How does Boethius’s Christianity measure up in terms of quality

How does Boethius’s Christianity measure up in terms of quality? It might be argued that although drawing from the teachings of Stoicism, Plato, Aristotle, and Neoplatonism, the Consolation exhibits few explicit contradictions with the principles of Christianity. The idea of anamnesi, which assumes the existence of the soul prior to birth, as well as the doctrine of the continuity of the world and the implicit rejection of creation ex nihil in the Timaeu poem, do not hold fundamental relevance in the context of the Consolation. Undoubtedly, there exist significant disparities between Boethius and the Neoplatonism that largely aligns with his ideas.

The Deity of Plotinus possessed a profound and indescribable nature, originating from a hierarchical arrangement of powers including Mind, World-Soul, Nature, and others, from which a multitude of finite entities arose. The Neoplatonic successors of Plotinus expanded the number of intermediary beings between God and physical objects to highlight the transcendence of the supreme Godhead. This expansion resulted in the creation of a comprehensive metaphysical museum, where all entities and super-entities were meticulously organized and labeled on their respective shelves.

Muses Visiting Boethius in Prison

Nevertheless, Boethius finds all of this unfamiliar. The author does not refer to a superior essence, but rather to God. Furthermore, the author refrains from employing a complex sequence of “graded abstractions” to bridge the gap between God and His creation. Boethius’s deity is a personal deity, one to whom one has the ability and obligation to offer prayers, as he emphasizes in the concluding verses of the Consolation.

One could contend that the absence of any mention of Christ and Christianity, as well as the explicit omission of references to the Bible, in the Consolation can be attributed to Boethius’ intention to compose a philosophica consolation rather than a theological one. Did you fail to peruse my title? C. S. Lewis proposes that Boethius would express his writing in a philosophical manner, rather than a religious one, as he had deliberately selected the comforts of philosophy over those of religion as his focus. One may inquire as to why a book pertaining to arithmetic does not employ geometrical techniques.

An author is expected to differentiate between different fields and refrain from introducing unfamiliar approaches. Therefore, when Boethius praises Philosophy for its presentation of arguments, stating that they are “arguments not sought from outside but within the bounds of the matter we have been discussing,” he seems to be commending her for adhering to philosophical methods and not incorporating any elements from revelation. In Boethius’s writings, there is a noticeable separation between religion and reason.
Despite the presence of death, Boethius’ writings exhibit a peculiar preference for reason over faith, and he fails to address the crucial source of solace for Christians, namely the Incarnation of Christ and the notion of grace.

According to St. Augustine, since humans are incapable of doing anything on their own, their complete reliance on the mercy of God is both their freedom and happiness. However, it might be argued that the Boethian theory of salvation, which posits that the unassisted individual can get knowledge of God via philosophical introspection and meditation, is fundamentally influenced by pagan sources, notwithstanding the similarities between Neoplatonic philosophy and post-Augustinian Christianity.

Sir Thomas More rejects the philosophers of old in his Dialogue of Cumfor. It is worth noting that even during the Middle Ages, when Boethius was considered a saint, commentators and scholars such as Bruno of Corvey and John of Salisbury observed the lack of Christian teachings in the Consolation. It can be argued that Boethius espoused a form of Christianism that exhibited a degree of neutrality. Boethius does not require any speech, Spirit, mercy, church, or fellow-Christians in order to embody his true nature. Hence, it is not coincidental but rather fitting that his final admission does not address the topic of Christ.

The individual in question resided during a historical period characterized by the assimilation of ancient classical culture into Christianity, albeit without complete absorption. The schools, for example, continued to adhere to pagan practices. Boethius did not experience the internal transformation like to that of Sidonius or Ennodius; rather, his ancient knowledge remained intact and unaffected.

However, it is possible that the formulation of the question regarding Boethius Christianity has not been accurately addressed. It is plausible that a more comprehensive understanding of the intellectual milieu prevalent in Roman culture during that period could perhaps shed a new perspective on the issue