13.2.08
Amazing what a valentine's gift can do. Though I tried to challange it, my wife gave me $100 to spend as a valentine's gift. Feely guilty about splurging while I have been gripping for dear life onto my meager earnings as a private teacher, she let me go crazy, within reason of course. The stipend did not include tax or shipping charges. :) So, Alibris.com became a playground. I've been able to stock up on commentaries, specifically commentaries on the Law and the Prophets. The best way for me to study what the prophets are proclaiming is to study that upon which they base their work. Given that my next big project is the Amos cycle, it stands to reason getting commentaries on the Torah would be a great investment. The total tally of commentaries was: Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteronomy, Psalms, Hosea, Amos, Daniel, and Zechariah 9-14/Malachi. In addition I further enhanced my collection of John Shelby Spong books including Why Christianity Must Change or Die and Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality. And I also indulged my inner metalhead, getting some AC/DC and Judas Priest. All that under $100. Gotta love used book sites. Granted, the last 4 don't fit into the commentary idea, those were the only real "indulgences" of the group.
So now, I have 4 out of the 5 books of the Torah in commentary form (I got the Childs Exodus when I studied the book at Seminary). I haven't obtained Genesis yet, since it has no bearing on my current studies. The reason for these books is to understand the native context of the Law to the best of my ability. The native context bears practically no resemblence to the narrow, literalistic naivete of the current thought Charismatics, Dispentationalists, Conservatives, and Evangelicals espouse. I cringe when I hear about a need for a "return to the moral standards of the Bible" or the need to post the 10 commandments everywhere. The 10 commandments is most sticky given that the Protestant, Catholic, and Hebrew canons each have distinct orders. Further, Exodus 20 and Dueteronomy 5 vary in significant details. Add into this the blatant Hebrew, landowning male bias in the commandments and the difficulty should be palpable. Anyone else notice the irony of any decision of the Supreme Court on any church/state matters when the commandments hang in their courtroom, yet they decide whether or not certain places can show them or not? Plus, if people would read and apply the entire Establishment Clause things would be so much easier. Liberals focus on government establishment, whilst conservatives focus on free exercise of religion. You can't accurately and objectively take a stand without all the info.
So, by understanding the native context of the Law, I feel I can better write the music for the Amos cycle. Amos makes his statements and declarations based upon understanding the Law which the establishment in Samaria has forgotten. The deliberate oppression and exploitation of the less fortunate combined with the perversion of the cultic religious practices has created an anathma to YHWH. A main thrust of Amos' message is that with the label of "YHWH's chosen" also comes the responsibility of being the "chosen." Israel has shirked the responsibility while basking in the belief of being blessed. They are living and believing in the "prosperity gospel," something that is preached significantly today. Our leaders, both secular and sacred, believe we are the chosen and blessed people of God. Have faith, do good, and God will bless you and prosper you. Yet, our capitalist drive and self-bestowed peacekeeper image has reproduced some if not all of the characteristics of ancient Samaria. Exploitation is rampant, the drive to accumulate wealth at all costs is widespread, and the image of piety on the outside is front and center. I cannot help but see the similarities between today and the book of Amos. The conservative majority puts faith and religion front and center, yet the monetary gain and exploitative practices are painstakingly guarded and passed off as a "blessing from above." I better stop before I get depressed. Long story made short (too late!), to best accentuate the prophecies of Amos, I need to learn and understand the Law as close to the native context as possible, minus the late 20th/early 21st century Christian bias. Then and only then can I produce music to make Amos' words breathe.
So now, I have 4 out of the 5 books of the Torah in commentary form (I got the Childs Exodus when I studied the book at Seminary). I haven't obtained Genesis yet, since it has no bearing on my current studies. The reason for these books is to understand the native context of the Law to the best of my ability. The native context bears practically no resemblence to the narrow, literalistic naivete of the current thought Charismatics, Dispentationalists, Conservatives, and Evangelicals espouse. I cringe when I hear about a need for a "return to the moral standards of the Bible" or the need to post the 10 commandments everywhere. The 10 commandments is most sticky given that the Protestant, Catholic, and Hebrew canons each have distinct orders. Further, Exodus 20 and Dueteronomy 5 vary in significant details. Add into this the blatant Hebrew, landowning male bias in the commandments and the difficulty should be palpable. Anyone else notice the irony of any decision of the Supreme Court on any church/state matters when the commandments hang in their courtroom, yet they decide whether or not certain places can show them or not? Plus, if people would read and apply the entire Establishment Clause things would be so much easier. Liberals focus on government establishment, whilst conservatives focus on free exercise of religion. You can't accurately and objectively take a stand without all the info.
So, by understanding the native context of the Law, I feel I can better write the music for the Amos cycle. Amos makes his statements and declarations based upon understanding the Law which the establishment in Samaria has forgotten. The deliberate oppression and exploitation of the less fortunate combined with the perversion of the cultic religious practices has created an anathma to YHWH. A main thrust of Amos' message is that with the label of "YHWH's chosen" also comes the responsibility of being the "chosen." Israel has shirked the responsibility while basking in the belief of being blessed. They are living and believing in the "prosperity gospel," something that is preached significantly today. Our leaders, both secular and sacred, believe we are the chosen and blessed people of God. Have faith, do good, and God will bless you and prosper you. Yet, our capitalist drive and self-bestowed peacekeeper image has reproduced some if not all of the characteristics of ancient Samaria. Exploitation is rampant, the drive to accumulate wealth at all costs is widespread, and the image of piety on the outside is front and center. I cannot help but see the similarities between today and the book of Amos. The conservative majority puts faith and religion front and center, yet the monetary gain and exploitative practices are painstakingly guarded and passed off as a "blessing from above." I better stop before I get depressed. Long story made short (too late!), to best accentuate the prophecies of Amos, I need to learn and understand the Law as close to the native context as possible, minus the late 20th/early 21st century Christian bias. Then and only then can I produce music to make Amos' words breathe.
