Assumptions that Affect Our Lives - Softcover

Overman, Christian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0974342572 ISBN 13: 9780974342573

Publisher: Ablaze Pub Co, 2006

Synopsis

A clash and contrast between Greek philosophy and Hebrew wisdom and their role in shaping Western Christianity.

About this title

About the Author

Christian Overman was born in 1949, in Seattle, Washington, where he lives with his wife Kathy. They have four grown children, and one grandchild. Mr. Overman holds the Masters of Education degree from Seattle Pacific University, and he served as a teacher and principal for fourteen years in private education. He is an associate pastor at North Seattle Christian Fellowship.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The bride and groom stand before the altar as the minister asks, "What token do you give as a symbol of your love?" "This ring," comes the reply. On cue, the ring bearer steps forward to present the golden band. The groom reaches over, takes the ring with one hand, holds the left hand of his bride with the other, and ever so gently slips the eternal circle over her delicate third finger. It is easy to understand why people wear wedding rings. Besides being a reminder of one's vows, and a symbol of one's love, the presence of the wedding band also tells others a man or a woman is spoken for. But why is the ring worn on the left hand? And why the third finger?

If you research the matter, you will discover the custom goes back to the Romans. They believed a small artery, called vena amoris, or the "vein of love," ran from the third finger to the heart. It was felt wearing a ring on this finger joined the hearts of the couple in their destiny. The left hand was selected because it was closer to the heart.

Cultural habits don't just come out of nowhere. Even if the people who practice them have forgotten why they do it, you can be sure their customs had a starting point in history. Although cultural habits often change over time, they do have original roots. For those of us who live in what is know as the "Western" world, our cultural roots go back primarily to two historic starting points: the ancient Greeks and the ancient Hebrews. This is not to say we couldn't go back further. But for the purposes of this discussion, we will focus primarily on the Hebrews and the Greeks because they have so strongly impacted our Western ways of thinking, right up to the present hour.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ablaze Pub Co
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0974342572
• ISBN 13: 9780974342573
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 192