Bible

The readings from the Bible have been so far enlightening both spiritually and intellectually. To ask one to choose a specific text and describe what makes it better compared to another text is like allowing a child to enter a candy store. Many people around the country have a skewed view of what Bible texts say due to the odd preaching's of some larger-than-life evangelical ministries. These sorts of preaching's can sometimes scare people, thus not allowing them read the Bible and interpret it in their own way. The recent readings in World Literature class have so far been unbiased and thus have allowed for fair critiquing and inquiry of the texts. The critique of the book of Job without a doubt had to have been the most interesting reading to date during the course of the current semester.

In the book of Job one man is pitted against every possible disaster in life, just short of losing one's life. As a very successful farmer, Job had everything in life to make it worth living. This wealth and faith in The Lord is what made him a prime target for an experiment between God and Satan. The text reads that Satan challenged God to take everything Job had except his life and see if he not only lost his faith but that he would also curse God. Job did then in fact lose everything he possessed, from children to workers and animals. His experience and severe losses not only strengthened his faith but enraged Satan who then made warts appear on his bodily flesh. Job again not shaken stood firm with his faith and praised God for what he had. Thus the experiment of faith and strength ended, Job was rewarded by God with more earthly wealth than was previously owned.

This example of great conviction from the character Job not only embodies all that is faith and strength but serves as an example of how people of the Christian faith should hold their own beliefs. Many people join religions without really knowing what the readings mean to them other than what is fed to them thus making their beliefs weaker and prone to misinterpretations. If this continues to be the case in this country then its people's faith can never really be as strong as Job's, who had his faith firmly planted due to his understanding of the word of God.