04/12/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KU

Summary of text [comment] page 83

[So what happened?

I continue my guess.

Obviously, problems came from establishing a king.

The formation of a sovereign encouraged competition among contending points of view. Sovereign power offered opportunities for exploitation. Royal decrees put people in bondage. The court deprived the people of what they own.

The kingdoms of Israel and Judah failed due to royal immorality and incompetence, as well as the alienation of their own subjects.

Oh, plus an attacking empire.]

04/11/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KT

[Also, the obligations of tribe and family are particular.

My particular tribe and family may have a tendency to micromanage. Petty demands add to time-honored expectations.

Plus, there will always be a slacker in the house.

Plus, the family and tribe may have a debilitating tendency to blame all their woes on one person. Everyone wants to be blameless, so nothing gets done.

The Law of Moses mitigated that.

The Law of Moses held out the possibility of reward (or, at least, not punishment) for the individual with initiative, despite family and tribal obligations.]

04/6/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KQ

[The mirror of the world3a was illuminated by unforgiving traditional ways.

Something2a was either freedom within one’s tribe or family (provided you accept your responsibilities) or slavery to another tribe or family.

So the possibilities inherent in me1a faced two stark choices.

Weirdly, these choices support the modern notion of “freedom” as not being constrained by pre-existing responsibilities.]

04/3/18

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 KN

[What is the actuality2a that fundamentally transforms freedom2a(1a) into bondage2a(1a)?

This ‘something2aemerges from and situates the possibilities inherent in me1a.

The mirror of the world3a or the thought experiment3a brings ‘something2a’ out of the possibilities inherent in me1a.

I may think that something2a enslaves me.

Actually, the relation3a enslaves me.]