Examination of Religious Scriptures

In current society, with the release of books like The Da Vinci Code and movies such as Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, as well as wars and terrorist acts that are attributed to different religious beliefs, it is not a question of whether religious scriptures and sacred texts will be studied, but to what degree. Only examination and discussion as to the application of these texts will lead to a better understanding of conflicts around the world and within American society. In view of this need, this paper will examine the Gospel of Mark, discuss and determine the historical contexts, the audience addressed, main themes and messages, and then demonstrate how these main themes and messages may apply in today's society.

In order to properly discuss the Gospel of Mark, it must first be placed within its historical context alongside the other gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. Before the gospels were recorded, Christian communities depended on oral stories about Jesus' life and his sayings that were passed down from leaders. In the face of persecution and questioning of faith these stories offered comfort and hope. However, there was concern in the early church that the oral histories were being embellished and fictionalized. For this reason, some of the leaders, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John being at least four of those leaders, began to record these histories (Nickle, 1980). According to several sources, Mark was the earliest recorde

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economy that seems against the working class, a war that appears to continue unabated, and the unceasing presence of poverty and homelessness on the streets, it is easy to fall into despair and lose faith, and not believe that someday, if not now, there will be an end to all of this. As demonstrated in this brief study of the Gospel of Mark, it is not simply a question of whether the religious scriptures and sacred texts will be studied, but to what degree and how deeply. Only examination, along with self-examination, and discussion as to the application of these texts will lead to a better understanding of conflicts around the world and within American society. References The 1914 Catholic Encyclopedia Online. (1997). The New Advent. Accessed online at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen Crain, J.C. (1999). Servant of God: A Study of Mark. The Gospel of Mark: A Study Based on the Old Testament. Accessed online at: http://crain.english.mwsc.edu/Mark/word_text.htm Duling, D.C., Ferm, R., Perrin, N. (1982). The New Testament, and Introduction: Proclamation and Parenesis, Myth and History. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version, New Encyclopedic Reference Edition. (1966). Grand R

Category: Philosophy - E