Online: Select and read one book (out of twelve) from Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations.”
Prepare: Write an informal essay, 75-250 words, that reflects on your overall impression of the section of the “Meditations” that you read. Your essay should also include one saying or quote from the text that you examine in more detail. Your essay should conclude by comparing and contrasting Marcus Aurelius’ thoughts with Christianity.
Please post this essay on the blog.
16 comments:
Although Marcus Aurelias was gay,his meditations proved to be very insightful into his way of thinking. Sorry Viva is still lingering.
Book 2
I read meditation 2 which was basically on how to live your life. He starts the meditation by saying, "Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial." And then goes on to say that you will meet these people because of their ignorance of good and evil. Something that really got my attention was this "For we are made for co-operation" and just like the bible states that we were made for each other, because we need each other. We are taught to fellowship with other Christians and it was really interesting to her Marcus say how we were made to co-operate. Another comparison I found in this meditation between his belief and Christianity is how he believes in gods, but he believes in something divine. So this is what I found in the meditation.
Marcus Aurelias was a philosopher, and therefore, as philosophers do, he examined various things about life. He philosophized about subjects like death, law, the nature of the universe, and virtually everything in between. His philosophies were good, much of the time, but he had two main problems in his overall thinking. One was the fact that he was an introvert, which leads me to believe that, when he philosophized, he did so alone, with no one around to challenge his conclusions and thus fine-tune them into what was right. This lead to several misguided conclusions, as you can guess. His other main problem was the fact that he was not guided by God in any of his philosophies, because he was not a Christian. He asked questions like "How then do I know if this is a wrongful act?" Which is a question that could have been mostly, if not entirely, answered if he believed in God, and believed that God's commands were good. He would know more about the meaning of the universe if he believed that there was an all powerful God. He was a philosopher, though misguided in some major areas.
Marcus Aurelius’ teachings were certainly Stoic. His beliefs are quite reminiscent of the Greek school of thought known as the Stoics. Stoics taught, among other things, that everything—including God—was of the same substance, man was inherently good, and happiness could be found through correct thinking. In book seven of his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius says such things as, “Within is the fountain of good”—clearly a Stoic teaching. He also says that if a man has an “elevated mind”, he will think human life to be not a great thing. Such teachings are clearly in conflict with the doctrines of the Bible. The Bible teaches that human life is of great worth, because man is made in the image of God. The Stoics—and Marcus Aurelius—believed that God was merely a part of nature, made of physical substance. Lowering the value of God in the way Marcus Aurelius and the Stoics did, also lowers the value of human life. Also, the Bible makes very clear the fact that man is inherently evil, not good as Marcus Aurelius suggests. So, even though Marcus Aurelius was a good emperor and a popular philosopher, his teachings were—and are—not in step with the truth.
As I read Marcus Aurelius's meditations I was occasionally surprised at the similarities and striking differences to Christianity. The quote that intrigued me most was “Consider that thou also does many things wrong, and that thou art a man like others; and even if thou dost abstain from certain faults, still thou hast the disposition to commit them, though either through cowardice, or concern about reputation, or some such mean motive, thou dost abstain from such faults.” Stoicism focuses on pursuing virtue but going by Christian values that is impossible to reach that virtuous state as a fallen human. Marcus’s quote agrees that the human tendency is to commit those evils despite desires to abstain. So is the pursuit of virtue in vain? What is the use of attempting to be what is physically and mentally impossible. Questions like those remain unanswered by Stoicism. In Christianity, yes we can never be “good” on earth but we are forgiven and the debt of our sin is pardoned.
The theme that permeates Book 1, is Marcus’ strong ethics. But morality must have a standard. Yet Marcus is independent and denies any higher power. He believes morals are learned and that goodness is a result of human achievement. “[I thank the gods that] I did not fall into the hands of any sophist, and that I did not waste my time on writers of histories…or occupy myself about the investigation of appearances in the heavens; for all these things require the help of the gods and fortune.” He credits his good fortune to the gods, yet mocks the idea of spirituality or reliance on a higher power. He knows there is truth but denies a standard for it. His thoughts conflict. He’s missing a puzzle piece. Christianity provides that missing piece. Romans 2 says, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” Christianity teaches that God is the ultimate reality; that morals come from him. And because men are created by God, God has put a sense of right and wrong on their hearts. Some will deny God, but they cannot deny what is written on their hearts. God is the source of all human good.
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Marcus Aurelias' main point in book three was that humans should live out their lives with the view that only their personal gain and happiness ultimately matters. Nowhere does Aurelias encourage us to put others first in our lives as Christianity repeatedly implores us to do. Aurelias even goes as far as to tell us to "...not waste the remainder of thy life in thoughts about others." Christ, on the very opposite hand, commands us to love our neighbors just as much as we love ourselves. However, Aurelias does continues on to say that we shouldn't value anything which causes us to break promises or disrespect ourselves, etc. This has some biblical ideology in it - albeit it is coming from a secular viewpoint. Aside from this, generally Aurelias' opinion in book three is that we should put ourselves first and foremost in every situation. This is a completely opposite stand point from what is found in the New Testament. In Mark, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He goes on to tell us that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you believe in God's commands, you cannot accept Aurelias' advice and attempt to follow it, as it blatantly contradicts what Jesus commanded us to do - which is to put God and others before ourselves in every situation.
I think the central theme of Marcus Aurelius' book two is that according to nature, nothing is good or evil. Good and evil happen to the good and the bad. He says "But death certainly, and life, honor, dishonor, pain and pleasure, all these things equally happen to good men and bad." He says that since none of these things make us better or worse, they are not good, nor evil. He seemed to think the goal of life is to be "good." Marcus also discusses the role of the gods, saying "all that is from the gods is full of providence." However, he doesn't view the gods as much more than a part of nature. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that God is above everything, and the creator of nature.
I think I might go on to read them all...I could go on all day.
Meditations Book II
In this thoughtful rendition concerning the lifestyles of the common person, Marcus Aurelius discusses how one must go about their lives without letting external distractions pull us away from our tasks, and and how certain celestial deities have placed in our paths, opportunities. These opportunities are to do the things which we have been tasked to do, yet keep procrastinating on.
Perhaps one of the most insightful things inscribed was thus, “...doest every act of thy life as if it were the last, laying aside all carelessness and passionate aversion from the commands of reason, and all hypocrisy, and self love, and discontent with the portion which has been given to thee.” In connection with that statement, he describes how we all have a role to perform in the general function of the universe, and despite the fact that it may be small, we all play an important part. In the quote he tells up to do our duties in this universe to the best of our abilities without slacking off. This is similar to what the bible tells us, God says in Jeremiah that he has a plan for us all. We are all destined to do something in this world, and we are all important.
Furthermore, we must do what we have been tasked to do as if it were the last thing we were ever to do. Not only are we to give full effort to the contribution of out lives on the universe, but we are also to do so without “doing violence to ourselves.” Yet another parallel to Christian teachings where God tells us to care for the flesh he has given us, that we are made in his image and to do wrong to ourselves is to do wrong to the image of God.
Aurelius urges us to seek out and mend the faults that rest in us, rather than to seek out the faults in others. In leading a life with care for ourselves, others, and the tasks set before us, he tells us that we are going according to nature, and nature goes according that which is righteous.
The first thing that struck me about Marcus Aurelia’s “Meditations” was the wisdom and thoughtfulness it conveys. He appears to be humble and he paints himself as faultless as is humanly possibly. Just reading a small section it was apparent he was a strong Stoic. He has acquired this wisdom by experience, and does not boast of it. Book two instructs the reader on how to live ones life. He tells us that if we wish to be happy we must not be influenced by passions (“the soul does violence to itself when it is overpowed by pleasure or by pain.”) we must live in accordance with nature (“for to be vexed at anything which happens is a separation of ourselves from nature, in some part of which the nature of all other things are contained”), and we must live a rational life (“when it allows any act of its own and any movement to be without aim, and does anything thoughtlessly, and without considering what it is, it being right that even the smallest things be done with reference to an end; and the end of rational animals is to follow the reason and the law of the most ancient city and polity”). This Stoic worldview is nearly impossibly for anyone to follow. Marcus Aurelius claims that to be free from passion, one must resort to reason, and philosophy to save you (“What then is that which is able to conduct a man? One thing and only one, philosophy”). He claims that there is no good nor evil, only passion, and knowledge and philosophy will free you from passion. This strikingly contrasts with Christianity which tell us that our world is fallen, but we have freedom and hope through Christ.
The focus of this meditation seems to be the universe as a whole and how each living being on this planet should live in accordance to the general rules of both the seen and unseen. Marcus Aurelius mentions in the text that he believes that man and every being in the universe should conform to the universe and what the world teaches because this is what, in a sense, “makes the world go ‘round.” He states this in the beginning of the passage where he says, “In conformity to the nature of the universe every single thing is accomplished, for certainly it is not conformity to any other nature that each thing is accomplished, either a nature which externally comprehends this, or a nature which is comprehended within this nature, or a nature external and independent of this.” In this section he states everything should conform to this world and by doing so contradicts Romans 12:2 where it says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” Paul is saying that a Christian should reject the pattern of this world and as the verse continues in Romans, “...be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The “renewing of your mind” meaning being renewed by the Holy Spirit when a person becomes a Christian. Paul goes on to say that when we transform our minds and do not conform to this world, like Marcus Aurelius says we should, we can please God and know better what His will is.
Marcus Aurelius Meditation
I read book twelve and found it very interesting. Some of the things Marcus talked about were living the life you were given, how everything happens for a reason, the importance of intelligence and knowledge, doing what is right, doing things for a purpose, and living life now. In book twelve there were quite a few things that were said that are also said in the Bible. Being truthful and doing only what is right and true are talked about in The Meditations as well as the Bible. Marcus also says “Does the light of the lamp shine without losing its splendor until it is extinguished...?” This is similar to Matthew 5 where Jesus talks about Christians being a light to the world and not hiding that light but letting it shine before others. Although these things are similar in both Christianity and in the Meditations there are few places where Marcus Aurelius is clearly wrong.
I read number nine, and it was a very interesting reading. Some very insightful items in there, in some places it reminded me of Proverbs from the Bible a little bit. "All things are changing: and thou thyself art in continuous mutation and destruction, and the whole universe too." I particularly liked this bit here, it acknowledges how we're all sinful and are walking down a path to destruction and that the world is deteriorating. The thing he missed is that we can be saved through Christ.
Josh couldn't post his for some reason so here is his.
Joshua Megchelsen says
I read Meditation #2. Over all I think this is about life, how to live it. I notice that the author addresses many big topics in a short amount of time. Within the first 4 paragraphs he talks about brotherhood, the universe, free will of man and the shortness of life. Brotherhood (meaning how one should treat others) is addressed in the first paragraph. One should and cannot hurt others because we all work as a body. Next he says that men have free will and are not bound by things. He then talks of the nature of the universe and then how short life is. All these point show us his worldview. Now although not all his points in his worldview are Christian (particular that he does not believe in our God) He certainly has Christian themes. Such as how ‘thou hast received an opportunity from the gods and does not use it’. He is clearly not talking about our God but we have received opportunities from God and not used it. In conclusion, this meditation reveals the worldview of our author, and how at some places it is similar to our own faith
Josh
I read Marcus Aurelius' Meditation number 2. In this meditation, there are many wise thoughts and observations that were made and contribute to the way people should live. However, other ideas in this meditation are made from an extreme Stoic standpoint and should be viewed through what the Bible says. He was also still a Roman and used their beliefs of the gods and how they interact with humans. One of Marcus' statements is, "Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly". This is a very wise observation of life and how it works. If this were taken to heart by everyone in today's society or even just a part of society, then the idea will "leak" into the rest of society and since this simple idea gives a sense of shortness to life itself and that could lead people to being kinder to one another and to make the most of life while they can. Now, how does his ideas and thoughts compare to our belief of Christianity. Well, just looking at this line from his meditation, we can see that it is similar with the Bible because the Bible says to live life in a godly way.
As I read Meditation #12, the main thought that kept striking me was how incredibly wise Marcus Aurelius was, and this is shown several times in the meditation. One quote I found very interesting was where Marcus Aurelius says “I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.” This, in my mind, is possibly the wisest thing that he writes in the entirety of the meditation. Furthermore, it is just as striking today as it must have been at that time. Valuing another’s opinion over one’s own opinion is a mistake made often in today’s culture, as people are obsessed with themselves, yet also with impressing others. We can also see how his beliefs aligned with Christianity. Early on, he states that every man is made up of three things: body, breath, and intelligence, and that only intelligence belongs to the person it makes. Clearly, from a Christian standpoint, I would say that none of these things belong to me, but were in fact given to me. Other similar pagan teachings occur throughout the meditation. However, he also makes some points that align with Christian teachings, at least from a moral standpoint. These can be compared to Jesus’ beatitudes. While Marcus Aurelius was obviously not a Christian or even remotely so, he appears to have had a fairly similar moral and ethical worldview.
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