The Impact of the Hebrews: The Covenant, Ethical Norms, Universal Causation, Lineal Time

A. Abraham and the Original Covenant

1. A “selected” God – Yahweh

2. The sacrifice

3. Terms of the agreement

B. Moses and the Foundations of the State

1. Unifying the 12 tribes

2. Monolatry (henoism)

3. Yahweh as war god

C. The Rise of Kingship

1. Samuel and Saul: legitimacy bestowed

2. David & Solomon: limitations on authority

3. The fracture of the state

D. The Conquests of Israel and the “Babylonian Captivity” of Judah

1. Natural Explanation

2. The theistic explanation of the Prophets (not priests)

a. Universal causation:

b. Monotheism

c. The need for ethical conduct; a social norm: the golden rule

E. The Dilemmas of Monotheism

1. Who created evil?

2. The nature of Satan?

3. Why do the innocent suffer?

4. Resolution: The Book of Job

F. The Birth of Apocalypticism & Lineal time

1. An earthly salvation and savior

2. Secularization of the myth: Marxism and modern communism

3. Millerism in the 19^th century

4. Hal Lindsey, “The Late, Great Planet Earth”

5. Jerry Rubin, “A Yippie Manifesto

Afterthought: The Western Tradition