The religion of the landless : a sociology of the Babylonian Exile
In this study, the Babylonian Exile of the Jews is approached from the perspective of a sociological analysis of more recent historical cases of mass deportation and refugee behaviour. After this survey, four behaviour patterns are isolated that function as 'Mechanisms for Survival' for minorities in crisis and under domination in a foreign environment. These 'Mechanisms' include 1) Structural adaptation, 2) The rise of, and conflict between, new leaders. 35 new Folklore patterns, especially 'Hero' stories, and 4) adoption or elaboration of ritual as a means of boundary maintenance and identity preservation. These four mechanisms are then illustrated from Exilic texts of the Old Testament. The rise of Elders and the changing nature of the Bet Abot is seen as structural adaptation. The conflict of Jeremiah and Hananiah, and the advice of Jeremiah in his 'letter', is seen as the conflict of new leaders in crisis. The 'Diaspora Novella' is compared to Messianic expectation and especially to Suffering Servant to show how folklore can reflect social conditions and serve a function as 'hero stories'. Finally, the latest redactional layers of 'P' reveal concern for purity and separation that expressed itself in social
Smith, Daniel L.
Theology ; Exiles ; Biblical teaching ; Jews ; History ; Politics and government ; Babylonian captivity, 598-515 B.C. ; To 70 A.D
The religion of the landless : a sociology of the Babylonian Exile. In this study, the Babylonian Exile of the Jews is approached from the perspective of a sociological analysis of more recent historical cases of mass deportation and refugee behaviour. After this survey, four behaviour patterns are isolated that function as 'Mechanisms for Survival' for minorities in crisis and under domination in a foreign environment. These 'Mechanisms' include 1) Structural adaptation, 2) The rise of, and conflict between, new leaders. 35 new Folklore patterns, especially 'Hero' stories, and 4) adoption or elaboration of ritual as a means of boundary maintenance and identity preservation. These four mechanisms are then illustrated from Exilic texts of the Old Testament. The rise of Elders and the changing nature of the Bet Abot is seen as structural adaptation. The conflict of Jeremiah and Hananiah, and the advice of Jeremiah in his 'letter', is seen as the conflict of new leaders in crisis. The 'Diaspora Novella' is compared to Messianic expectation and especially to Suffering Servant to show how folklore can reflect social conditions and serve a function as 'hero stories'. Finally, the latest redactional layers of 'P' reveal concern for purity and separation that expressed itself in social
religion landless sociology exile study exile jews approach perspective sociological analysis recent historical case mass refugee behaviour survey behaviour pattern isolate function mechanisms survival minority crisis domination foreign environment mechanisms include structural adaptation rise conflict new leader new folklore pattern especially hero story adoption elaboration ritual mean boundary maintenance identity preservation mechanism illustrate exilic texts old_testament rise change_nature see structural adaptation conflict jeremiah advice jeremiah letter see conflict new leader crisis diaspora compare messianic expectation especially suffering servant show folklore reflect social_condition serve function hero story finally late redactional layer reveal concern purity separation express social