While reading the next few chapters of Armstrong's book, a reoccurring theme was that the Jews never seemed to back down from anyone taking over Jerusalem. Between others trying to take over and the destruction of the temples, the Jews stuck together because they believed this was the holiest place on earth. While thinking about it...how could you not believe them? Everyone wanted Jerusalem and it has been in crazy conflict as far as history can go back. There was a connection of some sort like no other place and many religions wanted to settle there. Although some people wanted to create a better economy, the Jews didn't care. They could be kicked out of their homes or lose their jobs but they were not going to lose the spiritual land that comes with Jerusalem.
The more I read, the more similarities that I find with the past. Although these might not be exactly the same, history continues to show that things can happen more than once, twice, or seven times. Jerusalem keeps on being shifted between different religions, ethnicities, and others. It is an everlasting swing of who "believes" they have control at a certain time.
As we talked about in class, I still cannot read without thinking about where all of the historic information is coming from. I understand that most of her sources are from the Bible, but unfortunately, we will never know who's opinions or observations are right or wrong. Armstrong was only a British nun for a short time, but some times it seems like she can sway one way or the other. Is this good if there is a good balance? Does anyone else feel that little itch that it could be biased in the slightest bit? There is no way of knowing but things seem to get more interesting as we continue.
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ReplyDeleteHey Max,
ReplyDeleteJerusalem isn't a Hebrew name or an Aramaic name. It is named after the Syrian God associated with the setting sun, named "Shalem". (Page Seven, Armstrong) Why would Jews name Jerusalem after a Syrian Sun God?
Some Jew's were monotheistic, and some Jews were polytheistic. The Jews were split into so many sects, and their ancestral history is currently disputed as either being of Mesopotamian or Canaanite descent, and their syncretisation (borrowing) of religious beliefs from Canaanite, Syrian, Greco-Roman, and Babylonian religions all suggest that "Jews" were a diverse group of people.
As we read, when Jews came back from Babylon, they rejected the Jews who had avoided the exile to Babylon, and refused their offer to help construct the temple. The Babylonian Jews' rejection of non-Babylonian Jews highlights how many different kinds of Jews there were.
I don't believe that Jerusalem is or was a city that belonged to Jews. Because who were the Jews anyways? Jebusites? Syrians? Canaanites? Babylonians? Who are they now? Orthodox? Reconstructionist? Conservative? Reform? Everyone? Are Jews an ethnic group or a nation?