The Joseph Paradox

The Joseph Paradox PDF Author: Hillel I. Millgram
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786489820
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
This book is a reader-friendly treatment of the Joseph story--one of the most popular tales in the Bible. Instead of the usual interpretation as an Horatio Alger success story, the text proposes that we are presented with a cautionary tale of high achievement and the pursuit of success. In the context of the larger biblical narrative, Joseph's short-term success leads to the enslavement of his descendants and the centuries-long derailment of the destiny of the Children of Israel. The self-limiting nature of the pursuit of power is just one of the themes illuminated in this work.

The Joseph Paradox

The Joseph Paradox PDF Author: Hillel I. Millgram
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786489820
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is a reader-friendly treatment of the Joseph story--one of the most popular tales in the Bible. Instead of the usual interpretation as an Horatio Alger success story, the text proposes that we are presented with a cautionary tale of high achievement and the pursuit of success. In the context of the larger biblical narrative, Joseph's short-term success leads to the enslavement of his descendants and the centuries-long derailment of the destiny of the Children of Israel. The self-limiting nature of the pursuit of power is just one of the themes illuminated in this work.

Joseph - Life Is a Paradox

Joseph - Life Is a Paradox PDF Author: Oforiwah Penney-Laryea
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Like the story of Joseph, life can be very difficult, especially when one is betrayed by the person or people you love and trust. However, to be able to move on in life and achieve your dreams, you must work through the betrayal and forgive your betrayer or those who have wronged you. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself to get rid of the resentment and toxicity you have towards your betrayer and those who have wronged you. By so doing you free your heart from revenge to enable you to focus and achieve your purpose and dreams in life. Studies have shown that unforgiveness can be detrimental to one's health leading to a lot of the sicknesses that people are suffering from. For instance, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, cancer and insomnia, just to mention a few. Forgiveness on the other hand, leads to better health and general well-being. The lessons in this book provide helpful tips on how to deal with betrayal, and to be able to forgive those who have wronged you, minimize sibling rivalry, trust in God for His guidance and help, and by so doing persevere in challenging times to achieve your dreams or God's given purpose against all odds. Life is a paradox because, the very challenging situations like betrayal that can cripple one in life, are the same ones that can strengthen, build and enable you to thrive in life. That is, if you can persevere, seek help when necessary and go through them successfully. One should be ready to have a mind shift knowing that it is possible to go through any personal crisis and come out victorious. Joseph's life is a perfect example of how he rose above the tremendously difficult circumstances of betrayal by his brothers whom he loved and trusted, and his master's wife who framed him up landing him in prison. However, Joseph endured these challenges and forgave his bothers and others who have wronged him, worked hard, and trusted in God for guidance and help. Therefore, Joseph thrived everywhere he was placed and finally fulfilled his dream and purpose in life.

Three Paradoxes of Personhood

Three Paradoxes of Personhood PDF Author: Joseph Margolis
Publisher: Mimesis
ISBN: 9788869771040
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The starting point of Joseph Margolis' last philosophical effort is represented by the problem of the human "gap" in animal continuity: "There appear to be no comparable variants of animal evolution effected by anything like the culturally enabled creation". While we share with other animals more or less refined forms of societal life, acquiring a natural language remains a distinctively human character: although it is grounded in the completely natural favourable changes in the human vocal apparatus and brain, the merely causal emergence of language in humans reacts back into human primates by transforming them into persons or selves. The artifactuality of persons appears to be at the same time a natural and emergent phenomenon, constituting the other side of the process of language acquisition both by early hominids and by human infants. In this perspective the largely informal, mongrel and approximate functionality of ordinary language is interpreted as a good tool for the cultural animal to cope with the world, while the collective dimension of human forms of life appears as the shared context of external and internal constitution of the human selves

The Secular Paradox

The Secular Paradox PDF Author: Joseph Blankholm
Publisher: NYU Press
ISBN: 1479809527
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
A radically new way of understanding secularism which explains why being secular can seem so strangely religious For much of America’s rapidly growing secular population, religion is an inescapable source of skepticism and discomfort. It shows up in politics and in holidays, but also in common events like weddings and funerals. In The Secular Paradox, Joseph Blankholm argues that, despite their desire to avoid religion, nonbelievers often seem religious because Christianity influences the culture around them so deeply. Relying on several years of ethnographic research among secular activists and organized nonbelievers in the United States, the volume explores how very secular people are ambivalent toward belief, community, ritual, conversion, and tradition. As they try to embrace what they share, secular people encounter, again and again, that they are becoming too religious. And as they reject religion, they feel they have lost too much. Trying to strike the right balance, secular people alternate between the two sides of their ambiguous condition: absolutely not religious and part of a religion-like secular tradition. Blankholm relies heavily on the voices of women and people of color to understand what it means to live with the secular paradox. The struggles of secular misfits—the people who mis-fit normative secularism in the United States—show that becoming secular means rejecting parts of life that resemble Christianity and embracing a European tradition that emphasizes reason and avoids emotion. Women, people of color, and secular people who have left non-Christian religions work against the limits and contradictions of secularism to create new ways of being secular that are transforming the American religious landscape. They are pioneering the most interesting and important forms of secular “religiosity” in America today.

People of Paradox

People of Paradox PDF Author: Terryl L. Givens
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198037368
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 433

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Book Description
In People of Paradox, Terryl Givens traces the rise and development of Mormon culture from the days of Joseph Smith in upstate New York, through Brigham Young's founding of the Territory of Deseret on the shores of Great Salt Lake, to the spread of the Latter-Day Saints around the globe. Throughout the last century and a half, Givens notes, distinctive traditions have emerged among the Latter-Day Saints, shaped by dynamic tensions--or paradoxes--that give Mormon cultural expression much of its vitality. Here is a religion shaped by a rigid authoritarian hierarchy and radical individualism; by prophetic certainty and a celebration of learning and intellectual investigation; by existence in exile and a yearning for integration and acceptance by the larger world. Givens divides Mormon history into two periods, separated by the renunciation of polygamy in 1890. In each, he explores the life of the mind, the emphasis on education, the importance of architecture and urban planning (so apparent in Salt Lake City and Mormon temples around the world), and Mormon accomplishments in music and dance, theater, film, literature, and the visual arts. He situates such cultural practices in the context of the society of the larger nation and, in more recent years, the world. Today, he observes, only fourteen percent of Mormon believers live in the United States. Mormonism has never been more prominent in public life. But there is a rich inner life beneath the public surface, one deftly captured in this sympathetic, nuanced account by a leading authority on Mormon history and thought.

Joseph in the Gap

Joseph in the Gap PDF Author: Taylor Drake
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
Joseph in the Gap explores the hidden role of Joseph Smith as an intercessor for a people who had rejected the Lord's higher laws. Like Moses, who interceded for the children of Israel, Joseph stood in the gap before the Lord on behalf of the Latter-day Saints who failed to live the law of the celestial kingdom and establish Zion. The troubling aspects of Joseph's behavior later in life are more easily comprehended with an understanding that this intercession placed upon him the burden of sin and ultimately resulted in his being sacrificed at Carthage. With this enlightenment, one can appreciate Joseph not only as a true prophet, but also as a fallen prophet-an instrument of the Lord tasked with testing his people, to see if they would stay true to the purity of the gospel, or be seduced into following corrupt practices. The present-day ramifications of this hidden history are explored in depth, along with Joseph's future role in the Lord's marvelous work and a wonder. With this understanding, questioning Mormons realize that they don't need to jettison their faith in God when confronted with challenging facts about their religious history or the institutional church.

The Way of Forgiveness

The Way of Forgiveness PDF Author: Stephen Mitchell
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 125023753X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
“A unique and special kind of masterpiece.” —John Banville Stephen Mitchell’s gift is to breathe new life into ancient classics. In Joseph and the Way of Forgiveness, he offers us his riveting novelistic version of the Biblical tale in which Jacob’s favorite son is sold into slavery and eventually becomes viceroy of Egypt. Tolstoy called it the most beautiful story in the world. What’s new here is the lyrical, witty, vivid prose, informed by a wisdom that brings fresh insight to this foundational legend of betrayal and all-embracing forgiveness. Mitchell’s retelling, which reads like a postmodern novel, interweaves the narrative with brief meditations that, with their Zen surprises, expand the narrative and illuminate its main themes. By stepping inside the minds of Joseph and the other characters, Mitchell reanimates one of the central stories of Western culture. The engrossing tale that he has created will capture the hearts and minds of modern readers and show them that this ancient story can still challenge, delight, and astonish.

Life of Joseph

Life of Joseph PDF Author: Rose Publishing
Publisher: Rose Publishing
ISBN: 162862096X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 33

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Book Description
Get a close-up look at Joseph’s entire life with this fantastic Bible study pamphlet. Learn how to trust in God’s faithfulness, hang on to hope, and forgive the unforgivable as you look closely at Joseph’s journey from being a favorite son to becoming a foreign slave... and his rise from forgotten prisoner to favored ruler. Enjoy having:— Section-by-section commentary and summaries on Joseph’s entire life (From Gen. 12 to Gen. 50). Incredible visual aids, including a time line of 19 key people and events, a map of the journeys of Jacob and Joseph, and a full-color diagram of Joseph’s family tree. Handy charts showing key information at a glance about Joseph’s life, dream interpretation, and more. Life-application questions that help you practically apply key lessons from this incredible story. 14 panels, 8.5 x 5.5 in, unfolds to 38 inches long. Fits inside most Bibles. Features Incredible Visuals Aids— A time line of 19 key people and events. A map of the journeys of Jacob and Joseph, from Gilead to Egypt. Joseph’s family tree, from Abraham to the twelve sons of Israel Handy charts showing key information at a glance: Side-by-side comparison charts of the dreams Joseph interpreted (cupbearer’s, baker’s, and Pharaoh’s dreams). Easy-to-follow chart highlighting the key life events of Joseph, Jacob, Joseph’s brothers, and Judah. Shows how God was working in their lives to ultimately bring about the promised Messiah. Is God really in charge? Where is he when everything goes wrong? The life of Joseph shows how God can take misfortune and turn it into great good. It helps us see meaning in suffering and aids us in our own journey toward wisdom. Packed with simple summaries, interesting insights, and helpful visual aids, this pamphlet is a great overview of the life of Joseph. Plus, it includes 10 relevant life application questions to help you practically apply its lessons to your life. Perfect for individual use or group Bible study. Easy-to-Read Simple Summaries— Includes section-by-section commentary on Joseph’s complete story (from Gen. 12 to Gen. 50). Covers 15 key events, including Joseph being— Excessively favored by his father and hated by his 10 older brothers Thrown into a pit and sold into slavery Falsely accused and imprisoned Forgotten in jail by people who owed him a favor Promoted to ruler over Egypt Reconciled to his family who once betrayed him Perfect for: Group and individual Bible study Church libraries Young adults groups New believers To hand to a friend And more!

Leading from the Second Chair

Leading from the Second Chair PDF Author: Mike Bonem
Publisher: Wiley + ORM
ISBN: 1118429559
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
This book addresses the unique challenges faced by secondary Church leaders, offering practical advice on fulfilling and successful service. Church leaders who hold second chair positions are under tremendous pressure. They are expected to do their jobs and provide leadership while deferring to the top leader’s decisions and preferences. It's a constant balancing act where the challenges often go unrecognized. Leading from the Second Chair offers an invaluable resource to leaders who serve in second (and third or fourth) chair roles, enabling them to become more productive, proactive, and fulfilled. Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson share their own and others' experiences of failure and success in these vital roles. They offer support and practical advice for reshaping the way second chair leaders can serve well and improve the overall performance of their church or organization. Leading from the Second Chair equips readers with the positive attitudes, skills, and strategies needed to become powerful leaders who will survive and thrive in God's service.

Victim and Victimizer

Victim and Victimizer PDF Author: Yiu-Wing Fung
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 0567430049
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
This book attempts an interesting exercise in character analysis. It scrutinizes the speeches of Joseph in such a way as to expose the problematic nature of his claims to know God's intentions. While Judah is forced by Joseph's test to choose slavery for the sake of his father's survival, the ironic reversal of Judah's role from victimizer to victim is undercut by the rationale by which he had Joseph sold in order to save him. Unwittingly, Joseph mistakes this rationale as a divine principle that undergirds his suffering and he dreams of domination for the same purpose of survival. He is unaware of Judah's real predicament and this double blindness calls into doubt the coalescence of perspectives of Joseph and the narrator.