“To stand up what you believe in is more important
than to be scared of imprisonment or death” - Socrates
By Elizabeth H. Elys
Both Socrates and Jesus had many things in common, yet,
they were different. Both had different religious and beliefs. While Socrates was
polytheistic, believing in several Gods. Jesus, in the other hand was monotheistic,
believed in one God.
Socrates and Jesus were charged, tried, an executed for
their “radical behavior in society.” They sacrificed themselves for the
possible chance of change.
Socrates according to Plato challenged the norms of society
by questioning life and having others question is as well. He was labelled of “corrupting
the youths” and for not believing in the Athenians Gods. Socrates was guilty of
corrupting the young; he had many followers that saw him as a wise man. Socrates
trial was made up to thirty jurors, who were later known as “The Thirty.”
The Thirty wanted was to silence Socrates, rather than
taking his life. Socrates did not want to disobey the laws; he did not want to
be violated of his right to freedom of speech. Socrates states there are two
ways in which men succeeded. They are though true knowledge and right opinion.
Socrates refers to True Knowledge as one of the ways in which men succeeded. He
reveals that the search of truth is the main point of human life in the life of
a true philosopher. Like Jesus, Socrates was a man that was in search of the
truth about wisdom. Socrates was found guilty of both corrupting the minds of
the youth of Athens and Impiety “not believing in the Gods of the state,” and
sentenced to death by drinking a mixture containing poison hemlock.
The trial of Socrates was one of the most famous trials
that shook the world. Socrates and Jesus made a great impact in today’s world,
and our Law system and democracy. Both stood against injustice. Socrates was a
humble man that was common and seeking for the truth. Jesus in his mind knew
the truth and knew his purposes. He was received with enthusiasm by common
people because of his extraordinary healing power and his message of the
redeeming love of God for every person. Many miracles were attributed to him.
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching and preaching
in different synagogues and spreading the good news about kingdom of God, he
taught people a lot of things; he healed people of various kinds. Jesus was no
revolutionary in a political sense, although, his teaching contained many
revolutionary ideas. He chooses to speak of himself as the Son of Man, he referred
to himself as the Shepherd of the Sheep, as the Light of the World, as the Life
of Men. One aspect of the teaching of Jesus was his promises about the coming Spirit
of Truth, or Counselor, who was make Jesus real to all who have come to believe
him. He drew a clear distinction between believers and unbelievers.
Like Socrates, Jesus taught his philosophy of life on the
streets to anyone who cared to listen.
Socrates was a great philosopher who had incredible
impact on philosophers of his time and even philosophers today. He lived in Athens
from 469 BC to 399 BC, during Pericles age.
Jesus lived c. 4 BC – c. AD 30, he was Messiahs of
people. Socrates and Jesus were critics of democracy, their teaching were based
on discovering the truth, understanding life, and talking about the elements
that make up a good life. Socrates philosophy was that everyone is responsible
for his or her own moral attitudes. Jesus growing influence alarmed Jewish and
Roman authorities, he was suspected of having revolutionary aims. Under Roman law
he was crucified at Golgotha as a political rebel and was buried in the tomb of
Joseph of Arimathea.
The term Jesus Christ designates not only a historical
person who lived in Palestine during the reigns of the Roman emperors Augustus
and Tiberius but also one who has been the subject of Christian faith and worship
for 21 centuries.
Both Socrates and Jesus were strongly behind their
beliefs. The concept of knowledge, virtue, and goodness are intertwined in the
philosophy of Socrates and Jesus.
Jesus as messenger of God and Socrates as philosopher of
life were seeking mainly the truth and justice. They were convinced that a
clear knowledge of the truth is essential for the right control of life.
“What is right and what is good, may be called a
rationalistic moral philosophy, as is Socrates view” Socrates himself says that
“To know the good is to do the good”
Socrates and Jesus fought until the end for their principles;
they were willing to sacrifice life and to die for well-being of mankind.
These historical figures were the inspirational source for
literature. Most Western religious literature deals with the person and beliefs
of Jesus Christ, notably John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Now
until about the 19th century did the Christ figure, a character
resembling Jesus Christ in some essential way, as through innocent
suffering-become a protagonist in popular literature. He appears in such works
as Willian Faulkner’s A Fable, Grahame Green’s The Power and the Glory and John
Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.
Socrates was brought to trial with many charges for his
teachings and philosophy. His court in the story is called The Apology. After
the execution of Socrates his student and admirer Plato wrote the mentioned
book regarding the charges The Apology. In Greek, Apology means defense.
