Cognitive Archaeology

(1) there are Biblical evidences contrary to local autonomy;

(2) there are extrabiblical literary evidences contrary to local autonomy;

(3) there is physical evidence contrary to local autonomy;

(4) the Orthodox Church and all it entails is all but completely ignored by most who defend local autonomy;

(5) local autonomists call themselves New Testament churches, based on their tradition of interpretation as if no one else is or does;

(6) as a rule, many problems are evident within locally autonomous churches stemming from their form of government; and

(7) as a  rule,  locally autonomous churches refuse to commune and work with hierarchical and other church bodies (making unity not a unity unless everyone is locally autonomous, imposing their new interpretations on everyone wanting Christian unity).

                                                                                     Review of "300"

The symbolism of “300” can go about as far as you want it to: strength for an ancient purpose; Christ and his sacrifice; and/or modern day notions of invasion and protection of freedom. I saw the movie with a co-correctional officer, fellow Christian, and former U.S. Marine. We left the cinema with him firing up a smoke and myself noting the difference between Thermopylae and Masada, both of us feeling pretty well. Both agreeing on the kicking and screaming difference between giving up and not saying “uncle,” we talked of women, knives, hot peppers, and firearms on our way back to our homes.

            In spite of the violence and sexual content, e.g., dismembered body parts, nudity and adult circumstances, “300” gave us the impression that staunch rigidity still has its place among chicken-baby, chicken-poop, bleeding heart, semantic arguing politicians and religious figures of today –those wishing to avoid confrontation and “keep their job” deciding to go along with the majority, in the end turning out with head in hands lamenting their lack of fortitude. The film did not portray the difference between fact and fiction the best, e.g., we questioned the connection between Esther and an effeminate, deep voiced sort of sicko Xerxes, but it did nonetheless inspire us to discuss the hero, Leonidas. As a role model fighting for the freedom of cities, he lacks little. As well, as one portraying the New Mexican, Texan, Arizonan, Californian American [or even Ohioan] of today heading for the border to quell the oncoming masses, he lacks even less. All of the issues of the sovereign nation of the U.S.A. and all that is involved with indigenous people of the North American continent and that sovereign nation's laws are best left for another discussion. Nevertheless, consider Masked and Anonymous, the destined to be cult classic Bob Dylan prophetic motion picture of the future U.S.A. and compare the “fan” in it with Leonidas. The similarities are striking.

            My Mrs. has issues with the portrayal of “too much” violence and is a firm believer that it has the potentiality to influence behavior; some of us have learned to carry around a can of black paint and paint brush in our minds and paint the bad things black, doing our best to focus on the things promoting peace, reconciliation, and the like. At what point should the realities of history be ignored or “painted over” in today’s weary world of woe? For the sake of truth they never should be; the political world easily leads to different conclusions. NB, this author is not averring that one should stop at the moving notions of "300" to solve all our problems. In the best synopsis, the motivation which Leonidas displayed can be a motivation for just about any purpose as noted ut supra and the best purpose seems to be love.

            If the Greeks are understood to be the protagonists of the motion picture, the climax seems to be in the Greek masses inspired by Leonidas’ and the other Spartans’ bravery, strength, and quest for freedom coming across a computer animated plain from their Ionic columns with their Spartan helmets to face the pesky Persians.

                                                                                              ARCHAEOLOGY THEMED POETRY (some of these are several years old)

Andrew L. BENNETT

CURRICULUM VITAE
Accurate as of August, 2009

Email: alloydbennett@hotmail.com

Cellular: (740) 505-2808

LECTURES AND PAPERS (selected)

02 to 04/2002: weekly archaeology lectures at Fayette Christian School, Washington Court House, Ohio