Sean Zhao, Period 7, 1/12/2023

Sean Zhao, Period 7, 1/12/2023

Literacy & Learning

ystems. I wasn’t interested in sermons or stories laden with symbolism and heavy morals. My understanding of Christianity only went as deep as seeing street pastors talk about oblivion. As such, seeing the hour long video on the Book of Job as our assigned reading didn’t elucidate a strong reaction from me.

After listening through the audiobook over a week’s worth of commutes, I felt as if I didn’t really ‘get’ the story. Flipping through a PDF version I quickly realized what I had missed. Being able to read at my own pace allowed me to better absorb the lessons the stories shared. A dense paragraph of prose couldn’t simply be tuned out; it nagged at me. A feeling of missing out in the back of my head until I flipped back and reread it. Reading the “most sold book of all time” also had an interesting effect on me. It was mind boggling to think of the amount of people who have also read, experienced and processed the same story that I have. The book of Job was also very pointed in its morals and messages. It was quick to put down any naysayers about God’s punishment and treatment towards Job. The story ends with God showing Job just how complex the universe was, how complex His system of justice was, and that Job would never be able to comprehend it. To me it still feels that Job got the short end of the stick. He lost everything, yet still repented, proving his dedication and faith. Yet he’s in the wrong because he agreed with his friends that this punishment was undeserved? Some even blame Job himself, for a just God wouldn’t punish without due reason. I felt that Job did not deserve to go through this ordeal. The question has to be asked: why did God want to disprove the naysayer Satan, to the point that He would allow one of his finest servants to go through this much suffering?

After reading through the Book of Job, and many other Biblical tales, I feel that I can understand other media on a deeper level. Biblical allusions are perhaps one of the most common in popular culture. From Dwight calling Jim Judas, to mentions of powerful underwater creatures, to simply a hometown team beating down a goliath, having read the source material for these references gives another dimension to these details. I feel that having read these stories, which serve to communicate God’s message and warn against sin, I’ve become more inquisitive. Not to be a stick in the mud, but I subconsciously find myself trying to poke holes in explanations. If even God’s actions can at times seem questionable, I should be able to analyze and point out flaws in my life as well. I feel that some of my feelings on mortality act as a catalyst for my interest and drive to read and process more and more of these religious texts. It’s nice to know that an almighty being will be there waiting for me after I pass, yet I want to be sure that such a fate exists. I know a large part of religion is having faith, but if in this misguided journey, for knowledge that might not exist, I become more analytical and thoughtful, I don’t think it’d be a waste of time at all.