John's Blog: Transforming Globalism (Part 3 of 8)
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Transforming Globalism (Part 3 of 8)
Theological Address - Richard Horsley
Domestication of bible and Jesus - emphasis on individual, and separation onf religion and politics.
Two forms of empire today - American, and global capital. Capital must grow, so what must give to make way?
Looking back an ancient eastern empires (ie Babylon). God calls Abraham out of there, then Babylon conquers Judah. Christ called Rome the new Babylon.
Structure of empire:
* Ruling class
* Scribes, merchants, priests
* Peasants
This was explained in Mesopatamia by its violent creation myth, in which the world is bad and needs authority to re-establish order every year. Common people are deathly afraid, rulers and military might are needed to re- establish order. People support the ruling class to protect them. In terms of the myth, we are serving the forces which people have created.
Forward to Israel. In burning bush incident, Moses asks god who s/he is, replies non-committally, and "god of ancestors". Isrealite image of divine is thus over against empire, it is suggestive of the freedom that the ancestors had. At Red Sea, sea and storm are no longer forces served as gods, but forces that serve us. At 10 commendments, God starts by reminding people who he is, and commands to not serve other gods. The other 6 pertain to relations between the people. They protect the people against the empire.
Leviticans prohibited interest, taking of land from the peasants (compare with Locke's "life, liberty, and *property*"), and promoted idea of Jubilee. Much of law is pro-imperial, but this much is not. Later prophets explicitely criticize rulers exploiting people.
Recommended articles by ? Coote, Marvin Chaney.
After exile, second temple was imperial. When Rome conquered, the Galilee area was rather unorderly, so military ruler was installed. Now there are three layers of rulers: template rulers, municipal gov't (Herod), and Rome. Herod was also bringing in western cultural influence. Herod has temples to Ceaser around, and other Roman reminders. The minute Herod dies, people revolt, messianic and popular prophetic movements emerge.
Juxtoposition: Passover celebrates Jewish liberation, celebrated at that time with Roman guards encircling temple. Compare to recent America encirclement of Najah in Iraq, during most important Islamic holiday.
Jesus reclaims covenent as renewal of Israel against the Romans.
Jesus is not a teacher of individuals, that is an American domestication. He and his disciples are preaching to communities, and organizing them.
Some of Jesus' teachings: Give to God what is God's, etc. Isn't in all God's? So what's left for Ceasar? Nothing. Frees people from demons whose name is "legion", Rome. Demons then begged him to not banish them, then were driven into pigs which ran into the sea (symbolic, see above), whereupon people begged Jesus to leave. Implication is that Rome's days are numbered, but that is scary.
Mark 10
Lord's Prayer : Send up bread, send us your kingdom, cancel our debts as we've forgiven our neighbors (economic)
"Blessed are poor, woe to the rich" is direct confrontation to story of suffering due to being your fault. This is all a covenant speeech, regathering community, against imperial structure.
Paul is a community organizor as well, building an alternative, *international*, grassroots community.
In development of 13 colonies, preaching was that the 13 colonies are building on model of 12 tribes of Isreal. Quickly came the process of imperialism taking over. At this point, we are serving capitalism.
Note: Most consumer goods sold during "holidays", and Amercians consume 70% of world's goods, meaning Christmas is driving capitalism.
Difference is serving imperialism between now and Mesopatamia is that back then, it was very direct. Now, we hide and deny who we serve.
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