Theme of Christianity in Beowulf and The Rule Of St. Benedict

Since the time of Christ mankind has been curious as to what follows our time on earth. Chritsianity promoted belief that there is something beyond our earthly existence, in other words that there is afterlife. The determining factor in obtaining eternal life is through performing various actions throughout your temporary life on earth. This is the consistent belief that Christ instilled in his followers, and other religions adopted this idea as well. The notion that man’s existence on earth was temporary was relatively new, and individuals were eager to enjoy the benefits of experiencing an afterlife. This theme of using one's time on earth to obtain eternal life is recurring in both Beowulf and The Rule Of St. Benedict. 

Throughout the poem Beowulf  the characters are entrenched in a warrior culture. While Christianity was a developing ideology when the original elements of Beowulf were written, the poet who compiled the works (all of which were likely written over generations prior to his “editing” of those poems) into one epic poem was likely influenced by Christianity. As a result, while the character of Beowulf  himself was influenced by the Germanic paganism of his era, the poet who created the overall work likely infused some of the text with Christian influence. Therefore, the text straddles both religions, and the characteristics of the afterlife are a bit cloudy because of it. Nevertheless, the notion of living beyond one’s short time as a mortal on earth was one to strive for. The notion of living in infamy by virtue of people remembering your honorable reputation is one way in which Beowulf could live forever. While this theory is not the same as the Chistian one of entering the pearly gates, it is instead founded on the belief that if one's memory lives on, so does the person.  This idea of living beyond one’s physical life is highlighted in the text:  “It is a wonder to know where the most courageous of men may come to the end of his allotted life, and no longer dwell a man in the mead-hall among companions.”’(Pg.109).The belief system during Beowulf’s life, paganism, was based in glory,  and fighting well will help an individual achieve this form eternity in which they would live in eternal glory; that often manifests itself as a never-ending party. If one does develop a reputation as a hero, that is what deems them fit for the afterlife (Pg.109). Prior to the time period of Beowulf, the main belief was that people were victims of fate. How they behaved had no impact on what they could accomplish, but instead people were simply born into a life they could not alter(Pg.3). In the time of Beowulf, the emerging Christain belief that there was some sort of afterlife had begun to infiltrate societal belief systems. As a result, the text reflects that belief as Beowulf attempts to achieve warrior-based glory in order to go to Heaven. While the afterlife and Christ are not explicitly mentioned in the text, the possibility of life after death factors into the characters’ actions likely because of the Christian influence on the poet.    

While Christianity did not have a major influence on the characters in Beowulf, the emerging concepts of the religion can be seen throughout the text, specifically relating to the afterlife. Beowulf states: “No we’ll at night play without any weapons- if unweaponed he dare to face me in fight. The Father in His wisdom shall apportion the honours then, the All-holy Lord, to whichever side shall seem to Him fit.”(Pg 26-27) Here, one can see that Beowulf is still clinging to the notion of fate that had pervaded the culture until then, but at the same time, that notion is at odds with the rising Christian belief system that the poet was influenced by in which one’s behavior is in some ways judged by God.

 Contrarily, in The Rule of St Benedict, Benedict discusses how a monk should act in order to achieve eternal life in the form of Heaven. The notion of Heaven in the Rule of St.Benedict is a distinctly Christain one, similar to the modern Christain belief that there is a  Kingdom not of this World. Specifically, in terms of the abbot, he discusses how various laws apply to basic ideals on how to act, even down to the most specific of details. So in essence a good monk or abbot shall follow all of these principles and therefore they will be able to achieve eternal life with Christ in Heaven.(Pg.15) Good behavior revolves around a sense of community and lack of self centeredness, which is the opposite of what occurs in Beowulf which revolves around individual glory in order to achieve life after death through fame. One of the rules in Benedict highlights this belief in a lack of glory-seeking: “ The first rule of humility is unhesitating obedience, which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all. Because of the holy service they have professed, or because of dread of hell and for the glory of everlasting life, they carry out the superior’s order as promptly as if the command came from God himself.” (Pg 29). The theme of humility and obedience is ongoing throughout the text, which demonstrates the Christian values that have entered the culture at the time. In Beowulf, the notion of humility is virtually nonexistent. Beowulf looks to achieve as much fame as he can as a heroic warrior. Even as he makes multiple errors in his attempts, he persists in his efforts because he functions only to attain eternal glory. 

While the drive for entrance into the afterlife in some capacity pervades both texts, the ability to actually achieve that can be easily lost. In Beowulf, the inability to achieve nearly impossible greatness (such as slaying the dragon Which he ultimately does succeed in doing) can hinder one’s ability to live on in infamy (which is what the afterlife means to them at the time).(Pg.98.) Through adhering to honor, loyalty and bravery, one stands a chance at achieving this goal, but if one does not develop these qualities their chances of an afterlife are slim. An individual’s personal qualities are not determining factors in achieving the afterlife, but rather one’s heroic actions in battle or triumphs as a warrior. “The Geat put on the armour of a hero, unanxious for his life.''(Pg.53). Extreme courage in battle and loyalty to the men with whom you are fighting are essential to achieving the glory that will allow a person to live on in infamy through the memories and storytelling of others. Men literally would choose death over a lack of glory: “‘Death is better for any earl than an existence of disgrace!’”(103). In St Benedict this is not the case at all. If an individual is a glory-seeker or performs actions to benefit oneself instead of the community it means that they are living a life of sin and are being led astray from the Lord. This means they will not attain the afterlife as they are straying further from God and therefore are not acting with appropriate humility and grace. “because it is written: In a flood of words you will not avoid sin (Prov 10:19); and elsewhere, The tongue holds the key of life and death (Prov 18:21).”(Pg.31). Despite the fact that sin will lead you astray from the Lord and lacking humility will help you not achieve afterlife, humans are conditioned to sin. At times individuals will say things or act selfishly because that is the human condition. Confessing and growing as a humble person will allow individuals to take the steps to Heaven. 

Overall, while the characteristics of the afterlife are not the same in these texts, the desire to achieve some version of life after death is a pervasive theme throughout them both. The drive to live beyond the corporeal and into some sort of other worldliness is one that has been a part of man’s desires since the beginning of time. Both Beowulf and The Rule of St Benedict highlight this urge in men to cling to a belief that there is more to life than the one here on earth. These texts are both in some ways instruction manuals as to how to do so, though they are stylistically extremely different, the themes are the same.