Hubris from Revelation: the Social Engineering of Ultimate Truths [Monday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

"Last week, we covered Eid ul-Fitr," Ghanima began as people began taking their seats today. "However, this isn't only a holy time of year for Islam. Today is Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, which is one of the holiest days of the year for the Hebrew people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with an approximately 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days."

"Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a "book" on Rosh Hashanah and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God, known as bein adam leMakom, and against other human beings, or bein adam lechavero," she continued, pronunciation perfect. "The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers one's self absolved by God."

"Now, Leviticus 23:27 decrees that Yom Kippur is a strict day of rest and of fasting," Ghanima said, moving to write on the board. "Five additional prohibitions are traditionally observed, as detailed in the Jewish oral tradition; Mishnah tractate Yoma 8:1."

1. No eating and drinking
2. No wearing of leather shoes
3. No bathing or washing
4. No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions
5. No marital -- or non-marital sexual -- relations

"Total abstention from food and drink usually begins 30 minutes before sundown," she noted as she turned back to the class, "and ends after nightfall the following day. Although the fast is required of all healthy adults, it is waived in the case of certain medical conditions. Now, virtually all Jewish holidays involve a ritual feast, but since Yom Kippur involves fasting, Jewish law requires one to eat a large and festive meal on the afternoon before Yom Kippur, after the Mincha afternoon prayer. Wearing white clothing, and for men a Kittel, is traditional to symbolize one’s purity on this day."

"Today I'd like us to discuss the concepts of atonement and repentance as a group, and once class is over, I ask that you use the rest of the day for self-reflection. Last week was about joy and goodwill towards your fellow man; today is about being a better person."

[the ocd is in the house!]

Comments

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"No, it doesn't," she said. "If someone's still alive, there's ... a chance you can apologize, or try to improve their situation. I only used death because it's final. The hurt you caused someone might be permanent, but you might also have a chance to try for atonement."

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[furnaceface]

//I think there are some things that are every bit as unforgivable as killin' a person,// Jonothon replied, crossing his arms over his chest. //Even if someone is still there, able to hear the apology. Yer right, of course, death is final. But in some cases, it might be a mercy compared to the alternative.//

He wasn't entirely certain where he was going with that, himself.

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"I didn't mean those acts weren't as bad," Elena clarified. "I meant that, as long as the person's alive, there might be time to try to make what amends you can. Once the person's gone, you've lost that chance."

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[furnaceface]

Jono drummed his fingers against his arm, idly, and then shook his head.

//And if tryin' to make amends is probably just rubbin' more salt in the wound, luv?//

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"I didn't mean you go to them, personally, and pour in the salt," Elena said. "But if people are starving, you can feed them, and if people are dead, you can money to the widows and orphans, anonymously. There are ways to atone that don't involve the other person knowing."

Re: Class Discussion: Atonement

[furnaceface]

//I think there are some things yer can't atone for, even when life hasn't been lost. It'd be... nice, if yer could. But the world doesn't always work so nicely.//

The world, so far as Jono understood it, was a big freaking jerk.