tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post4129808996451700046..comments2023-11-02T10:22:20.717-04:00Comments on Mike Anderson's Ancient History Blog: Was Jesus a Militant Leader?Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-87669890810868373092017-04-02T18:22:57.536-04:002017-04-02T18:22:57.536-04:00Asking if the historical miracle-working Jesus was...Asking if the historical miracle-working Jesus was a militant is like asking if Santa Claus liked candy canes. Both are imaginary characters who did not actually exist in the way they are described in literature and folklore. But since most falsehoods are not created out of whole cloth, there is likely an historical root that is the antecedent of each 'person'. In the case of Santa, he is most likely derived from Saint Nicholas. In the case of Jesus, he is most likely derived from actual historical messianic aspirants such as Judas the Galilean who also cleansed the Temple. But since the Romans controlled the "publishing industry" of those days, they modified and ridiculed the story of Judas of Galilee in order to transform him into a pathetic peace-loving hippie figure that would not be a threat to Rome. Onias Hoffman o7h7on@yahoo.comOnias Hoffmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-10673012925093039872017-02-08T18:34:58.284-05:002017-02-08T18:34:58.284-05:00My daughter's AP World History teacher said th...My daughter's AP World History teacher said that Jesus was a militant leader.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-64128527567674793202012-05-09T12:46:18.447-04:002012-05-09T12:46:18.447-04:00Correction of my incomplete reference:
- Psycholo...Correction of my incomplete reference: <br />- <i>Psychology Today: Calming the Anger Storm</i>, by Kathy A. Svitil (Alpha Books/Penguin Group, 2006)<br /><b>Page 3</b>jclequy@yahoo.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-86822095472467809032012-05-08T18:33:55.186-04:002012-05-08T18:33:55.186-04:00Now, what about Jesus's episode of anger and v...Now, what about Jesus's episode of anger and violent sacking of the merchants and money changers from the temple, -- on the <b>psychological</b> level? <br />In psychology we learn that one main/basic trigger for anger, especially in cases of outbursts of anger for otherwise mild personnalities, is <b>frustration</b>, especially <b>indignation</b> caused by <b>the <i>denial</i> of what one considers a rightful priviledge, or need</b>.<br />For example, when we get angry at someone making fun of us, it's because we are denied the right to be treated with honor and respect.<br /><br />Kathy A. Svitil, senior science writer at the <i>California Institute of Technology</i> and a contributing editor for the <i>Discover</i> Magazine, who has written on a variety of subjects relating to health and science, explains:<br />"Anger is as normal an emotion as sorrow or love or fear. <br />At its best, anger has a noble purpose: <b>It is a warning sign</b><br /> -a red flashing light- <b>signaling to us that something is wrong</b>, and the situation needs to be addressed. <b> Anger can motivate us to make a change</b> in our personal life (...) <b>or to fix an injustice.</b>"<br />- <i>Psychology Today: Calming the Anger Storm</i>, by Kathy A. Svitil (Alpha Books/Penguin Group, 2006)<br /><br />In other words, Jesus took the offense personally, as the Son of God that he claimed to be, that this area designed and consecrated for the worship of non-Jews was obstructed in a way to deny Gentiles of their right to worship. <br /><br />We observe the same attitude in him as we read the passages in the gospels where Jesus rebukes and scolds the hypocritical religious leaders of his time, namely, the scribes and pharisees, to whom he said: <b><i>"You hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."</i></b> (Matthew 23:12-14)<br />By systematic obstruction, these people were denying to people the right to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven - the very kingdom that Jesus had the mission to herald and usher people into.jclequy@yahoo.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-1702714792028954892012-05-07T20:01:03.851-04:002012-05-07T20:01:03.851-04:00Was Jesus a Militant Leader?
Militant... Not real...Was Jesus a Militant Leader?<br /><br />Militant... Not really, but <b>Revolutionary... Ohhh Yes!</b><br />First, the militant aspect is so slim that we could argue forever and remain in mere inconclusive speculations.<br />But about the revolutionary aspect of his message and life, Oh YES!<br /><br />So when we look at Jesus's anger and violence toward the merchants doing business in the Temple, we see that it was triggered by a gigantic sentiment of <b>indignation</b> due to the Jewish Authorities factually <b>denying access to the Temple for the Gentiles</b> (Non-Jews). Yes, this area of the Temple dedicated and conceived to be in use by the non-jews, had become a noisy market, or rather a Bazaar, where nobody could seriously go to worship in peace, thus evacuating all non-Jews away from the premices, sending a clear message that they are not welcome there, unless they become Jewish first.<br />When Jesus justified his actions, he quoted the prophet Isaiah (as found in Mark 11:17) which says more explicitely:<br /><i>"My house will be called a house of prayer <b>for all nations"</b></i> Isaiah 56:7<br />Because, even though he said that he was sent <i>"to the lost sheep of Israel"</i> (Matthew 10:5-6 & 15:24), he nevertheless always showed concern and compassion to non-Jews: <br />* The Samaritan woman at the well, from Sychar (John 4:1-39),<br />* The Cananite (Syro-Phoenician) woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon whose daughter was possessed by a demon (Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30) <br />* The Roman Centurion whose servant/slave was sick to death (Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:2-10)<br />* The demonized Gadarene whose people were raising <i>despicable</i> swine (Matthew 8:28–34).<br /><br />In the same way, the revolutionary nature of Jesus's teaching can also be seen in the practical way that it was applied by the early church in building a self-less community where <b>"the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; no one said that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common (...) Nor was there anyone among them who lacked"</b> (Acts 4:32-34)<br />There we see a form of communism based on the generosity of the people, from the heart, rather than on the forceful obligation from a dictatorial government.jclequy@yahoo.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-44677534724882719772012-05-07T07:26:14.052-04:002012-05-07T07:26:14.052-04:00John,
I'm not taking a position on Jesus as a...John,<br /><br />I'm not taking a position on Jesus as a militant leader. That's why a question mark is in the title. I'm just presenting some biblical quotes and speculating on their meaning.Mike Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649431201703508681.post-85939991289308668792012-05-06T23:12:55.199-04:002012-05-06T23:12:55.199-04:00Suggesting that the historical Jesus was militant ...Suggesting that the historical Jesus was militant is a stretch. I don't disagree as a matter of faith, but because the argument is thin.<br /><br />There had been some who believed that the Messiah would be a literal "kings of kings" and a military deliverer. But you have ignore the larger part of the man's gospels to ascribe militancy to his message. Observance of Mosaic law, forgiveness, compassion, care of the sick and poor, healing, redemption ...these are militant?<br /><br />"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" is not a call to arms.<br /><br />Nor did the authorities of the day charge him with military insurrection when when they had him in custody and had every opportunity.<br /><br />Given the microscopic scrutiny over centuries that every one of his recorded words has received, I don't agree with your suggestion of militancy.John Cawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01756848081426437146noreply@blogger.com