Cultural Forms and Rituals - Essay Example

? Cultural forms and Rituals Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts 16 March Cultural masterpieces incorporate cultural forms and rituals. The research focuses on the similarities between the Holy Bible and the Odyssey. The research centers on the differences between the Holy Bible and Odyssey. The two cultural masterpieces incorporate happiness, unity, and praise issues in their singing rituals. There are similarities between the Holy Bible and the Odyssey. The two masterpieces use singing to show joy. The two art masterpieces use singing to show praise. The three masterpieces use singing to the community’s unity. Similarities Between the Three Literary Masterpieces. First, the Holy Bible and the Odyssey indicate the people use singing to express happiness. Homer (20) emphasizes the Odyssey culture states “He was singing of the return of the Achaeans, that bitter trip Athena made them take when they sailed home from Troy (Homer).” The verse clearly shows that the singer is happy with return of Achaeans. Just like people of the current 21st century generation, people sing whenever they are happy. In addition, another verse goes “There’s nothing wrong with this man’s singing of the evil fate of the Danaans, for men praise the most the song which they have heard most recently” (Homer 21). The verse clearly shows that the people use singing as a form of religious worship. The people use singing to add more color or persuasiveness to each religious ritual. In the same manner, the Holy Bible’s (Holman732) Psalm 105:43 states “So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.” The verse indicates that the people in the community are united. The united people sang for joy. The people gladly joined in the singing activities to prove they have the same intentions as the other members of a group. Second, the Holy Bible and the Odyssey indicate the people use singing to express love. Likewise, another verse indicates “At that point, the suitors switched to dancing and to singing lovely songs. They amused themselves until dark evening came.”(Homer 24). The verse clearly shows that the suitors are united. The suitors are happy to see the main purpose of their love, the women of their dreams. The girls will surely be enchanted by their suitor’s singing. The Holy Bible’s (Stebbins 254) 1 Samuel 17: 6…states “and it came to pass as they cam, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.” Third, the Holy Bible and the Odyssey use singing during their worship services. In the Odyssey story, the people will choose which song fits their current religious active ties. In terms of singing, the Holy Bible shows that the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 12:27 was filled with “singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. The company of singers gathered together from the circuit around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathifes.” (Hagen 442)The verse clearly shows that people around Jerusalem and from the nearby Netophathifes showed their happiness by singing. The Holy Bible’s Isaiah 52:9 states “Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people.” (Hagen 852). The verse clearly indicates that the people sing because they are in praise mode. Singing increases the level of the praying. Lastly, 1 Chronicles 16:7 indicates “Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by A Saph and his kindred.” The Holy Bible’s (Holman 551) 2 Chronicles 20:27-278 states “Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. When the burnt offerings began, the song of the Lord and the trumpets began, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly was worshipping, singing the song, and blowing the trumpets – all of these continued until the burnt offerings were completed”. Differences between the three literature masterpieces. There are differences between the singing situations of the two literary masterpieces. First, the Odyssey is not a religious book. On the other hand, the Holy Bible is contains the religious teachings, songs, and prophesies of the Christian world. Second, the two books focus on two different time periods. The Holy bible spans many years from the creation of man and includes the revelation of what will happen when the world comes to a full stop, judgment day (Hagen 175). On the other hand, the Odyssey occurred during the Trojan where. Joyce Salisbury (151) mentions the Trojan War occurred when Helen of Troy eloped with her lover during from 700 B.C. to 1200 BC. Erwin Cook (128) states “"In no part of actual Greek religion was there any connexion between Pallas and Poseidon that points to an original affinity of character." Farnell is unquestionably right: Athene never was, nor could she be, in any sense equated with Poseidon. Yet Poseidon is associated with Athene in Greek religious thought more often than with any other god. The literary and archaeological record finds them paired at Argos, Athens, Corinth, Olympia, Sparta, and Trozen. On every occasion, Poseidon and Athene reify the Greek polarization of nature and culture, thus confirming our interpretation of their opposed outlooks in the Odyssey. Athene reigns within the city gates, Poseidon without them” In addition, Cook (181) mentions In the Athenian games story, Poseidon gets his revenge from his loss to Athene by destroying agricultural land with a tidal wave. Other versions of the contest myth told at Trozen and Argos recommends that the concept of agricultural crisis is an integral feature of the contest. The correlative data suggests that the group of Eleusis with the god's revenge at Athens is not grounded on either geography or history. Evidently the singing mentioned in the scenes behind the Odyssey singing ritual can be defined as different form the singing discussed on the Holy Bible storey. On the other hand, the bible’s singing ritual starts from the time of creation. The bible’s singing ritual ends with apostles speaking about what will happen when judgment day arrives. The Holy Bible includes stories of singing during the 1st century, during the life of Jesus Christ on earth. It is very clear that the singing is mentioned during different times periods during the Holy Bible history. Based on the above discussion, cultural masterpieces include the community’s cultural forms and rituals. There are similarities between the singing rituals of the Holy Bible and the Odyssey. There are differences between the singing rituals of the Holy Bible and Odyssey. Indeed, the two cultural masterpieces focus on singing’s main purpose of bringing happiness, unity, and praise to the community. Cited Works Cook, E. The Odysse in Athens. New York: University Press, 1995. Finley, John. Homer's Odyssey. New Yok: UniversityPress, 1978. Hagen, Kenneth. The Bible in the Churches. New York: Milwaukee Press, 1998. Holman, Broadman. Holy Bible. London: B & H Press, 2007. Homer. The Odyssey. New York: RicherResourcesPublications, 2007. Salisbury, J. Women in the Ancient World. London: ABC CLIO Press, 2001. Stebbins, Greenough. The Holy Bible. London: G & S Press, 2008. Read More