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The Analysis . . . . . www.realitysearch.com.au and its subsidiaries
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Background to the Analysis
All sorts of things happen to someone over a 30+ year time frame. However some of the trigger influences in the analysis of
the RealitySearch web sites are as follows.
Probably a first of these, was a close study of Social Philosophers and
the societies they envisioned and shaped over the centuries from the Greek philosophers on.
There was also considerable study of the gospels at tertiary level.
Eventually these two lines of study led to the question of "Is There a Critique of Greek Philosophy in the
Gospels?"
The gospel studies undertaken included
consideration of possible structures behind the texts. One such structure was the "inverse" or "concentric" circle,
that is, a -- A,B,C,D,E,D,C,B,A --pattern of words, images etc within the text itself. Further exploration of this
structure led to a discovery of a circle of water images in the gospel of John.
After this circle had been found, an attempt was made to set it out in an
examination essay. However no references to the circle could be found in academic books.
With very few references in the essay, the examiner was
not happy. At the time, a fellow student commented that they would "die of embarrassment" if their essay was rejected.
But the response to this was "No. No. I don't care. I know I'm on to something".
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There were two major follow-ons from the early essay rejection. The first was the realisation that there were unique,
exciting
discoveries to be found within the structures of the gospel text. The second was the realisation that a journey into
making such
discoveries and exploring and promoting their implications would entail a solo effort.
Such was the beginning of the analysis. In the years to follow the initial expectations about it have come to pass.
In writing up a description/explanation of the RealitySearch analysis a number of paths could be taken. These include:
1. Telling the story of how the analysis was worked out until all the gospel texts were included
2. Explaining the "line of logic" that is followed through in the structural undergirding of the gospels
3. Pointing out some of the academic supports indirectly given to the analysis.
4. Providing a description of the wide range of ways in which the analysis outline has been presented.
Number two above is automatically covered in the analysis presentations themelves. Number One is not being dealt with at
present.
As regards point three, some of the academic supports will be briefly outlined below.
Number four point will be dealt
with in a parallel web page here.
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Some indirect academic supports for the analysis
1. Concentric Circles
The analysis shows up three major concentric circles in the under-structure of Mark's gospel. The "hook" words of the
first
two circles are about place. The
third circle is based on people's responses to Jesus.
At some stage when doing the analysis it was found that concentric circles were a major literary
structure in the stories in the first century CE. For instance Homer, the most popular author in the Greco-Roman world,
heavily relied on concentric circles. Cicero a literary figure of the 2nd century BC is quoted as saying
"I'll be like Homer and put the cart before the horse."
Concentric circles also fitted with the general lack of literacy in the C1st CE. People relied on the
oral re-telling of stories and the circles helped with memorisation. Mark appears to rely on such circles much more
than the other gospels. It is speculated that
his gospel was largely formed in the re-telling of stories from about 33 CE to 70CE, the year Rome was destroyed
and the gospel was written down. Both Matthew and Luke rely heavily on Mark's text.
2. Sections in Matthew's gospel
The realitysearch analysis of Matthew's gospel breaks up the text according to a sentence repeated at intervals,
that is, "After Jesus had said these
things." Having worked out these sub-sections, it was later found out that someone else had broken up the text in the
same way about 100 years ago. Most scholars of Matthew still rely of these subdivisions for their discussions about Matthew.
3. Semiotic Analysis
The realitysearch analysis of gospel texts relies on the text itself and it considers the interplay there of comparison and
contrast. This approach fits with a description given of
"semiotic analysis" set out in a document of the Catholic Pontifical Biblical Commission in 1994. The
document is called
"The Interpretation of the Bible in the
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Church" This document is constantly referred to in books relating to the realitysearch analysis.
The document explains that semiotic analysis is at three levels. These include the narrative level and the level of discourse.
The approach also assumes that "certain forms of logic and meaning underlie the narrative and discursive organisation of all discourse."
4. The Discipline of Sociology
The Pontifical Commission also recommends the use of sociology in the study of the gospels. The analysis includes a close
study of the advantages and disadvantages of the societies of Judaism and the Greco Roman Empire.
5. The historical combination of Judaism and Greek Philosophy
The analysis shows up an underlying theme in which the societies of Judaism and Hellenism are
drawn together. Mark, the first gospel written, sets out the overall "picture". Matthew deals with Judaism, Luke with
Greek society and John with a combination of the two.
This fits with the theology of Paul, the first Christian theologian. He constantly states how the two societies are
brought together in Christ.
6. Relevance to the Present Time
An underlying theme developed in the analysis, or rather in the gospels as analysed, is the connection between time and
place.
Mark's circles and Luke's parallel paragraphs as also the parallel paragraphs in John all rely on the interplay of PLACES.
In contrast the gospel of Matthew relies on the constant reference to TIME. In Matthew not only are his major subdivisions
time based,
but virtually all his 'paragraphs' begin with a statement of time made or implied.
Arguably Judaism is a society that relies heavily on the lessons of time. Hellenism relies on the rationalism required in one's
present place.
Christianity
brings the two world views together. There are cosmic dimensions to this which have relevance to our own time and place.
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