Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: THE WHOLE WORLD IN GOD’S HANDS (not the song) (05/28/15)
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TITLE: The world and everything in it | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
06/03/15 -
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“It commemorates the battle of Marathon,” announced a voice nearby. “The Parthenon over there is the chief temple of the goddess Athena. Welcome, I am Erestes.”
The sun-parched Jew examined the Grecian attired in a white toga. “And what else welcomes the visitor to this pagan metropolis?” he asked. “What lies on the hill?”
A snow-bearded chin jutted forward towards a structured pavilion of brilliant marble. “The maidens at the temple of Ares are world renowned. The temple of Hephaistos has its own pleasures. The altar of Zeus is magnificent in its detail.” The figure gestured toward the far end of the harbor. “The emperor Claudius has a statue recognizing him as our savior and helper.”
The Jew emitted a strong ‘puh’ from his lips. “I saw hundreds in the marketplace and there are more here. Why so many?”
“Athens was once the god capital of the world. We had more gods than we could count. They played out their whim and wit on humans and we were left to figure out the mysteries of how to appease and please them.”
“How did your Alexander conquer so much when you have your minds and hearts conquered by chunks of stone and hunks of wood? And what is this monument to the unknown god?”
Erestes rubbed his beard and stared at the marble stand with its vague signage. “My grandfather told me the legend of this god.” The swarthy Epicurean stepped purposefully up to the base and rubbed it as if trying to wipe off the remnants of a crushed bug or a grease stain.
“So, did the legend die with the god or will you speak of what you know?”
Erestes straightened slowly. “Neither the god nor the legend died. Listen and understand what you see.” He moved away from the pedestal and made a sweeping gesture over the entire city of Athens. “Six hundred years ago, and perhaps seven, a terrible plague brought this metropolis to its knees. Thousands of sheep and oxen were slaughtered trying to appease the pantheon of gods who presided over the populace. Nothing hindered the hunger of the graves.”
“It’s no wonder. Graves are always open for fools. These edifices are nothing but wood and stone. They’re blind and deaf and heartless.”
Erestes spun on his heels and stared at the face of the visitor. “Don’t prejudge what you do not know. The oracle of the time knew what to do. He instructed that a hero from Crete, Epimenides, be called to help them.”
“And what did this poet soothsayer proclaim that made a difference?”
“He told them to have shepherds release hungry sheep at dawn on Mars Hill. The sheep were to be watched carefully to see where they would eat. If any sheep chose to lay down instead of to eat the grass then it would be slaughtered on the spot and a statue to the unknown god would be planted there.”
“So, you are saying that this finely chiseled marble base was once an altar to a merciful god who spared the people of this place? You are saying that this god is not like the others who were helpless to stop the plague? You are saying that this god is venerated but no one knows his name or power?”
“I think you have understood the legend. When a sheep lay down it was slaughtered. The plague began to stop almost immediately.”
The visitor paced back and forth scratching at the side of his head. “I know this god you speak of.”
“Which god?”
“The one who stopped the plague. I know him. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He has the whole world in his hand. He gives life and breath to every living thing.”
“How can this be? Our founder Epicurus taught us that the atoms have always existed on their own. He taught us that life is random and we must create our own pleasures. He even said that the gods may not exist.”
“The unknown God created everything and nothing exists without him.”
“How do you know him? Where does he live? You must explain this to the Aeropagus, our council. They meet on the Royal Porch in the market.”
“Take me to the market and I will tell you all I know.”
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