Binding problem

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2015), the secondary definition of ‘blinders’ is, “Something that serves to obscure clear perception and discernment.” From youth through to maturity, our perception blinders are defined by environment and experiences - they focus our vision—just like their primary function on a horse. It is through these lenses that we see, process, discriminate with, and, in turn, form the basis of our decisions. They are filters we use to process information and…

In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous author, Johannes de Silentio attempts to explain faith by examining the biblical story of Abraham who was told, by God, to sacrifice his son, Isaac. With this objective in mind, we quickly come to bear that this explanation cannot so evidently be made since faith cannot be verbally expressed. Through a close inspection of the role of silence in faith, I will provide the interpretation that one cannot speak when acting in faith because in faith…

Skiing has been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was young, I would always venture out to the mountains and go skiing. What makes skiing a lot of fun is the environment you get to be apart of. Every hill you go up to, there's always a new surrounding you get to interact with. Aside from the environment, one of the primary reasons I love skiing is because I am able to compete against others for the fastest time by completing a course. So, when I was in middle school, I signed up for the ski…

Knowledge is describe as facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. (Oxford Dictionary pg. 1) God limits the knowledge of his doings a great amount in the Hebrew Bible, but specifically in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, many stories, such as Adam and Eve or Job, reveals how God limits knowledge from his people. The question is, why does God limits knowledge from his people? God is said…

Introduction The story of Abraham in the book of Genesis is an elaborate narrative describing the events of his life. Through many trials Abraham and his wife Sarah give birth to their son Isaac who God had promised them. Through Isaac, Abraham is promised that the nations will be born. However, in this verse we see a significant moment in Abraham’s life where he is asked to sacrifice this promised son. He moves in obedience and does not falter in obeying God. He prepares Isaac and takes him up…

Stephen in his speech in Acts told the abridged version of the Hebrew Bible. While doing so he decided to include and exclude different stories, as well as characters from the old testament as he so choose. I will try and explain here the reasons why he selected what he did, and also address the question of the order of the stories. Overall, I believe that which was included, was so for the reason of creating a different image of God as well as the stories of the Old Testament. Starting…

Soren Kierkegaard, is one of the biggest influential existential philosophers. He set the tone for many 20th century philosophers. He lived a very short and prolific life. He considered himself a religious writer, however he had a very peculiar form and understanding of faith. What is interesting about Kierkegaard’s philosophy is his idea of linking faith to religious existentialism, which is far from being a traditional Christian approach. He believed that religious existentialism implicates a…

The Foot There are many body parts that look similar when examining the skeleton of humans and our closest living relatives. These similarities are important in understanding where humans, as a species, stand in the complex evolutionary world. Although the similarities are important, the differences are what make Homo sapiens the only habitually bipedal animal on earth. The subtle differences are what allow the species to travel so efficiently and use the other limbs to manipulate the world. The…

providing conflicting perspectives on theology and worship. However, these three faiths are interrelated, even complementary, in terms of tradition, origin, and practice. This interrelation is no more apparent than in the narrative of Abraham and the binding of his son, Isaac/Ishmael, which was first recorded in Genesis 22. All three faiths view this story as significant, however there is a disjunction within the details of the narrative as well as what should be taken from the teachings. This…

A painting is a scene, frozen in time. The Bible is full of memorable scenes, with thousands of years of art to capture the intensity of the stories. My journey to find one of these thought-provoking paintings began at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art almost six years ago. I stood in a grand room with tens of other paintings and high, echoing ceilings. In front of me was a massive, Renaissance-era piece. Without looking at the title or artist’s statement, I knew it was of Abraham sacrificing…