The Old Testament, the Bible ,has been referred to as the greatest story ever told. Psychologically speaking, the Old Testament most accurately illustrates the frailties of human nature, mental and intellectual health, pathology , ego needs , barriers, within internal and external conflicts This essay provides a few examples of man’s repetition and continuity in his psychological history .
Adam and Eve are initially described as part of nature but not fully human. In fact, Eve is nonsensically viewed as originating from God and derived from Adam’s rib..Biologically speaking, that depiction is crazy, preposterous and her second class standing is irrational and demeaning . However, both demonstrated that an act of disobedience was a virtue. Both emerged by cutting the “umbilical cord “ ,and human history began . Harmony with nature took the first step toward independence and freedom. In fact, they opened their eyes, and recognized each other as strangers in a dangerous world . Thus, their disobedience prompted them to learn ,to rely on their own power and become fully human. Disobedience is contrary to obedience. In other words, they had to disobey God and obey their own conscience, laws of humanity and of reason. If man only obeys , then he is a slave which results in acts of anger, disappointment, resentments and repression .
God is represented as an authoritarian. He represents authority to whom one is eager to please and afraid of displeasing. God is the all-powerful moral authority. God's able to kill the firstborn as in Exodus; destroy all evil in Sodium and Gomorrah; and flood the world because of man's wickedness. In essence , God is wicked and a sadistic murderer if he's not totally obeyed. His power is unlimited and he answers to no one.
The notion of God's unlimited power to control and destroy is associated with authoritarianism. Freud's superego, is an authoritarian conscience and is the prototype for authoritarianism to occur. The child internalizes the commands and prohibitions of the father , which the son accepts out of fear of rejection and loss of love. The child is obedient to that power that's outside of himself, because it's been internalized with an identified authority. That's very effective because the father’s commands become part of an individual 's obedience within the development of an authoritarian conscience. On the other hand, disobedience can be characterized as rejecting consensus, outside thoughts with the internal power to deliberate, think ,evaluate and to judge with reason .
An authoritarian conscience ,with obedience,results in accepting ,being loyal and subservient to the power of God , kings, queens, emperors, dictators, conquerors and other rulers over man, especially in a master- slave relationships This obedience to an irrational authority is based on the interests of the slave and master being antagonistic toward one another because what is advantageous to one is detrimental to the other. It is not based on reason, but is based on an irrational authority that has to use force or suggestion to maintain that power , control and obedience.
Queen Esther represents a most favorable female description.The beautiful Queen Esther, was reared by her cousin because of the death of parent. She later charmed her way and became a Queen and then convinced the King not to murder Jews and allowed them to defend themselves. Esther, in the biblical story, represents female strength, excellence, intelligence ,assurance, diplomacy ,faith and courage to intercede against the proposed tyrannical act. Esther's ego needs of achievement ,affiliation , autonomy, exhibition , are dominant and demonstrates the power and expertise of an important female to rescue, confront immoral acts, and save the day. Our vice president , modern day Esther ,is on a path to accomplish that feat as well .
The story of Samson and Delilah is a familiar one as a beautiful seductive woman used her charms to outwit a most powerful religious male. According to Samson, his strength was derived from God. Delilah learns his secret and Samson was blinded, chained, humiliated and made a spectacle of shame. However, his hair grew back he regained strength and yes he kills the bad guys by committing suicide in the process. Ego needs of sex ,achievement ,aggression, dominance and abasement are demonstrated in this biblical story. Good over bad, regaining faith and destroying evil are universal and familiar themes.
King David is considered one of the three greatest individuals in the Old Testament. The story begins with his humble beginnings as a shepherd , thus representing a poor, uneducated boy but a competent worker. In a historic occasion, he meets up with a mountain of a man Goliath, an enemy of the people. In battle we have an underdog versus the favorite . Just armed with just a slingshot., David conquers and kills the giant. He later becomes King, has an affair with Bathsheba, arranges for the death of her husband as she becomes pregnant;. David laments the death of his favorite son Absalom ; then dies at the age of 70 after reigning for 40 years .
On his deathbed , David tells his and Bathsheba ‘s son Solomon “walk in the ways of God and to take revenge on his enemies.” David's sin of adultery and feelings of remorse are most human and typical .Expressions of shame, betrayal, revenge, murder, remorse, guilt , adultery,sibling rivalry, favorite son , secrecy, manipulation and ego needs of abasement, achievement, aggression, and dominance, demonstrate the frailty of man ‘s nature’, ruled by his hormones, impulsivity, amorality, and self gratification . David’s story is all too common in human history with a belief or not in God, and not following his commandments . And our VP is ready ,able and intending to slay an amoral and despicable tyrant. Also, another female Gabby Thomas ,slayed the field in Paris.
The repetition and consistency of mental health and mental illness in the history of man reflecting his nature are brilliantly depicted in the Five Books of Moses. As a result, these themes of man that pertain to God ,others ,nature and self are universal and allow one to easily identify with the cast of characters. For example,there is the common motivation of revenge, the principle of reciprocal justice expressed as an " eye for an eye" is familiar , repetitive and irrational because it’s for actions that have already occurred.and does not solve or resolve anything. It simply perpetuates the craziness and keeps it alive. Gandhi said something to the effect that the world would go blind if carried out . Throughout Bible stories there are good and evil guys, followed by retaliation either by God or others. Additionally, man's motivation of defending himself against evil, committing sins, being manipulated, seduced, believing in or not believing in God , being the underdog , obedience , disobedience, and sadistic cruelty towards others is common and apparent. Also, found is a humanistic conscience and love which suggest that man has potential for good and justice as well as an authoritarian conscience, or a potential for evil, and destruction . The Old Testament stories have inclusive themes which continue to be repeated since man is confined , obsessively and compulsively limited by his nature and with ego needs that affects his tendency for either humanitarian or authoritarian principles. .
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