Monday, May 5, 2008

1. At the end of her speech, Folly describes the reversal of value that true Christians experience: what the world sees as important and precious, Christians couldn't care less about (honors, bodily strength, wealth, power), while in the meantime the true Christian embraces a life that most people cannot see.  Try to explain the meaning of this section to the class, and then invite people to comment on the question of what constitutes "the good life".
2. Martin Dorp, a young theologian from Louvain, wrote a letter complaining about the impiety expressed in the Praise of Folly, and about the shots Erasmus takes at theologians.  Erasmus responded, "I would not want anything that I have written, even in jest, to detract from Christian piety in any way whatsoever--provided I have a reader who understands what I have written, provided he is fair and impartial, provided he does not desire merely to cavil but strives to understand."  Especially in light of the first question given above, do you think the book is impious?  Do you think it is insulting to theology as a discipline?  Look also at Folly’s critiques of scholars, poets, and kings and address the same question—are they outrageously insulting? 

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 25, 2008

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