current cultural attitudes towards homosexuality W r i t i n g

Discussion Board 1:

Question 1-

I have asked you to view the supplemental materials on origins of Ancient Israel. The first is a video trailer for the animated movie The Prince of Egypt. It follows the Biblical story of the Exodus and the Israelites being led out of Egypt by Moses. The second supplemental piece is an article that describes a different origin of the Ancient Israelites. The two pieces are meant to be viewed/read in contrast to one another. How do the two presentations of Israel’s origin compare to one another? What are the main differences? Per the lecture notes on the role of the academic study of religion, which piece (the video or the article) seems to represent the academic approach? Why is the religious/faith approach different than the academic approach? That is, why is the biblical story an essential aspect of Jewish faith?

Question 2-

After reading the section in the book and in the lecture on the Holocaust, and after watching the videos from Elie Wiesel, please explain the positions different Jewish groups take on God in reaction to the Holocaust. Given the history of the ancient Hebrews and Israelites explained in the reading, why did/do some Jews believe that the Holocaust was a punishment from God? That is, what is it about the events of their past, and their religious understanding of their covenant with God that would make this a plausible explanation?

Discussion Board 2:

Question 1-

I have asked you to read an article that explains the different branches of Judaism and their understanding of the morality of homosexuality. What are the positions taken by the three branches of Judaism regarding homosexuality? What reasons are cited for different branches finding it moral or immoral? Given our current cultural attitudes towards homosexuality, (Supreme Court striking down DOMA and legalizing homosexual marriage, etc.) what role does a branch’s attitude toward assimilation play into its understanding of homosexuality? Is there a relation between a branch’s stance on assimilation and its stance on homosexuality? Why or why not?

Question 2-

Section 10-5 highlights Jewish ritual and worship. After reading this section and the corresponding section from the lecture notes, take a moment to reflect on some of the practices you have reviewed. Was there a practice that you had not known about? Were any of the practices/rituals explained particularly interesting to you? Why? How do some of these rituals relate to any religious experience you may have had? Were they similar or dissimilar to your own religious practice, or to your memory of religious pract

Discussion Board3-

Question 1-

The reading and the lecture situate Christianity as coming from Judaism and sharing some elements. What is the relationship between Judaism and Christianity? What are the similarities between the two and what are the differences? How have Judaism and Christianity related to one another in the past? How do they relate to one another today?

• Question 1-The reading and the lecture situate Christianity as coming from Judaism and sharing some elements. What is the relationship between Judaism and Christianity? What are the similarities between the two and what are the differences? How have Judaism and Christianity related to one another in the past? How do they relate to one another today?
  

• Question 2-As noted in the history section, Jesus taught in parables. The goal of the parable was to shock the listener; they often had some twist. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15: 11-32, Jesus throws a twist by having the father forgive his youngest son. The father represents God’s compassion and forgiveness which is much greater than our compassion and forgiveness. We would be like the older brother and not want to welcome the younger brother back. If you haven’t read this parable, it is very easy to look up online.Another example of a parable with a twist is the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10: 25-37. Take a moment to look up this parable online. After reading the parable, answer the following:What is the “twist” or shocking element of this parable? Given this twist, what was Jesus trying to communicate about God? That is, how is God’s behavior different than our own?