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== Paradiso ==

== Paradiso ==

Ripheus is most notable for his role in [[Dante's Paradiso]], where he appears in the sphere of [[Jupiter]] among the virtuous rulers. His inclusion in [[Dante]]'s conception of [[Heaven]] is surprising, since normally only [[Christian]]s can be saved. However, Dante claims that Ripheus' devotion to justice gradually allowed him to discover the Christian [[faith]], through the divine [[virtue]] of [[love]] (or [[charity]])<ref>Paradiso XX, 106-107</ref>.

Ripheus is most notable for his role in [[Dante's Paradiso]], where he appears in the sphere of [[Jupiter]] among the virtuous rulers. His inclusion in [[Dante]]'s conception of [[Heaven]] is surprising, since normally only [[Christian]]s can be saved. However, Dante claims that Ripheus' devotion to justice gradually allowed him to discover the Christian [[faith]], through the divine [[virtue]] of [[love]] (or [[charity]]).<ref>Paradiso XX, 106-107</ref>

Here, Dante differs from many Christians in asserting that belief in [[Christ]] is not necessary for [[salvation]]. He says ''"Quelle tre donna li fur per battesmo"'' ("Those three ladies acted as his baptism"), i.e. the three divine virtues of faith, hope and charity saved him without his having to be a Christian in the formal sense. What is important to Dante is the state of a man's soul: virtue is usually achieved through Christ, but it can be found through other means.

Here, Dante differs from many Christians in asserting that belief in [[Christ]] is not necessary for [[salvation]]. He says ''"Quelle tre donna li fur per battesmo"'' ("Those three ladies acted as his baptism"), i.e. the three divine virtues of faith, hope and charity saved him without his having to be a Christian in the formal sense. What is important to Dante is the state of a man's soul: virtue is usually achieved through Christ, but it can be found through other means.