Ask the Author: Tony Sunderland
Answered Questions (10)
Tony Sunderland
Glad to hear that it is ok now.
Cheers Alan.
Cheers Alan.
Tony Sunderland
Hi Alan,
Sorry to hear that the download does not work. Kindle has a troubleshooting link that hopefully will solve this issue.
Regards
Tony
Sorry to hear that the download does not work. Kindle has a troubleshooting link that hopefully will solve this issue.
Regards
Tony
Tony Sunderland
Hi James, my latest trip to Egypt was very illuminating. This time I focused more on the cultural aspects of pharaoh worship and how one person - usually a male- dominated all aspects of daily life. For over 3000 years one picture remained constant; that of the king smiting his enemies and ruling ruthlessly in the name of his gods.
Tony Sunderland
I think we need to take into consideration culture and context. Matthew's gospel was written during the turmoil of the destruction of the second Jewish temple. The 'meek' (or the poor) I take it to be those people under the yoke of Roman rule - specifically displaced Jews. Christ would return and create a paradise on earth with Jerusalem at the centre of the world. Therefore, for the very early Christians, there was not so much a belief in an afterlife in heaven; instead, there would be an apocalyptic war that would result in victory for the Jewish people over their oppressors. This would ultimately result in a kind of ‘Jewish’ heaven on earth, with the resurrected Christ as divine king and Son of God.
Tony Sunderland
Agree Peter. My previous question concentrated on the promise and covenant made by Moses. In reality it is almost certain that the land that bridged the established empires of Egypt and Mesopotamia was both a busy trading route and the home of diverse and converging cultures. Historians call the civilisation in this area ‘Syria-Palestine’ or ‘Canaan’. From around 1900 BCE, there were three forms of emerging cultures here: nomadic tribes who wandered the desert and semi-arid areas, small farms and villages of about twenty to fifty people, and emerging cities that traded goods and acted as cultural centres for religious and political purposes. Early religious beliefs became blended with a polytheistic pantheon of gods that represented the interests of a particular tribe or social group. El, identified with the image of a bull, was regarded as a kind of chief god who was both a creator and a ruler of the natural world.
His son Ba’al was also a superior god and was linked to nature, fertility and war. Ba’al was also portrayed as a bull. Other lesser gods were worshiped on a tribal basis. The worship of El and Ba’al was popular among the coastal tribal communities of Canaan. I think that you are also correct in assuming that it was a long road to reaching a true form of monotheistic faith . Even the first commandment demands that Yahweh is placed first. This therefore assumes that other gods were still around but inferior.
His son Ba’al was also a superior god and was linked to nature, fertility and war. Ba’al was also portrayed as a bull. Other lesser gods were worshiped on a tribal basis. The worship of El and Ba’al was popular among the coastal tribal communities of Canaan. I think that you are also correct in assuming that it was a long road to reaching a true form of monotheistic faith . Even the first commandment demands that Yahweh is placed first. This therefore assumes that other gods were still around but inferior.
Tony Sunderland
Great Question James. The Hebrew Bible is not only a scriptural testament, it is also an historical text that records the unique story of Judaism. That said, the emergence of monotheism within Judaism occurred at roughly the same time as the rise of monotheistic Aten worship in Egypt. Moses was an adopted 'prince' of Egypt. I concur with Freud regarding this: Freud contended convincingly that the religions are similar not only in their belief of one god but that there are also similarities in some of their other teachings. Controversially, he concludes that the Hebrew word Adonai (the plural for Adon or God) is similar to ‘Aton’ or ‘Aten’. (The letters ‘d’ and ‘t’ are interchangeable in the Egyptian and Hebrew languages.) However, the critical factor in his argument hinges on the premise that both these unique and new forms of monotheism occurred at the same time. There are also similarities between Akhenaten’s hymn to Aten and some verses of the Hebrew Bible. There appears to be a direct link between the hymn to Aten and Psalm 104 from the Old Testament; Psalm 104:24 states, ‘How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures’. The hymn to Aten says, ‘How manifold are your works which are hidden from sight, you sole god without equal! You have created the earth’. The broad themes of the psalm and the hymn are also similar; they both celebrate the goodness and beauty of the natural world.
Interestingly, the emergence of Jewish Monotheism (in what would become modern day Israel), occurred at the tip if the Great Rift Valley where early man made his way out of Africa...
Interestingly, the emergence of Jewish Monotheism (in what would become modern day Israel), occurred at the tip if the Great Rift Valley where early man made his way out of Africa...
Tony Sunderland
Hi Karen, I think it is the never ending search for some sort of truth that can give meaning to this insane world we live. Therefore, I exclusively write historical non fiction.
Tony Sunderland
Hi James, I have... but I don't think I have a good enough grasp on descriptive language. In a screenplay, pictures make the subtleties come to life.
Tony Sunderland
I sincerely believe that we are at a turning point with regards to spirituality and how people can create meaning in their lives. Judaism was reformed and reborn during the first century with the emergence Rabbinic faith practices. Christianity had its first reformation in the 16th century.
Today there are an increasing number of people who wish to escape and reject the trappings of postmodernity. The evangelical missions of fundamentalist Islam and Christianity are now an attractive alternative for those people who desire certainty in the practice of their faith. These faiths offer a religion that provides a template for a life well lived and the promise of eternal salvation for those deemed righteous and worthy. All unworthy individuals are condemned to eternal damnation. Those who belong to the elect will rejoice in paradise. Salvation is selective and only for those people who surrender to the will of God in all things.
The challenge for any faith tradition in the twenty-first century is to claim the best of the communal aspects of our spiritual journey and also infuse into this the personal quest for individual enlightenment.
Today there are an increasing number of people who wish to escape and reject the trappings of postmodernity. The evangelical missions of fundamentalist Islam and Christianity are now an attractive alternative for those people who desire certainty in the practice of their faith. These faiths offer a religion that provides a template for a life well lived and the promise of eternal salvation for those deemed righteous and worthy. All unworthy individuals are condemned to eternal damnation. Those who belong to the elect will rejoice in paradise. Salvation is selective and only for those people who surrender to the will of God in all things.
The challenge for any faith tradition in the twenty-first century is to claim the best of the communal aspects of our spiritual journey and also infuse into this the personal quest for individual enlightenment.
Tony Sunderland
Hi Zafar, I have not had the opportunity to visit India yet. It seems to be very ancient and spiritual society. Unfortunately I also only have limited information on Auroville. However, it appears to be a very progressive community that embraces 'the all'.
Regards Tony
Regards Tony
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