History and Religion

Some people argue that the founding of Rome could not have been by twins raised by wolves, some say Arthur did not exist but as you have read I believe completely differently. I have a more traditional view on history; the historical arc of human civilization moves progressively down ward. There are however some high points, Athens and democracy, Rome and its republic, the founding of Christianity, significant scientific breakthroughs slow the spiral for a while but all in all we head down. Before we continue you must know that Christianity is a massive part of my life if that makes me bias then so be it. I will admit that people rape, and murder in the name of “God” just like those who destroyed members of other races they were, in there mind, more “superior” to. The Crusaders committed horrible crimes in the name of a god they did not truly care about as have Muslim raiders, and any others who kill in the name of a religion.

These people use religion as a tool to attack and gain their own ends. Religion is a curse a man made destructive force not at God ordained relationship with the one who created all things. If we as Christians truly love God as we say if we believe that Christ rose from the dead, then why do we act like he is dead or like he is a tool or club that we use to further our own earthly gains? If we believe that he died just to save us and to commune with us then why don’t we actually talk to him or worse why don’t we listen when he speaks. We ignore those who are widows and orphans, the drunk on the street, he drug addict, the homeless, why do we only pretend that we are doing things “oh I tithe” or “I go to church on Sunday” the true relationship is one of service and love for the creator of all things not one of what can I get from him. Intel we change this we will never be able live in peace and love our neighbor as our selves.

Gideon and the real 300

    The Battle of Thermopoley was portrayed in the movie 300, yet there are many historical inaccuracies just in the numbers alone. However that is not what this blog is about, this blog is about another group of 300, Gideon.  For a while I have been shying away from biblical topics, but today I am diving in and my next blog will probably be along these lines. In most cases, lowering the amount of men would be a bad thing, yet in the story of Gideon—an Israelite name meaning the Destroyer—it seems to have made some tactical sense.  Since the plan given to Gideon by God required complete surprise, too many men would have alerted the Midianites to the attack. Gideon split his forces, also a general tactical mistake that paid off for Gideon, into three groups of 100 men, each taking an exposed side.

    This forced the invaders to retreat through a valley. Adding to the effect of this the attackers where already afraid of the Israelites because of their many other victories over numbers higher than their own. Gideon and another soldier snuck into the camp of the attackers and overheard a conversation between two guards saying that they would be defeated. This gave Gideon the complete confidence he needed. Gideon, with the Midianites surrounded, hid torches in clay pots and revealed the lights all at once giving an illusion of a massive army. Additionally, he had more than 300 trumpeters—the normal number varies depending on culture and size but usually an army of 300 wouldn’t need more the ten (if that)—and ordered his whole army to chant while they entered the battle. This kind of mass confusion makes even hardened soldiers break ranks and, because it was a night attack, the Midianites’  fear could not be revealed so even the captains and generals retreated from the battle, though their numbers alone could have beaten the much smaller army.