The first commandment is that you shall have no other gods before me
The second commandment is that you shall not make for yourself a graven image
The third commandment is that you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain
The fourth commandment is that you shall remember the Sabbath day
The fifth commandment is that you shall honor your mother and father
The sixth commandment is that you shall not murder
The seventh commandment is that you shall not commit adultery
The eighth commandment is that you shall not steal
The ninth commandment is that you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
The tenth commandment is that you shall not covet your neighbor’s stuff

Back in the day, the ancient people believed in more than one god. They were either monolatry, which means that they worshipped one god but recognized others, or henotheism, which is the belief of one chief god. According to the first commandment, people are able to worship other gods, but not before Him. The second commandment clearly states that you cannot worship objects. The third commandment enforces that you can’t curse or swear in the name of the Lord unless you truly mean it. This means that you are telling the truth, and it is only if you are lying that you would be breaking this law. The fourth commandment simply wants you to remember the Sabbath day, which is Sunday, and reminds you not to do anything because it is a special day. In fact, it was the day that God rested on, the seventh day. The fifth commandment is about respecting your parents, taking care of them, and talking to them how you would want to be talked so that your days will be longer in the lands. The sixth commandment is about murders. The Israelites committed multiple murders, but this law is only broken if the murder is premeditated. The seventh commandment is broken if and only if the woman in crime is married. See in biblical times, adultery was when a man had sexual intercourse, feelings, or thoughts about a married woman. The eighth commandment is simple just don’t steal. It is depriving one of their belongings and you should be proud to work for and earn everything you have with confidence. The ninth commandment is that you can’t falsely accuse someone of doing something that they did not do. Basically, you needed proof and if you were lying or wrong then you have broken this commandment. Finally, the tenth commandment is don’t fancy your neighbor’s belongings because in the end you will wind up doing something that leads to you breaking another commandment.

Ancient Israel had a Decalogue to maintain order and tranquility within their civilization. They are the ones who started with the ten commandments. It worked out well for them too. For example, the sixth commandment kept them from seeking revenge on each other with the “eye for eye concept.” This meant that you can only do the same that the person has done to you and it is over that’s it. Xavier also has rules to standardize their students such as consequences for tardiness, absence, parking, dress code, and many more. I myself have a set of rules that I follow. To be truthful, respectful, diligent, articulate, intellectual, positive, versatile, optimistic, patient, understanding, opinionated, and caring at all times. It is up to me because it is my responsibility; therefore, I treat them as rules so that I am able to confirm that I do these at all times. My favorite biblical law would have to be the fifth commandment, honor your mother and father so that your days will be longer in the lands. This is so special to me because I am not fortunate enough to have my mother or father in my life anymore. Also, I watch my little cousins and they don’t talk to nice to their elders either. I am able to appreciate this law so much more than others would. My least favorite biblical law is the tenth, which is you shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings, because sometimes it is alright to admire something as long as you don’t try to steal it. What I mean is that if you see something that you want then you can go out, work for it, and earn it so that you too can have it. It’s not always bad to want something, but more of an inspiration of what you want.

God’s home, the Tabernacle is a large rectangular tent that is 15 feet high, 45 feet long, and 15 feet wide. The tent is enclosed by a 75X150 courtyard. Inside of the tent in front of the Tabernacles entrance is featured a bronze basin and altar. There is also a table of bread where the twelve tribes of Israel each leave a bread offering. Biblical authors spend so much time describing this tent because it is the special place where God chooses to reside. “In the Divine Warrior in His Tent” by Homan, Ramesses’ camp was similar to the Tabernacle. Many thought that it was similar to the Temple. Wrong! In fact, the Temple was three times larger than the Tabernacle, the Temple was not surrounded by a courtyard, and it had three rooms. The Tabernacle had a courtyard and two rooms, in which Ramesses had something similar to.

The Day of Atonement found in Leviticus 16 is about Aaron who purified the sins of his sons and the Israelites. Not to mention, it means Yom Kippur in Hebrew and is the most solemn day of the year in which occurs in the fall. Fasting and self-reflection takes place where the priests and society relieve their sins. The Tabernacle is also purified and this is the only time that the High Priest is allowed to enter the Holy Place. He then offers a sacrifice (1 of 2 goats) for himself and his fellow priests. He confesses Israel’s sins on the head of the goat and sets it free in the wild to take the sins away. If the goat returned they were not forgiven and still in sin, but if it didn’t return then their sins were forgiven. It is a special time where everyone confesses, asks for forgiveness from others, and extends forgiveness to others. So, God told Moses specific instructions of what to do. Then, Aaron brought a young bull for the sin offering and a ram for the burnt offering. This represents how much power God has in society and how the Israelites respect and obeyed Him dearly.

Liberation Theology started in Latin America in the late 60’s. Then, it spread to 3rd world poverty. It is an interpretation of Christian faith from the suffering, struggle, and hope of the poor. It is basically Christianity in the eyes of poor people. It is also a critique of society, the ideologies sustaining it, the activities of the Church, and of Christians from the angle of the poor. Indeed, it helps poor people who are struggling. A great number of African Americans live in poverty. What I am saying is that Liberation Theology not only says it, but it actually does something about it and stresses the importance of it. African Americans should have a Liberation Theology because the majority of them are in poverty and they can’t afford a standard way of life. “Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians” by Robert Warrior was about Native Americans recounting their form of Liberation Theology from their outlook. Warrior alleged that it is harder to help Native Americans and that they are often excluded from this. The Exodus story is told to illustrate one’s struggle. It is a prototype of liberation because people were oppressed and God saved them. According to Warrior, the Exodus story is unsuitable for Native Americans, or Canaanites, because God ordered their total destruction. They were not destroyed, but God took over anyway overlooking them. So actually they dominated the land by stealing it from the Canaanites and to avoid being exploited, they exploited the Canaanites. Therefore, because of this event the Canaanites have a tough time relating to this story and also possible trouble of believing in God. I agree with Warrior because he stood up for what he believed in and he was real to bring out this point of the Native Americans’ experience of injustice.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 at 7:51 pm and is filed under Class Comments, Week 05: Respond & Logo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.