With Utopia being written at a time where Christianity was the major religion, it's no surprise that the book's view on "a perfect world" is a christians vision. First off, Sir Thomas More is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, and he also served chancellor to Henry VIII. But Utopia is also a book that points out the different faults in the world, so it's hard to tell if it's a complete Christian view, as for example, they allow religious toleration.
What do you think? Is the book from a Christian's pov? Or are the ideas not influenced by Christianity?
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I agree with this idea. The ideas in the book that are discussed seem closest to a Christian's point of view rather than another religion. Of course, I don't know much about many other religions, but even though they allow religious toleration doesn't mean that they don't make these people pay (sometimes, in the literal sense) for not following the "idealistic" religion just like what we've been learning about in Global with the Muslims.
ReplyDeleteI think the views are definitely influenced by Christianity, but not entirely. It is mentioned how The Utopians were introduced to Christianity and some people converted, but others kept their same religion. I think one of the reasons the Utopia functions so well, socially, is not because they all follow the "superior religion" - or anything like that, but they have a strict policy about tolerating all religions.
ReplyDeleteThe book is influenced by a Christian P.O.V. in my opinion... to an extent. The book shows the good and bads that not only Christianity but the power to control someone through "fate" like most religions due. It shows you the "perfect society" of Utopia and its simplistic religion that "scares" you just enough to allow a different perspective without turning it into a way of control. An example of the over control of religion to me is the Popes power of excommunication as More talks about a little early in the book. So I think that it is not only Christianity but religion in general that Utopia is based off of.
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