Justin Smetters

04-05-04

ISSI402

Prof. Sienkewicz

Roman Religion and Modern Religion

In my own personal view Roman Religion and Modern Christianity are as different as an apple is to a pomegranate. One is monotheistic the other is polytheistic. One has gods that imitate life and the other has a god that is divine. But even though they have their differences a few connections can be made. I feel that Christians and people in ancient times fell victim to do ut des.

            Do ut des is translated as “I give so that you give” or the modern equivalent is “I scratch your back you scratch mine.” Romans would do something in the sake of getting something in return. I understand this might be bold, but I suggest that Christians do something similar.

            Romans used do ut des in rituals. People such as merchants would burn incenses for the god Mercury so that can make good profits on their goods. It is a way to acknowledge their existence. In Ancient times if you didn’t pay tribute to a god misfortunes may occur. When misfortunes occurred sacrifices had to be made so that the god maybe be appeased.

            Some people (not all) go threw the motions so to speak to get into heaven. They do what they are required to do to “save their souls”. Basically saying I was good on Earth now get my in the after life. A Marxist would say that what religion does is a sort of control to keep the masses “good”. If the perception of “good” equals that of “an afterlife” then people want to continue to live in another “world”.

How many athletes pray before a big game? I know I have. Football players are praying in the locker room to have the strength to make that one important play. They ask to win. Do ut des comes in to play in a way that the person took time to pray to “God” and expect something in return.

So people ask God for the strength to fight alcoholism or drug addiction. This is a way of the person sacrificing something if god gives them the power to do it. What if this person never succeeds? Does that mean that this person isn’t favored by God? In Ancient times that might be the case, today not so much. But once someone wins the Super Bowl or an Oscar, God has become a major part of why this happened.

Do ut des is a part of the Christian life.  Human existence has always been built upon the ME… What do I get out of the deal, and God is no exception.