Tonight we listened to a guest speaker, a retired Jewish Rabi, lecture on the Jewish people in light of their Master Story. A master story informs and forms a world view that forever influences how people see and interpret events. He, as well as our class instructor, is involved in a program called C-JEEP, which stands for Catholic – Jewish Education Enrichment Program. In this program a Jewish instructor will talk to a Catholic class and a Catholic instructor will talk to a Jewish class. I found this lecture fascinating!
According to the Rabi, prior to about 1300 BC all religions saw the world as controlled by fate, or destiny. Picture a circle to represent all of nature, moving around the edge from spring (birth), to summer (youth), to fall (adult), to winter (old age and death). Everything that existed was imagined to be inside that circle, including water, people, animals, plants, and even the gods. There were gods of the sea, gods of the air, and gods of the land, etc. Inside the circle people might attempt to improve their conditions by influencing the gods, for better crops, protection from sickness, safe passage, or bigger catches of fish, but absolutely everything inside the circle was controlled by one force; fate.
The key to understanding Judaism is the Exodus from Egypt. Prior to the Exodus the gods were part of nature. After the Exodus God was part of history. Around 1300 BC Moses was an Egyptian prince, although he connected with the people, and particularly the Hebrew slaves. Moses had a very personal relationship with God, and he is the most important figure in Jewish history. He was appointed by God to deliver the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, he received the law from God and it is through him that the covenant between God and Israel is made. As the story goes Moses led his people out of Egypt, breaking the cycle of slavery, and the Exodus becomes their Master Story. Everything from that time forward is viewed in light of that event.
According to the Rabi, prior to about 1300 BC all religions saw the world as controlled by fate, or destiny. Picture a circle to represent all of nature, moving around the edge from spring (birth), to summer (youth), to fall (adult), to winter (old age and death). Everything that existed was imagined to be inside that circle, including water, people, animals, plants, and even the gods. There were gods of the sea, gods of the air, and gods of the land, etc. Inside the circle people might attempt to improve their conditions by influencing the gods, for better crops, protection from sickness, safe passage, or bigger catches of fish, but absolutely everything inside the circle was controlled by one force; fate.
The key to understanding Judaism is the Exodus from Egypt. Prior to the Exodus the gods were part of nature. After the Exodus God was part of history. Around 1300 BC Moses was an Egyptian prince, although he connected with the people, and particularly the Hebrew slaves. Moses had a very personal relationship with God, and he is the most important figure in Jewish history. He was appointed by God to deliver the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, he received the law from God and it is through him that the covenant between God and Israel is made. As the story goes Moses led his people out of Egypt, breaking the cycle of slavery, and the Exodus becomes their Master Story. Everything from that time forward is viewed in light of that event.
A great first blog post. Your grasp of the OT is impressive for a "new" Catholic or even for an "old" Catholic. You must be very perceptive or receptive in your few sessions. And your Protestant background probably helps. Great idea to have a blog follow your learning journey. I've often wondered about the program. Now I'll have an inside look.
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