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Taylor Heger
Prof. Mary-Catherine Ferguson
SNHU HUM-100
06/26/22
8-2 Short Answer: Belief Systems and Ethics
Prompt
Find a news report about an artifact from the humanities involved in religious controversy. Then,
answer the questions below. Consider searching the religion section of CNN or similar sources.
1. Provide a link to the news story and write a short summary of each side’s position. How
do you think the controversy was impacted by each party’s interpretation of the cultural
work?
2. What do you see as the main value of humanities in defining ethics?
3. How do the humanities impact ethical issues in society today?
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“Why a Smiling Statue of Satan Is Stirring Up Controversy in Spain”
Why a Smiling Statue of Satan Is Stirring Up Controversy in Spain | Smart News|
Smithsonian Magazine
Statue of Satan too 'friendly' for some in Segovia, Spain | CNN Travel
In the Spanish city of Segovia, there is a neighborhood folk story that goes like this. “A
girl tasked with hauling heavy buckets of water across steep streets propositioned the
devil to create a means to carry the water for her. If the devil could finish the job by the
end of the night, she agreed to pay for the deed with her soul. The devil toiled away,
stacking brick after brick. Meanwhile, the girl, experiencing a sudden change of heart,
began fervently praying for her soul’s salvation. It worked. According to legend, the devil
was just one stone away from completing the aqueduct when the night ended, releasing
the girl from her contract, and leaving the town of Segovia with a fancy new aqueduct.”
(Solly, 2019) In 2018, to pay tribute, the provincial government of Segovia sanctioned a
model of the devil from the story. For the natives, the sculpture was an appreciation for
the town’s history. But for many Catholics, they find the statue to be offensive, and
“constitutes the glorification of evil” (Solly, 2019)
I can understand the perception by both parties. Natives may not have initially predicted
the controversy that would ensue, they were only trying to pay homage to their city’s
history. I can also see why Catholics would find offense to such a statue. If one did not
know about the story behind the creation of the statue, I would not comprehend either
why one would choose to display a statue of the devil, especially from a religious
standpoint. This contention did result in several naysayers creating an online petition,
only for a counter-petition to be created. In the end, the erection of the statue was
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temporarily halted before the judge ultimately granted the instatement of the statue and
ordered petitioners to pay restitution for legal fees.
The main value of humanities in defining ethics is that it assists in casting resilience and
perception among a nation. Furthermore, the value of humanities in defining ethics
encourages governing, principally on elaborate equitable affairs that humanity as one
faces. Today, the humanities impact ethical issues by implementing a connection for
fantasizing influence, whether constructive or adverse, of contemporary principles in our
way of life and routine existence.
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REFERENCES
Solly, M. (2019, January 23).>Why a Smiling Statue of Satan Is Stirring Up Controversy in Spain.
Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-smiling-
statue-satan-stirring-controversy-spain-180971321/
Stenmark, C. K., Antes, A. L., Martin, L. E., Bagdasarov, Z., Johnson, J. F., Devenport, L. D., &
Mumford, M. D. (2010). Ethics in the Humanities: Findings from Focus Groups. Journal
of Academic Ethics, 8(4), 285–300. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1007/s10805-
010-9120-1
CNN, B. F. S. (n.d.).>“Friendly” Satan statue causes anger in Segovia, Spain. CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/friendly-satan-statue-segovia-spain/index.html
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