scholarly journals Reading for the dignity of all: Overcoming the troubling legacy of the Old Testament

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Juliana Claassens
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Martha Nussbaum ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Religious Intolerance ◽  
The World ◽  
Politics Of Fear ◽  
Equal Respect

In light of the numerous instances in the Hebrew Bible in which the dignity of its characters are threatened, violated or potentially violated, this article seeks to identify a number of strategies that may be used to read the Bible for the dignity of all so overcoming the Old Testament’s troubling legacy. These strategies have been inspired by the work of Martha Nussbaum who, in one of her recent books, The New Religious Intolerance: Overcoming the Politics of Fear in an Anxious Age, names three principles that may help a society to become more compassionate in nature and to transcend, what she calls, a narcissistic notion of fear: (1) Political (and I would add religious) principles that express equal respect and dignity for all people (2) Rigorous critical thinking that criticizes inconsistencies that may lead to human rights violations (3) Developing an empathetic or participatory imagination, in which one is able to consider how the world looks from the point of view of a person of a different cultural or religious point of view.

Canons to the Left of Him: Brevard Childs, his Critics, and the Future of Old Testament Theology

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Provan
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Biblical Theology ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Probable Origin ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

It is well known that the seeds from which the modern discipline of OT theology grew are already found in 17th and 18th century discussion of the relationship between Bible and Church, which tended to drive a wedge between the two, regarding canon in historical rather than theological terms; stressing the difference between what is transient and particular in the Bible and what is universal and of abiding significance; and placing the task of deciding which is which upon the shoulders of the individual reader rather than upon the church. Free investigation of the Bible, unfettered by church tradition and theology, was to be the way ahead. OT theology finds its roots more particularly in the 18th century discussion of the nature of and the relationship between Biblical Theology and Dogmatic Theology, and in particular in Gabler's classic theoreticalstatementof their nature and relationship. The first book which may strictly be called an OT theology appeared in 1796: an historical discussion of the ideas to be found in the OT, with an emphasis on their probable origin and the stages through which Hebrew religious thought had passed, compared and contrasted with the beliefs of other ancient peoples, and evaluated from the point of view of rationalistic religion. Here we find the unreserved acceptance of Gabler's principle that OT theology must in the first instance be a descriptive and historical discipline, freed from dogmatic constraints and resistant to the premature merging of OT and NT — a principle which in the succeeding century was accepted by writers across the whole theological spectrum, including those of orthodox and conservative inclination.

The Persecuted Body

Facing Fear ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melani Mcalister
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
First Century ◽  
Body Of Christ ◽  
Evangelical Christians ◽  
The World ◽  
Politics Of Fear ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
International Religious Freedom Act ◽  
The U.S

This chapter examines the politics of fear underlying the antipersecution discourse that revolved around evangelical Christians at the turn of the twenty-first century. A video made by the U.S.-based Christian evangelical group Voice of the Martyrs showed that Christians are being persecuted all around the world. By the turn of the twenty-first century, a passionate concern with the persecution of Christians united conservatives as well as liberal and moderate evangelicals. The chapter shows how antipersecution discourse resulted in the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. It also considers the significance of spectacles of the violated body to the discourse of persecution and how intense attention to Christian persecution created a tension for evangelicals between the universalizing language of human rights and a specific commitment to the “persecuted body” of Christ. Finally, it explores how evangelicals' attention to Christian persecution intersects with Islamic concerns.

Documenting atrocities around the world: Why engage with the perpetrators?

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 804-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Canet
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Documentary Films ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
The World ◽  
Current Century ◽  
Methodological Approaches

Following a century filled with violations of human rights, a significant number of documentary films have appeared since the first decade of the current century that report these events. Traditionally this process is carried out from the victims’ point of view. However, a new tendency has emerged in which the films deal with the perpetrators’ perspective. It is easy to understand how establishing a relationship with a person who has committed atrocities may be problematic. So, why should we engage with perpetrators? The overarching purpose of this article is to attempt to offer some answers to this question. To this end, two methodological approaches are carried out in parallel: first, this article explores a sample of five documentary films and the filmmakers’ considerations of what their engagement with the perpetrators was like. Second, this article reviews the related literature and the controversial reception of these films by some scholars. In doing so, I also posit a theory that 4Rs (remembrance, recognition, remorse, and redemption) are a necessary prerequisite for the fifth R, of reconciliation. The final elaboration of this schema is mainly based on an example of interpersonal reconciliation.

God in the Old Testament

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent A. Strawn
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Religious Literature ◽  
Forthcoming Article ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Love ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Character Of God

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Please check back later for the full article. The God of the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible) is arguably one of the most fascinating deities in all religious literature: complex and multifaceted; prone to great acts of mercy and kindness, although not above brutal acts of punishment and wrath; consumed with care for the world and its inhabitants; capable of changing direction or mind; inexplicably in love with God’s people and deeply concerned with their ways in the world. This robust picture of the character of God in the Old Testament emerges in the aggregate: from viewing the library of books that is the Old Testament as a whole and trying to reckon with their literary complexity at a higher order of reflection. Inordinate attention to specific parts of the Old Testament—this verse, say, or that one, especially when divorced and isolated from all others—can produce a completely different (mis)perception such as that found in some ungenerous estimations that see the God of the Old Testament as petty or unjust, vindictive or bloodthirsty, misogynistic or genocidal. Such estimations are as old as the second-century arch-heretic Marcion but are also found in works of more recent vintage. Some—although certainly not all—of these negative descriptors can be applied to the God of the Old Testament in certain passages, but a portrait consisting solely of them will end up being little more than a caricature that will not hold up to close scrutiny because it systematically ignores every piece of contrary data found in the Bible. To be sure, accounting for what might be called “polarities” in God’s presentation (God’s love versus God’s wrath) is a challenging intellectual task, literarily as much as theologically. Not all readers are up to the job (witness Marcion). But this task must be engaged if one wishes to write a complete character description (not to mention analysis) of God from the biblical texts. Indeed, the complexity of any more fulsome portrait of God in the Old Testament—marked, for example, by tensions, a vast array of metaphors, and alternative presentations—should be one of the primary results of such an endeavor. The God of the Old Testament is, after all, first and foremost, according to the description above, complex and multifaceted. The complexity of God’s portrayal in the Old Testament is the direct result of the diversity of the Bible itself—a term that derives from a Greek plural, ta biblia, “the books.” Not only are the books of the Bible several and different at a synchronic level, but also they come from different periods and are themselves (that is, within each particular book) the result of long diachronic processes. This two-layered diversity that marks the Bible adds yet further difficulty to the task of describing God therein, even as it suggests that more than one approach can and must be (and has been) utilized in the attempt. In the final analysis, it seems safe to say that the complexity of God’s portrayal in the Old Testament has functioned not only to make this deity endlessly fascinating in the history of civilization but also to underscore—at some literary level, if nothing else—that the God of whom the texts speak is truly a divine character: not able to be captured, controlled, or managed by the human characters in the stories and not even by the sacred literature itself. Only a robust approach to the biblical literature that pays attention to both synchronic and diachronic aspects can hope to do justice to such a fascinating deity.

scholarly journals We are Appalachian Christians: Wait, can we say that?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Melissa Comer ◽  
Kathy Brashears
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Scholarship Of Teaching ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Religious Intolerance ◽  
Appalachian Women ◽  
Southern Appalachian ◽  
The World ◽  
Equity Model

Considering the question: ‘can we say that we’re Southern Appalachian Christians in the world of academia?’, the authors examine the answer amid diverse people groups while reflecting on their personal cultures as Appalachian women, Appalachian storytellers, and, yes, Appalachian Christians. Acknowledging that cultural influences impact their lives in academia, they explore how faith is often perceived in higher education. Living in the Southern United States, in the heart of Appalachia, in an area readily identified as the Bible-Belt, the authors use storytelling as a vehicle for examining intolerance as well as for thinking about what it means to be tolerant. Framed within a diversity and equity model of thinking, they provide a thought-provoking probe: have we entered a world where religious intolerance, specifically that of Christian beliefs, is acceptable?   Keywords: Tolerance, Equity, Academia, Storytelling, Culture, Christians, AppalachiaHow to cite this article:Comer, M. & Brashears, K. 2020. We are Appalachian Christians: Wait, can we say that?. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. 4(2): 218-227. https://doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v4i2.126.This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

scholarly journals PENYEMBUHAN DALAM JEMAAT DITINJAU DARI SUDUT THEOLOGI

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-88
Author(s):  
Rencan Carisma Marbun
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Divine Healing ◽  
Mental Life ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
General Provision

AbstractIn the Bible, we do not see the description of pain and healing as we haveencountered in the world of medicine. However, from a number of terms thebackground or meaning can be known. In the Old Testament, sickness is due to someone experiencing in their body something incomplete, or “badevents”. He does not experience normal bodily and mental life, perhaps due to infection, imbalance (harmony), or backward health, so he is called sick (holi). We see that healing is one of the responsibilities that humans can do for people who suffer from illness. The role of doctor and his remedybecomes and seems to indicate his responsibility towards the sufferingperson, who is deficient in reaffirming the people (cf. the term “hzk piel” in Jeremiah 30:21; 34: 4). In the New Testament, we do not find theimpression of illness arising as a sign of God's punishment, but instead inJesus’ ministry, He healed people, a sign of reestablishing the order of life with God (cf. Luke 4:18). Healing is generally an act or a way to heal the sick, and it can also be mentioned that healing is divine. Healing in Greek is called in the plural meaning the gifts of healing. The healing of miracles in the Gospel of John emphasizes the dynamic work of God and the sign (Greek: semeia) of His power. Disease is not only a result of sin, but also shows God’s work (9:3). So it is clear that healing miracles is not only valid individually, locally, or temporarily physical meaning, but also in general, provision and spiritual.Keywords: Healing, Congregation

scholarly journals Dignity, personhood and culture: reflections on bioethics of today

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Munzarova
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sono Stati ◽  
Inherent Dignity ◽  
The World ◽  
Loss Of Dignity ◽  
Human Family ◽  
Modern Form

Il rispetto per la dignità intrinseca di ogni essere umano è il fondamento di ogni etica medica, nonché il fondamento di molte dichiarazioni. Quella fondamentale, la Dichiarazione Universale dei Diritti dell’Uomo (ONU 1948) – ricordando “gli atti di barbarie che oltraggiarono la coscienza dell’umanità”, ha sancito che “il riconoscimento della dignità intrinseca ... di tutti i membri della famiglia umana è il fondamento della libertà, della giustizia e della pace nel mondo”. Nell’attuale disputa della bioetica diversi autori negano questo fatto, negano la personalità di tutti, incoraggiano l’uccisione di coloro che non sono, secondo il loro punto di vista, persone, argomentano contro il rispetto della coscienza, mettono insieme dignità intrinseca ed estrinseca (attribuita), ritengono che la dignità sia un concetto inutile in etica medica, ecc., ecc. E poiché le idee hanno sempre conseguenze, i medici uccidono i loro pazienti (accettando i loro sentimenti di perdita della dignità) e scoprono una novità piuttosto sorprendente, una forma moderna di paradossale guarigione-uccisione: le cure palliative e l’eutanasia legalizzata non sono antagonisti, sono uniti in una “cura palliativa integrale”. Dobbiamo vedere la realtà: alcuni aspetti del ragionamento odierno ricordano in maniera inquietante le motivazioni degli atti di barbarie precedenti alla guerra. Svariati segnali urgenti provenienti da uomini di cultura, che hanno avuto una personale esperienza tragica a causa di questi atti di barbarie, sono stati riportati. ---------- Respect to the inherent dignity of every human being is the cornerstone of all medical ethics as well as the cornerstone of many declarations. The fundamental one, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN 1948) – remembering the “barbarous acts, that have outraged the conscience of mankind” – proclaimed that “recognition of the inherent dignity … of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. In the present arena of bioethics several authors deny this fact, deny the personhood of everybody, recommend killing of those who are, according their point of view, not persons, speak against the respect of conscience, conflate inherent and extrinsic (attributed) dignity, think that dignity is a useless concept in medical ethics, etc. etc. And as ideas have always consequences, physicians kill their patients (accepting their feelings of the loss of dignity) and find out quite strange innovation, a modern form of healing-killing paradox: palliative care and legalized euthanasia are not antagonistic; they are joined together in “integral palliative care”. We must see the reality: certain aspects of present day reasoning are disturbingly reminiscent to the reasoning of those who prepared barbarous acts before the war. Several urgent warning coming from the men of wisdom, who had personal tragic experience due to these barbarous acts, are quoted.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PERLINDUNGAN TERHADAP TOLERANSI KEBEBASAN BERAGAMA DI INDONESIA DALAM PERSPEKTIF HAK ASASI MANUSIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Nathanael Bagas Setyawan ◽  
Ridwan Arifin
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Religious Intolerance ◽  
Religious Conflicts ◽  
The World ◽  
Crucial Problem ◽  
Religious Problems

Activities to religion are generally carried out by all religious communities in the world without limiting an activity in the process, because it can disrupt the worship process. But in its implementation, especially in Indonesia, the public is less aware of the importance of tolerating religious freedom in order to prevent religious conflicts in the concept of Human Rights. Historically, religious problems are a social problem because they involve the lives of people who cannot be separated from the study of social sciences. Therefore, the religious sciences are essentially parts of Sociology, Psychology and Anthropology. Whereas the issue of religious intolerance in Indonesia is a crucial problem, because these problems can divide the Indonesian people, even though religious problems are a problem that does not need to be exaggerated because in essence every religion teaches good things so that the issue of religious freedom of others is in vain. So from that a country needs to have a law to regulate the existing government system, one of which is to regulate religion in Indonesia. Religion in Indonesia itself has been regulated in chapter XI of Religion in Article 29 paragraph (2) where the State guarantees the independence of each resident to embrace their respective religion and to worship according to that belief. Not only about religious freedom, the context of violations concerning religion in Indonesia has also been regulated in law, but the public still underestimates the law because they themselves are also taboo on the laws that apply in Indonesia. Problems concerning religious intolerance can be prevented through counseling on vulnerable areas that will cause religious commotion, so that the pillars of nationality contained in the Pancasila can still survive and run as they should. This study analyzes the Protection of Religious Freedom in Indonesia in the perspective of Human Rights in Indonesia.  Keywords : Agama, intoleransi, konflik, kebebasan, perlindungan hukum.

scholarly journals “DAVID PSALMS” BY TARAS SHEVCHENKO AND LINA KOSTENKO IN THE ASPECT OF INTERTEXTUALITY

2019 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
L. A. Cherednуk
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Scientific Intelligence ◽  
Biblical Text ◽  
World Culture ◽  
Main Text ◽  
Common Features ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Different Levels

The article discusses intertextuality as a specific feature of fiction of the XIX-XXI centuries, is a peculiar communication code of the author with the reader, helps him to understand not only himself, but also the world in which he lives. Intertext appears in works of literature in the form of citations, allusions, reminiscences, parodies and imitations of other people's stylistic properties. Scientific intelligence analyzes the features of the structure of the Book of Psalms, which is one of the books of the Old Testament of the Bible, addresses the problem of authorship of a monument to world culture. The article analyzes separate poems from the cycle David of Psalms, which both artists have. Of course, each of the poets can trace the interpretation of the biblical text of an outstanding literary and cultural attraction. In the process of analysis, it was found that T. Shevchenko’s works are characterized by deep connections with ancient culture, Slavic mythology, and many European literatures. The “David Psalms” cycle of modern Ukrainian poetess Lina Kostenko is full of modern realities, acute social conflicts, which is a feature of the poetess’s creative manner. It is defined as the original features of the biblical text copying by each writer, and the presence of common features. It is established that in the works of both poets, despite the difference in time, metaphysical ideas take place, reflecting universal moral and ethical principles, opposing the concepts of “good – evil”, “truth – untruth”, “glory – hula”, are widely used Church Slavonic dictionary, there are elements of introspection. The works of Taras Shevchenko and Lina Kostenko are full of deep feelings about contemporary being, creating a unique image of a literary hero, which is a reflection of the author's position. Entering into the main text the motives of intertextuality allows you to create a unique idiostyle of both artists at different levels of literary reception.

Creation

2019 ◽  
pp. 511-524
Author(s):  
Paul M. Blowers
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Wisdom Literature ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Many ◽  
Sacred History

Early Christian interpretation of Scripture on the theme of creation not surprisingly gave considerable attention to the Genesis account of the origins of the world, in part to counter the claims of Graeco-Roman cosmology, but more importantly to expound the latent theological meaning of the many details of the biblical cosmogony. But patristic exegetes were also keen on the fact that ‘creation’ in the Bible implied far more than beginnings; indeed, it designated the whole economy (oikonomia) of the Creator’s ongoing relation to the creation as set forth in sacred history and as requiring the further interpretative lenses of Christology, soteriology, and eschatology. Early Christian interpreters plumbed a wide variety of Old Testament texts beyond Genesis (especially the Psalms, Deutero-Isaiah, and the Wisdom literature). In their New Testament commentary they focused on such motifs as the subjection of creation to ‘vanity’, the work of Jesus Christ in recapitulating God’s creative purposes, and the eschatological renewal and transformation of the created universe in its relation to human salvation.

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