much before now, but I think you've reshaped my opinion of him. I don't think it's forced subjection that drives Aeneas anymore. I really think you got it right. I think he's driven by faith.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Will - that is a perspective I hadn't though about before. Never in the Aeneid do we see Aeneas deliberately do something to go against what he'd been commanded to do. He never seems to be discouraged, or to waver from what the gods have commanded. He definitely had e type of faith that every Christian should strive for.
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