Ancient blood

Last updated on: November 29, 2011 at 9:04 am By Peter Leithart

Feder summarizes the scholarly consensus on the use of blood in Mesopotamian ritual, which, he says, “has little in common with the expiatory use of blood in the Bible.” He elaborates: “In Mesopotamian rites, blood is usually associated with chthonic deities. In numerous cases, blood is applied to the door posts as a prophylactic means of repelling demons. The blood is intended to satisfy their blood lust so that they will not attack the ritual patron. Similarly, foundation rituals required... Read more

The Lord is Unsplit

Last updated on: November 29, 2011 at 8:22 am By Peter Leithart

The shema is often taken as a declaration of monotheistic faith, or at least of henotheism. In ANE context, it may have another aspect to it. Yitzhaq Feder ( Blood Expiation in Hittite and Biblical Ritual (Writings from the Ancient World Supplements/Society of Biblical Literature) ) analyzes a Hittite rite for founding a new temple for the Night Goddess, who has both chthonic and astral associations. The ritual text prescribes as follows: “As soon as he finishes the tuhalzi ritual... Read more

Passover and Exile

Last updated on: November 29, 2011 at 4:59 am By Peter Leithart

1-2 Kings mentions Passover in only one passage, describing the Passover of Josiah (2 Kings 23:21-23). 1-2 Chronicles places more emphasis on Passover. Hezekiel celebrates a massive Passover (2 Chronicles 30), as well as Josiah (2 Chronicles 35). In both cases, Passover is mentioned only near the very end of the of the history of the monarchy, and it is shortly followed by the deportation to Babylon. Passover and Exile replaces the earlier Passover and Exodus. And, this suggests that,... Read more

Why Do They Hate Us?

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 4:51 pm By Peter Leithart

And in the “What the hell?” category: Eduardo Galeano writes in Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent : “In the middle of the nineteenth century the filibusterer William Walker, operating on behalf of bankers Morgan and Garrison, invaded Central America at the head of a band of assassins. With the obliging support of the U.S. government, Walker robbed, killed, burned, and in successive expeditions proclaimed himself president of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras.... Read more

Democratic sacrifice

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 4:45 pm By Peter Leithart

Adam Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa was a seminal book in the theological development of Emmanuel Katongole. As he recounts it in his recent The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa (Eedmans Ekklesia) , Hochschild revealed the fact that colonialism in Africa was based on the principle of the “dispensability of African lives.” And that was a key to understanding post-colonial Africa as well: “A Mobutu or a Mugabe... Read more

Making allowances

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 3:39 pm By Peter Leithart

The State Department boasts that “The United States actively promotes freedom of religion as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability throughout the world.” Fundamental, unless it’s unconvenient for other reasons. Then, well, it’s not so fundamental after all. Hilary Clinton designated 8 countries as “Countries of Particular Concern”: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korean, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uzbekistan. Six came under sanctions. The easy pickings. Guess which two got a pass? Perhaps the ones we need... Read more

Right hand, Right hand

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 3:31 pm By Peter Leithart

The State Department reports that in Saudi Arabia “The public practice of any religion other than Islam is prohibited. There is no separation between state and religion, and the deep connection between the royal family and the religious establishment results in significant pressure on all citizens to adhere to the official government interpretation of Islam. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the religious police) and ministry of interior forces continued to raid private non-Muslim and... Read more

Left hand, right hand

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 3:24 pm By Peter Leithart

The State Department reports that Egypt’s “respect for religious freedom remained poor,” notes that “Christians and members of the Bahai Faith, which the government does not recognize, face personal and collective discrimination, especially in government employment and the ability to build, renovate, and repair places of worship,” and claims that the Egyptian “government failed to prosecute perpetrators of violence against Coptic Christians in a number of cases.” Up on the Hill, the Congressional Research Service reports that “Since 1979, Egypt... Read more

Right hand, left hand

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 3:17 pm By Peter Leithart

The State Department reports that “In Jordan converts from Islam may be denied their civil rights if any member of society files an apostasy complaint against them.” Up on the Hill, the Congressional research service reports: “U.S. military assistance is primarily directed toward upgrading Jordan’s air force, as recent purchases include upgrades to U.S.-made F-16 fighters, air-to-air missiles, and radar systems. FMF grants also provide financing for Jordan’s purchase of U.S. Blackhawk helicopters in order to enhance Jordan’s border monitoring... Read more

Eucharistic meditation

Last updated on: November 27, 2011 at 7:31 am By Peter Leithart

Hebrews 12:22-23: You have come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than the blood of Abel. God called Abraham from a city to a city. The city he left behind had walls, houses, rulers and people, markets and temples, a regular supply of food and water. The city he sought was invisible. Israel’s history begins with a man seeking a city that doesn’t yet exist, a heavenly one. Abraham... Read more