Two Cultures

Indo-Europeans

The Indo-Europeans, all of the cultures whose people spoke Indo-European Languagues, began with the first Indo-Europeans who lived along the Black and Caspian Seas 4,000 years ago. These people then moved around to Iran, India, Greece, Italy, Spain, Europe, France, Britain, Scandanavia, and Russia. The Indo-European countries all had similar languages and ideas. Many of these cultures were related by their similar beliefs in polytheism and they're similiar gods. For example, the god Dyaus that the Indians worshipped meant sky, day, or heaven. The Greeks also had a god for this named Zeus, and Old Norse a god named Tyr. The cultures also had similar thoughts. Many of the cultures for example viewed the world as drama or play where there is a conflict between Good and Evil. Also, for Indo-Europeans the most important sense was sight. They created literature about cosmic visions and also created art of the gods and myths. The Indo-Europeans also believed that history was a cycle that doesnt have a beggining or end and also in the rebirth of mankind like Plato believed.

The Semites

The Semitic culture, or Judaism and later Christianity and Islam, have spread over much of the world. It is important to realize that each of these religions while popularized by the media to be radically different come from and are structured in much the same way. Each of these religions had a major common place; each believed in only one god and each had a linear view of history. Believing in one god is called monotheism as apposed to polytheism meaning believing in many gods. The linear view of history can be explained that history is looked upon as a timeline and therefore can draw logical conclusions about it because of its configuration (time, place, context, relation to opposing events). History’s importance extends beyond how we conceive it. It is the basis of faith for each. We believe that God intervenes in the world and will lead mankind to judgment day. Sight in all three religions was the most important sence because it was the sense in which we are able to “hear” god. By this I make a reference to the church’s creed “the word of the lord”(this is the most common for protestant churches catholic churches have this or are more formal/intense in reinforcing concept of the creed).
Even though our main sense is sight the three religions are among few in the world which bans the creation of figurative statues made to resemble god. In the Middle Ages the Catholic church made a precedent to creating many pictures of people associated with god and their religion. Judaism and Islam both strictly follow this rule; Islam more than Judaism. The Greek Orthodox Church still forbids sculptures and crucifixes.
Not only are the beliefs the same but so are its geographical places of importance. Jerusalem is one of the greatest examples. It contains ruins and structures of the greatest temples, churches, and mosques ever built. While these religions are common in structure and belief the people have throughout history have increased religious intolerance by acts of war and forced relocation/murder
This is the history of the old testament (1st half of bible) or the entirety of the Tora. God created the world. Adam and Eve revolted against god and were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Thousands of years later they ended up in Egypt. Moses freed them from captivity and while they were traveling through the desert for forty years God renewed his pact with man that was said to be lost in the expulsion of Eden. The wandering Jews then settled in the Promised Land or Israel. The Israelites choose three kings Saul, David, Solomon. During their reign the people prospered and the Jews were strong militarily and politically. Later they got mad at each other and split into a north (Israel) and a south (Judea). Later both were conquered by the Byzantines and the Muslim Hordes. This period is called the Babylonian Captivity. A prophet named Isaiah came along and prophesied that a man would come along and bring the Jews to their former glory.
The Christians believe that Jesus was this messiah, in a sense the Jews are still waiting for their messiah. People of the time believed that the Messiah would come in a militaristic, political, etc. and end the Roman occupation of the Jewish lands. The more perceptive believed that this messiah would save the whole world from suffering, death, pain, blame, sin etc.. This is how Jesus is called the Savior instead of the messiah. He was expected to save the world by his teachings. This caught many people off guard. Why follow someone who was killed by the people he was supposed to free them from. A present day argument is that Christianity helped destroy the Roman Empire by degrading the religious and moral expectations which were the basis of Roman Society (i.e. gladiatorial games, etc.). So Jesus did in a way save Israel from the Roman Empire and he did establish the “Christen Enlightenment” (see middle Ages St. Thomas Aquinas). Jesus allowed/used phrases such as “Son of God”, “Messiah”, “redemption”, “Kingdom of God”, etc. to maintain the connection between himself and the old prophets. He allows the people of Jerusalem to accept him as their spiritual leader in the same way the Ancient kings did.
He had not been the only person claiming to be the Messiah, but he evidently came the closest to becoming one in the views of the general populous. He separated himself from the many others by taking a new route seeking the art of teaching not declaring himself a political/military rebel. In the end just because of his radical teachings he was killed; just as Socrates was killed for his thinking.
Several days after being hung from the cross it was rumored that he had risen from the dead, in this way he had become immortal. If the rumors were true then he was the savior. Just as we believe just about every rumor possible so did the people of that time. With the publicizing of Jesus’ beliefs through the public teaching sessions the members of Christianity of the Christian beliefs grew exponentially almost overnight.
Paul was one of the most influential people in the growth of the church after the resurrection of Jesus. He went to Athens and stood on the Acropolis and gave a speech which turned many people’s minds about this new religion. Paul showed that God had revealed himself in front of mankind. This was something which had never been done before, nor had it ever been conceived. Within three hundred years the entire Hellenistic culture had evolved to encompass Christianity.

Works Cited

Gaarder, Jostein . Sophie's World. New York: Berkley Book, 1994.

By :Raina Chandiramani and Mac Davis