Abstract
Abstract The paper examines the Dialogue De pace fidei written by Nicolaus Cusanus in 1453 to settle disputes arising from events that triggered religious unrest, such as the fall of Constantinople in May 1453, the invasion and massacre of the Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II and the defeat of the Christians. Following the disintegration of medieval Christianity, Cusanus, instead of promoting a crusade, as Cardinal Bessarione did, proposed a more suitable way to make the major exponents of different religions interact in a fruitful dialogue, hoping for the peace of a single universal faith. The arguments through which Cusanus claimed the concept of a concordance and pacification of the faith reveal the originality and topicality of the message communicated by the humanist, founded on the doctrine of peace in the faith, overcoming inter-confessional barriers and religious divergences. The author contrasts the divergences, massacres and wars with a doctrinal comparison among different religions through dialogue. The paper invites reflection upon the religious struggles that still spread discord in the world.
Highlights
Renaissance: paganism or atheism or a critical approach to Christianity?P
The paper examines the Dialogue De pace fidei written by Nicolaus Cusanus in 1453 to settle disputes arising from events that triggered religious unrest, such as the fall of Constantinople in May 1453, the invasion and massacre of the Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II and the defeat of the Christians
The historiographical debates of the first half of the 1900s emphasized the presumed paganism or atheism of the Renaissance period – due to the return of the pagan gods – which was in contrast with the theological and theocentric Medieval period characterized by the affirmation of anthropocentrism
Summary
In this context we find the works of Nicolaus Cusanus, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola They were all humanists whose thought was characterized by a critical approach towards religious writings and by a strong inclination to conciliate different philosophical and religious traditions, in order to achieve peace and a higher concordance among the different creeds and to conciliate the philosophical tradition with the Christian doctrine under the common thinking of Neoplatonism. They aimed to affirm pax philosophica as in the case of Pico della Mirandola, who tried to combine different philosophical and religious doctrines as well as to interpret the Holy Scriptures through the Kabbalah, being aware of the existence of only one Truth that was revealed regardless of the verbal divergences in which it was expressed. The strength and originality of the new doctrines, compared to those of the previous age, are shown in a different critical approach to writings, stimulated by the rediscovery of new sources and a new faith in human beings and in their abilities, as well as by the acquisition of a new historical awareness and spiritual reality
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
