Essay on Book Summary of the Bible Among the Myths

Introduction Author John N. Oswalt begins The Bible Among the Myths: Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? with a concise and well-written introduction that whets the reader’s appetite, compelling one to continue reading. He begins by informing the reader that his novel has been in the works dating all of the way back to the 1960s, when he attended the Asbury Theological Seminary. Oswalt quickly points out that one of the main points that the book will focus on is determining if â€Å"the religion of the Old Testament [is] essentially similar to, or essentially different from, the religions of its neighbors.†1 Oswalt is swift to acknowledge a major difference between the Old Testament and the religions of the Israelites Near†¦show more content†¦Is it Appropriate to Classify the Bible as Myth? In this particular section, Oswalt begins by arguing that you cannot rationalize calling the Bible a myth until you have a clear definition of the word â€Å" myth.† He continues by pointing out how difficult it is to actually define what a â€Å"myth† is. Oswalt emphasizes that â€Å"Rogerson goes so far as to say that there are so many differences in opinion on the subject that no one definition is possible.†4 The definitions for the word â€Å"myth† can be divided into two distinct categories: historical-philosophical and the phenomenological, or descriptive. Regardless of the analysis of the word â€Å"myth† and its various meanings, Oswalt concludes that Bible is definitely not a myth in way, shape, form, or fashion. He writes, â€Å"Rather it is a rehearsal of the nonrepeatable acts of God in identifiable time and in concert with human beings. Its purpose is to provoke human choices and behavior through the medium of memory.†5 Continuity: The Basis of Mythical Thinking Continuity as the Ruling Concept in Myth Myths are distinctive because of their continuity. Every aspect of a myth co-exists. They are intertwined, and there is no distinction between humanity, nature, and the deity. One of the interesting aspects of myths is that they lack barriers, and as a consequence, humans can actually participate in the nature and in the divine. Furthermore, symbols are reality. Everything is connected, and the lines areShow MoreRelatedEssay about Book Summary The Bible Among the Myths2835 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿ INTRODUCTION The book opens with an introduction comparing the study of the Old Testament and the other religions and cultures of other peoples from the Ancient Near East. Scholars used to believe that the Old Testament was unique among other beliefs in the Ancient Near East but they now view the Old Testament as identical to other religions of its day and time. The author also discusses the vital philosophical distinction between â€Å"essence† and â€Å"accident.† When removing an essential featureRead MoreBook Summary: the Bible Among the Myths by John N. Oswalt Essay3529 Words   |  15 PagesABSTRACT John Oswalt, in his book The Bible Among the Myths, presents his position to the reader that the bible is different and separate from other writings of the Ancient Near East. He asserts the Bible is both historically accurate and theologically sound. He makes the defense the Bible was divinely inspired and revealed to humanity and unique from other Ancient Near East literature. There was a time when the Bible, and the Israelite religion was different from its neighboring societies.Read MoreMs Paul2146 Words   |  9 PagesBible Among the Myths Malcom College English 093 Ms. Smith 01/23/2012 Introduction The book is an analysis of the Biblical view of the world and compares it other works in the Ancient Near East of that time with the development of the Bible. This is done by an in-depth analysis of the underlying beliefs inherent in mythology and the Biblical text. Of primary significance is the authors portrayal of the Biblical insistence on monotheism and divine transcendence compared to the polytheisticRead MoreEssay on The Bible Among the Myths Summary3696 Words   |  15 PagesSUMMARY OF JOHN N. OSWALT’S BOOK THE BIBLE AMONG THE MYTHS David Strickland Old Testament Introduction - OBST 590 June 1, 2013 Introduction The author, John N. Oswalt, was first introduced to the subject of this book in his seminary studies in the 1960s. Oswalt introduces his book with a narrative of the similarities and differences that exist between the Old Testament and the literature of the Ancient Near East. Prior to the 1960s scholars believed that the Old Testament was unique and didRead MoreThe Cyclops Scene In Flannery OConnors Good Country People1508 Words   |  7 Pagesleg. A Bible seller named Manley Pointer comes into her life, and eventually he steals Joy’s artificial leg. Flannery O’Connor, the author of Good Country People, was a boarder of Robert and Sally Fitzgerald (Alexander 2016). Robert Fitzgerald is known as one of the best Greek translators in English, and his work includes Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey (Mitgang 1985). This affected O’Connor’s Good Country People as it has similarities to the Cyclops scene in B ook 9 of TheRead MoreEffects Of Africanization In This Side Jordan By Margret1750 Words   |  7 Pageserasing the dominating culture of the white into the African culture and to clearly spell out the supremacy of the African culture. The authors during the period employed various artistic skills which enable them to put down the effaced signs, symbols, myths and the folktales of the countries that were colonized by the European powers. The writers put their focus on the on the social quandary of the communities that suffered the traumatic affiliation of the strange power and the authority of the EuropeanRead MoreThe Role Of Achievement Motivation1732 Words   |  7 PagesCHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES 5.1 SUMMARY Over the years there has been hue and cry on industrial development in Nigeria. But the focus was mainly on the governments’ contribution and its activities like intervention policies and program to realize this goal. Furthermore, huge budgetary allocation designated, and plunged into the sector notwithstanding, only modest success, if any had been recorded. Consequent upon this, this research topicRead MoreThe Myth Of Epic Of Gilgamesh 1879 Words   |  8 PagesHistory 10 Professor Chrissanthos 4 October, 2016 From Myth to Religion The Sumerian myth â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† is known to be the oldest written fictional story of all time. The original script, discovered on 12 clay tablets in ancient Sumeria, covers the adventures of a real historical figure (Ralph): the Sumarian King of Uruk, who lived sometime between the years 2750 and 2500 B.C. (Epic) The adventures of Gilgamesh were so popular among the people of that era (the earliest written versions ofRead MoreThe Core Essence Of Servant Leadership From A Biblical Perspective1605 Words   |  7 Pages‘Servant Leadership’ from a Biblical perspective, which might be able to provide practical, theological, and hermeneutical insights in order to develop leadership competency and a healthy prosperous ministry, as oppose to the current secular ‘leadership’ myths and fascination in our church, culture and society. Admittedly, over the years I have always admired and strived to adopt a servant leader attitude in all my endeavo rs. Equally, the paper will reflect on ‘Servant Leadership’ through the lens of JesusRead MoreThe Impact of Ancient Religion on Homers Odyssey1413 Words   |  6 PagesThe Impact of Ancient Religion on Homer’s Odyssey    There has long been a fashion among critics and historians, including Sir James Frazier and Graham Hancock, to insist upon taking the account of Odysseus voyage to Hades in Book XI of the Odyssey at near face-value as a description of people and places familiar to a Greek audience of Homers day. Both linguistics and comparative history have been employed to discover exactly how accurately this originally oral epic conveys this gritty realism

A Response to Paul Rowlands Hobbes, Stirner, and Authority

A Response to Paul Rowlands Hobbes, Stirner, Authority In Hobbes, Stirner, Authority, Paul Rowland (1998) argues that while Thomas Hobbes and Max Stirner are diametrically opposed in their views of how society should be run, each philosopher sees man as a conscious egoist driven by his own desires (p. 25). Yet, where Hobbes argues that a governing person is needed to regulate the masses, Stirner contends that people should be endowed with the right to form their own union of egoists, comprised of like-minded individuals (Rowlandson, 1998, p. 26). Rowlands chief argument is that Hobbess model is more appropriate in theory and practice, since Rowlands model offers no protection against chaos. Certainly, Rowland is correct that Stirners model runs the risk of succumbing to anarchy. However, Stirners theory is in fact more appropriate because it is more psychologically astute and understands that peoples intellectual liberty is stifled when they are regulated by an authority figure that is not necessarily of their choosing. Stirners model for a union of egoists rests in the fact that people perform better when they exist within a supportive cohort. The union of egoists can be highly heterogeneous, yet the members must be united toward a common goal and share fundamental beliefs. To this end, it is worth unpacking Stirners term; on the surface, a union of egoists would appear paradoxical, since if people are egoistical, they must necessarily be

Domestic Violence 3 Essay Research Paper DOMESTIC free essay sample

Domestic Violence 3 Essay, Research Paper DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Although domestic force includes sibling maltreatment and senior maltreatment, and kid abuse the focal point of my essay is on partner maltreatment. Domestic force has many names ; household force, banging, married woman whipping, and domestic maltreatment. All these footings refer to the same thing, maltreatment by a matrimonial, common jurisprudence, or a dating spouse in an confidant relationship. Domestic force is non limited to physical whippings. It is any behavior that is intended to repress and command another human being through the usage of humiliation, fright, and physical or verbal assaults. Domestic force is really of import issue in today # 8217 ; s society because it has such a profound negative affect on the abused, mentally and physically, and more demands to be done to assist the abused and prevent it from go oning farther. Even though Domestic force can be caused by either the male or the female it is normally caused by the male due to their controlling nature and physical advantage. History Since the morning of clip physical force has been used to maintain subsidiary groups in their topographic point by dominant people in society. Work forces have ever been physically larger than adult females and since mostsocieties are male dominated, excessively no surprise the adult female has about ever been the most common victim. In Roman times, a adult male was allowed to disassociate, castigate, or even kill his married woman for criminal conversation, go toing public games, or public inebriation. All of which the hubby was allowed to freely partake in. During the in-between ages it was mans right to crush his married woman or kill her for so much as giving her hubby a soiled expression. The first recorded advocators against domestic force were two writer by names of Christian Pizan and Mary Wollstonecraft. Even though the issue was being publicized, no action was of all time taken until the 1840 # 8217 ; s when the American adult females # 8217 ; s motion brought up the issu e while contending for the right to vote. No province in the U.S really passed a jurisprudence doing married woman crushing illegal until 1883. Although Torahs were passed to do it illegal, none were purely enforced. Even up until the 1970 # 8217 ; s, married woman whipping was still reasonably acceptable. The constabulary most frequently would go to calls of domestic force but would go forth things to be resolved by the household. This easiness and deficiency of enforcement allowed for the continuance of the maltreatment. The 70 # 8217 ; s became a period of protest and alteration for the adult females # 8217 ; s rights motion. By the 1980 # 8217 ; s major alterations started to take topographic point. Police no longer disregard calls of domestic force and more people were being convicted and punished for offenses of domestic force. The credence of domestic force is still seen today. It # 8217 ; s credence is reflected in popular civilization through the look # 8220 ; regulation of pollex # 8221 ; which comes from and old English regulation that a adult male could crush his married woman with any sensible instrument every bit long as it was no thicker that his pollex. Even in today # 8217 ; s society domestic force is still really common and more demands to be done to halt it. Causes Finding the grounds or causes of domestic force is a really hard. There is neer one ground for domestic force but it normally begins with a controlling nature and the demand the demand to command one # 8217 ; s partner. It begins with verbal abuses and debasement so over clip escalates into physical force. The maltreater has normally been involved in domestic force instance # 8217 ; s before. More than probably during child goon. There is normally many different stressors and factors that cause these built-in or erudite maltreaters to get down the maltreatment ; unemployment, drugs and intoxicant, different spiritual back rounds, low income degrees, and lower instruction degrees and merely different points of view.. None of these factors are non meant to be alibis, they are merely factors that come up in domestic force instances clip and clip once more. Types of Abuse/Psychology of domestic force When domestic force occurs there is several different types of maltreatment that take topographic point. The first is physical force. Physical force includes slapping, kicking, combustion, pluging, choking, locking a individual out of the place, restraining, and other Acts of the Apostless designed to wound, endanger, or do physical hurting. The 2nd type is emotional maltreatment which consists of systematically making or stating things to dishonor, abuse, ridicule, embarrass, demean, belittle, or mentally ache another individual. The 3rd type is sexual maltreatment. Sexual maltreatment is when person is forced to hold sex when he/she does non desire to. Coercing person to prosecute in sexual Acts of the Apostless that he/she does non wish or discoveries unpleasant, awful, or violent. Because some one is married to or has been seeing their spouse for a long clip does non necessitate that their must hold sexual intercourse with them. No one type of maltreatment is worse than another and they all have really emotionally detrimental effects. When it comes to domestic force the most confusing inquiry is why? Most people in today # 8217 ; s society agree that domestic force is incorrect and think that it should be stopped. We cognize that it is unsafe and emotionally destructive for kids to turn up in a violent place. We know that it is really emotionally destructive to the abused. Most societies have condemned it, we praise the attempts to assist the abused and halt the force but we still admiration why it does non travel off. The first ground is the rhythm of force which can be really difficult to interrupt. First tenseness physiques due to emphasize. The maltreater becomes critical, high-strung and cranky. The maltreater bit by bit becomes more opprobrious and more terrible incidents of maltreatment start to happen. Both parties can feel the loss of control which merely fuels the tenseness. With the 2nd phase of the rhythm comes the violent effusions with acute banging. The maltreater will wing away into a fury for no evident ground and there is entire loss of control. The 3rd phase comes after the force has stopped. The maltreater becomes contrite and excusatory. They frequently beg for forgiveness and swear it will neer go on once more. They go out of their manner to be sort and loving and they swear that they will alter. This stage explains why the abused comes back and lets the maltreatment rhythm Begin once more. The abused wants to believe the maltreater and wants to seek and do things work. They are frequently loath to go forth the opprobrious relationship because of a feeling of dependancy. The 2nd ground why this job does non travel off is the abused individual # 8217 ; s dependancy on their spouse and their # 8220 ; learned weakness # 8221 ; . Learned weakness is a psychological term foremost identified by psychologist Martin Seligman. Peoples who are abused tend to be given to believe that there is no manner out because they are so dependent on their spouse. They continue to set up with the maltrea tment and learn ways of covering to get by with it. The 3rd ground why this job does non travel off is because of the history of domestic force. It has been acted out for 1000s of old ages so there is still that credence and position that it is non a major job. Psychology of an Abuser So what makes an maltreater? Abusers normally portion common traits, back unit of ammunition factors, and behavior forms. It has been wholly agreed upon that the end of the maltreater is power and control over their spouse. These same people normally depend on their spouse for emotional support since they are missing in emotional accomplishments. The maltreater besides tend to conform the stereo typical position of the adult male and the adult females. The adult male goes out and makes the money to back up the household while adult females stays place to cook, clean, and expression after the childs. These people frequently have problem accepting duty for their behavior abusive and otherwise. They normally feel guilt or shame for their actions but they try to warrant or deny their behavior. It has been found that many maltreaters portion the same personality upsets such as deficiency of empathy, depression, general ill will, and feeling of victimization. They tend to miss societal accomplishments and they envelope themselves with their work and their household. They tend to construe guiltless state of affairss that arouse their green-eyed monster as holding been done with hostile purpose. Those who abuse big spouses frequently grew up in places marred by force between grownups, against kids, or both. However, it is of import to retrieve that turning up in a violent place does non vouch that a individual will go opprobrious. I think that it is really of import to understand and acknowledge p eople with opprobrious personalities so that they can be stopped and treated for what some would name a disease. Prevention Many psychologists believe that learning our kids that force is inappropriate and learning them better methods of job resolution, is the first measure in stoping domestic force. One of the cardinal constituents to doing the instruction of our kids work is taking by illustration by illustration and puting a positive illustration. Educating society as a whole besides a really of import key to stoping domestic force. Educating society as a whole is accomplished through alterations in public policy and patterns. Much tougher Torahs are needed since most maltreaters are given a smack on the carpus, it gives them and other people like them, the message that domestic force is non a major offense and they can acquire off with it. When communities set up compulsory apprehension and prosecution policies, a message is sent from the constabulary and the tribunals that domestic force is a offense that society will non digest. When they join with guidance plans for maltreaters, the message will be sides be that those who want to alter will be given a opportunity. Decision It has been agreed upon by all those seeking to stop domestic force that non merely the single maltreaters, but society itself needs aid. Domestic force is still subtly allowed, even encouraged some say, by assorted groups. Our media and amusement industry still glamorizes and tones down the earnestness of domestic force. There are still constabularies that ignore and trivialise domestic force. And Judgess that give weak penalty or merely allow the maltreaters off are all jobs that are blighting our society and doing it more hard to stop domestic force. I think that we are on the right path to stoping domestic force but our attempt is merely non strong plenty. Our message that domestic force is a offense is non strong plenty either. What are these opprobrious people supposed to believe when they are arrested, given a smack on the carpus, and so released the following twenty-four hours. My research has opened my eyes and made me cognizant of what is traveling on and what needs to be d one. In the hereafter I will make what is in my power to assist acquire the message across and prevent it if possible.

Paris and Menelaus Essay Example

Paris and Menelaus Paper The element that ties the violence and waste of war together in The Iliad is the imagery of fire. Almost every battle scene can be related to the wrath, anger and futility by observing these images. From the vary start of the poem Homer sets this tone with the symbol of fire:  First he went for the mules and circling dogs but then,  launching a piercing shaft at the men themselves,  he cut them down in droves-  and the corpse-fires burned on, night and day, no end in sight. (pg79, p1) In this instance Homer is commenting on the futility and waste of war by showing us the burning corpses after they have been shot with arrows of plague. He suggests, through this passage and many others, that war is not worth the price the Greeks have paid in lives. Once again, as civilization degenerates the imagery of fire grows stronger to represent the primal urges overtaking the solders. The element of fire is not only sown as the humans battle on the planes of troy but, in book twenty one, the gods of fire and water battle as well. During this battle the imagery of fire is most dominant as two immortal gods futilely fight to their death, killing anything that comes between them. Homers symbolic imagery of fire helps to guide the reader and forces them to recognize the futility and horror occurring throughout the war. We will write a custom essay sample on Paris and Menelaus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Paris and Menelaus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Paris and Menelaus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Through the descriptive recounting of the horrors and futility of the Trojan War, The Iliad sends messages to the reader critiquing the society in which Homer lived. The most prominent of these messages is that human civilization becomes fragile when dealing with the horrors of war. In the case of The Iliad, Homer shows how one mans anger can be extended to whole peoples and cities to facilitate a war:  Now Paris and Menelaus, Atride loved by Ares,  will fight it out with their rugged spears for Helen,  and Helen and all her treasures go to the man who wins. (pg137 p1) This is the turning point where civilization starts to disappear. In this scene the two men, Paris, Helens captor, and Menelaus, Helens husband, who both love Helen are challenged to fight against each other. The whole concept of civilization is questioned as a campaign is mounted toward a town because its leader stole a Greeks wife. As the story continues, the civilized manor in which the solders once behaved quickly turns to savage impulses. During the first battle scene, beginning in book two, many fighters battle with honour, facing each other and duelling without interference from the rest of the army. As the poem progresses the battle scenes become more gruesome and honour and civility are forgotten. In book eleven Homer compares the armies to two rows of harvesters with sickles, cutting each other down without honour. Throughout the book Homer tells of the fragility of civilization by demonstrating how fast it can completely vanish. Another good criticism Homer makes about the world in which he lives, is that as civilization and order deteriorates, man becomes overpowered by savage animal instincts. As the battle rages on, the soldiers become less and less civilized, and no longer kill out of necessity but out of pleasure. In the first chapter we see Achilles holding back his urge to kill the king, when civilization and honour have not been replaced by instinct. A good example of civilization falling apart and savagery overtaking sanity occurs after Achilles looses his best friend: Ive dragged hector here for the dogs to rip him raw-  and here in front of your flaming pyre Ill cut the throats  of a dozen sons of Troy in all their shining glory,  venting my rage on them for your destruction! (pg560, p1)  Here civilization has crumbled and Achilles does not appear to [rise] from barbarism to an enlightened stage of development to become a civilized person (according to The American Heritage Dictionary). Instead he seems content to satisfy his primal, savage, urges of rage and revenge. Homer does an excellent job of portraying the madness and savagery that develops within the characters as the world around them becomes less and less civilized. It is no coincidence that these messages are still relevant today. Homer felt the role of his poetry was to explain and to justify the evil in human life an evil that still exists today. Helen says that Zeus has set this horrible fate upon us so that we may be the subjects of song for later generations (pg207 p1) and she is right. Homer wished to deliver timeless messages though his oral and written epics so that future generations would be able to learn from the Greeks. To a certain point he has succeeded. Men no longer wage war (only small battles) over women and rage no longer drive armies. There are also many anti-war activists that promote peace and civilized negotiations versus their bloody counterpart. Charles Rowan Beye tells the best reason why The Iliad remains popular among modern audiences in Homer:  In ages that no longer have such bloodshed as part of their daily fare, the poem remains popular because it speaks to the anguished realization of the great nothingness of death that besets the young, by whom nothing yet has been accomplished, and lays to rest the compulsion to perform. (pg8, p2) But many modern war novels still portray horrors that take place during the wars of our century and the savagery of human nature is still in existence. Although Homer and his literature have opened our eyes as to how quickly our civilization can turn to savagery, society must still learn how to control this conversion.  If there where any benefits form fighting a war that lasted over nine years, Homer did not speak of them. He did not tell of economic boosts, political gains or technological advancements. There were no tales of friends bonding during the war, or lovers re-united after it. Instead this epic poem bombarded the senses with death, carnage and killing, pausing only briefly to inform the reader of great tragedy and sadness. Throughout the six hundred page epic, Homer never lets the reader forget the horrors of fighting a futile war or the fragility of human civilization and how quickly it can transform into human savagery. As the poem resounds throughout history and mode rn society, Homers fiery message of the savagery of war has been delivered. All we must do is listen. Bibliography Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Books. 1990.  Muller, Martian. Fighting in the Iliad in The Iliad, George Allen Unwin. 1984.  Beye, Charles Rowan. Homer in Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 176: Ancient Greek Authors. The Gale Group. 1997.  Monarch Notes. Works of Homer: Critical Commentary. Marboro Books. 1996