The Thebes Times

Religion vs. The State

The armies of Argos have retreated the city of Thebes is once again safe from the invading forces. The Gods have been kind to us. The ruling brothers have both fallen in battle both Eticoles and Polynices are dead. A new leader has come out of this war by the name of Creon uncle to the fallen brothers. Creon has stepped into the role of leader very quickly. His first order of business was to give a burial to a hero of Thebes Etiocles. He is to be buried with full honors and sent to his place in the after world. On the other hand his brother Polynices is ordered not to be buried and is to be regarded as a traitor to the city of Thebes.

This is a very serious decision that Creon has made. For it is known that a person that is not given a proper burial is doomed to walk the earth for all eternity. The brothers are survived by two sisters Isemene and Antigone. These two sisters have to deal with the fact that one of their family is not being allowed to pass into the afterworld. Antigone the stronger of the two sisters is not taking this decision by her uncle very lightly. She believes that Creon has no right to forbid a burial and go against the laws of the Gods.

Antigone decided to go against Creon and bury her brother but was caught in the act. Creon was enraged when he discovered that someone went against his orders especially when he found it to be Antigone. He was with another decision to follow his law or break it for Antigone. He decided to follow threw on his law and send Antigone to her death. Im going to leave
my reporting here and discuss the problem I faced as a journalist in deciding
who to side with. This is where the problem arises between the authority of the state and the beliefs of a religion. There is conflicting authority between the two.

The Gods say that every man is entitled to a burial that will allow him to
pass to the afterworld. On the other hand Creon is the king of Thebes and is
believed to be closer to the gods and the laws he makes are final the citizens must respect his authority or face the consequences. But I believe that Anitgone is being killed for honoring the gods which is wrong.