One Love

Choose ONE of the "Sayings of Jesus" in Novak, ed. (pp. 239-253).  (You might choose, for example, "Do not Throw Pearls Before Swine" or "You Cannot Serve Two Masters" or any number of other things.)  Respond to the saying you chose.  What do you think it means?  Do you agree?  Compare it to another idea you are familiar with, either from one of the other religions we have studied, or from your own experience in other classes or in life in general.  Then, Google the saying (do not use the quote marks " " for "exact phrase" searching) and look at the results on the first three pages.  (Skip all the Google results that are just duplicate online Bibles.)  Who is referencing the saying you chose? Are there bloggers?  Comics?  News articles?  How do their thoughts on the saying you chose relate to your own ideas about it?

 

The "Saying of Jesus" I chose was "You Cannot Serve Two Masters" which I believe could have different meanings to people.  However, the overall all meaning of this saying is that God is the one and only ultimate master.  For example, in the Novak book it says "You cannot serve God and wealth".  Of course, in Christianity you are not suppose to be greedy or selfish, but how can you say you love God if you also love money, you can't!  I am of Christian faith and agree with this saying and have heard sayings like this throughout my life, to love God and only God.  I "Googled" the saying and skipped all the online Bibles and found some articles and peoples' own website about Christianity.  A few of the articles I found referenced the saying of Jesus with alcoholism or drug addiction.  The articles online about the Jesus saying agrees with me.  This particular Jesus saying helps addicts through supporting them through rehab and the rest of their lives.  Addicts do not need the alcohol or drugs or drugs to make them happy, they have God and God should be enough. 

Some Thoughts on.. Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Why do bad things happen to good people?.. huh.. this one is tricky.  In the Christian faith there is a God and there is a devil, Satan.  God is omnibevelonent and omnipotent, why would he ever do anything to hurt us?  I believe God only gives us what we can handle or tests us in our faith.  However, if you believe in the Christian faith you must believe in Satan.  Satan is temptation, lust, etc and he is everywhere tempting us.  God believes if we have a strong enough faith Satan should have no effect on us.  Okay, but what about the people who have a strong faith in God and yet bad things still happen to them!  Like I said I believe God only gives us what we can handle.  No matter what we go through good/bad God is always there.  Christian followers must always remember what Jesus Christ suffered and that our suffering will never amount to what Jesus suffered.  Jesus died for us, for our sins. 

 No one will never know that kind of pain.  I know my answer is brief and short but it is straight to the point.  Every time I hear something bad or witness something awful I always go back to this same kind of thought process and it makes me at peace.This is a question many people struggle over to answer.  It could be answered in numerous ways.  My answer may not be best for my friend or neighbor, but it is the best answer for me.

Who we used to be.. Who we are now

Question: The three largest denominations in Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform) all agree that the Jews are a "chosen" people, bound in a special covenant to God.  Based on your readings, how is this idea supported in the sacred text of Judaism, the Bible?  Then, consider: why do you think some 21st century Jews like Michael Chabon want to reject this idea?

The story of Abraham explains this idea.  Judaism is a monotheistic religion with an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God.  In this story god promises a nation and land, the Promise Land is revealed.  This was the covenant made between God and Abraham.  Also, to show the covenant physically through offspring was done through circumcision.  Lastly, Abraham shows God how people can be compassionate and not all are wicked.  The Jews call themselves the chosen ones because they believed God came to them first.  God created the world and life through them, and the Jews are suppose to carry out the commandments and rituals.  Their religion is about the covenant between the people and God and to embrace it generation after generation.

Jews nowadays can be measured by their timeline.  Their timeline consist of battles over battles to keep their faith alive.  Judaism became a way of life.  However, like the author of this article explains he wants to reject this idea.  Jews want to be seen as equal and all are equal.  They do not care to put themselves on a pedestal anymore. 

"In my faith, the Jewish faith, there is a religion obligation called tikkun olam, or to make the whole world, or to correct error and end injustice.  And that responsibility is found among people of good will in every faith."  Michael Bloomberg,  Mayor of New York

This quote I retrieved from my teacher is a great example of Jews today.  They consider all religions and of all people in them to be of good people.