What is the problem? How is/was it solved? What are its parallels? According to what Jesus’ message in the parable is, how should this problem be solved?
- People who have not had justice brought to them need to demand for justice themselves because the only person that can change the situation is yourself. Jesus is trying to say that people have not taken responsibilty for being oppressed by the system and have relied on others to bring justice to them when they themselves should go and seek the truth or in this case justice with perisistence.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Parable Draft #1
According to Dr. Cameron Freeman, what appears to be a fearless judge is really a victim of the widow's persistent demands, while what appears to be the annoying pleas of a widowed victim is really a fearless demand for justice.[1] Or again, what initially seems to be the fearless refusal of a defiant judge is really the worn out delivery of a widow's justice, while what appears to be a worn out pleas of a widow for justice, is really the fearless stance of one who is defiant and refuses to back down, is the theory of Dr. Freeman. [2] What appears to be strong is really weak, and what appears to be weak is really strong. The idea of a judge finally giving in to a pestering widow is hardly profound. Recent scholarly research, however, overturns that judgment when it becomes clear that women were not to frequent the male world of the courts. Thus the widow's frequent visits together with her brief and abrupt command to the judge combine to convey the image of a feisty widow rather than the conventionally meek and subservient role assumed for her. As a result, a long-standing discomfort over how to render the Greek in the judge's stated reasons for granting her justice, says Cotter. [3] The parable of the widow and the judge presents two characters and at least two intertwined social systems that bring the characters together. The earliest interpretation of a judge is found in the saying attached to the parable where he is called "a judge of unrighteousness/injustice." The judge is beyond shame; neither son spell to God's justice nor an appeal to human need can evoke a sense of shame. Derrett believes that the parable depicts a widow who has avoided the customary Torah courts and has gone straight to Hellenistic judge, because she thinks that she can expedite her case in the administrative court. Therefore, this reading of the parable takes the judge t obeys a Torah judge in the customary courts.[4] The judge is one of the urban elite. While it is inherently more probable that Torah adjudicators would have been located in urban areas rather than in the nucleated villages, it is not clear that they were found only in major cities. Because the claimant is identified as a widow, it makes sense to infer that her case concerns her inheritance rights. A widow was in a particularly vulnerable situation, and for that very reason, she was a target for exploitation.[5] This may explain why the widow was the subject of such a concern in the Torah and Prophets.. In light of the material on the role of law in agrarian societies, the hiatus between the justice of the Torah and t he practical workings of everyday injustice may be clearer. Bailey believed that the parable makes the following three assumptions: 1. the widow is in the right (and being denied justice) 2. For some reason the judge does not want to serve her (she has paid no bribes?). The author of the parable expected the listeners to perceive the judge in a completely negative way as devoid of both pretas and humanities.
[1] Dr. Cameron Freeman, "The Paradoxical Teachings of the Historical Jesus." Oct. 2007.Renew Theology. <http://www.renewtheology.org/paperCFreeman1007.htm>.
[2] Freeman, "The Paradoxical Teachings of the Historical Jesus."
[3] Wendy Cotter, New Testament Studies (Cambridge University Press Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2005), 51: 328-343 Cambridge University Press.
[4] Herzog..
[5] Herzog…
[1] Dr. Cameron Freeman, "The Paradoxical Teachings of the Historical Jesus." Oct. 2007.Renew Theology. <http://www.renewtheology.org/paperCFreeman1007.htm>.
[2] Freeman, "The Paradoxical Teachings of the Historical Jesus."
[3] Wendy Cotter, New Testament Studies (Cambridge University Press Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2005), 51: 328-343 Cambridge University Press.
[4] Herzog..
[5] Herzog…
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"Parable Documentation"
1) Read the parable once, then carefully read each verse
2) Analyze each action, object, and person while thinking of how these images would be interpreted by Jesus’ followers. This is reading in between the lines and will expand the meaning of the story. It also will require some research.
3) What is the problem and how do the characters respond (or instigate) it? Pay close attention to the rich and powerful and how they abuse their power and expect too much out of the lower people.
4) Identify what the parable is about. What prompted Jesus to tell the story? What is Jesus saying about society and/or KoG and how does the problem need to be solved? How does it relate to our lives today (this isn’t yet the actual modern situation, but I think it helps to understand if you replace ancient images with modern ones. This might later help with identifying a modern situation though) apply the parable to a current event.
5) Identify a modern situation with similar characters and actions (learn a lot about it). What is the problem? How is/was it solved? What are its parallels? According to what Jesus’ message in the parable is, how should this problem be solved?
6) Study the behaviors or commonly accepted behaviors of the characters in the story. Also identify the core values/central idea of the parable.
7) Know your shit, make a killer presentation with costumes and props and videos, get A’s. But most importantly MAKE SURE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
____________________________________________________________________
2)The earliest interpretation of a judge is found in the saying attached to the parable where he is called "a judge of unrighteousness/injustice." The judge's problem is "his inability to sense the evil of his actions in the presence of the one ego should make him ashamed." The parable depicts a widow who has avoided the customary Torah courts and has gone straight to Hellenistic judge, because she thinks that she can expedite her case in the administrative court. Property means, disputes arise out of loans, inheritances, sales and the like. Because the claimant is identified as a widow, it makes sense to infer that her case concerns her inheritance rights. Scott takes the description seriously because it marks the judge as one of the urban elite. A widow was in a particularly vulnerable situation, and for that very reason, she was a target for exploitation. We think that Jesus is talking to the people who don't have good faith and the ones who are inpatient when praying to God.
3) The problem Jesus is trying to state is that people in power will think they will always stay in power but the people in power are so arrogant that even if the spotlight is upon them they still won't concede to people beneath them.
4) Then He told His disciples the story of the persistent widow. His point was that if even a corrupt judge could eventually be persuaded by the persistence of a widow, someone without standing or influence in their day, how much more likely would the Lord be to respond to the persistent prayers of his followers. The background for this parable is found in chapter 17. "When will the Kingdom come?" some had asked. In response the Lord told them that one day soon they would long to see one of His days (days like this one when He was with them) but would not see it. First He had to suffer and die. Then there would be a succession of false Messiahs and still it wouldn't be time. But when He finally did come it would be suddenly and it would catch many people off guard. They would have given up and stopped praying. Jesus is saying that society. The judge prefers to favor her adversary (either the adversary is influential or he has paid bribes). The parable poses a dilemma. A desperate widow is caught in the usual power play accompanying her husband's death, and she is further enmeshed in the complexities of a Torah court. At first glance she appears hopeless. Everyone knows that the court will decide in favor of the party offering the most appropriate emolument that is bribe. Her reward is justice at the gate. She was able to analyze her limit situation and design a limit action that broke the spell of inevitability cast by the ruling elites. You have to be persistent in your faith and not just
5) Homeless people have always been there but their numbers are starting to grow so now it's starting to be a problem that the wealthy can't ignore any longer. Now the wealthy have had to deal with the situation by paying taxes since the problem is too large to ignore. And just like the parable homeless people are always asking or are in need of help and are persistent when wanting help.
6) People who are consumed by power have finally given up the ability to care for one another. The judge is of the higherarchy so he has found no compassion for others who cannot influence the amount of power that he can have. The widow has been persistent to the judge which is unlike the common outcast of society. People have grown to allow themselves to hear the cries of the outcast of society and begin to have compassion for them.
2) Analyze each action, object, and person while thinking of how these images would be interpreted by Jesus’ followers. This is reading in between the lines and will expand the meaning of the story. It also will require some research.
3) What is the problem and how do the characters respond (or instigate) it? Pay close attention to the rich and powerful and how they abuse their power and expect too much out of the lower people.
4) Identify what the parable is about. What prompted Jesus to tell the story? What is Jesus saying about society and/or KoG and how does the problem need to be solved? How does it relate to our lives today (this isn’t yet the actual modern situation, but I think it helps to understand if you replace ancient images with modern ones. This might later help with identifying a modern situation though) apply the parable to a current event.
5) Identify a modern situation with similar characters and actions (learn a lot about it). What is the problem? How is/was it solved? What are its parallels? According to what Jesus’ message in the parable is, how should this problem be solved?
6) Study the behaviors or commonly accepted behaviors of the characters in the story. Also identify the core values/central idea of the parable.
7) Know your shit, make a killer presentation with costumes and props and videos, get A’s. But most importantly MAKE SURE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
____________________________________________________________________
2)The earliest interpretation of a judge is found in the saying attached to the parable where he is called "a judge of unrighteousness/injustice." The judge's problem is "his inability to sense the evil of his actions in the presence of the one ego should make him ashamed." The parable depicts a widow who has avoided the customary Torah courts and has gone straight to Hellenistic judge, because she thinks that she can expedite her case in the administrative court. Property means, disputes arise out of loans, inheritances, sales and the like. Because the claimant is identified as a widow, it makes sense to infer that her case concerns her inheritance rights. Scott takes the description seriously because it marks the judge as one of the urban elite. A widow was in a particularly vulnerable situation, and for that very reason, she was a target for exploitation. We think that Jesus is talking to the people who don't have good faith and the ones who are inpatient when praying to God.
3) The problem Jesus is trying to state is that people in power will think they will always stay in power but the people in power are so arrogant that even if the spotlight is upon them they still won't concede to people beneath them.
4) Then He told His disciples the story of the persistent widow. His point was that if even a corrupt judge could eventually be persuaded by the persistence of a widow, someone without standing or influence in their day, how much more likely would the Lord be to respond to the persistent prayers of his followers. The background for this parable is found in chapter 17. "When will the Kingdom come?" some had asked. In response the Lord told them that one day soon they would long to see one of His days (days like this one when He was with them) but would not see it. First He had to suffer and die. Then there would be a succession of false Messiahs and still it wouldn't be time. But when He finally did come it would be suddenly and it would catch many people off guard. They would have given up and stopped praying. Jesus is saying that society. The judge prefers to favor her adversary (either the adversary is influential or he has paid bribes). The parable poses a dilemma. A desperate widow is caught in the usual power play accompanying her husband's death, and she is further enmeshed in the complexities of a Torah court. At first glance she appears hopeless. Everyone knows that the court will decide in favor of the party offering the most appropriate emolument that is bribe. Her reward is justice at the gate. She was able to analyze her limit situation and design a limit action that broke the spell of inevitability cast by the ruling elites. You have to be persistent in your faith and not just
5) Homeless people have always been there but their numbers are starting to grow so now it's starting to be a problem that the wealthy can't ignore any longer. Now the wealthy have had to deal with the situation by paying taxes since the problem is too large to ignore. And just like the parable homeless people are always asking or are in need of help and are persistent when wanting help.
6) People who are consumed by power have finally given up the ability to care for one another. The judge is of the higherarchy so he has found no compassion for others who cannot influence the amount of power that he can have. The widow has been persistent to the judge which is unlike the common outcast of society. People have grown to allow themselves to hear the cries of the outcast of society and begin to have compassion for them.
Monday, November 12, 2007
"Herzog"
The parable of the widow and the judge presents two characters and at least two intertwined social systems that bring the characters together. The earliest interpretation of a judge is found in the saying attached to the parable where he is called "a judge of unrighteousness/injustice." The judge is beyond shame; neither son spell to God's justice nor an appeal to human need can evoke a sense of shame. AS Bailey sees it, the judge's problem is "his inability to sense the evil of his actions in the presence of the one ego should make him ashamed." These uniformly censorious descriptions do raise questions about what setting is imagined in the parable that the judge is and how he got to be a judge in the first place. Derrett believes that the parable depicts a widow who has avoided the customary Torah courts and has gone straight to Hellenistic judge, because she thinks that she can expedite her case in the administrative court. Therefore, this reading of the parable takes the judge t obeys a Torah judge in the customary courts. Scott takes the description seriously because it marks the judge as one of the urban elite. While it is inherently more probable that Torah adjudicators would have been located in urban areas rather than in the nucleated villages, it is not clear that they were found only in major cities. Herbert Danby interprets property to mean, "disputes arise out of loans, inheritances, sales and the like.” Because the claimant is identified as a widow, it makes sense to infer that her case concerns her inheritance rights. A widow was in a particularly vulnerable situation, and for that very reason, she was a target for exploitation. This may explain why the widow was the subject of such a concern in the Torah and Prophets. God promises to hear the voices of the widows and orphans as surely as God heard the cry of the people in Slavery in Egypt. In light of the material on the role of law in agrarian societies, the hiatus between the justice of the Torah and t he practical workings of everyday injustice may be clearer. Bailey believed that the parable makes the following three assumptions: 1. the widow is in the right (and being denied justice) 2. For some reason the judge does not want to serve her (she has paid no bribes?)3. The judge prefers to favor her adversary (either the adversary is influential or he has paid bribes). The parable poses a dilemma. A desperate widow is caught in the usual power play accompanying her husband's death, and she is further enmeshed in the complexities of a Torah court. At first glance she appears hopeless. Everyone knows that the court will decide in favor of the party offering the most appropriate emolument that is bribe. Her reward is justice at the gate. She was able to analyze her limit situation and design a limit action that broke the spell of inevitability cast by the ruling elites.
The problem is that the core does not seem to have any meaning w/o them(characters). The judge is giving into a pestering widow who has worn him down is hardly deep or novel. SECONDARY PARABLE CORE:3 structures of sorts to the attached applications...exclamation: "listen to what the unjust Judge says!"....2 rhetorical ?'s: "and will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night?" "will he delay long in helping them?".....emphatic pronouncement: "I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them."The prospects of her visits makes the judge finally give in. If the parable gives the lesson that God answers prayers swiftly, why would the judge ever give the widow what she wants. Joseph Fitzmyer's character analysis: the judge is irresponsible and dangerous person. The author of the parable expected the listeners to percieve the judge in a completely negative way as devoid of both pretas and humanitas. are believed to have been jealous or greedy people in a previous life. ... Pretas dwell in the waste and desert places of the earth. Humanitas includes humanism and humanitarianism.Judicial system was closed circle of ambitious elites whose attentions were trained on amassing greater wealth and increasing personal pretige. Judges corruption went w/o public dennciation. Ambition motivated judges especially lower level judges. Lowly judges needed powerful friends. Non elites (widows) outside wealthy/prestigious circle. Widows > justice often denied > VULNERABLE. the widow is shameless. Her continual coming brings about indication-not the justice of her cause or the judges humor. Womens "Natural Condition" belonged in the domestic private sphere of the home, not in the public male domain of the courts. Roman culture > intolerant in womens involvement in the courts. Widow=BOLD.The corruption of the court made it the place or last resort to seek justice. Resolves disputes by meatings. Strongest are the best able to help themselves, weak defenseless are disadvantaged. Systems must work to reinforce the rights of those who are most powerful. Widow that she has no regard at all for social rules that would keep her invisible. Blow to the face to convey the metaphor for lifes sudden assults and suffering. The widow could blacken the judges face by spreading rumours about him, namely that he could not hear her case as he was obliged to her adversary. Judge fears what may happen as widow comes in to him, not when she leaves.Widow meek and humble. Treatment of widow is conventional. Widow is socially weak. Judge fears acts of violence by woman. Really he just deals with her so she stops whining to him. Widow actions startling, boldly facing the judge. Judge not scared, he simple wants to rid her.Widow is fiesty and frustrated. She can up set his selfish and vain world. Judge possibly scared to get black eye b/c he then would be taken as a joke. She is outside the system and he is a slave to it. Widow free while the judge is always paranoid about falling off his pedistool. People outside the system are in the Kingdom of God while judge is oppressed by it.
The problem is that the core does not seem to have any meaning w/o them(characters). The judge is giving into a pestering widow who has worn him down is hardly deep or novel. SECONDARY PARABLE CORE:3 structures of sorts to the attached applications...exclamation: "listen to what the unjust Judge says!"....2 rhetorical ?'s: "and will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night?" "will he delay long in helping them?".....emphatic pronouncement: "I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them."The prospects of her visits makes the judge finally give in. If the parable gives the lesson that God answers prayers swiftly, why would the judge ever give the widow what she wants. Joseph Fitzmyer's character analysis: the judge is irresponsible and dangerous person. The author of the parable expected the listeners to percieve the judge in a completely negative way as devoid of both pretas and humanitas. are believed to have been jealous or greedy people in a previous life. ... Pretas dwell in the waste and desert places of the earth. Humanitas includes humanism and humanitarianism.Judicial system was closed circle of ambitious elites whose attentions were trained on amassing greater wealth and increasing personal pretige. Judges corruption went w/o public dennciation. Ambition motivated judges especially lower level judges. Lowly judges needed powerful friends. Non elites (widows) outside wealthy/prestigious circle. Widows > justice often denied > VULNERABLE. the widow is shameless. Her continual coming brings about indication-not the justice of her cause or the judges humor. Womens "Natural Condition" belonged in the domestic private sphere of the home, not in the public male domain of the courts. Roman culture > intolerant in womens involvement in the courts. Widow=BOLD.The corruption of the court made it the place or last resort to seek justice. Resolves disputes by meatings. Strongest are the best able to help themselves, weak defenseless are disadvantaged. Systems must work to reinforce the rights of those who are most powerful. Widow that she has no regard at all for social rules that would keep her invisible. Blow to the face to convey the metaphor for lifes sudden assults and suffering. The widow could blacken the judges face by spreading rumours about him, namely that he could not hear her case as he was obliged to her adversary. Judge fears what may happen as widow comes in to him, not when she leaves.Widow meek and humble. Treatment of widow is conventional. Widow is socially weak. Judge fears acts of violence by woman. Really he just deals with her so she stops whining to him. Widow actions startling, boldly facing the judge. Judge not scared, he simple wants to rid her.Widow is fiesty and frustrated. She can up set his selfish and vain world. Judge possibly scared to get black eye b/c he then would be taken as a joke. She is outside the system and he is a slave to it. Widow free while the judge is always paranoid about falling off his pedistool. People outside the system are in the Kingdom of God while judge is oppressed by it.
"Research Article"
Freeman, Dr. Cameron. "The Paradoxical Teachings of the Historical Jesus." Oct. 2007.
Renew Theology. <http://www.renewtheology.org/paperCFreeman1007.htm>.
Renew Theology. <http://www.renewtheology.org/paperCFreeman1007.htm>.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Final Reading Strategy
1) Read the parable once, then carefully read each verse
2) Analyze each action, object, and person while thinking of how these images would be interpreted by Jesus’ followers. This is reading in between the lines and will expand the meaning of the story. It also will require some research.
3) What is the problem and how do the characters respond (or instigate) it? Pay close attention to the rich and powerful and how they abuse their power and expect too much out of the lower people.
4) Identify what the parable is about. What prompted Jesus to tell the story? What is Jesus saying about society and/or KoG and how does the problem need to be solved? How does it relate to our lives today (this isn’t yet the actual modern situation, but I think it helps to understand if you replace ancient images with modern ones. This might later help with identifying a modern situation though) apply the parable to a current event.
5) Identify a modern situation with similar characters and actions (learn a lot about it). What is the problem? How is/was it solved? What are its parallels? According to what Jesus’ message in the parable is, how should this problem be solved?
6) Study the behaviors or commonly accepted behaviors of the characters in the story. Also identify the core values/central idea of the parable.
7) Know your shit, make a killer presentation with costumes and props and videos, get A’s. But most importantly MAKE SURE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
2) Analyze each action, object, and person while thinking of how these images would be interpreted by Jesus’ followers. This is reading in between the lines and will expand the meaning of the story. It also will require some research.
3) What is the problem and how do the characters respond (or instigate) it? Pay close attention to the rich and powerful and how they abuse their power and expect too much out of the lower people.
4) Identify what the parable is about. What prompted Jesus to tell the story? What is Jesus saying about society and/or KoG and how does the problem need to be solved? How does it relate to our lives today (this isn’t yet the actual modern situation, but I think it helps to understand if you replace ancient images with modern ones. This might later help with identifying a modern situation though) apply the parable to a current event.
5) Identify a modern situation with similar characters and actions (learn a lot about it). What is the problem? How is/was it solved? What are its parallels? According to what Jesus’ message in the parable is, how should this problem be solved?
6) Study the behaviors or commonly accepted behaviors of the characters in the story. Also identify the core values/central idea of the parable.
7) Know your shit, make a killer presentation with costumes and props and videos, get A’s. But most importantly MAKE SURE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
"Interpretation Methodology."
1st: I like to know who the story is about. Who is Jesus telling the story to. Then provide evidence for why they are the main charcater. Even if it is wrong, try to explain why the person is the main character.
2nd: After, find the social/political/economic/religious backround on the charcters in the story. This gives me a better sence of who they were and how they acted. For example if we were talking about the parable of the good samaritan, i would like to know who samaritans were, Levits, Priests etc...
3rd: I like to know where the conflict occured and why it occured. This could help with the next step and give me a better understand of the life and times while Jesus was alive.
4th: After find what the meaning of the story is, I like to find an example to this situation so I can understand the parable better. For example with the parable of the Good Samaritan I researched poverty in Africa.
5th: After I find an example I like to do a little research on my own about the example so I can explain it later and relate it to the parable. For example learning about Jeffrey Sachs and the Millenium campaign. Especially how we could save lives by giving up so little.
6th: After step 5 I go back to the parable and try to understand who Jesus was trying to addressing. I put everything together and i'm done. For example for the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus was trying to tell the Levites to see all humans with eyes of compassion.
2nd: After, find the social/political/economic/religious backround on the charcters in the story. This gives me a better sence of who they were and how they acted. For example if we were talking about the parable of the good samaritan, i would like to know who samaritans were, Levits, Priests etc...
3rd: I like to know where the conflict occured and why it occured. This could help with the next step and give me a better understand of the life and times while Jesus was alive.
4th: After find what the meaning of the story is, I like to find an example to this situation so I can understand the parable better. For example with the parable of the Good Samaritan I researched poverty in Africa.
5th: After I find an example I like to do a little research on my own about the example so I can explain it later and relate it to the parable. For example learning about Jeffrey Sachs and the Millenium campaign. Especially how we could save lives by giving up so little.
6th: After step 5 I go back to the parable and try to understand who Jesus was trying to addressing. I put everything together and i'm done. For example for the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus was trying to tell the Levites to see all humans with eyes of compassion.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
"System Examples"
No one at countrywide did anything to help this man not because of the language barrier but because the system (countrywide) are selfish. Countrywide is blaming this on language but they could have easily found a Chinese speaker to translate. Countrywide had the authority like most systems to provide guidance required to make the system function. There was a mutual benefit which only exsists to provide something for it's participants, so being part of a system means you will give something up for somebody else. But because countywide is selfish they didn't try to contact the man. Instead they were taking him money. Countrywide didn't care about the man because if they re scamming a person for money why would they help him. If it benifits the system (countrywide) why should they think about others and their lives. We have different morals whether we are in the system or not because when you are in the system you seem to put other people below you because you contol everything, but when you are outside the system you really see what goes on without being sucked in to the evil.
The students who participated as the guards started off mildly nice. They knew this was an experiment, but didn't take things to the extreame. After about a week the students who were guards started to feel like they had the authority to do things that they weren't doing before. They thought authority provided the guidance required to make the system function. By telling the prisioners that they were terrible people, and making them feel below them they thought they had the full authority to do so. All the guards thought was that it was part of their job. The prisioners would didn't have time to tell authority what was going on because it was all part of the system.
Rachel Barge is a student at Cal who is an avid contributor to various environmental initiatives. She realized that one factor preventing Cal from becoming more sustainable was a lack of funding for necessary projects. To overcome this challenge, Rachel co-created The Green Initiative Fund, a student fee referendum passed by the students at Berkeley. This fund successfully secures more than $2 million over ten years - $200,000 annually - for sustainability projects on campus, including clean energy, sustainable transportation, improved energy efficiency, water conservation, “green” internships, and improved recycling and composting programs. She also created The Sustainability Team (Steam), a student internship program dedicated to creating, implementing and leading a variety of projects aimed at establishing sustainable practices. The Sustainability Team implemented the first recycling program in student union buildings and founded the first organic, local, student-run cooperative produce stand on campus.
Rachel is capable of standing outside the prevaling system of self-interest and ignorance and doing something for the common good because she is not ignorant herself. She knows what she is doing and knows she is responsible for what she does. Rachel is thinking about the future and what can help for future generations. Unlike other people that are part of a system, she does not feel pressure to do anything she doesn't want to do. Rachel isn't doing this for mutual benefit. She is not only benefiting herself, but she is making our lives better and healthier without giving up anything.
The students who participated as the guards started off mildly nice. They knew this was an experiment, but didn't take things to the extreame. After about a week the students who were guards started to feel like they had the authority to do things that they weren't doing before. They thought authority provided the guidance required to make the system function. By telling the prisioners that they were terrible people, and making them feel below them they thought they had the full authority to do so. All the guards thought was that it was part of their job. The prisioners would didn't have time to tell authority what was going on because it was all part of the system.
Rachel Barge is a student at Cal who is an avid contributor to various environmental initiatives. She realized that one factor preventing Cal from becoming more sustainable was a lack of funding for necessary projects. To overcome this challenge, Rachel co-created The Green Initiative Fund, a student fee referendum passed by the students at Berkeley. This fund successfully secures more than $2 million over ten years - $200,000 annually - for sustainability projects on campus, including clean energy, sustainable transportation, improved energy efficiency, water conservation, “green” internships, and improved recycling and composting programs. She also created The Sustainability Team (Steam), a student internship program dedicated to creating, implementing and leading a variety of projects aimed at establishing sustainable practices. The Sustainability Team implemented the first recycling program in student union buildings and founded the first organic, local, student-run cooperative produce stand on campus.
Rachel is capable of standing outside the prevaling system of self-interest and ignorance and doing something for the common good because she is not ignorant herself. She knows what she is doing and knows she is responsible for what she does. Rachel is thinking about the future and what can help for future generations. Unlike other people that are part of a system, she does not feel pressure to do anything she doesn't want to do. Rachel isn't doing this for mutual benefit. She is not only benefiting herself, but she is making our lives better and healthier without giving up anything.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Why is the system so corrupt?
Most systems that claim to be self benificent tend to be self-serving, unethical, and conservative because no one likes to admit to having made a mistake.
For example the Government is here to protect us, and help the citizens of the United States in any circumstances. When the President failed to do his duty in helping the people of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, the people realized that he wasn't doing his job. While people were dying he wasn't sending help until the 5th of 6th day after the storm. Aside from the President, his fellow colleagues did nothing to make the situation better in Louisiana either. The system is so corrupt that since the President wasn't doing anything this implied that the others in the White House shouldn't do anything to help the refugees in New Orleans. Like many people no one likes to be wrong, but here in these circumstances the Government was greatly critizized of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Specifically, there was a delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans. He didn't want to admit that he took a long time to send help. People became desperate in New Orleans and took things into their own hands. Many of the the stranded people left in their homes after the hurricane started to look for dry places to be safe. Lots of reports accused the citizens of New Orleans of stealing and robbing good, but how can you blame them? It took so long for relief that the citizens were desperate. Just like the parable of the Unforgiving Servant Jesus says to stop looking at the system of power for help because it will not help you, you need to look within and take matters into your own hands.
Systems aren't things at all. The core idea are that systems are a theory and idea that provide benefits, they have rules, they have authority to enforce these rules, they also provide security, and with the faults in humans ignorance is the fault of the system itself. We can not take the position to blame the people that are in the system because they screw up but blame the system. The system is a theory it isn't real but the idea is what is real. The people part of the system comply with what the system asks them to do. The system sets everyone up to fight against each other to be on the top. The system is what makes people turn on each other because it gives an ultimatum. You can either be high or be low on the system and everyone will choose high. Now of course there are those few that will not comply with the system but for the most part they will. The theory of the system is what people live by and this is why the system is corrupt. It brings out the bad in people and works off of that because there is the need for authority and people fight and push people down to get up to that authoritative position so they themselves will not be the ones to be pushed down.
For example the Government is here to protect us, and help the citizens of the United States in any circumstances. When the President failed to do his duty in helping the people of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, the people realized that he wasn't doing his job. While people were dying he wasn't sending help until the 5th of 6th day after the storm. Aside from the President, his fellow colleagues did nothing to make the situation better in Louisiana either. The system is so corrupt that since the President wasn't doing anything this implied that the others in the White House shouldn't do anything to help the refugees in New Orleans. Like many people no one likes to be wrong, but here in these circumstances the Government was greatly critizized of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Specifically, there was a delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans. He didn't want to admit that he took a long time to send help. People became desperate in New Orleans and took things into their own hands. Many of the the stranded people left in their homes after the hurricane started to look for dry places to be safe. Lots of reports accused the citizens of New Orleans of stealing and robbing good, but how can you blame them? It took so long for relief that the citizens were desperate. Just like the parable of the Unforgiving Servant Jesus says to stop looking at the system of power for help because it will not help you, you need to look within and take matters into your own hands.
Systems aren't things at all. The core idea are that systems are a theory and idea that provide benefits, they have rules, they have authority to enforce these rules, they also provide security, and with the faults in humans ignorance is the fault of the system itself. We can not take the position to blame the people that are in the system because they screw up but blame the system. The system is a theory it isn't real but the idea is what is real. The people part of the system comply with what the system asks them to do. The system sets everyone up to fight against each other to be on the top. The system is what makes people turn on each other because it gives an ultimatum. You can either be high or be low on the system and everyone will choose high. Now of course there are those few that will not comply with the system but for the most part they will. The theory of the system is what people live by and this is why the system is corrupt. It brings out the bad in people and works off of that because there is the need for authority and people fight and push people down to get up to that authoritative position so they themselves will not be the ones to be pushed down.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
1. The story is about a king who brought forth a debtor. The servant owed his master a large amount. Since he could not pay this debt, his master sold him, his family, and property in payment for his debt. At that the servant begged his master to be patient and thet he would pay him back in full. His master was so filled with compassion that he let him go and forgave him the loan. When the servant left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller debt. He siezed him and started to choke him demanding to pay him back what he owed. The fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him to be patient and he would pay him back. But he refused and put him in jail until he paid his debt. Word got back to the master by other servants and he summoned the servant who sent his fellow servent to jail. The master told the servant that he forgave him of his entire debt because he begged him to. The master asked why not have pity on your fellow servant as i had pity on you? Then his master turned and gave him to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. The main character of the story is the master because he is a perfect example of a person who forgivess a person in this case the servant and then is taken advantage of.
2. The king decides to forgive his debt because he understood that if he didn't forgive he would not get the same treatment in heaven. Everyone deserves a second chance and i think that the king realized that.
3. The servant doesn't follow the example of the king and forgive the debt because he was only thinking about himself. The servant wanted to pay off his debt as soon as possible and since his fellow servant owed him money he figured that he would start gathering the money he could. Even though the king told him that he didn't have to pay the debt and forgave it, the servant still wanted to show the king that he could pay him back, even if it was the wrong thing to do.
4. In the Kingdom of God his heavenly father (God) will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant which is torture and for the one who doesn't forgive, death. Those who forgive will be forgiven for their sins in heaven and will get a second chance to redeem them.
2. The king decides to forgive his debt because he understood that if he didn't forgive he would not get the same treatment in heaven. Everyone deserves a second chance and i think that the king realized that.
3. The servant doesn't follow the example of the king and forgive the debt because he was only thinking about himself. The servant wanted to pay off his debt as soon as possible and since his fellow servant owed him money he figured that he would start gathering the money he could. Even though the king told him that he didn't have to pay the debt and forgave it, the servant still wanted to show the king that he could pay him back, even if it was the wrong thing to do.
4. In the Kingdom of God his heavenly father (God) will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant which is torture and for the one who doesn't forgive, death. Those who forgive will be forgiven for their sins in heaven and will get a second chance to redeem them.
Monday, October 15, 2007
"U.S. Involvement;"
How does the U.S. support Israel?
Most American think that our aid goes to poor countries when in reality most of our money goes to Israel, one of the most richest countries in the world. Most of our money goes to their financial, military, and diplomacy. 1.8 million dollars go to millitary,1.2 million go to economic aid, and 1 million goes to grants in millitary supplies. Israel recieve lots of money as you can see, and 25% of that money goes to wepons that we provide them with. Israel in the only country allowed to spend part of it's money on military funds. They have access to the most advanced weapons systems in the world with assistance from the U.S tax payer. The U.S alone protects Israel in the UN and other international arenas and keeps it from being help accountable for its violations of international law.
Why was the Bush administration so much less involved in Israel Palestine diplomacy?
In the first 10 month of 2001 before september 11th, the Bush administration adopted a policy of keeping up the high levels of aid to and dipolomatic protection of Israel while keeping their heads down and hands off peace talks. We can see that this was all about the oil industry which is very rich in the middle east, especially Arab states. The oil and stability of the middle east policy were primary at 1st although they were soon outweighed by the noise of the Christian fundamentalists whose support for Israel were unequivocal. All the Bush administration wanted was the oil, and the president was going to try to get this by not talking to the Arab states he was taking from. You could almost say he was trying to slip by them, without them noticing.
What has the George Bush administration middle east policy been all about?
Immediately after the September 11th attack the Bush administration appeared to distance itself from Israel. Bush's need to maintain Arab and Islamic government's support the war of terror in Iraq. Although the economic and strategic backing of Israel remained quietly unchanged , Arab governments from Egypt and Jordan to Saudi Arabia and beyond, already facing severe crisis of tegitimacy might do as they were told by the Bush administration, but they would pay a very high price. All of this work to get the Arab countries on his side is for the countries to support him in the war for terror which is really the rich oil in the middle east.
Most American think that our aid goes to poor countries when in reality most of our money goes to Israel, one of the most richest countries in the world. Most of our money goes to their financial, military, and diplomacy. 1.8 million dollars go to millitary,1.2 million go to economic aid, and 1 million goes to grants in millitary supplies. Israel recieve lots of money as you can see, and 25% of that money goes to wepons that we provide them with. Israel in the only country allowed to spend part of it's money on military funds. They have access to the most advanced weapons systems in the world with assistance from the U.S tax payer. The U.S alone protects Israel in the UN and other international arenas and keeps it from being help accountable for its violations of international law.
Why was the Bush administration so much less involved in Israel Palestine diplomacy?
In the first 10 month of 2001 before september 11th, the Bush administration adopted a policy of keeping up the high levels of aid to and dipolomatic protection of Israel while keeping their heads down and hands off peace talks. We can see that this was all about the oil industry which is very rich in the middle east, especially Arab states. The oil and stability of the middle east policy were primary at 1st although they were soon outweighed by the noise of the Christian fundamentalists whose support for Israel were unequivocal. All the Bush administration wanted was the oil, and the president was going to try to get this by not talking to the Arab states he was taking from. You could almost say he was trying to slip by them, without them noticing.
What has the George Bush administration middle east policy been all about?
Immediately after the September 11th attack the Bush administration appeared to distance itself from Israel. Bush's need to maintain Arab and Islamic government's support the war of terror in Iraq. Although the economic and strategic backing of Israel remained quietly unchanged , Arab governments from Egypt and Jordan to Saudi Arabia and beyond, already facing severe crisis of tegitimacy might do as they were told by the Bush administration, but they would pay a very high price. All of this work to get the Arab countries on his side is for the countries to support him in the war for terror which is really the rich oil in the middle east.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
NPR Clips
Part 3: After World War II the struggle for Palestine intensified. The Zionists, who wanted a Jewish homeland, and who had supported the British during the World War, prepared for a new conflict. After the War between the British and the Jews ended, the Jews were being offered 55 percent of Palestine when in fact they had owned only seven percent of the country. Four-hundred-fifty thousand Palestinians were going to end up within the Jewish state, and they did not see any reason why they should go along with that kind of inequality, that kind of injustice.
Part4: Israel was planning an invasion to Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. After the Israeli armor has sliced through the Gaza strip to the Mediterranean coast, and the Arab forces in the strip are no longer a fighting factor. Israel has today created the nearest thing to instant victory the modern world has ever seen. Israel had seized all of the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt, the West Bank and all of Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. After, there were 1.5 million Palestinians living under the control of the Israelis.
Part5: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 1973 to regain their lost territories. The shock of the attack, and the strength of the Arab assault, led to a reassessment of the political and military balance in the Middle East. This war made people realize that power is not theirs forever, and that compromise is something that is necessary in order to survive in the long run. Israelis still would not acknowledge the Palestinians as a political force which Began, under pressure from President Jimmy Carter, did agree to negotiate with Egypt's Sadat.Egypt got back the Sinai; Israel received formal recognition from Egypt. Both Sadat and Begin hailed their achievement.
Part6: Palestinians hated their current living situations because they were stateless, living under the humiliation of identity checks, body searches and verbal abuse that were the rule of the Israeli army, watching helplessly as Israel expanded Jewish settlements on what had been their land. It was a very effective way of reaching out to Israelis, that you know, we are going to resist but without using military means, and that this could be very costly to you financially and morally. And it swayed many politicians and many generals and military people in Israel to accepting the concept of a Palestinian entity at that point. But by 1988, Hamas was playing a major role in the Intifada, and its leaders were talking about more violent measures. In the 1990s, their primary tactic would become the suicide bombing, disrupting every effort for peace. At the White House Arafat and Rabin shook hands and declared peace. This was only the first step, many other issues still needed to be resolved.
Part7: At this time Palestinians and Israelis still hated each other. Arafat took the Gaza and portions of the West Bank that the Israelis abandoned. Arafat did not follow the Oslo agreement because he was importing arms, by having much bigger security forces than they were entitled to, and by not laying the foundations for a democratic regime that respects human rights. Many of the Arabs that are Palestinians can't understand why Jews suddenly appeared in Palestine and started to take it over. They can't understand why they must agree to the Jews' continuing to possess 80 percent of Palestine and they will agree to only receive 20 percent. After the Ehud Barak's government collapsed, and Ariel Sharon, possibly the Israeli politician most hated by the Palestinians, was elected prime minister. He help a full scale invasion into Palestinian territories, and they are not occupied by Israelis.
Part4: Israel was planning an invasion to Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. After the Israeli armor has sliced through the Gaza strip to the Mediterranean coast, and the Arab forces in the strip are no longer a fighting factor. Israel has today created the nearest thing to instant victory the modern world has ever seen. Israel had seized all of the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt, the West Bank and all of Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. After, there were 1.5 million Palestinians living under the control of the Israelis.
Part5: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 1973 to regain their lost territories. The shock of the attack, and the strength of the Arab assault, led to a reassessment of the political and military balance in the Middle East. This war made people realize that power is not theirs forever, and that compromise is something that is necessary in order to survive in the long run. Israelis still would not acknowledge the Palestinians as a political force which Began, under pressure from President Jimmy Carter, did agree to negotiate with Egypt's Sadat.Egypt got back the Sinai; Israel received formal recognition from Egypt. Both Sadat and Begin hailed their achievement.
Part6: Palestinians hated their current living situations because they were stateless, living under the humiliation of identity checks, body searches and verbal abuse that were the rule of the Israeli army, watching helplessly as Israel expanded Jewish settlements on what had been their land. It was a very effective way of reaching out to Israelis, that you know, we are going to resist but without using military means, and that this could be very costly to you financially and morally. And it swayed many politicians and many generals and military people in Israel to accepting the concept of a Palestinian entity at that point. But by 1988, Hamas was playing a major role in the Intifada, and its leaders were talking about more violent measures. In the 1990s, their primary tactic would become the suicide bombing, disrupting every effort for peace. At the White House Arafat and Rabin shook hands and declared peace. This was only the first step, many other issues still needed to be resolved.
Part7: At this time Palestinians and Israelis still hated each other. Arafat took the Gaza and portions of the West Bank that the Israelis abandoned. Arafat did not follow the Oslo agreement because he was importing arms, by having much bigger security forces than they were entitled to, and by not laying the foundations for a democratic regime that respects human rights. Many of the Arabs that are Palestinians can't understand why Jews suddenly appeared in Palestine and started to take it over. They can't understand why they must agree to the Jews' continuing to possess 80 percent of Palestine and they will agree to only receive 20 percent. After the Ehud Barak's government collapsed, and Ariel Sharon, possibly the Israeli politician most hated by the Palestinians, was elected prime minister. He help a full scale invasion into Palestinian territories, and they are not occupied by Israelis.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
"Wicked Tenants"
The parable, I think, illustrates that the system is corrupt. As a metaphor it might represent the state of affairs of 1st century Palestine. In metaphor, the Israelites are represented by the tenants to whom Yahweh has given the land. Because the landowner is distinguished as a Jew, he represents the Jewish leaders of the time who, though they are their kin, oppress the poor, in direct violation of God’s laws.Verses 10-12 talk about how some builders had chosen not to use a section of stone (probably because they deemed it of low quality or not good or whatever stone guys do). This rejected stone however turns out to become the tablets of which The Law is written upon. What was rejected and viewed as garbage has all of a sudden become the most important thing on earth. Like the stone guys, the tenants and Pharisees (Scribes, Sadducees, e.t.c…) are given the power to create a super awesome structure, or society. The choice made is poor, and so there are consequences they must face. Had the builders picked up the crappy stone, one might assume that, based it’s destiny as something so great, whatever was being built would be incredible. If this is the case, then if the tenants/leaders were to pick up the crappy pieces (the poor), then some great institution might become of the whole. Therefore, the parable shows that “the system” must be run in such a way that one group does not oppress the other.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
"Letter to Senator."
Dear Legislator,
There is a problem that I think needs to come to your attention. There are many people that don't have the basic needs for everyday life. Schooling is terrible in third world countries and we have a chance to do something about it. I would like you to pass pass EDUCATION FOR ALL ACT 2007 (S. 1259 / H.R. 2092) which can dramatically scale up its investment in basic education, and develop a comprehensive strategy to help put every child in school. By making universal basic education a major goal of U.S. foreign policy, our world and our nation will be stronger and safer. This can also creat jobs and ultimately stop poverty. Also the U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act (HR 2266 / S.1418), to help end childhood death before the age of 5 due to reasons such as malnutrition and preventable diseases. There are inexpensive, effective interventions that would prevent the needless deaths of mothers and children in developing countries. This legislation could invest in low cost but highly effective life saving things such as immunizations, antibiotics, clean drinking water and vitamin supplements. The Growth Act (HR 2965) will provide a strong, solid realistic to expand job opportunties for women. This act can give women the ability to start their own businesses which could give them land and property rights. This also ensures that the benefits of trade agreements reach poor women in developing countries through programs like trade capacity building and training for women entrepreneurs. And also the JUBILEE ACT FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND EXPANDED DEBT CANCELATION (HR 2634) will expand debt cancellations to the 26 countries that require it to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Debt cancellation is a tested and effective way for fighting poverty. Savings from debt cancellation has allowed Zambia to hire 4,500 new teachers and provide free healthcare in rural areas. In Honduras, debt relief is being used to eliminate fees for primary education, allowing thousands of children to return to school. These bills need to be passed as the first step to ending poverty on this planet. Please pass these four bills if they come in contact with you at one point.
Thank you very much for listening to me and my concerns,
Sophia Hennefer
There is a problem that I think needs to come to your attention. There are many people that don't have the basic needs for everyday life. Schooling is terrible in third world countries and we have a chance to do something about it. I would like you to pass pass EDUCATION FOR ALL ACT 2007 (S. 1259 / H.R. 2092) which can dramatically scale up its investment in basic education, and develop a comprehensive strategy to help put every child in school. By making universal basic education a major goal of U.S. foreign policy, our world and our nation will be stronger and safer. This can also creat jobs and ultimately stop poverty. Also the U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act (HR 2266 / S.1418), to help end childhood death before the age of 5 due to reasons such as malnutrition and preventable diseases. There are inexpensive, effective interventions that would prevent the needless deaths of mothers and children in developing countries. This legislation could invest in low cost but highly effective life saving things such as immunizations, antibiotics, clean drinking water and vitamin supplements. The Growth Act (HR 2965) will provide a strong, solid realistic to expand job opportunties for women. This act can give women the ability to start their own businesses which could give them land and property rights. This also ensures that the benefits of trade agreements reach poor women in developing countries through programs like trade capacity building and training for women entrepreneurs. And also the JUBILEE ACT FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND EXPANDED DEBT CANCELATION (HR 2634) will expand debt cancellations to the 26 countries that require it to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Debt cancellation is a tested and effective way for fighting poverty. Savings from debt cancellation has allowed Zambia to hire 4,500 new teachers and provide free healthcare in rural areas. In Honduras, debt relief is being used to eliminate fees for primary education, allowing thousands of children to return to school. These bills need to be passed as the first step to ending poverty on this planet. Please pass these four bills if they come in contact with you at one point.
Thank you very much for listening to me and my concerns,
Sophia Hennefer
"The Mustard Weed."
The mustard seed's aggressive, take over, weed-like characteristics tell us that at the beginning you don't see with compassion or hope but as you see the bigger picture, you have a bigger influence. There is a growth and beneficial that the Kingdom of God can provide like possibly peace which becomes significant like our role in Africa.
Monday, September 24, 2007
"Executive Summary on Africa."
On our planet it is obvious that we have enough to make sure, easily that people aren't dying of poverty. Jeffrey Sachs says there are millions of people dying every year for the reason that they are poor. The truth is that for less than a percent of the income of the rich world nobody has to die because of poverty on the planet. If we just gave a little, maybe part of your lunch money each day, or skip a day without your coffee we could save a life. Most of the kids in Africa die of malaria. Things lead into other things, like one day a child that has been bitten by a mosquito will fall into a malaria coma, get a fever, then convulsions where they will never get out of and soon die. By giving up your coffee you could buy a mosquito net that would save lives. Jeffrey Sachs talked to a village in Africa where they were using the nets over their beds, and the village had a great response. They told Sachs that the cases of malaria had decreased by two-thirds. Jeffrey approaches alleviating poverty as it were a rigorous scientific experiment allocating about 110 per person each year for 5 years to implement a basic intervention such as fetilizer, clean, water, and health. I believe you have two options, either you decide to leave people to die, or you help. Disease has hit Africa hard. It only takes 5 cents to get an immunization for a child so they won't die. 5 cents! All it takes is for one person to donate 5 cents to help this children. Many people don't want to help because the history of international development because of its failure. Too many people in the field are complacent, incompete, or don't want to be in charge of other peoples lives. If you think poverty is a big deal in Africa picture this. Without electrical power, how do you provide standard medical treatment to people who are dying? Without running water how do you sterilize surgical tools to wash blood? With an annual investment of $66 billion, the report states, we could be saving eight million lives a year, and generating economic benefits worth $360 billion a year. As a community here at Saint Mary's we could send money to organizations that help poverty in Africa. A little change in youre pocket would make a huge deal and even save a life.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
DP 2: What Should We Do?"
After reading and doing research on the poverty in Africa, i think we should give $2 a week to the Millennium campaign. This campaign has 8 goals, to eliminate extreme poverty, achieve education for all, promote gender equalities and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, improve HIV, AIDS, and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development. I know it is hard for people to give up something such as money, but if we start off small that money can add up and save lives. Usually one thing can lead to another, for example aid can help pay for a child's education. Increasing financing could help end school fees, pay for more teachers in the classroom, buy more meals that contain locally produced foods and invest that money in water and power so women don't have to spend their lives fetching water. 1.8 million children will die of dehydration due to diarrhea. It seems so easy, all they need to live is a handful of sugar, a bottle of clean water, and a pinch of salt. If we could send supplies to Africa we would be saving so many lives. Most people don't do that though because they don't know where to send their money. With orginazations such as Millennium they make it easy to send money. Orginazations such as theone.com you can send a message to your senators and representatives to move the Global Child Survival Act forward so we can start saving children.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Portfolio 2: Singer on Poverty
Ten most important or pressing moral questions.
1. Should we perfect our world?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Do we have extra resourses that we can share?
4. Is it an obligation to help others?
5. Do you spend money on things that aren't important rather than helping?
6. Does the Government care about people on different soil?
7. To the Government do we all matter equally?
8. How can we be sure if we are helping other people?
9. Who should we give our wealth to first?
10. Does out Government actually do what they say they do?
1. Should we perfect our world?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Do we have extra resourses that we can share?
4. Is it an obligation to help others?
5. Do you spend money on things that aren't important rather than helping?
6. Does the Government care about people on different soil?
7. To the Government do we all matter equally?
8. How can we be sure if we are helping other people?
9. Who should we give our wealth to first?
10. Does out Government actually do what they say they do?
Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation
Jesus criticized what it means to be good Jew and what it takes to inherit eternal life. Jesus changes the way the question is put, and makes it about not what it means to be a good Jew but what it means to be alive as a human being. He brings up being a good neighbor, and shows the personality of a true person. Jesus shows how you live is really compassion. He shows an example by telling him that people who are on top, the highest in society have a harder time seeing the suffering in others. People that have gone through that understand the opportunity of others experiences.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Portfolio 1: John the Baptist
John the Baptist was to praise God as Jesus was. His father Zechariah and his mother Elizabeth were to name him John by the holy spirt. Zechariah said John would be called a prophet of the Most High and will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give knowledge and salvation and give forgivness for sins. Jesus and John were cousins by Mary and Elizabeth, they were sisters. Both Mary and Elizabth were filled with the Holy Spirit and were told that their sons would be prophets for God. When Jesus was a little boy he didn't know his purpose was to be a prophet but he had a lot of knowledge about God. When at the temple people realized that he had wisdom and it wasn't until Jesus got older that he realized his place was to be like John and be a prophet.
John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. He was born and raised in the same region under the same conditions as Jesus was. Therefore one could predict that their teachings may have things in common. John, like Jesus was born miraculously in ways never before imagined possible; his mother was past childbearing age and likewise Mary conceived a virgin. Great things are expected from people born miraculously as they were. John later in his age went around the area of Jordan and with him he spread his messages. He was quick to accusing his audience of evil actions calling them "A Brood of Vipers." He bitterly accuses his audience of hypocrisy and gives them advise for a more positive future. He claims that one cannot love God truly if he chooses to cheat his fellow human beings. He tells the tax-collectors to take only what is ascribed, and no more. He tells his audience to do good deeds and actions as to be saved. He claims that people need to infact do as they are taught, and actually work to serve others, not just discipline people. In essence, he told people to do what God guided them to do--what was fair and just. John's haughty statements may have come from his refugee background. He unhappy of the rich controlling everything and of the temple system only favoring the rich who flowed their money within it. He was tired of the tax collectors taking everything that the people had. He did not like the soldiers of the Roman empire, or even Herod's soldiers unfairly harrassing people with no motive. So, he felt if no one would stand up against these unjust actions, he would do it himself; and he did just that.
John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. He was born and raised in the same region under the same conditions as Jesus was. Therefore one could predict that their teachings may have things in common. John, like Jesus was born miraculously in ways never before imagined possible; his mother was past childbearing age and likewise Mary conceived a virgin. Great things are expected from people born miraculously as they were. John later in his age went around the area of Jordan and with him he spread his messages. He was quick to accusing his audience of evil actions calling them "A Brood of Vipers." He bitterly accuses his audience of hypocrisy and gives them advise for a more positive future. He claims that one cannot love God truly if he chooses to cheat his fellow human beings. He tells the tax-collectors to take only what is ascribed, and no more. He tells his audience to do good deeds and actions as to be saved. He claims that people need to infact do as they are taught, and actually work to serve others, not just discipline people. In essence, he told people to do what God guided them to do--what was fair and just. John's haughty statements may have come from his refugee background. He unhappy of the rich controlling everything and of the temple system only favoring the rich who flowed their money within it. He was tired of the tax collectors taking everything that the people had. He did not like the soldiers of the Roman empire, or even Herod's soldiers unfairly harrassing people with no motive. So, he felt if no one would stand up against these unjust actions, he would do it himself; and he did just that.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Portfolio 1: I'm a Refugee
Jesus' experience from being from a refugee family helped him with his work. Mary had to take him to Egypt when he was a boy where he had never been before because of King Herod. Also because Mary was a refugee Jesus had a kindness in his heart for people that had been through the same thing as him and his mother, running on the go not looking back. Jesus was an immigrant going from city to city to preach the Lord's work to cities that either accepted him or didn't accept him. Some cases people would look down on him like the Pharisees because they thought that he would be leading the people away from the way they were teaching the scriptures, and would lose all the money they were making from the government. Many people would throw rocks at him and say they would kill him because of what he was doing. I'm sure Jesus was scared but he knew what needed to be done no matter what it took so the people would know the truth about God's work.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Portfolio1: Who's your momma
Mary was the mother of Jesus, who projected the same kindness and love that her son had. Looking at her in the quad she looks different than I thought she was projected to be. In the quad her eyes are looking down and she looks scared or sad. Mary also looks humble.
In these passages you can tell Mary was a little scared but willing to have Jesus because she didn't know how Joseph would react to her pregnancy. Mary felt releaved when the Holy Spirit came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him what he needed to do. Joseph had no union with her until she had her baby, which they named Jesus. A woman who has been through the power of God and the Holy spirit can predict powerful things. Mary understands all the great things God has done for her so she wished to be called blessed. She preaches to Elizabeth about all of the things God has done just like her son Jesus will like the passage from Luke 1:39-56 , "He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts." Women were treated like objects. They were to walk behind the man and ate last. Nobody appreciated them except Jesus when he spoke to Mary Magdelene ven though she was a prostitute. People would have looked down on Mary because of her pregnancy and on top of it they would scorn her for being divorced.
Nothing was special about Mary, she was poor, unmarried, and probably uneducated why would God chose someone so imperfect. Well God did say nobody on the earth was perfect and everybody has sinned. I think God chose Mary because he wanted to show that he knows best and that he can do anything he wants, and by picking an unperfect person, he proves it. Mary rejoiced the Lord and didn't brag to people that she was picked, she was very humble and honored.
In these passages you can tell Mary was a little scared but willing to have Jesus because she didn't know how Joseph would react to her pregnancy. Mary felt releaved when the Holy Spirit came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him what he needed to do. Joseph had no union with her until she had her baby, which they named Jesus. A woman who has been through the power of God and the Holy spirit can predict powerful things. Mary understands all the great things God has done for her so she wished to be called blessed. She preaches to Elizabeth about all of the things God has done just like her son Jesus will like the passage from Luke 1:39-56 , "He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts." Women were treated like objects. They were to walk behind the man and ate last. Nobody appreciated them except Jesus when he spoke to Mary Magdelene ven though she was a prostitute. People would have looked down on Mary because of her pregnancy and on top of it they would scorn her for being divorced.
Nothing was special about Mary, she was poor, unmarried, and probably uneducated why would God chose someone so imperfect. Well God did say nobody on the earth was perfect and everybody has sinned. I think God chose Mary because he wanted to show that he knows best and that he can do anything he wants, and by picking an unperfect person, he proves it. Mary rejoiced the Lord and didn't brag to people that she was picked, she was very humble and honored.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Portfolio 1:“A Family of Freedom Fighters"
Bathbeba was the wife of Uriah stood for all the voiceless and nameless people throughout histoty. She gets into the genealogy to the ancestory to the tradition as a sexual object. The story of Bathsheba is that King David saw her bathing from his roof one day and instantly fell in love with her. He called her from his roof and told her to come to his home and seduced her. King David knew that Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah, so after he commited adultery he called Uriah back because he knew that if Uriah slept with her they would think it was Uriah's child not Davids. When Uriah didn't want to sleep with Bathsheba he sent Uriah to war and put Uriah in the front of the battle line. Soon after Uriah dies he King David has Bathsheba all to himself and she becomes part of the royal line. King David and Bathsheba had one child. The first son of David was smitten with severe illness and soon died. David accepted this punishemnt but knew that his home would be cursed with turmoil because of his murder. King David took this as punishment from God for his sins. David felt so much guilt and asked God for forgivness. This came to pass years later when one of David's much-loved sons, Absalom, led an insurrection that plunged the kingdom into civil war. God then blessed Bathsheba and David with their son, Solomon, who would have competition from his older brother Adonijah.
Bathsheba is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as the mother of Solomon, the greatest king. Although Bathsheba is not directly related to Jesus, but rather through the marriage of David and through her son Solomon.
Bathsheba is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as the mother of Solomon, the greatest king. Although Bathsheba is not directly related to Jesus, but rather through the marriage of David and through her son Solomon.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve
I believe in this class i deserve an A- to and A. I take pride in saying that I do turn in all homework assignments 100% of the time. Believe me if I don't turn in my homework there will be a very good reason for it. I do like to participate in class by asking questions if i don't understand, and listening. I like to reflect in a journal and write things that i might not have gotten a chance to say in class. I know the difference between a time for work and a time for play. I try to have self disipline and not talk during class time and be as respectful to others.
Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really?
Jesus' main teaching was how to respect one another. His famous quote "Love your neighboor as yourself" shows this. He treated people with kindness and love that they deserved even if they were cruel and rude. Jesus also didn't discriminate the poor, the ill, or the women because he understood their situation of beign an outcast when nobody wanted to listen to his teachings. Jesus was all about forgiveness, and giving second chances hoping in time that they would change.
I do consider myself a follower of Jesus because i think i demonstrate some of the same qualitites that he had. Though it might be hard at times, i try to be kind to everyone and don't descriminate. I do forgive but i don't forget. I try to think that people can change but sometimes that just doesn't happen. It's hard when you respect someone but in return they don't respect you back, i have experienced that so many times and I don't know when I should stop giving them second chances when i know they won't change. These are the times when I am torn in two, should I keep to Jesus' teachings, or hold a grudge. Either way my family is religious and I know they would expect me to handle things the right way which in this case would be to forgive and forget.
I do consider myself a follower of Jesus because i think i demonstrate some of the same qualitites that he had. Though it might be hard at times, i try to be kind to everyone and don't descriminate. I do forgive but i don't forget. I try to think that people can change but sometimes that just doesn't happen. It's hard when you respect someone but in return they don't respect you back, i have experienced that so many times and I don't know when I should stop giving them second chances when i know they won't change. These are the times when I am torn in two, should I keep to Jesus' teachings, or hold a grudge. Either way my family is religious and I know they would expect me to handle things the right way which in this case would be to forgive and forget.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Portfolio: Why we tell stories
During Christmas every year my dad tells a story about when he was growing up how he never got many presents, how his dad didn't give him many because he wanted to prove a point that you should be happy with what you have. My grandpa used to give him rubberbands and little things that would cost a quarter. My dad says once in a while my grandma would spoil him when my grandpa wasn't looking and give him a new toy car or something he really wanted for Christmas. My dad thinks he spoils us to much and that my sister and i don't deserve so many things. He trys to make us realize what we have and not take anything for granted. Every year he tells us that he won't give us any gifts but he always ends up giving us what we want.
A story my mom always tells me is when she came from El Salvador to escape a corrupt government. She told me that before she came her she went to seven different schools in just six years. When she was sixteen years old she came to the United States with her three older sisters. She went to Albany high school and was critizized on how she talked because she spoke more spanish than english and had a very strong accent. she tells me how people didn't want to get to know her because she was different. She tells me this story because i know she wants me to know that i am very lucky to be at a great school with good friends. I understand that she came here for me, so i could have a better life than what she had growing up.
A story my mom always tells me is when she came from El Salvador to escape a corrupt government. She told me that before she came her she went to seven different schools in just six years. When she was sixteen years old she came to the United States with her three older sisters. She went to Albany high school and was critizized on how she talked because she spoke more spanish than english and had a very strong accent. she tells me how people didn't want to get to know her because she was different. She tells me this story because i know she wants me to know that i am very lucky to be at a great school with good friends. I understand that she came here for me, so i could have a better life than what she had growing up.
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