When the money was "excrement of Satan" by Michele Pietrasanta published on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 18:18
Jacques Le Goff argues that a thousand years ago, human society did not consider himself divided between rich and poor. Of course: the rich, though very rare, there were all right, but few would call them so. He preferred to call it "powerful." As for the poor - the common people of the countryside, the villages of the underclass - it was much better label as "humble."
Christian conscience imposed this clever play on words. But it was not hypocrisy. He was a mere article of faith. Even more: it was a deep and strong ethical conviction. It was, in essence, a condemnation of the fruits of the sacred money. The theological contempt towards the 'dung of the devil "that drags the souls in hell and subverts the order of Christian values. The topic is dear to Le Goff for over half a century. Has dedicated hundreds of pages, scattered essays as merchants and bankers in the Middle Ages (1956), the time of the Church and the merchant's time (1956-1976), the stock market and life (1986). And today he came back with a book that has the flavor of a final summary: Le Moyen Age et l'argent (2010), now offered in Italian by Laterza edition under the title: The dung of the devil. Money in the Middle Ages.
A very valuable reading for anyone wishing to understand the genesis of the problem, perhaps far more serious of our time: the absolute rule of money, the dominance of the market and finance all aspects of social life. Le Goff argues that because, really, is that the condemnation of the money in the Middle Ages, at least until the turn 'precapitalist' of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, there was only nominal and theoretical, but practical and concrete way. Humanity lived, then, in a world radically different from ours. A world which for us is not easy to imagine. There was no aspect of life that was not dominated and driven by theology. God was everything, man nothing. Or rather, there was only the man as a creature of God The entire material reality, the cosmos, space and time existed only as "signs" of divine reality. So everything was also the property of God
How then could afford an individual to claim the payment of interest for a sum of money on loan to someone? Demon is to think that the loan may have a cost, for the simple fact that time is not the property of man but of God Selling time is a sacrilege. Ergo, the money can not and must not generate more money. Because only the work entitled to compensation. And an English theologian, Thomas Cobbam, says flatly: "The money lender wants to make money without working, even sleeping, and this goes against the commandment of the Lord, who said: By the sweat of your brow you will earn your bread." Then came what happened. Towards the end of the thirteenth century began, says Goff, "a decline in values \u200b\u200bfrom heaven to earth." And here the great historian resumes his well-known theory of "Birth of Purgatory." The afterlife of Christians in the Middle Ages, it was divided only in the two kingdoms of heaven and hell. In other words: no compromise between good and evil. But here is "born" after the twelfth century, the idea of \u200b\u200bPurgatory. An intermediate world, inhabited by sinners who can hope for final salvation. So the pillars of theological dogma is slowly crumbling. In the second half of the thirteenth century the masters of the University of Paris discussed the concept of wear and think about the fairness - and therefore the admissibility - of interest rates.
The church itself is becoming a big consumer of money. And when the friar Girolamo Savonarola, two centuries later, a blood fustigherà the depraved morals of the rich and the corrupt clergy, appealing to the "simplicity of Christian life," Pope Alexander VI will not find better than excommunicate awkward preacher, for the stake with the ignominious mark of heresy. The martyrdom of Savonarola was May 23, 1498. Le Goff does not say, but it would probably just see this date, at least symbolically, the real turning point in the ancient world subjected to spiritual values \u200b\u200band theology, in today's world dominated by the ruthless laws of money and the economy. ?
--- Somebody could say, and perhaps with good reason: "we got from the frying pan into the fire"
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The revolt of teachers
"Promoting foreign"
The polemic against the test for residence permit. "They invented the language test but then there are no funds for evening classes for immigrants"
ERICA DI BLASI
Soon five thousand foreigners only in Turin of Italian must take an examination to obtain a residence permit . This is the long term, not short, must be renewed every two years. Requirements already exist - in the last 5 years have had a job, a minimum income of approximately € 10 thousand gross under a house (including rent) - there is now evidence of Italian. The only alternative are licensed media or attestation "A2".
But not everyone agrees. The teachers of those who once were known as evening schools and were asked to test the knowledge of the foreign judge examining useless. "To establish committees - said Ennio Avanzi, teacher training center for adults Gabelli and one of the first signatories of the document-protest - the Interior Ministry has allocated for Turin Province and about 500 thousand euro. A figure that will cover the examinations of 2011. Each committee shall consist of two teachers and a school administrator. We do not believe, however, that the examination would lead to true integration. There is a written test very hardly likely to deny the permit for most foreigners. "
Within 60 days - so for February - will indicate the prefecture to aliens who have applied for the school where the exam." The majority of immigrants - does note, however, Avanzi - performs works by which it is difficult to improve their knowledge of Italian, especially the writing. I think carers who for years assisting an elderly person, or to aliens who inhabit the building sites. Here's to us, called to give an opinion on their knowledge of Italian, are two ways: not to promote or almost none, as we do, put a hand on your heart and think that are people who have lived here for years, they have a job and a family. And a rejection would destroy their lives. "
The Road" all promoted "calls into question the usefulness of this examination. Thus a committee of teachers - to have signed the document of protest are hundreds of citizens and a score associations - has a counterproposal: "Use the money for the exams to enable dedicated Italian courses for foreigners and thus have a true integration." Today, eight schools of adult education classes in Turin have made even to 98 percent by foreigners: the Italian courses but not enough.
Picking up the appeal of the Committee, the Regional Councillor of the Federation of the left, Eleanor Artesia. "Better to increase - according to the agenda to be voted on soon - to the Ministry of Education funding to increase the supply of courses for both adults and Language Study." To denounce the situation the committee has organized a public meeting on 21 January. In the background is the new residence permit - which you points and also requires a knowledge of the constitution and of Italian culture - which should become reality in the next two years.
(07 January 2011) Playing reserved ©
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