Did these two literary documents give guidance in their era as to how a typical Christian should live?”
While much of Christian literature is fairly direct, this reading did give way to some important questions regarding, living standards, faith, and the way a man should live his life. Little Flowers is excently written and gives insight into early Christianity. The main question concerning this reading was, does this give guidance to the typical Christian on how to live. While there are many answers to this question, I believe the answer is yes. In the most simple of terms, yes. Not only does this reading show the reader how other Christians have led there lives, it helps give a blueprint to those who wish to do the same. while some Christians may not live the way these men did, it shows that Christianity is forever changing and evolving. Sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse.
Little Flowers is about Francis. A man who loved Christ with his whole. He lived a similar life to Christ, traveling and lending people a helping hand when they needed one. Eventually at the end of the book, Francis dies, and leaves his legacy to his brothers. These brothers worked tierlessly to contiue christianity. This is an important detail. This shows thew reader a deep mesage. Sometimes a person must follow something not for selfish reasons. It showed the reader that even if they didn’t want to continue with the legacy, they should because it is the right holy thing to do. In the world today, there isn’t much humility. people focus on themselves. They push themselves away from God because the want to be “Authentic”. While loving yourself is important, people are forgetting about God. They are abandoning something greater themselves, to build themselves up.
While this dosen’t directly tell the reader to live a certain way, it is certainly implying it. This book is full of messages to tell Christians. Messages that we need in the world today. Without God, the world becomes a cold selfish place. This book reminds me of Willy Wonka and the Chocalate Factory. Within the movie, the children are slowly plucked off until Charlie. This is because they are being selfish. Wonka shows them the wonders of the world, he has created but gives them rules. Don’t touch the river. While the Children flock and enjoy the beauty, selfishness and desire cause a child to touch the river and get stuck. This is an important message. It shows that selfishness causes self destruction. This book is great for christians and athiests. Even if someone doesn’t believe in God, this book is full of important life lessons, about being charitble and kind to those less fortunate. Everyone has something to learn from this book.
Christianity is a complex religion. Many people have many views and ideas of interpretations. It is important to listen to them all. It is important to have a view from all sides. This book does this. It shows a side of Christianity not many people know about. It highlights all the good. It shows that even the most holy people are still human. They still make mistakes, and that no matter how hard the evil trys, following God will save everyone.
JBSchool 