Interactive Posts

Response 1
While I agree with you that the Jewish people had a right to gain back their lands from the Babylonians during the historical time of their exodus, I disagree with your assertion that Jewish people were the first people to populate the area now known as Israel. I have trouble believing any populations claim to a particular geographic region because human history is that of a series of migrations and invasions from different groups. The name Israel doesn't even appear in records until 1209 BCE. While this was a long, long time ago there were other people and cultures, such as the Canaanites, that were in the Israel/Judea region as early as 1600 BCE. Even further the area was surely populated by the hunter-gathers of our human prehistory.

I think it is interesting that you use the analogy of a family when discussing the issue of Palestine and Israel because in our readings/films it appears that Islam and Judaism share a number of historical mytholgies and references, even the same prophets.


Response 2
Out of all the posts I have read on the topic, you are the only other person that seems to believe that what the Jewish people did to the Palestinians was wrong. I know that the jewish people wanted a homeland for their own, but Israel was also the Palestinian peoples home. I don't think it's right to force a people out of their land and homes when you have been gone for centuries. I wish the Jewish people had been able to create an inclusive state, one where the rights of everyone was respected, not just the Jews. I don't understand how a modern country or government can reclaim ancient land and make the current population foreigners in the homes and lands they had worked for so long. No wonder there is so much violence and ill will in this conflict.




Response 3

I really like your question!

Some Christian sects, like mormonism, believe that Jesus might have had a wife because...why not? It is a normal thing in life.

My question for you though is do you trust the early christian records to record such a normal detail of life? Regardless of one's personal religious beliefs, it is only natural that the Gospels are influenced by their human authors. Paul especially tells early christians to avoid marriage/sex at all costs if possible. Was this a teaching of Jesus, who I do not recall mentioning this specific idea in the new testament, or Paul's personal belief and influence on the early church? In some of scriptures, some of which are non-cannonical, it would also appear that Jesus was more fond of Mary than other disciples which caused some consternation. Could this jealousy be because of Jesus' romantic involvement with her or was it a simple jealousy? Just food for thought. :)

My personal thoughts are that if Jesus was married that would make him closer to being a mere mortal than the human embodiment of God, and thusly negate some of Christianities ideas. I don't think Christianity's founders would want Jesus to be anything less than God (as witnessed in the Council of Nicea).


Response 4

I agree with you that factual, scholarly evidence can only help the Christian religion. I don't understand why people would be adverse to finding out the truth of historical claims if we have the technology to do so. It makes me wonder if people are more afraid that they are wrong in their religous belief rather than certain of it's historical accuracy. Even if the Bible isn't 100% historically accurate, how often is any oral or literary traditon 100% accurate across thousands of years? Even our modern history is open to embellishment and interpration if we are not careful about guarding the truth. I think that also, though the bible may be inaccurate in its dates of events, could this also be due to the fact we use a different calendar than in ancient times? I'm not sure, but I think its very interesting to ponder the possibilites of why the bible is wrong. It could be dating, or even a more ancient history than we think. One thing is for certain though, we won't find out until we search for the truth.