Just Livin' the Dream

As of recent I have been quite busy. I have been very bogged down with papers, journal entries, and other sorts of studies. Life has been busy but fun. I will give you all an update concerning what I have been up to for the past few weeks. Two weeks ago my "Physical Settings of the Bible" class went on a three day field study where we traversed around the southern desert of Israel' called the Negev, the southern coast' called the Shephelah, and the Dead Sea. My favorite part was by far the day we spent along the Dead Sea. We studied Masada, which was a fortress/winter palace of Herod the Great and later a hideout/last stand for a group of radical Jews during the Bar Kochba revolt in 70 AD. Crazy story: These Jews, in fear of the Roman advance and ultimate destruction of Jerusalem, fled to this hideout (which is HUGE by the way...way bigger than pictures). They held up there for awhile but eventually the Romans built a huge siege ramp up the side, which can still be seen today. So, after a rally speech by their leader, all of them, except 2 woman a few children killed themselves rather than getting taken by the Romans. The way they did this was by casting lots. The ten men who lost had to kill everyone else by stabbing them with swords. Then they cast lots again and one guys killed the rest. Then the last guy killed himself. Flavius Josephus tells us all of this. We also stopped at a desert Oasis called En Gedi. The whole experience there was surreal. As we walked from the sandy desert beginning of the oasis into the heart of the dense jungle that is En Gedi I thought that perhaps this is what the Garden of Eden might have looked like. I can imagine Eden looking like En Gedi, with the palm trees, waterfalls, and pools. I bet Adam and Eve had such a great time before the Fall simply living the dream in the beautiful oasis that was Eden. Too bad sin had to enter the world. However, something I have oftentimes wondered is whether humans would exist today if sin had not entered the world. For, depending on one’s interpretation of Genesis, Adam and Eve didn’t “lay” with each other in the Biblical sense of the word until after they were kicked out of the Garden. A week or so ago I was reading an interesting interpretation of the account by a 4th century theologian from Asia Minor, Gregory of Nyssa, who said that mankind as it is today would not exist at all if the Fall had not happened. He says Adam and Eve would have created more people but they wouldn’t be people in the way that people exist today. He said they would have produced more people in the same way angels create more angels; by some sort of re-generation without physical sex. Gregory believed that the first thing Adam and Eve did when the got kicked out of Eden was “lie” with each other because they were no longer immortal and now death was imminent so, in order to live eternally, they wanted descendants. I don’t know if I agree with him or not but I find his interpretation to be genius either way. We also stopped at the Qumran which was most excellent as well. It is where an ancient Jewish monastic type group lived and collected what is known today as the "Dead Sea Scrolls." I threw a rock at Cave #4. I didn't get it in because there was a large chasm between me and the cave. Other than that life has been normal but hectic. Something really cool I have gotten the chance to do since I have been here has been joining many different traditions for worship. There are quite a few monastic groups here in Jerusalem not to mention all the different denominations present as well. So, being very used to Protestant tradition and very interested in Orthodox tradition I have been joining many different groups for worship since they all worship all day everyday. A little bit ago I joined some Armenian monks and seminarians for their Liturgy. Last week I was wandering around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and I stumbled into a tiny Ethiopian chapel and joined five monks for Vespers. A few days ago I went back to the chapel and decided to explore some stairs I saw. I discovered another Ethiopian chapel and some more stairs. So, I walked up those and found out that, not only can you go on the roof of the church, but you there are like 5 chapels on the roof and I think a couple monasteries. There were hardly any tourists up there so I sort of wandered around exploring the various chapels and saying hello to the monks. Also, oftentimes when I spend time in the Holy Sepulchre I join some Latin Franciscan monks in their chants and prayers. By far the most beautiful service I attended was a Russian Orthodox Divine Liturgy. It was in Slavonic so I didn't understand one word except for the Kyrie Eleison (Greek for "Lord, have mercy"). The Russian church was built in the 1800's and it is huge! The inside is absolutely beautiful and the service was wonderful. I think there must be a large Russian population in Jerusalem because the church was packed and it didn't seem as if many of them were tourists. With all that said I have discovered how beautiful the Body of Christ truly is! There are so many different traditions of worship and theology and I think that makes it quite beautiful. The funny thing is that half the people I have worshipped with are technically condemned heretics. If you consider the Fourth Ecumenical Council to be valid then the Copts, Ethiopians, and Armenians are all heretical (not to mention the Syrians, Assyrian churches, and many more!). They were all kicked out of the church for their view of Christ. Some said he was more human than divine, some said more divine than human, and some said equally human and divine but that the natures fused into one will of Christ. All heretics! Well, even though I didn't understand their language it was truly an honor to worship Jesus Christ, the risen Lord with them. Perhaps I don't agree theologically with them, for I happen to think that all truly Ecumenical ("all Church") councils ought to be adhered to, but I don't think that these groups disagree on the the essentials (such as: Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice out of his love for mankind, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, God is a Trinity of persons, etc.). Perhaps I am a heretic after all I just don't know it. If you really think about, all Christians are considered to be heretical by someone or some denomination. Either only one denomination is right or we are all right...which one is it? So I am a heretic to somebody. I am okay with that. Well, that is all for now. On Thursday I am going to Galilee for four days. Perhaps I will touch something Jesus touched! I sure hope so.

Radcliff Out.