Indo-European Language and Society
Chapter 4. The Authority of the King
Abstract
Text
Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, God's perspective on status is markedly different from human societal norms. The Scriptures consistently emphasize that God values humility, servitude, and righteousness over worldly status, wealth, or power. This divine viewpoint is evident throughout both the Old and New Testaments.Old Testament Insights
The Old Testament provides numerous examples where God chooses individuals of lowly status to fulfill His purposes, underscoring that divine favor is not contingent upon human status. In 1 Samuel , when Samuel is sent to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, God instructs him, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" . This passage highlights that God's criteria for leadership and favor are based on the heart rather than external status.
The account of David, a shepherd boy chosen to be king, further illustrates this principle. Despite his humble beginnings, David is described as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel ), demonstrating that God's choice is based on inner qualities rather than social standing
Social status and religiosity in Christian Europe
Introduction
The relationship between social status and religiosity is of major theoretical and empirical interest in the sociology of religion (and in studies of social stratification). One of the main tasks of the sociology of religion is to explore how socio-cultural factors influence religion and religiosity (without necessarily having the ambition to explain religiosity entirely away by social factors), and vice versa.
Review of the relevant literature reveals that many classical (sociologically minded) authors have written extensively about the matter. First, there are the French eighteenth-century Enlightenment materialists (e.g., Condorcet, d'Holbach, and Helvetius), who may now be almost forgotten but their basic premise was that knowledge, particularly scientific knowledge, will do away with all forms of ignorance, a category in which they included Á/ if not religion itself Á/ then the existing dominant forms of religion. For instance, d'Holbach wrote that 'the ignorant', not being able 'to render themselves a satisfactory account', are forced 'to think the ' ( 88). More explicitly, he
Social status encompasses the hierarchical position individuals or families hold within society, influencing various aspects of life, including actions, decisions, and relationships. Across different contexts, such as South Asia, Vastushastra, Vaishnavism, and more, this concept impacts the dimensions, designs of residences, religious standings, and societal roles. It also highlights the influence of factors like caste and personal behavior on one’s societal rank, which is reflected in historical and cultural narratives throughout the region.
Synonyms: Social standing, Social rank, Social position, Societal status, Social hierarchy, Prestige, Reputation, Standing, Position, Class, Dignity
In Dutch: Sociale status; In German: Sozialer Status; In Finnish: Sosiaalinen asema; In Spanish: Estatus social
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
BuddhismBooks
In Buddhism, social status encompasses an individual's societal rank and influence, shaped by factors like physical attractiveness, positions of authority such as the Lord High Treasurer, and personal aspirations, as illus
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