The three richest individuals in the world own more wealth than the lowest 48 nations combined. The richest 1 percent in the United States now own more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. Around 2,100 individuals at the top own as much wealth on the planet as the 4.6 billion humans at the bottom. How has this extreme inequality affected daily life for the masses?
Joseph helps the Egyptian Pharoah prepare ahead of time for an impending famine, and avoids mass starvation through the measures he takes. For this feat, he gets a lot of credit in mainstream narratives and Sunday school stories. But a question worthwhile asking is how he goes about achieving that end. What are the measures that Joseph takes and how do those change Egptian society? Is the result good or bad?
Yahweh, the God of the Bible, emerges on the world scene by subduing the imperial masters and liberating the Israelites from under the yoke of the Egyptian Empire. He brings them out into the wilderness, where he starts teaching them his ways. In these teachings and commandments we find the true nature of Yahweh, and what he personally deems as a just and fair society. What are some of Yahweh’s flagship teachings that reflect the themes of his thought process on how a model society should function?
When Yahweh rains down food from heaven for the Israelites in the wilderness, he gives them specific directions regarding how the Manna should be collected and consumed. Those instructions go against the very fabric of imperial societies, and together they form the tenets of what can be defined as the Manna Principle. What are those tenets?
Yahweh's Jubilee Year Liberty laws cover those who fall under harsh times and end up mortgaging off their agricultural land, property or themselves to someone. How do these revolutionary laws weave a safety net for everyone in society?
When Jesus enters the scene, what was the state of the society in Israel under the Roman Empire? And why was the title 'son of god' so controversial in those times? Who was its original owner?
Scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scriptures indicated NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.