Beatrice de Planissoles & Peter Abelard

Despite this major distinction, one an imagined sin and one a real sin, both works demonstrate the fanatical, hypocritical, and dominant institution of religion during the middle ages. In AbelardÆs Historia Calamitatum, we see that education and the advance of science are viewed as a threat to the authority and power of religion. Even AbelardÆs mentors resent him for his mental prowess which typically highlights their own theories as incomplete or invalid. Abelard appears to be prosecuted throughout every field of study due to his inquiries which traditionally challenge established views that posit God and religion as the center of the universe. As he maintains, ôNow this venerable man...began to persecute me for my lecturing on the Scriptures no less bitterly than my former master, William, had done for my work in philosophyö (Abelar

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rtue, even if ôslender in rank and wealthö (Reginald 1). The account of GodericÆs life demonstrates many qualities that are associated with a ôgoodö and ôpiousö individual. Goderic is prudent, he is persistent, he works hard, and he is immune to either the challenges of poverty or the trap of egotism, ôneither puffed up by the good testimony of his conscience nor downcast in the nobler part of his soul by the reproach of povertyö (Reginald 1). Goderic is often alone on his travels and shares religious prayers and other customs with those he encounters. He at all times keeps his thoughts devoutly on God. In contrast, in AbelardÆs Historia Calamitatum, we see Abelard embroiled in a religious environment where hypocrisy, self-gain and pleasures of the earthly realm often thwart religious intentions. Reginald is able to achieve what Abelard cannot. Reginald resists all temptation in his devout worship of God, even eventually leaving trade behind in order to pursue his worship through pilgrimage. While Abelard may be more spiritual and devout than many of the clergy around him, he is unable to resist the earthly temptation of lust and the flesh. Despite being warned by his mentors, Abelard is unable to resist sinning and being
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Approximate Word count = 2558
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)