Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Shusaku Endos Novel Silence Brings Up The Troubling Question Of Gods S

Shusaku Endo's novel Silence brings up the troubling question of God's silence in the midst of human evil and suffering. The reader is brought deeper into the mystery of God's silence as the narrative unfolds. Acts of human evil that cause anguish, suffering, and death seem to elicit only cold indifference. Yet in a climatic moment, it seems as if God does speak. Father Sebastian Rodrigues faces his greatest decision, hears the voice of Christ urging him to trample on the Fumie The Fumie was literally, pictures to step on. Pictures of Christian figures used during the Edo period (1600-1868) to identify adherents of Christianity. At the conclusion of the novel the reader is left with a disturbing question: Was Rodrigues act of apostasy a cowardly rejection of the Christian faith, which he self-servingly justified as a noble and costly sacrifice for the sake of others? I believe that Father Rodrigues' act of apostasy builds a case for the view that his act was a genuine renunciation of Christianity. I state this because of my interpretation of the conclusion of the book. In summary Father Rodrigues steps on a plaque that has the face of Jesus engraved on it. Today we would call that plaque a crucifix. My understanding of why this was so important is because Father Rodrigues was trying to save all of the Japanese Christians that were being tortured by the Japanese government. When he stepped on the face of Jesus he was proclaiming to all that he did not believe anymore that Jesus Christ was his savior. All of the Japanese Christians noticed what Father Rodrigues had done and followed, giving up their beliefs in Christ. With the occurrence at the end of the book my feeling is that he did not have a great love for Christ but denounced Christ because the pressure was too strong. However when Rodrigues heart and prayers were sincere, Jesus spoke to him in a way that Rodrigues heard and understood Jesus' commands compelled him to step on the fumie as an act of faith and a command from Christ. I find it interesting that this book took place in the 15th century. If the details of the setting were not included into the book I would assume that I was set in modern times. The silence that the book mentions is when God talks to you. Do you ever here any thing when God speaks? Yes, he tells us things but not through words. I believe that God has a very creative side to him and he tells us what he is saying through the actions and occurrences that pass through our lives. But in the other hand the devil can also talk to you. I think for me sometimes I take the devil's word and his frustrating temptations for God 's words. This could be the situation that Rodrigues faced and his scenario was a case of misjudgment and communication. Rodrigues act of apostasy is cowardly rejection of the Christian faith, which shows his great misunderstanding of the silence that God bestowed upon him. In ways I can see the sacrifice of his life in parallel to Jesus. It is a little far fetched to relate the two, but there is a slight correlation to the two instances. For Father Rodrigues did an act to save many. What he did was not to correct in the teachings of the bible and this produced a major problem for many Christians living today.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Code Of Hammurabi

Code Of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi is considered the earliest known legal document in its entirety, which is a collection of laws and edicts of the Babylonian king Hammurabi. It was uncovered by a pair of French archaeologists at Sussa, Iraq during 1901. Hammurabi established this law code in attempt to establish justice in his hand. He was basically trying to unify his people by having them follow a specific code that included moral values, economic activity, and everyday life.˜ Main Features of the Legal System The code is composed of 28 sections, which appears to be an amendment to the common law of Babylonian. First, it begins with the proper directions for legal procedures and the statements of penalties for unjust accusations, false testimony, and corruption among judges. After, follows laws involving property rights, loans, deposits, debts, domestic property, and family rights. Then follows laws indicating the punishment to physicians causing malpractice or damages caused in other trade s or professions.Code_of_Hammurabi.jpgThe Code of Hammurabi states that the basis of criminal law is that of equal retaliation, or in other words, "an eye for an eye. The law offers protection to all citizens of Babylonian of every class. The laws provide cover for the weak and the poor, including women, children, and even slaves against injustice at the hand of the rich and the powerful.˜ Examples of Laws 1. Anyone who bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take...