Paradise Lost by John Milton
A reader must be guilelessly imperceptible not to see the deep religiousness John Milton uses in his important work, Paradise Lost, by just glancing at the hinting title. Milton’s epic work depicts how he was convinced about his faith as a Protestant follower of Christianity (Milton). This can be attributed to his immense time, effort and numerous references from the Bible. The author’s words, “I may assert eternal providence, and justify the ways of God to me,” express his perception of “a failure of religion” in the nineteenth century. Everyone reading this famous text should reflect on why does Milton wants to “justify the ways of God to men?” Justifying God’s ways was a reaction to criticism and doubts cast on religion. Relatively, john Bunyan also acknowledged uneasiness with regard to religion in his famous works. Although Milton supports Christianity in his work, he responds to the difficulties that accompany Christianity as faith; and I will base my argument concerning divisions in Christianity atheism as a result of science dynamics.
Most authors from 1942 to 1651 experienced the severity of the entire Civil War that was partly caused by incompatible understandings on religion. Failure of religion was clearly seen due to the lack of unity and stability within Christianity, something that fueled the nine-year Civil War. However, Milton was determined to address the failure of religion by highlighting resemblances with the Christian denominations. Nevertheless, Milton focuses on the Fall of Mankind, a belief common across the Christian denominations. From God’s eminent command, “Let there be light” to all the paraphrases he uses from the book of Genesis and the entire references expresses the similarities in the religion (pp. 175-183). Milton’s prominence on God as righteous and of an eternal providence is in response to Christianity’s divisions; there is only one God that saved humankind with His grace by sacrificing His beloved son. Milton faced opposition and criticism for condemning the different denominations to emphasize on the righteousness of the protestant believes.
The Paradise Lost: Book V tends to defend religion’s potential failings. In his argument, Milton submits, “God sent Raphael to admonish mankind of his obedience and render him inexcusable of a free state and the enemy at hand” (V. p 115). Milton admits that God is omniscient and omnipotent; “God understands that mankind is vulnerable to fall,” even from the first sin of Adam and Eve committed. He foretells Satan’s perversion to humankind (p. 61). God admits that “I made him just and right, / Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall” (p. 64). Milton argues that even if God allowed humankind free will, God sacrificed His son Jesus Christ to save humankind. This is the greatest sacrifice God could make because Jesus was his “sole complacence” and / “By losing thee awhile; the whole race lost” (III, II. 276-280, p.69).
Atheism was also a matter of concern concerning the supposed failure of religion. Milton talks of Eli’s story in response to nihilism. Eli, a priest whose profligate sons committed prostitution with women at the entrance of the tabernacle, is used as a reference on atheism. “When the priest / Turns atheist, as Eli’s sons, who filled / With lust and violence the house of God” (II. 494-496, p. 20). Milton echoes the fate of Eli’s house because of such like a sin against God (1 Samuel 2-4). The response was a reinforcement to what the Bible says concerning belief and faith. Milton bases his decision on his vast readership of the Bible, something that helps him survive the heated discussion over religion.
Paradise Lost is heavily rooted in religion; the author staunchly supports it and uses it to justify God, encouraging a religious life to his readers. Milton is trying to teach us about the free will humankind has with regards to worshiping God and not just the following religion. His argument on atheism points us to the direction that; even if we are free to believe in religion, God is still merciful and can save us from sin and the end punishment.