Getting Biblical in Daily Life
War And Conquest
Let's face it, when is this not a hot-button issue? Humanity has been at war with itself since we discovered the rock. (Yes, we know, it's more tripped over than discovered, but you get the idea.)
I think we can all agree that the general rule today is "killing is bad." Although the Bible has a strict "no killing" policy, the word "kill" in the seventh commandment really translates to "murder." In the eyes of the ancient Israelites, the conquest of Canaan isn't murder, but a reclaiming of property.
Because Joshua and the Israelites draw a very clear line between murder and war, there really isn't much finger pointing to say war is wrong or let's all just get along. During the 7th century BCE, conquering bronze clad armies were pretty typical. As much as people would be prefer to live peacefully, the clashing and clanking of swords was part of life.
Thousands of years later, things haven't changed too much.
To Religion Or Not To Religion
Say what you will about the Israelites, they were a God-fearing, faithful people. They relied on the Big Man for everything, and if they were in the right, he delivered. Depending on who you talk to, people today may or may not be heading toward the secular—a godless world.
In most religions, the community serves as the center of faith—the place where hope and belief take root around something that generally lacks much tangible proof. In an increasingly cyber world, though, community can be harder to hold on to and people's minds can fill with doubt and fear about the unknown. So what's a person to do?
In the book of Joshua, there is a great value placed on the faith and laws of the Israelites. For the Israelites to succeed in their quest, they must be obedient to the laws of God. The big G even tells them himself, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (1:9). The hope was that this message from God would continue until the end of time, passed from each generation to the next. The trick for today's believers is figuring out how to adapt it to modern life.
We're not here to tell you what to believe, just to let you know that this debate has been churning for centuries, each camp cooking its own fire. If you're interested in exploring more, watch this TED Talk by Lesley Hazleton.
Women's Rights
Rosie the Riveter. Susan B. Anthony. Wonder Woman. What do all these women have in common? They fought for the equality of women. Yes, we are aware that Rosie is a picture and Wonder Woman is a fictional character, but their function remains the same. Along with Susan B. Anthony, these ladies were fiercely committed to getting equal rights for women everywhere. As an aside, we're guessing that Susan B. Anthony got tired the fastest. It's just a hunch, though.
Although Joshua is mainly about the conquest of Canaan, there is a side story concerning Achsah, the daughter of Caleb. Although she had to conform to the whims of ancient society, she still found a way to fight for equality in a man's world. How did she do this? By manipulating the men. That, gentle readers, is a woman who knows what she's doing. Make the men think it was their idea and all is golden.