Epictetus and Biblical Teachings

Epictetus, a Roman slave and philosopher, made several statements which contrast with Biblical truths.  Epictetus made his contempt for authority obvious, showing his hatred of tyrants.  The Bible teaches subjection to leadership, but only within Scriptural guidelines. Epictetus said that there is “bondage in the chains of the body and its manifold necessities.”  Paul describes the physical body as “lowly” in Philippians 3:21, but writes that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21).  Epictetus taught that the body was prison-like, while Paul sees the body as an instrument in God’s hands. Humans were, to Epictetus, the “kinsmen”, “kindred”, and “from” the deities.  The Old Testament speaks of Israelites as being the Children of Israel, a godly man.  After the Old Covenant was abolished, the New Testament teaches that Christians are the Children of God, and co-heirs of Heaven with Jesus. As all men are equal, as they are all from the gods, Epictetus reasoned that “tyrants… [who] deem that they have after a fashion power over us, because of the miserable body and what appertains to it… they have power over none.”  As the ancient Israelites lived under a theocracy, they were not equal to their Ruler.  The New Testament shows that all authority is appointed by God for the good of His children.
Epictetus believed the struggle of the body and mind to be the lowly, limited, physical part of man conflicting with the quintessential spirit of man.  The Bible defines this conflict as being between the evil flesh and the soul of man, both of which were designed to bring glory to God.  Epictetus’ theories about a man’s war with himself are contrary to Scriptural explanations of the human heart and body. Epictetus believed the struggle of the body and mind to be the lowly, limited, physical part of man conflicting with the quintessential spirit of man.  The Bible defines this conflict as being between the evil flesh and the soul of man, both of which were designed to bring glory to God.  Epictetus’ theories about a man’s war with himself are contrary to Scriptural explanations of the human heart and body.

Gilgamesh and the Flood

The Gilgamesh Epic and the Biblical account of a world-wide Flood in Genesis eight, when compared, are remarkably similar.  The Genesis account is, “God-breathed,” (2 Timothy 3:16) and therefore perfect and accurate, while the Gilgamesh version is somewhat flawed and defective.  There are differences and similarities, but both enhance the true story.

Some of the information in the accounts is synonymous.  In both accounts, the Flood was intended for all mankind, the cause of the Flood was man’s sins, and the hero’s character is righteous.  The hero is ordered in both versions to build a huge vessel for the preservation of mankind and animals.  

There were many compartments in the boat in both versions, one door, and at least one window.  The vessel was covered in pitch in both versions, too.   The test for dry land was the launching of birds.  At the end of each account, the hero sacrificed to the deity and receives a blessing.

There are also differences between the two accounts.  The deity in Genesis was Yahweh, and the hero was Noah.  The deity in the Gilgamesh Epic was the assembly of “gods”, and the hero’s name was Utnapishtim.  Noah received Yahweh’s orders directly from Him, and did the work without complaining.  Utnapishtim was informed in a dream, and he complained about the job.

Differences are seen in the construction of the vessel as well.  Noah’s ark was three stories high and built in the shape of an oblong box.  Utnapishtim’s boat was seven stories high and cube shaped.  Noah and his three sons built the ark themselves, While Utnapishtim hired workers to build it for him.  In the Bible, the only human passengers were Noah and his immediate family, while Utnapishtim brought his family and the hired builders.  

The Flood itself is slightly contrasting between the two accounts.  In the Genesis account, the floodwaters were fueled by heavy rains and underwater rivers gushing forth.  The Flood itself lasted over 40 days and nights.  Utnapishtim’s Flood was caused by heavy rain, and lasted six days and nights.  In the Gilgamesh version, Utnapishtim sent out a raven, a swallow, and a dove to search for dry land.  Noah sent out a raven and three doves.  Noah’s ark landed on Mount Ararat, while Utnapishtim’s boat beached on Mount Nisir.

These differences and similarities between the Gilgamesh Epic and the Genesis account of a worldwide

Flood are numerous and versatile.  Most ancient cultures have some story about a huge flood, but the 

Gilgamesh Epic is perhaps the earliest version ever written.  When the Genesis account and the Gilgamesh 

Epic’s version are compared, the similarities make the Biblical Flood more real.

Alternate Ending to Goethe's "Faust"

In the city for which Faust strode to help.

Enter Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles- As the years have passed, your heart,

Now great for the people has grown

But in it is the part

That shall be mine at dawn.

That promise made long ago

Shall haunt you eternally

As you live a dying life, Oh!

How I shall gloat at your pain-filled cry.

Heaven cannot save you now,

They will not even try

For as you bound your life to mine,

You severed any eternal tie.

Enter Goethe, walking with a cane, but visible healthy otherwise.

Mephistopheles aside- Ah, here you are,

The man who signed his life with blood

To gain my help in travels far

And help humanities sickly brood.

To Faust- The growing light

You’ll notice my friend.

Your life will soon become

The tale sung by many a bard.

Faust- Aye, how this day I have dreaded

As I have seen thy true spirit.

The gleam of fires roasting dead

Reflect in eyes and heart.

And now I would go out

And say “long farewell”

To the men who stand about

Waiting for me by the city well.

Faust goes to the door-   My friends and neighbors,

Tomorrow I leave

On long and arduous travels.

Of my departure, do not grieve;

‘Tis a journey begun in ages past.

So now, I do with heavy heart

Now full with love thou gave me fast

Do say farewell here as we part.

End scene

Mephistopheles is pacing by a tall rock at the base of a mountain.

Mephistopheles- Today my covenant is filled

He cannot run or hide.

The eyes of hell are on him fixed

That he may with them abide.

To think that me he sought to defeat,

Such brings laughter as a pulsing heat.

When one the Devil plans to cheat,

     At his own game he will be beat.

Enter Faust, looking grim, but determined.

My friend, you have remembered

Our insignificant little pact!

Indeed I am delighted

To have you forever as my guest!

Faust- Do not mock me foul fiend-

I know your heart is wicked through.

You have served me, given me aid,

And now, my soul belongs to you.

The rock opens.

Ah, I hear the drums of hell

As heathens dancing round the fire

Beat themselves and clang their bells

To try to gain celestial ear!

Regrets to me now don’t cease

Of my youthful deviance from

The teaching of the parish priest,

And commune with one to damn.

Oh, it burns, Ah, it wrenches

All the good of my heart from me-

Laying bare all my sins

And wretched thoughts and deeds!

Heaven save me- nay, dare I not

Call on powers so rejected

As I fall, by my own will caught

In the tangled web of sin.

Devils enter from the rocky pit.

Head Demon- Master, we have dreamed of this night

And waited anxiously for this morn!

For even now on Easter day,

Day of our eternal toll,

Hell gains by man’s own will

One who cannot, as He has done,

Defeat our flaming brands

We twist and burn within his soul!

Now you come with us, wretched mortal.

No power will save you now!

For you have learned a right good moral,

Do not make the Devil bow,

For he will make you suffer.

Through flattery and gain

Will he tear your heart asunder-

Foolish mortal, bear your pain!

Exit Faust, carried screaming into the pit by the devils.

Enter Angel from the rising sun-

Mephistopheles- What think you now, you horrid being,

I have conquered you once more!

Cheating man of life eternal,

Dragging him to the planet core.

Dare you laugh at your own disgrace?

Immortal beings, you and I-

Tell me at what you make such noise,

For I see only mocking face!

Angel- With every word you say,

Every deed you do,

Heaven’s time grows closer

To the battle you will lose.

The Eumenides by Aeschylus: PTSD and OCD

……………………………………………………………………………………………....

The Furies, characters in Aeschylus’ Greek play The Eumenides, contracted Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder after an extended period of time over which they were severely verbally abused and mistreated.  The Eumenides displays the mockery and bullied state in which the Furies exist, as well as their resulting vengeful compulsions.  As the combination of PTSD and OCD has a magnifying effect on anxiety disorder symptoms, the Furies’ obsession with matricidal revenge became powerful and consumed their purpose for existing.  

One cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a prolonged period of exposure to severe teasing or bullying.  A recent study done at McMaster University, Ontario on the connections between anxiety disorders and bullying stated that participants oftentimes contracted OCD as a result of intense mockery (Antony, 190).   In this research project, test subjects were asked if they were ‘“ever bullied or severely teased”’ (Antony, 189) as well as to rate their “level of anxiety in social situations” (Antony, 189).  Fifty Percent of participants with OCD admitted to undergoing severe teasing: this percentage does not include those who reported a more mild experience of being mocked (Antony, 190).  Researchers found that there is a legitimate “relationship between self-reported history of teasing experience and anxiety disorders” (Antony, 192).  As such, it can be construed that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may develop in a person who has been excessively teased and bullied.  

As many OCD cases can be proven the result of mocking, it can be concluded that the Furies’ vengeful compulsions are the result of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.   The Furies impulsive need to avenge Clytaemnestra’s death in The Eumenides, crying out “You’ll give me blood for blood, you must! / Out of your living marrow I will drain / my red libation, out of your veins I suck my food” (Aeschylus, 243).  The necessity that revenge has become to the Furies leads them to consider it their right as supernatural beings and their sustenance.  The Furies explain their need for vengeance by recalling “memories of grief… disgraced, degraded…banished far from god to a sunless, torchlit dusk” (Aeschylus, 248).  While finding no love or acceptance among their quintessential fellows, the Furies discover that “Deep in the halls of Earth they call us [the Furies] Curses” (Aeschylus, 248).  Synonymous the study on anxiety disorders done by McMaster University professors, the Furies contracted Obsessive Compulsive disorder from having been shamed and pushed away from both their mortal and divine neighbors.

            Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, another anxiety disorder is oftentimes induced by stressful, negative situations.  Psychologists from the University of Aarhus in Denmark recently did a study on the “impact of traumatic events and negative life events on children and adolescents” (Elklit, 56).  These researchers asked test subjects, all eight-graters, to describe what they believed to have initiated their PTSD (Elklit, 58).  Twenty-eight percent of all test-subjects, referred to “humiliation or persecution by others/bullying” (Elklit, 59) as being the sole cause of their trauma.  It was also discovered that females contract PTSD twice as often as males (Elklit, 56).  It can be concluded that females are more prone to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the anxiety that accompanies a bullying experience can easily trigger PTSD.

As females are more liable to contract Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the likelihood of acquiring PTSD from having been bullied is high, it is easily established that the Aeschylus’ Furies had PTSD.  The female nature of the Furies is revealed through a reference to them as the “goddesses of the earth” (Aeschylus, 236) and the Furies’ own consideration of themselves to be the “daughters of Night” (Aeschylus, 266).  Characterized as females, the Furies, despite their immortal standing as “the Furies, / absolute till the end of time” (Aeschylus, 248), were able to contract PTSD.  The Furies display their history of being bullied by both peers and lesser beings-humans- by reiterating their experiences: “Driven under the earth, / condemned, like so much filth” (Aeschylus, 268).  The Furies, prone to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to their femininity, contracted said anxiety disorder from having been mocked.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can co-exist within a person who has experienced extreme anxiety at some point in his or her life.  A recent study on a possible correlation between the two disorders found that about forty percent of test subjects pre-diagnosed with OCD met criteria for PTSD (Baer, 69).  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, both initiated by anxiety, such as prolonged, severe bullying, can and do often exist synonymously.  A similar study focusing more on the effects of OCD and PTSD combined found that, when this occasional partnership occurs, “obsessions were experienced as more intrusive and distressing, and compulsions as more distressing and difficult to suppress” (Biederman, 516).  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, when synonymous, increase exponentially both disorders’ symptoms.

The Furies had both Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Data from researchers allows that the Furies’ obsession with matricide victims and compulsion to avenge their deaths was much stronger than any normal compulsion or obsession would be had they only one of the two anxiety disorders.  They are affected by their need for revenge to the point that the Furies mutter in their sleep, “Get him, get him, get him, get him- / there he goes” (Aeschylus, 236).  Their waking day is “bound to avenge their [matricide victims’] blood, / we rise in flames against him to the end” (Aeschylus, 245).  The abnormal intensity of the Furies’ revenge-based obsessions and compulsions are a direct result of the coexistence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder within them.

            Research has proven that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder paralleled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results in ordinal habits.  Psychiatrists have recently concluded that a person with both anxiety disorders “engages in ritualistic behavior” (Biederman, 517).   These behavioral patterns occur as a direct result of a person with both OCD and PTSD’s lessened ability to control their obsessive thoughts and compulsions.  

            Aeschylus’ Furies sought revenge routinely and addictively throughout The Eumenides as a result of their Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder working  in a synchronized manner.  The Furies display ritualistic behavior through their excessive celebration of vengeance: “Come, Furies, dance! - / link arms for the dancing hand-to-hand... witness bound to avenge their blood / we rise in flames against him to the end” (Aeschylus, 245).  This match to the symptoms of combined PTSD and OCD serves as further evidence of the Furies’ psychological discrepancies.

            A study done on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans from Iraq revealed that PTSD can cause sleep disturbances in those who have that anxiety disorder.  Said study proclaims that “sleep disturbance is so prevalent in PTSD, it is considered a hallmark of PTSD diagnosis” (Kuhn, 336).  Presence of sleep agitation, therefore, in one who has experienced severe anxiety, is likely a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

            Aeschylus’ Furies display another symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in their disturbed sleep.  When sleeping, the Furies “mutter” (Aeschylus, 236) and are continually “moaning” (Aeschylus, 236).  Their sleep agitation serves as another external symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

            Aeschylus’s use of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in characters of an ancient Greek tragedy, despite the fact that neither anxiety disorder was discovered until centuries afterward, shows that both have been visibly affecting people for years.  Aeschylus had no way of knowing that PTSD and OCD existed as they did not in his time period.  As such, PTSD and OCD must have been something Aeschylus observed in people around him and thereby based off of such observations the mental nature of the Furies.  Aeschylus’ use of the mockery of the Furies as the instigating factor in their psychological issues serves to show that bullying is not a recent thing, nor should it ever be taken lightly.  Aeschylus’ use of mental abnormalities caused by stressful mockery in The Eumenides reveals that anxiety disorders are nothing new under the sun, and that bullying has always played a considerable role in the onset of PTSD and OCD.  

Works Cited:

Aeschylus. The Oresteia. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1979. Print.

Antony, Martin M., Andrea Liss, Randi E. McCabe, Laura J. Summerfeldt, and

Richard P. Swinson. “Preliminary Examination of the Relationship Between Anxiety Disorders in Adults and Self-Reported History of Teasing or Bullying Experiences.” Brunner/Routledge 32.4 (2003): 187-193. JSTOR. Web. 29 Oct. 2011

Biederman, Joseph, Alyssa Faro, Daniel A. Geller, Daniel L. Lafleur, Hannay C. Levy,

Elizabeth Mancuso, Katherine McCarthy, and Carter Petty. “Traumatic Events and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Is there a link?” Journal of Anxiety Disorders 25 (2011): 513-519. JSTOR. Web. 29 Oct. 2011

Elkit, Ask, Janne Gytz Olesen, and To’ra Petersen. “Victimization and PTSD in a

Faroese Youth Total-Population Sample.” Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 51 (2010): 56-62. JSTOR. Web. 29 Oct. 2011

Kuhn, Renee, Richard Landward, David L. Lipschitz, Yoshio Nakamura, and Gavin West. “Two Sessions of Sleep-Focused Mind-Body Bridging Improve Self-Reported Symptoms of Sleep and

PTSD in Veterans: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research 70 (2011): 335-345. JSTOR. Web. 12 November 2011

Taio Cruz "Dynamite" Parody

I came to Class class class class

To take my 23rd test test test test

And so far its been a mess mess mess mess

And it drones on and on and on

And it drones on and on and on, YEAH!

I throw my homework in the air sometimes

Sayin Ay-Oh, give me a zero

I won't ever use this in real life

sayin Ay-Oh, give be a zero

Cuz we gone rock this school

We'll stay up all night

We gone work too late

Tryin to graduate

Cuz we did one year, maybe two or three

Maybe four's the charm, guess we'll have to see.

Pages on my desk desk desk desk

Jumbled in an awful mess mess mess mess

Tryin to just make some sense sense sense sens

Feelin bout now really dense dense dense dense

And it drones on and on and on,

And it drones on and on and on, YEAH!

Chorus

I'm gonna work my butt off

I'm gonna be up there standing

I'm gonna hold my scroll up

Cuz we finished four years of high school

and I-i-i am finished

and I-i-i

Got four years of school,

Got four years of school

SO throw your caps in the air,

Your cap-caps in the air

Throw you caps in the air

In the air-air-air-air-air-air-air-air...

Chorus

How to be Salt and Light in a Degrading Society

             Christians are to live in a fallen world as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). There are many possible applications, one of which comes from the science behind salt and light. The formation of salt and the properties of light can show us how we are to exist in a fallen society.
Salt is a chemical molecule called NaCl, consisting of one atom of sodium for every atom of chlorine. The way that these two atoms bond is a significant lesson for Christians, demonstrating who and what we are meant to be. God designed this molecule to mesh perfectly together, and then used it as an example for how Christians are to act in a degrading world.            A sodium atom has one valance electron- the electron(s) in the furthest orbital- while a chlorine atom has seven. By their nature, these atoms strive to have a total of eight valance atoms. When these atoms bond o make NaCl- salt- the sodium atom gives the chlorine atom its valance electron, and thus both atoms have obtained the ideal electron configuration by each having eight valance electrons.Salt is made by one atom giving of itself for the benefit of the other. In doing so, the donator also obtains a great reward. If Christians are to act as salt in the world, they must give of themselves for the greater good. Their reward may not be earthly, but will definitely occur in Heaven.            Light is a wave of pure energy, originating in some high-powered electrical source. It goes through some objects, penetrating them to the core, shines dimly through others, and is bounced in the opposite direction by some. The white light we see is made of many different colors of light, mixed together into a glorious brightness, illuminating the world.            As light is pure energy emitted by a powerful source. Christians are called to be pur-heared, and sent out by God. We are to live our faith, which will change some lives, merely affect others, and be repelled by some. As white light is made of many colors, so the Church is made of many different people, all of whom should work together to enlighten the world in which we live.Christians are called to give of themselves, be pure, live the faith, and work together. As the world grows darker, believers must keep their beacon flashing, warning the faithless of the hidden rocks that will destroy them. In a fallen world, Christians must be salt and light.