Reflections on Greece - Tom Lynam - 22 Oct 01

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Hello to one and all

Tried to get through from Greece but 'web site could not be found'. Have read with interest all the contributions--well done.

For myself just a few reflections on the time in Greece. We did a tour of Classical Greece,and also spent some time in Istanbul. The cultural and historical is just wonderful. We first spent time in Athens where Paul identified the unknown God.

Then on to the legacy of the ancient ruains of Pelopensia--at Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, Epidaurus etc etc, and the efforts of these ancient ancestors to understand the meaning of existance, identifying the gods Zeus, Athena, Arthemis and so on, to explain their emotions, that they couldn't understand.

Now we have much more knowledge and experience to understand and explain our plight. However as I stood and tried to understand these ancient peoples I wondered at our feeble awareness to try and do better after more than 3000 years--our own false gods and the distortions of God that has lead to the sad state of affairs of today's society where we kill and murder in God's name. Have we made progress? Hope this isn't too depressing.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Answers

Here in Limerick, John Moriarty is going to give a series of talks on the ancient (mythical) literature of lands surrounding Israel: we will be looking at The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and Poems of Heaven and Hell from Ancient Mesopotamia. Part of his point, as I understand it, is the difference that is made, against *this* background, by the Old Testament and then by Jesus. I look forward to John's investigations and expositions.

So are we any better 3000 years later? Well... I go along with Walter Wink in saying that the ancient myths are alive and well and are endlessly played out in our living rooms. He analyses the "mythic" character of much of our TV and Film genres as repetitions of the ancient myths. So it seems to me we badly need to be liberated again, led out of Egypt, led out of Babylon... into the world of Jesus. And that needs to happen again and again.

Here is some material (from bn.com) on Walter Wink's shorter book (which is all I have looked at):

The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium, by Walter Wink

Retail Price: $13.95 / Format: Mass Market Paperback, 240pp. / ISBN: 0385487525 / Publisher: Doubleday & Company, Incorporated / Pub. Date: March 1999

ABOUT THIS ITEM: [From the Publisher]: In The Powers That Be, theologian and biblical scholar Walter Wink helps us reformulate our ancient concepts - such as God and Satan, angels and demons, principalities and powers - in light of what we now know. Wink's theology is shaped as much by his study of the Bible as by his involvement in the civil rights movement and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. The result is nothing less than a new worldview, one that will help us address the problems of the present and meet the challenges of the future. The Powers That Be is as concerned with salvation as with justice, as relevant for our spiritual selves as for our political lives. Wink closely examines "the Powers," and by exposing them for what they are in true prophetic fashion, levels a mighty blow against them.

FROM THE BOOK

Table of Contents

Preface / Introduction p. 1 / ch. 1 Identifying the Powers p. 13 / ch. 2 The Domination System p. 37 / ch. 3 Jesus' Answer to Domination p. 63 / ch. 4 Breaking the Spiral of Violence p. 82 / ch. 5 Jesus' Third Way p. 98 / ch. 6 Practical Nonviolence p. 112 / ch. 7 Beyond Pacifism and Just War p. 128 / ch. 8 But What If ...? p. 145 / ch. 9 The Gift of the Enemy p. 161 / ch. 10 Prayer and the Powers p. 180 / ch. 11 Epilogue p. 199 / For Further Reading p. 201 / Notes p. 205 / Index 209

Cf. also by Walter Wink:

Unmasking the Powers: The Invisible Forces That Determine Human Existence

The Power Series: The Language of Power in the New Testament

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001


I have read a borrowed copy of that book of Walter Wink and it is extremely interesting and easy to read. I have it on order for the past three weeks. Apparently it's not easy to get. AM

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2001

Tom, The first shop couldn't get the book for me but I discovered Cathedral Books had two copies so I ordered both, you have first call on one if you are still interested. Anne Marie.3/11/01

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001

Thanks Ann Maria, You're very good, will get it from you next evening;renewed thanks Tom

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2001

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