…for I am the Lord Who does kindness, justice and righteousness in the land, for in these is My desire… Jeremiah 9:23 Scripture’s wisdom is partly due to the extended period of time covered. From a political viewpoint, the Hebrew Bible captures a pre-nation’s exuberance and anxiety; it documents both national and theological power strugglesContinue reading “Evolution: Tzav”
Tag Archives: christianity
A Moment of Biblical Literacy: The Book of Ezra and Cyrus The Great
Whoever is among you of His entire people–may his God be with him–let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build the Temple of the Lord, God of Israel– He is the God!– which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:2 With historic events, i.e. the liberation of the people, joyous expressions occur. NamingContinue reading “A Moment of Biblical Literacy: The Book of Ezra and Cyrus The Great”
In Search of The Ten Commandments
Is it possible that an English translation transformed the Ten Commandments? The answer to these questions suggests that a not so accurate translation significantly impacted theology and contemporary beliefs. To understand how this happened, the initial inquiry is the Hebrew Bible. Before doing so, an understanding of how the Hebrew phrase for the Ten CommandmentsContinue reading “In Search of The Ten Commandments”
Vayishlach:The Line
At that time many who sought righteousness and justice went out into the wilderness… 1 Maccabees 2:29 Do societies have breaking points? Can there be immovable cries of ‘enough is enough!’? If so, are leaders involved? Do these leaders possess unique capacities and characteristics? The answers to these questions begin with the Torah Portion Vayishlach.Continue reading “Vayishlach:The Line”
Virtue Unleashed? Lech Lecha
Can one person transform the world? According to the Torah Portion Lech Lecha, “Yes.” For over two thousand years, scholars, commentators, and social scientists have tackled the Lech Lecha phenomena. In Modernity In 2000, Malcolm Gladwell explored the viral nature of human activity. In The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,Continue reading “Virtue Unleashed? Lech Lecha”
The Rational Versus Rationalism
Most humans’ actions internally are one hundred percent rational. Their thoughts justify their conduct. Biologically, it makes sense that actions, beyond reflex, is performed based upon logic. Thus, even egregious behaviors are rational. This rationality, however, is accomplished through misinterpretation, re-definition, hallucination or simply ignorance. In other words, people thoughts are internally logical. As aContinue reading “The Rational Versus Rationalism”
Pedukei’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Geography shapes both politics and religion. The Children of Israel’s wilderness wandering and their Promised Land permanence created a division between religion and politics. This division manifested in Judaism’s portability. The Torah Portion Pedukei addresses aspects of Tabernacle. This central portable structure served as a place for worship and sacrifice during the post Exodus wildernessContinue reading “Pedukei’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Is Preference Lost In Translation?
With Louisiana’s Ten Commandments’ Law requiring the posting in public school classrooms moving towards enaction, critics are raising concern that the language used for the Commandments’ sign constitutes a form of “choice”. In essence, the “choice” of words constituted a preference towards a particular religion or religious sect. “Choice”, in this instance, is nonsensical. TheContinue reading “Is Preference Lost In Translation?”
A Secular Education Lesson Plan for The Ten Commandments: Law vs. Moral Code
Originally, the Ten Commandments served as part of the Legal Code for the Israelite Nation. The Ten Commandments was an important legal document for the country. It was if the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and other laws were placed all into one document. The Ten Commandments include matters involving morals and values.Continue reading “A Secular Education Lesson Plan for The Ten Commandments: Law vs. Moral Code”
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law
In the United States, the State of Louisiana just enacted a law for the public display of thee Ten Commandments in public school classrooms beginning in 2025. The backlash was immediate. There are those crying violations of the First Amendment Establishment Clause while the law supporters are contending that it is a foundational document forContinue reading “Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law”