Religion is a topic that has a lot of controversies. Despite being one of the seemingly reliable fields that attempt to describe the origin of the world and human beings, religion often leaves behind a lot of unanswered questions. Myths, Archeological, and scientific discoveries are other issues that have made it difficult for people as they attempt to understand the religion and its claims. Though most archeological discoveries support some of the findings and claim in religion, others create sharp differences with religion to appoint where people are left confused about what the truth is and the myths. Despite such confusion, exploring the origin and the world of religion is a fascinating experience.
Question One: Fun with Archaeology
A Mississippi State University archaeological team made a stunning discovery in which they unveiled six official clay seals at a dig in southern Israel. From their viewpoint, the clays are thought to be envelope stamps or seals that were in use, mostly 1200 B.C. The seals, or bullae, were found at a site near the city of Gaza called Khirbet. The assumption is that the seals were official stamps of a government that was operating during that period. The discoverers claim that these seals belonged to the reign of King David and Solomon that were present during this time. They claim that the place of discovery links the seals to the reign of King David and Solomon, as told from the Hebrew Bible ( Mississippi State University, 2014). The discoverers also claim that these seals date back to the period when either Solomon or David was in power, as told from the Hebrew Bible. Among the ancient people, letters had official stamps to communicate the place of origin. The official marks were from a government or a kingdom that was ruling at that time. They would wrap a string around a rolled sheet of papyrus. They would then place a lump of clay on the sheet and stamp the clay with the seal. The person who was to read the letter would break the clay.
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The seals on the clay imply a significant period of political time in Israel. However, the accuracy of the exact date and Kingdom is a topic of discussion. The core to the debate on this discovery stems from the fact that the area of discovery is postulated to be the place where kings David and Solomon were written to reside from the Hebrews Biblical stories. Therefore, the implication is that such a society or kingdom existed in that location. However, the counterargument states that despite the date and the location of the six stones, it does not mean that the seals belonged to either David or Solomon ( Mississippi State University, 2014). The reason is that between the period the archeologists state, there were a lot of Kingdoms that were using many seals, and the clays discovered by the archeologists could belong to any of them and not necessarily David or Solomon. Similarly, the archeologists are not sure whether the seals existed between the 8th or 10th century B.C. Therefore, it is difficult to assume that either David or Solomon were using such seals ( Mississippi State University, 2014). Despite that, the six stones are significant indications that between the period of the 8th and 10th B.C organization inform of government were already in existence.
Question 2: Myths of History
There is a distinction between myths of history and the myths that explain nature. The myth of nature attempts to explain the existence of natural things in the world. Meanwhile, the myths of history attempt to explain real people or places within a specific time. The myth of history is a common phenomenon among different religious groups. Among religions such as Christian, Judaism, and Muslims, the myth of history are stories each of these religious groups has that attempt to explain the things that involve real people, times, and places.
Notably, each of the religious groups such as Judaism, Muslim, and Christian, believe in the existence of one God. Therefore, they strive to do the right things that place them closer to God. Such religious groups also believe in stories such as the existence of Adam and Eve, and they believe that these were the first people to exist on earth. Stories such as those of Abraham being the father of faith are myths among them, and they have faith in the existence of such people (Esposito, Fasching, & Lewis, 2014). Judaism, for instance, believes that to be in harmony with God, a person must be obedient. They believe that such a respectful person can have a conversation with God, just like the great prophets of the old times. Among Christian, a person must accept God as the savior and receive aid through the incarnation of God. Among the Muslims, following God's command and submitting to Him is the key to a better and Godly life.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are religious groups that involve myths of history because they have myths that describe the stories that were in reality at a particular point in time. They believe in God and other people that many Holy books and histories describe as having existed many years ago and were religious. These people, such as Abraham, in Christian Biblical accounts, are believed to have been integral in spreading the word of God. These people are found to have once existed and walked on earth ( Kinnard, 2015). As such, many places, namely Jerusalem, are thought to be especially holy lands. These were places that the biblical accounts, for instance, claim to have been the place where religious people and sacred men and women lived while teaching people the ways of God. Many wars, over-throwing, and trading-hands have taken place in the holy lands for this very reason. It proves to be an archeological ‘goldmine’ of religious texts and artifacts.
Question Three: The Discovery
Exploring the first week’s material was a fascinating experience, and I discovered that a person who only understands one type of religion in the postmodern world understands none. At the center of my discovery is the fact that people need to understand religion and faith from different angles or dimensions, as this is critical to building a peaceful world. As the reading implies, people who live in the current world are heretics. It means that the postmodern people live differently from pre-modern individuals because, currently, people are free to choose the religion they like. However, this was not the case for those who existed during pre-modern times. In pre-modern times, people did not have the opportunity to have a different religion from their parents. They were to stick to the doctrine of their place of birth. However, the modern world has made it easy for people to have diverse views on their religion. They have access to many people and places in the world through the use of the internet and the new technology platform, such as social media platforms. In this sense, they have a chance to compare what they believe is their sacred faith and what others believe in different types of religion. They also have the opportunity to analyze different religions, discover new things about faith, and even attempt to join the faith of their preferences.
From these readings, the importance of understanding diversity in religion lies on demand to create a peaceful world where there is no stereotyping and discrimination. The reading makes it clear that in pre-modern society, it was difficult for people to understand other people’s religious viewpoints. It was a one-direction society where people believed that their faith was the best, and others were inferior. As a result, there were religious wars, such as the Crusades and torture for those who were accused of being heretics in society. The consequences of these wars made many people question the intent of religion because they left many innocent people dead. In the modern world, therefore, understanding a different religion means understanding a neighbor and creating peace with them. Nevertheless, different understanding faiths means understanding the world at large and acknowledging the growing need to embrace diversity as people migrate from one point to another in the world.
Question 4: From the Anthology
A fascinating discovery while reading through the Anthology is the concept of ethics in religion. Ethics in theology from the reading relates to the rules that guide these people through their faith as they strive to do what is rights in the eyes of God. For instance, Buddhists have the five precepts that act as the law and guide them by giving them direction on what they are right to do and those that contradict their faith. In general, these are rules that govern them and ensure that they remain within the morality borders in society. Furthermore, the Christian has the Ten Commandments of the Torah, which they believe that God gave Abraham to act as the blueprint on what they should do and those that contradict theirs believes. In the same manner, Muslims have shari’a, which guides society. Through such ethical or laws that different religious organizations possess, they can understand the best practices that the community considers moral and act morally for the sake of their God and society.
Studying ethics in religion as a concept is critical in this case because it helps in understanding the differences that these religious groups have as well as their similarities concerning how they see a moral society or ethical behaviour in the world. Since the discussion is about western religion, part of such a debate could including understanding an ethical society from a perspective of different religious groups. In this case, the concept of ethics in religion could be critical in comparing the definition of morality from the standpoint of different religious beliefs. Also, ethics in religion describe the iconic rules of a specific religion. For instance, it represents the ways of worshiping. It explains how a particular religious group should pray when they should do it and where they should pray. Therefore, ethics in religion highlight some of the basic norms that seem to be the critical differences that exist between different religious groups. Therefore, understanding the concept of theological ethics is essential in comparing the different religions in the world. Though there is no preconceived idea that this concept has changed, it opens a new world where there is a possibility of viewing religious practices from a lens of morality in the society and deciding the best for an individual.
Conclusion
Religion plays a critical role in society as it sets the foundation for the meaning of life to many people. With the modern world, religion is a field that could help bring peace when people can be willing to understand it from different dimensions, learn them, and embrace the differences. It is the only way to reduce the issues that stem from religious discrimination that have a history of brooding religious wars in the past.
References
Esposito, J. L., Fasching, D. J., & Lewis, T. T. (2014). World Religions Today . Oxford University Press.
Mississippi State University. (2014, December 16). Discovery of official clay seals supports the existence of biblical kings David and Solomon, archaeologists say. ScienceDaily . Retrieved February 19, 2020, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141216100433.htm
Kinnard, J. N. (2015). The Norton Anthology of World Religions, Volume One. General Editor, Jack Miles; Hinduism Editor, Wendy Doniger; Buddhism Editor, Donald S. Lopez Jr.; Daoism Editor, James Robson. Journal of the American Academy of Religion , 83 (2), 591-596.
