Tuesday Teaser - Zenobia's education

Today we share sentences from Zenobia's class about Jesus. On a day like today, it’s a good time to do a little thinking about his teachings.  

Funerary stele of Licinia Amias, one of the most ancient Christian inscriptions. Upper tier: dedication to the Dis Manibus and Christian motto in Greek letters ΙΧΘΥC ΖΩΝΤΩΝ / Ikhthus zōntōn ("fish of the living"); middle tier: depiction of fish and an anchor; lower tier: Latin inscription “LICINIAE AMIATI BE/NEMERENTI VIXIT”. Marble, early 3rd century CE. From the area of the Vatican necropolis, Rome.

We’ve shared some pretty exciting scenes that will be happening in book two but Zenobia is also receiving a great education while studying in Alexandria, Egypt. Her critical thinking classes helped her ask the right questions and to search for truth and knowledge.

At the time of the coming out of Christianity, the Middle East was the scene of great religious diversity. In Zenobia’s second semester of classes she takes “Deities and Demons” they discuss Jesus and his teachings. Zenobia keeps an open mind during her class discussions but a lot of it goes against her survival skills. Here are some sentences that took place during these class discussions.

Ch. 10 “Basically, a lot of humans are pretty cowardly. Whatever this Jesus of Nazareth was, a coward he definitely was not.”

Ch. 10 “Professor Anwar continued the thought. “An amazing thing to me is this: although many claimed that he healed all kinds of illness, he was never addressed as Healer. People called him Teacher! It was his teaching that has so impacted the world.” 

Ch 12 “I have a question about that,” said Zenobia, breaking the spell. “Do you think that teaching is practical? I mean, if you love your enemies, won’t they just trample on you? In truth, isn’t that what happened to Jesus himself?”

Ch 15 “But that is simply not realistic,” Filemon countered. “We cannot wish the world into a state we would like to see. That’s why Zenobia carries a sword and learned archery. Jesus may have been idealistic, but he was not realistic!”