Childhood Memories

After I finished the readings for Tuesday, I was caused to think back on more than just my time in Jerusalem, but my entire childhood growing up. To me, many of the stories referenced in the book  carry much personal meaning to me in that I grew up hearing the stories of Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon and all of the others referenced. I can think back on times where I was sitting in Sunday school learning about Joshua's conquest of Canaan or Davids flight from Saul and these are memories that hold value to me.

What I appreciated more about the reading was the context that the author put it in. When reading these stories in scripture, it is difficult to keep everything in context. Once more, by framing these stories with a historical as well as a geographical setting for me, they became more real to me. That is one reason why I found these readings to carry so much meaning to me; they put the stories into reality. That is also what made my first visit to the Middle East so amazing. That trip put a face to what I grew up believing and basing my life around.

As with the other readings, the question as to why Jerusalem was important was asked. I still find it amazing that a city with so little geographic importance became the center of the region. After reading these chapters though, I am coming to realize the importance of the symbolism behind this city. From its very beginnings, the people typified Jerusalem with a deity. It is beginning to make sense to me why the conflict around this has less to do with its regional significance in trade or as a military installation, but rather as a center of people's faith.

"Even those who have no interest in any of the traditionally holy cities and have no belief in the supernatural often have special places to which they like to repair. such sites are "sacred" to us because they are inextricably bound up with our conception of ourselves; they may be associated with a profound experience that transformed our lives, with memories of early childhood, or with a person who was important to us" 

                                                                               Karen Armstrong

With this in mind, it amazes me how people hold on so dearly to their upbringing in regards to cities such as Jerusalem, Mecca, or Rome. These are all places that people are raised, just as myself, holding special circumstance to them. History tells that story as well. Time and time again there has been conflict raised over the status people hold with these cities. I look forward to the day when peoples of all different background and upbringing can come together with respect to the other's perception of the city and admire how it makes those cities all the more special.