1506 words by jhaskin
This is my first week in Theology 1120 and so far I think I like it. Although I do go to church, I do not really know very much about the Bible and the history of it. Some of the things we discuss I get totally lost on because I have no clue what my teacher is talking about, but when the discussion is over I feel a lot better because I do understand. I did not take this course by choice, and when I saw that it was on my schedule, I was a little apprehensive and upset about it. Like I said, I am religious but not so well read on the Bible, and I thought I would be reading the Bible in the class. My mom told me that being in this class would be a good thing because it can help me with my religion and also just an interesting course to take. So far, this is true. I really do not have many expectations of the class, but I just think I will be enlightened on different aspects of the Bible. I think I also have the desire to learn about different types of religions as well. I think the Bible is the most important creation ever because for many people, it serves as a guideline for better living. It also shows us what people had to go through back in ancient times. I think we should compare our lives to those back then and consider ourselves lucky. They had kingdoms and everything, but they seemed to always be in some sort of turmoil. We think we have problems now but I could not imagine living like they did. Many of us should be way more humble than we are.
Biblical Studies is a good thing to have on your record because it shows that you have an open mind and are willing to look at things from many different perspectives without criticizing others. Sometimes it is a relieving feeling to know that there is someone with more power than you. This class is also a good way for you to get in touch with your beliefs, and maybe even change your mind about your religious preference. I know I am not going to change my religious preference, but I do know that the course will help me be closer to my religion. Really, I have had nothing pertaining to background in the Bible, except church. I go to church but not always, and I was not one of those kids who was in the church choir or Sunday school or did bible study or anything like that. I went for the Sermon and that is about it. I do not really know much about the Bible, and I would like to change that. Before I came to college, my sister bought me a travel size Bible and it is written in a version that I can understand. Sometimes reading the Bible in the old text is hard, but this version is easier and makes me want to read it. It also may come in handy for this course that I am taking.
Usually, when I take a course, any course, it is like second nature to me to already know what is going on and to excel in that course. This course seems a little different because the topics that we talk about I have no previous exposure to. It is like I really want to participate in class but I do not really have any knowledge on the subjects we discuss. I know that after a while I will get used to the discussions and all will be okay. I feel that this is one of my more challenging courses just because I do not have a background on it. I will have to work hard in order to get an A, and I know that I will succeed, as long as I do what I am supposed to do. Though this class was interesting, on day one I was shocked.
My first mental test was the first class meeting when we discussed 586 BCE, maybe the most significant date in biblical history, Babylonian captivity. II had never even heard of this so it was all fresh and new to me. I felt really bad when the teacher was asking questions and the only thing I could do was look at him and smile because I had absolutely no clue what the correct answer was. After prodding a couple more questions to students, he began describing things that were happening. When he described some of the things that were done to the people of Jerusalem, I was utterly shocked. I mean I knew that the crucifixion of Christ was bad, but so was this. The way the Babylonians were acting like barbaric animals was shocking as well. I could not believe the torture these poor, innocent people had to endure for such a period of time. Lamentations was the book that described these horrific events. Jeremiah had predicted this and it all came true.
I think the physical geography affected the Bible because everything was pretty close to everything else, and travel was easy because of this. This easy location made Jerusalem vulnerable to the Babylonians. If it was set in a physical environment like New Orleans, it would be weird. More people from various backgrounds live here and attempting to take it over would be a hard thing to do. Maybe if the Bible were set in the United States I would be able to know more about geography. I was never excellent in the subject, but I knew most of my states. Now I am going to have to learn about the many Middle Eastern ancient cities and towns! It is like elementary school geography all over again!!!
The second day of class we went over the Mereneptah stele, an inscribed stone slab in ancient Egypt. This ten foot tall stone slab carries major importance because it holds the first know record that mentions anything about Israel, and how “[it] is wasted, bare of seed.” A critical reading of the stele is simply made but stating the facts from the fiction and embellishments. Just as people in society are today, telling lies just to make a story seem more interesting or to make them look good, people back in ancient times did the same kinds of things.
Before looking at the Mereneptah stele, we watched parts of two different movies about Babe Ruth to help us relate things more familiar to us, with the stele. Although I do not really know much about Babe Ruth except that he was a famous baseball player, this really added to my understanding the stele. I did not get it at first but, just as in both of the movies, the producers embellished what they did not know for sure happened, just to make the movie good and to make money. In a way, much of it was exaggerated, just as some of the writing in the Mereneptah stele. In order to fully understand, we must first be able to separate fact from fiction.
Well, now that I have completed one week in college, I can separate the fact from the fiction. The fact is that it really is not bad. It is different from high school and home and everything, but it is not a bad experience at all. I do not like all of my classes, but in life you do not get to have everything go your way. Another thing I found out is that I am actually liking my theology class. Our teacher is nice, and I think this may be one of my favorite classes just because it is something completely different than I am used to. I would have never signed up for theology on my own, but because my major, Speech Pathology, requires it, I got signed up. I am glad they did because I would have never been able to experience this class. I think they do this because they want us to be well rounded people. Not only academically, socially, with extra-curricular activities, but spiritually as well. They may not want us to declare a religion, but just to have something that we can look up to, besides our bosses and everything else.
I did not ever think I would say this but I really am glad I got put into the class. When others ask me why I am taking it I can actually say that I want to take it because I really do. It is a very good learning experience not just for spiritual people, but just for anyone. You could take this class strictly as course, or take it and apply it to your life. I think I will be one of the people who will really apply it to my life and take into consideration how lucky I am and what others went through to save me.