Ancient Eastern Thought and the Old Testament Essay

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE BIBLE AMONG THE MYTHS JOHN, N. OSWALT A SUMMARY PAPER OF THE TEXT ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN THOUGHT AND THE OLD TESTAMENT SUBMITTED TO DR. RANDY G. HANEY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY BY 03 MARCH 2013 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: HISTORY AND METHODS 3 CHAPTER 2: COMPARATIVE STUDIES, SCHOLARSHIP, AND THEOLOGY 6 CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST 10 CHAPTER 4: THE GODS 14 CHAPTER 5: TEMPLES AND RITUALS 19 CHAPTER 6: STATE AND FAMILY RELIGION 22 CHAPTER 7: COSMIC GEOGRAPHY 25 CHAPTER 8: COSMOLOGY AND COSMOGONY 28 CHAPTER 9: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST HUMAN ORIGINS AND ROLE 31 CHAPTER 10: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST 34 CHAPTER 11: ENCOUNTERING THE PRESENT 38 CHAPTER 12:†¦show more content†¦Cultural Dimensions of Theology An examination of Israelite theology goes beyond finding similarities and differences, it should articulate the relationships which existed and clarify the cultural context. Otherwise, the mere interpretation of text may lead to interpretation with a theological significance based on our understanding. Scope of Comparative Study Academic attention in comparative studies focused on either individual features or literary preservation of traditions. Comparative research can be divided into three categories: 1) individual elements, 2) worldview concepts, and 3) literary preservation. Conclusions Walton listed ten principles for performing comparative studies and stated four goals for undertaking background studies. CHAPTER 2: COMPARATIVE STUDIES, SCHOLARSHIP, AND THEOLOGY Comparative study is employed by critical scholars in the critical study of historical and literary texts and is also used in confessional contexts. This chapter will look at the roles comparative studies play in both the critical and confessional contexts as well as how it is utilized for polemic purposes. Comparative Study and Critical Scholarship Darwin’s theory of evolution spurred critical scholarship in the nineteenth century and evolution provided the groundwork for being sympathetic to the idea that religious practice andShow MoreRelatedBook Summary of John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament:4623 Words   |  19 PagesJohn H. Walton’s Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible is broken up into fourteen chapters. Those fourteen chapters are each part of one of five sections. This book also contains over twenty historical images. Before the introduction, the author gives readers a full appendix of all images used in this published work. The author then gives his acknowledgements followed by a list of abbreviations. Part 1- Comparative studies TheRead MoreAncient Near Eastern Thought Essay3623 Words   |  15 PagesAncient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament (Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible) Introduction Using contemporary studies as the foundation of his research John Walton reviews the ancient and Near Eastern and Israelite cognitive context. He provides guidance for students and general public to have a wider understanding and expand their knowledge of today’s culture, and historical culture interacts with the ancient world culture. In doing so, he tries to balance allRead MoreA Discussion Of The Old And New Testaments Essay1141 Words   |  5 Pagesrelevance to both a discussion of the Old and New Testaments. In specific terms Wisdom is associated with Creation and with Redemption in both Testaments as an illustration of its importance in overall Salvation History. Wisdom is generally understood as the right use of knowledge. More than that, it is thought of as basic to a religious understanding of the twin ideas of Creation and Redemption, and thisextends its relevance to both a discussion of the Old and New Testaments. In clearly stated/particularRead MoreA Study On Ancient Israelites And The Rise Of Christianity1640 Words   |  7 Pages My initial perspective on ancient Israelite religion was what I was taught in church. In fact, in church, the pastor put less emphasis on Ancient Israelites themselves and more emphasis on Christians. For me, when I thought of Israelites I thought of only a small segment of the bible. I thought of the group of people trapped in Egypt kept as slaves. Coming into Intro to Old Testament class, I assumed the class would be nothing more than a lecture about everything I had already learned in churchRead MoreGENESIS AND ANCIENT MYTHS OF THE NEAR EAST930 Words   |  4 Pagesapproaches the biblical text, it is important to explore the cultural context in which the text occurs. With regard to the Book of Genesis, it is important to examine the writing with other contemporary works of similar geography and topics. The people of ancient Mesopotamia, where the oldest civilizations originated, produced a number of stories of creation and natural occurrences. It is important to note that many of the stories of the Sumerians, Akkadians and Hebrews began as oral traditions as the eventsRead MoreWhat Makes The Bible Into Theology?849 Words   |  4 Pagesbinding. (Detweiler, 1985). The particular qualities of biblical literature which become canon are what makes the Bible into theology (Stordalen, 2007). The word â€Å"canon† is an ancient Semitic word that, in ancient times, had come to be thought of as a standard or rule for faith and life. The books of the Old and New Testaments have long been considered canon, or â€Å"divine writings† (â€Å"Lecture 2,† 2015). 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In the fourth century BC Alexander the Great dominated the Near Eastern world and was a strong devotee of GreekRead MoreIntroduction The great American scholar, William Foxwell Albright was an American Biblical800 Words   |  4 Pagesreferred as the ‘father of biblical archaeology’† He was considered an expert in many areas of study associated to the ancient Near East, particularly the Old Testament. â€Å"Albright’s most enduring legacy is his contribution to the establishment of a new paradigm of ancient Near Eastern Studies called biblical archaeology.† Furthermore, Albright was an authority on Near Eastern languages and became known in the archaeological world for his authentication of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His archaeologicalRead MoreThe First Address Of Moses Essay925 Words   |  4 Pages31:30) A. Ratification Ceremony (27:1-26) B. Blessings and Curses (28:1-18) C. The Covenant Oath (29:1- 30:14) D. Call to Decision (30:15-20) E. Leadership and the law (31:1-30) V. Appendixes (32:1 – 34:12) A. The Song of Moses (32:1-47) B. The Testament of Moses (32:48 – 33:29) C. The Death of Moses (34:1-12) Overview pg.141 I. Introduction that establishes the historical andRead MoreThe Tradition Of Wisdom And Immortality And How God Rewards The Sufferings Of The Just1549 Words   |  7 Pagesthese narratives light is thrown on the struggles of Judaism in the Greek and Roman eras, upholding values and the fight against pagan ideas; monotheism versus polytheism (Boadt:1984) There are many examples of Wisdom literature found in the Old Testament including I Kings 20:11; Jeremiah 23:28; 31:29. Historians believe the transition from oral sayings to literary wisdom took place in Egypt at approximately 2500 BC and in Sumer shortly afterward. Throughout the Near East, a class of scribes or

Essay on Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Theory - 982 Words

In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes lays out the hypothetical principal of the state of nature, where human it-self is artificial. It is human nature that people will not be able to love permanently, everyone against everyone power between the strongest. In this nation-state you must be the strongest in order to survive (survival of the fittest). In order to survive there are laws we must follow, to insure of our security because of fear. We were able to suppress our fear, by creating order, to have more order; we must have security, so the social contract appeared. Thomas Hobbes implies to the idea of social contract to resolve the problem of war and disorder. If social contract were not created, there would be no law. If there’s no law, the†¦show more content†¦The only thing that kept us moving is our desire. Thomas Hobbes implies, â€Å"The cause of whereof is that the object of man’s desire is not to enjoy once only, and for instant of time, but to assure forever the way of his future desire.† ( pp,57) We must insure that we can satisfy our desire today, tomorrow and the day after that. The desire attained does not satisfy our hunger. Humans are like scavengers wanting more and more power. By achieving such desire, we are securing the power to live well. To make sure to secure this power, we must be able to do something about it and allow the power to grow. Sometimes we might want to achieve the same desire. Hobbes input the hypothetical idea, â€Å"From this equality of ability ariseth equality of hope in the attaining of our ends. And therefore, if any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 75) In this condition everyone is against everyone. In order to survive, we must compete. There is no security to any of the men. Everyone wants the same thing, there’s competition which turn into war. Hobbes applies to his theory that, â€Å" And consequently it is a precept, or general rule, of reason that every man ought to endeavor peace, as far as he hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all advantages of war.† ( pg 80) If we cannot seek peace and follow it, the only thing left for us to do is to defend ourselves. It’s like predatorShow MoreRelatedSocial Contract Theory Thomas Hobbes2009 Words   |  9 Pag esSocial contract theory, nearly as old as philosophy itself, is the view that person s moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. The Social Contract is largely associated with modern moral and political theory, and is given its first full exposition and defense by Thomas Hobbes in his piece, Leviathan. After Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are the best known proponents of this influential theoryRead MoreThomas Hobbes And The Social Contract Theory1088 Words   |  5 PagesConstitution has been kept the same. The Leviathan, Two Treatises, and the Declaration of Independence serve as underpinnings of the Constitution to keep and protect our freedoms. Thomas Hobbes wrote the Leviathan in the early 1640 s. Hobbes Leviathan played a part of social contract theory. The social contract theory is a voluntary agreement among individuals that which organized society is brought it into being and invested with the right to secure a mutual protection and welfare to regulate theRead MoreEssay on Thomas Hobbes and the Social Theory Contract597 Words   |  3 PagesPhilosopher, Thomas Hobbes and the Social Theory Contract for a clear understanding of the issues. The Social Contract Theory is the basis for the Declaration of Independence and the guiding theories for the Unite States Government as well as many other governments, such as the European Union, England and France, to name a few. The theory is about why people choose to give us some of their rights and powers in order to form a government. That government has a series of purposes. Thomas Hobbes theorizedRead MoreThomas Hobbes Social Contract Theory Essay895 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Hobbes creates a clear idea of the social contract theory in which the social contract is a collective agreement where everyone in the state of nature comes together and sacrifices all their liberty in return to security. â€Å"In return, the State promises to exercise its absolute power to maintain a state of peace (by punishing deviants, etc.)† So are the power and the ability of the state making people obey to the laws or is there a wider context to this? I am going to look at the differentRead MorePolitical And Social Contract Theory By Thomas Hobbes951 Words   |  4 PagesSocial contract theory refers to the view that peoples’ political and moral obligations are contingent on an agreement or contact among them to constitute a wholesome society where they can live in harmony. It is often associated with contemporary political and moral theory and was given the first comprehensive exposition by Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes was fearful of man’s violent and lawless nature, perhaps due to his experience during the Puritan revolution. He was of the conviction that self-preservationRead MoreThe Social Contract Theories Of Thomas Hobbes And John Locke1210 Words   |  5 PagesMahogany Mills Professor: Dr. Arnold Political Philosophy 4 February 2015 Compare and contrast the social contract theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke In the beginning of time, there was no government to regulate man. This caused a burden on society and these hardships had to be conquered, which is when a social contract was developed. The social contract theory is a model that addresses the questions of the origin of society and the legitimacy of the authority of the state over an individualRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke s Theory Of Social Contract Theory1449 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay, I argue contemporary social contract theory extends itself beyond politics and into philosophy, religion, and literature. I begin by defining social contract theory and explaining the different perspectives of English philosophers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. From there, I will introduce Dostoyevsky’s work, Grand Inquisitor, and conduct an analysis of the relationships between the Grand Inquisitor and his subjects as well as Jesus and his followers. Using textual evidence and uncontroversialRead MoreThomas Hobbes and John L ockes Varying Presentations of the Social Contract Theory1499 Words   |  6 PagesBoth Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are well-known political philosophers and social contract theorists. Social Contract Theory is, â€Å"the hypothesis that one’s moral obligations are dependent upon an implicit agreement between individuals to form a society.† (IEP, Friend). Both Hobbes and Locke are primarily known for their works concerning political philosophy, namely Hobbes’ Leviathan and Locke’s Two Treatise of Government. Both works contain a different view of a State of Nature and lay out socialRead More Force, Morality and Rights in Thomas Hobbes and John Lockes Social Contract Theories1632 Words   |  7 Pagesand Rights in Thomas Hobbes and John Lockes Social Contract Theories Throughout history, the effects of the unequal distribution of power and justice within societies have become apparent through the failure of governments, resulting in the creation of theories regarding ways to balance the amount of power given and the way in which justice is enforced. Due to this need for change, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke created two separate theories in which the concept of a social contract is used to determineRead MoreThe Social Contract Theory Essay1249 Words   |  5 Pages1a. The Social Contract Theory According to the Social Contract Theory, it suggests that all individuals must depend on an agreement/ or contract among each person to form a society, in which they live in. The concept emphasizes authority over individuals, in other words, the social contract favors authority (e.g. the Sovereign) over the individuals, because men have to forfeit their personal right and freedom to the government, in exchange for protection and security, which I will further elaborate

What is Operations Management Free Essays

Operation Management is concerned with any productive activity, whether manufacturing or service, in public sector or private sector, profit making or not profit making. It is concerned with ensuring that operations are carried out both efficiently and effectively. All mangers are operations managers since all functions within an organization are, presumably, productive activates it goes without saying that all function should be carried out efficiently and effectively. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Operations Management? or any similar topic only for you Order Now However the operation function is the hear t of all manufacturing and service enterprises, and unless this core operation is carried out effectively there is little hope that organization as a whole will be effective. An understanding of Operation Management principals can help any manger to manage more effectively , whatever function they are concerned with but it also leads to a greater understanding of the function of the organization as a whole and a greater appreciation for the issues which affect organizational performances. Definition of Operations Management. Operations Management is concerned with managing the resources that directly produce the organization’s service or product after going through a number of transforming Inputs Processes. The resources will usually consist of people, materials, technology and information but may go wider than this. These resources are brought together by a series of processes; so that they are utilized to deliver the primary service or product of the organization. Thus, operation management is concerned with managing inputs (resources) through transformation processes to deliver output (service or product). The following diagram explains the concept of Operation Management more clearly. (Appendix -1 –Pictorial representation of Operation Management) Example of Operation Management: Let us consider an example from our daily life to understand the concept of Operation Management more clearly. Consider an education institute, here, the student are a primary inputs. The transformation process is the learning that takes place. The main output is the educated students. For this operation to take place there has to be a proper timetabling, lecture and management of the whole activity. Scope of Operation Management: Expressed in this way it can be seen that the term ‘operations’ covers a wide range of organization. Manufacturing, commercial service, public service and other not-for-profit sector are all included within its scope. One way of defining operation function of the organization is to define what the end service or product actually is once this is clear, the people who directly contribute to the delivery of the end service or product, and the people who closely support them in this task, can be said to operational personnel of the organization. Read also Exam Operations Management Unfortunately, people who actually perform operational roles under this definition are not always called operational Mangers. This makes identifying the operation more difficult than, say, identifying the financial marketing or personnel functions. Job title such as hospital manger, technical director and store manger do not have the word operation in them, yet they are all Operations Management roles. Operations Management and its significance; Operations management concepts exactly help us to gain a better know ledge of things how they and perform around us. These concepts and theories have been developed by experts from different fields and published to share the knowledge to the publics. Operations management focuses on how the subtle routines and activities in your life can be systematically improved and makes our easy little by little. Operations management concepts use logic and practicalities to carry mare efficiency into everyone’s live and inspire other to bring out more ways to improve this world. Applying concepts to real situations: When the concepts and theories are produced by the great minds of the world, there are no real tangible benefits until it is actually used and applied in the real world. It is one thing to theorize that you can invent something that will take current way of living to the next level and another thing to actually do it and make everybody see that your theory is for real. The same rule applies to operations management concepts. They may be available to you and make you aware of how things around you work but if they are not used to improve the current status then they become useless. They become ere writings on paper and nothing more than that. If these concepts are to become relevant to society, people and government it should be used in such a way that their presence is felt in operations they are used. Once this is happen, then you can expect a wave of improvement every day from everyone which led to a greater improvement in the future. A relevant issue wherein operations management can be applied is in addressing flood damage problem. Today’s technology obviously does not have control over nature’s forces and the disaster that it may bring. The best way to deal with it then is through preparation and some sort of damage. It is in this aspect that operations management concepts can shine and really help in providing a boost to the current living conditions. Government applying operations management tools: An important part in addressing flood damage is the clean up that follows. This procedure is usually the most difficult and the most expensive of them all. After a major flood, everything is misplaced, infrastructure is ruined and slowly decaying and the area is usually in a state of disorder. If the flood damage cleanup programs are not well designed, it can take a very long time to get the area back on its feet. This means that people will not be able to get paid and it will hurt their way of living. As you can see, the most important things to be considered is how quickly flood damages can be cleaned up and in order to figure out the best possible way to do this, government turn up to use operations management concepts to settle things as soon as possible and which they were successful. The concepts will break down each process that is needed to cleanup flood damage and improve the little details to make everything better, faster and more efficient fullest extent for a better and quick result. Concepts and its applications †¢The first concept in operations management is project planning: the scope of flood damage cleanups usually covers a big area with varying terrains. To be able to work quickly, a very good plan must be set before everybody can get to work. In project planning, there is an emphasis on scheduling and process layout. If there is a set schedule for when cleanup crew are supposed to move in and their job, there will not be any wasted time or effort. It will also give supervisors control over inactive crew so they can be given work and be more productive. An example in terms cleaning up after flood damage is the different jobs that are involved. First, the area has to be cleaned up of debris so a specific cleanup crew will have to handle that. Only after they finish will the road repair crew be able to do their job. Basically, project planning process layout creates a sequence for the different jobs that need to be done and, again, lessens confusion as to what should be done first or not. The next important concept is TQM which stands total quality management: this idea states that there should always be constant improvement within each and every process no matter how miniscule the improvement may be. The logic behind this is that each small incremental improvement will eventually add up to something significant if it is done regularly. Obviously in term of flood damage cleanups, anything that can be done a little bit quickly wil l be beneficial in the long run. This is why each process, cleaning repairing, debris- removing and all other activities should always be done at the fastest pace possible without sacrificing quality and safety. More and more, faster times and more efficient procedures should be set out and eventually, there should be marked improvement over the original performance. †¢Another relevant concept that can b applied is capacity analysis: this takes a logical step in measuring how much capacity a given machine or worker can take. It allows foe downtime, mistake and other unpredictable events then chums out the data to make it relevant. This is important because it help the project planner to be attended to. Capacity analysis also give a good idea of how well equipped a flood damage teams are in regards to dealing with worst case scenarios. †¢The last concept that will be discussed is that of facility location planning: flood damage cleanup supervisors should be able to pin point possible trouble spot during bad weather and be able to situate headquarters nearby. Using this concept may help in determining the most favorable location for setting up of headquarters which will result in save of time and energy. Advantages from Operation Management Application: Although many of the operations management concepts have been discussed, you can see it is beneficial to apply these ideas. It may cost money but the advantages they give are limitless. More efficiency and faster routines are a win- win situation for flood damage crew, government and the residents of the area. Simply put through, operations management concepts real aim is to put organization in continually improvement and to make working condition easy and time saving. Basically, applying different operations management concepts can greatly help in different line of work. How to cite What is Operations Management?, Papers