Hebrews: A Rhetorical Analysis

Wherever we go, whether it be the grocery store, the mall, or even the couch, people are constantly bombarded by the elements of persuasion. For example, when buying a carton of milk, the advertisers will entice buyers with statistics and a list of healthy ingredients. Or while flipping through a magazine at the dentist's office, marketers draw the eyes in with bright colors and bold text. These elements of persuasion, rooted both in visual and logical appeals, can also be woven together to create an argumentative documentary. These documentaries, especially when considering controversial issues, have the power to broadcast important social messages to the world. This ability, however, can only be unlocked when the right rhetorical means are used to further their argument. The 13th, a documentary directed by Ava DuVernay, is a prime example of this. Released in October of 2016, this oscar-nominated film made an immediate impact due to its provoking message on the mass criminalization of African Americans in the United States, skilfully exploring the disproportionate amount of African Americans in prison. The success of this documentary can be attributed to its persuasive visual and audio tracks and its well timed arrival, ultimately influencing the viewer's passion to create a change in the world.

The central idea is that church and state should not be considered mutual. In the article, “Letter to Danbury Baptist,” Thomas Jefferson respectfully rejects the Danbury Baptist pursue to making their religion the only religion known to state. He also explains that the separation of church and state is a part of the first amendment and it is one that we are going to keep and adhere to. Another article, “First Amendment to the US Constitution” it states the first amendment and all the freedom we have as Americans. An image, “No Union Upon Any Terms” shows how religion is not part of state. Therefore, church and state should be separate.

In Jonathan Edwards Sermon he uses scare tactics to force people to convert to Christianity or burn in hell for internally. This strategy is intended to manipulate public opinion about a particular issue by arousing fear or alarm. One strategy is using scare tactics explaining the anger and wrath of god that is what expressed by hell. “And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, in not then very angry with the; as angry as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who their feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath.” He explains the ones who are in gods congregation are at ease with his wrath but the many more who sin daily are now burring eternally in hell.

As proof of his theory, he points to Athena, the goddess who came to life from Zeus's forehead, living proof that" the father can father forth without a mother" (Furies, 673). Here, Apollo thoroughly follows the typical patriarchal strategy of denying women their rights and pushing them to the alienated boundaries of society by trying to make marriage more sanctified and unchanged than the parent-child relationship and in denying the mother's support in the offspring of a marriage. Athena, the reigning judge at the trial, is moved by a very different purpose, but she, also, supports the concept of male superiority like Apollo. It is true that her primary concern is for peace and an order of justice that will ensure peace. This implies that

Based on Homer’s word choice in The Odyssey, he seems to be disgusted with Odysseus’s tone in Book 9. This is clear because in the text Odysseus tells Alcinous the king of Phaecians about his journey up to that time. He explained how his home in Ithaca was the loftiest of them all and goes on to state with no remark that he was detained by the goddesses for seven years. He states, “Loveliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight, as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress, desired me…But in my heart I never gave consent.” (Line 20). This means that Odysseus sees himself as a lady’s man, he explains how the goddesses desired him and wanted him to be their “hearts delight”. Homer seems disgusted with Odysseus at

The purpose of glittering sword was to show a sharp type of pain hanging you from God's

On page 147 of Slouching Towards Bethlehem, there is a passage that I think describes a solution to the problem of sympathy versus empathy. The passage basically states that if we see the value in ourselves, we will be able to discriminate, to love, and to remain indifferent toward others. However, if we do not come to this realization, we will hate those who cannot give to us and will only help others to improve our own image. I agree with the idea that we must come to some realization of who we are in order to reach out and help others for the sake of the good in it. I agree with this because if we do not understand who we are or how we fit into the world, then we will be insecure. This will cause us to seek ways to sure ourselves up and

The 13th amendment of 1865 made people consider the use of slavery as a legal form of punishment for criminals. The amendment raises concerns over if African Americans were ever actually free in the United States. Although it states that the institution of slavery is illegal, it also states that slave labor is legal if in the form of punishment for incarcerated criminals. In 13th, Ava DuVernay employs the use of ethos, logos, and pathos through a variety of ways. Through the use of these techniques, Ava DuVernay connects them with vivid imagery to really drive her point that the 13th amendment did not necessarily end slavery, it just added a loophole that enslavers were able to use.

The passage from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison describes Milkman’s confrontation with his mother, Ruth, at the cemetery. Before, Macon has convinced Milkman to be disgusted of Ruth because of Ruth’s supposed affair with her father and Ruth’s nature as a sexual deviant. One day, Milkman follows Ruth to see with his own eyes the proof that Ruth is a sexual deviant, and Milkman is led to the cemetery. Milkman confronts Ruth whom reveals that she did not have an affair with her father. Ruth says, “No. But I did kneel there in my slip at his bedside and kiss his beautiful fingers,” which contradicts Macon’s account of what happened. Ruth, fully clothed, only kissed the hands of her mother. Ruth did not strip naked and kiss her father on the mouth like Macon said. Then, Milkman points out Ruth’s nursing of

In Song of Solomon Toni Morrison utilizes several rhetorical devices to capture the novel’s central message. This message being that although we may try to stray away from our past, it is impossible because of how integrated it is with our identity. This theme is not only applicable to Milkman, but very much so towards the black community as a whole. Morrison presents a rather subtle nod to the roots of the African-American culture right from the novel’s beginning. This is found in Pilate’s singing of “Sugarman,” a blues song. “O Sugarman done fly… O Sugarman done gone…” (Morrison 9). While the song itself has more than one strict meaning, Morrison’s use of it is a strong example of symbolism. The blues rhythm symbolizes the heart of African-American culture, one in which music plays a profound role in identity. Blues songs provide insight on the deep history of African-American culture in the South. In fact, the blues is often a gateway to explore such history, sometimes even discomforting for the post-Reconstruction African-American community. When African-Americans escaped to the North “many began to view traditional blues as an unwanted reminder of their humble days toiling in the fields...” (Public Broadcasting Service). While she is singing this, Mr. Smith is prepared to “fly off” the roof, just like Sugarman does. This draws a connection between the contemporary issues facing the African-American community and the origins scarred by slavery. The blues song itself is a

In Holy Resilience: The Bible’s Traumatic Origins David Carr reinterprets the emergence and survival of Jewish and Christian scriptures by examining the role of human, more specifically, communal trauma. Carr maintains that communal trauma is the reason why Judaism and Christianity have maintained their relevance as it reflects stories of people attempting to make sense out of their recurring catastrophic experiences. This work is a departure from traditional historical, form, and source-critical methods as Carr synthesizes biblical scholarship and provides a comprehensive historical analysis of Jewish and Christian history by exploring a trending topic across other disciplines, trauma. While trauma studies are not new to biblical studies,

Thank you for your post. I found it relatable and informative. The traits you picked to describe who God was were fantastic and right on. I too find that God is very creative, forgiving and protective. He has created things that are just so mesmerizing to the eyes. He has protected us in more than one way every day. Forgiveness is one characteristic that God possesses that I find gets taken advantage the most. Although God forgives more than some would like him to, the marks he leaves on the individual afterward is incredible. If God was less forgive, what kind of world do you think we would all be living

EXEGESIS OF EPHESIANS 2: 11-18 Ephesians 2:11-18 is the part of the Ephesians letter, that discusses how the Jews and the Gentiles were once separated, but have been united together and is now one body. The audience is called to remember their past and where they used to be when they had no access to Christ and his kingdom. They are not called to just dwell on where they used to be, but instead also look at where they are now. They now have access to the Father, Spirit, and Christ. Because they now have access to these things they are to walk in peace with the Jews and to be one body.

The passage of Jesus giving a new commandment of love to his disciples describes how he exercises his authority as the Son of God, echoing his Christology from chapter one that identifies Jesus as the Word incarnate (cf Brown 119). This passage from John 15:12-17 was written with the historical context of the Johannine community of Ephesus that John traditionally wrote to in 80-110. As a result, I think it was clever that John has Jesus talking about love and friendship in this passage. There was “growing tension between the early Jewish Christian community and the religious leaders of the dominant majority,” so in mentioning love and friendship I think John intends to strengthen the bonds between the community he is writing to. The audience of John’s gospel would likely be familiar with these growing tensions, and as a result, would find this commandment of Christ’s to be necessary, yet challenging.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-20 takes the opportunity to convey to the Church at Ephesus, the growing threat of the spiritual issues confronting the body of Christ. The central beliefs implant and reside in the texts, seem to be a battle cry that resounds from the heart of the Apostle Paul. Paul's aim in the texts is to shade light on the spiritual warfare that's outside of the eyesight of the believer. Furthermore, the battle that is in question is a spiritual battle that seizes eternal ramification involving every believer. As noted by author Warren Wiersbe, when he stated that "sooner or later every believer discovers that the Christian life is a battleground, not a playground and that he faces an enemy who is much stronger than he