MESSIANISMO - DE RUTE AO BRASIL CONTEMPORÂNEO: SOFRIMENTO E ESPERANÇA

Esta dissertação analisa a relação existente entre os temas dialogados pelo redator do livro de Rute (4,1-12) e os livros que fazem parte da composição da História Deuteronomística. Havia três propostas, cada uma com a sua própria maneira de ver a situação, a missão e a organização do povo. A primeira é a de Zorobabel e Josué (Ed 3,1-13). A segunda de Esdras (Ed 9,1-10,44) (Ne 8,1-18) e a terceira de Neemias (5,1-19). Como abordar a pericope neste contexto foi realmente um desafio. Em um primeiro momento, ela foi situada no momento da História de Israel, vivenciando o pós exílio, com a volta dos deportados da Babilônia, época de reestruturação nacional de Judá. Em seguida, os personagens foram colocados em seus devidos papéis sociais. O povo da terra ficou em Judá e nos arredores. As injustiças sociais eram muitas: os campesinos estavam sendo desapropriados de suas próprias terras, pelos irmãos judeus que chegaram da Babilônia (Ne 51-5). Esses mesmos irmãos judeus são os que emprestaram dinheiro ao povo da terra e cobraram o pagamento com usura. O cenário era desanimador; os problemas intermináveis e de todos os tipos. A pobreza e a fome eram cada vez maiores (Ag 1,6), os pobres, estrangeiros e viúvas sobreviviam da respinga (Rt 2,2)

IMANUEL E ESPÍRITO DE IAHWEH: Leitura e releitura do messianismo em Isaías (7,10-17; 8,23-9,6; 11,1-9)

O objeto de pesquisa desta dissertação são as perícopes de Isaías 7,10-17;8,23-9,6 e 11,1-9. Nelas encontra-se o cerne do pensamento messiânico de Isaías. É importante salientar que o messianismo isaiano parte da concepção de um messias que vem para governar a partir do direito e da justiça, e, assim, estabelecer a paz. O messianismo apresentado por este profeta não parte das esferas de poder da corte, mas dos pequenos e frágeis da sociedade, dotados do espírito de Javé. Há que se destacar que a profecia de Isaías é um divisor de águas no que concerne à teologia messiânica no Reino do Sul, especialmente nos profetas depois dele. Em Isaías, encontra-se a ruptura com as classes dominantes e com um messianismo bélico. A proposta deste profeta aponta para um messias frágil, mas que é movido pelo sopro, pelo movimento de Javé em suas ações. E assim, Isaías abre as portas para compreensão de um messias pobre, como retrata Zacarias, um messias servo, apresentado pelo Dêutero-Isaías, ou quem sabe um messias pastor, como proposto por Miquéias e Ezequiel e bem recebido pelas tradições do primeiro século (Jo 10,10). O messias em Isaías tem nomes e adjetivos : Imanuel, menino, raiz de Jessé, mas não tem rosto, não tem localização geográfica, não se enquadra em nenhum tipo messiânico desde o davidismo de Jerusalém. Este messias pode ser encontrado em qualquer época com qualquer rosto, por isso a importante releitura messiânica apresentada em textos do cristianismo nascente. Muitos deles inspirados na profecia isaiana do 8º. século a.C.

Behavioural profiles of captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.): analyses at group and individual levels

The use of behavioural indicators of suffering and welfare in captive animals has produced ambiguous results. In comparisons between groups, those in worse condition tend to exhibit increased overall rate of Behaviours Potentially Indicative of Stress (BPIS), but when comparing within groups, individuals differ in their stress coping strategies. This dissertation presents analyses to unravel the Behavioural Profile of a sample of 26 captive capuchin monkeys, of three different species (Sapajus libidinosus, S. flavius and S. xanthosternos), kept in different enclosure types. In total, 147,17 hours of data were collected. We explored four type of analysis: Activity Budgets, Diversity indexes, Markov chains and Sequence analyses, and Social Network Analyses, resulting in nine indexes of behavioural occurrence and organization. In chapter One we explore group differences. Results support predictions of minor sex and species differences and major differences in behavioural profile due to enclosure type: i. individuals in less enriched enclosures exhibited a more diverse BPIS repertoire and a decreased probability of a sequence with six Genus Normative Behaviour; ii. number of most probable behavioural transitions including at least one BPIS was higher in less enriched enclosures; iii. proeminence indexes indicate that BPIS function as dead ends of behavioural sequences, and proeminence of three BPIS (pacing, self-direct, active I) were higher in less enriched enclosures. Overall, these data are not supportive of BPIS as a repetitive pattern, with a mantra-like calming effect. Rather, the picture that emerges is more supportive of BPIS as activities that disrupt organization of behaviours, introducing “noise” that compromises optimal activity budget. In chapter Two we explored individual differences in stress coping strategies. We classified individuals along six axes of exploratory behaviour. These were only weakly correlated indicating low correlation among behavioural indicators of syndromes. Nevertheless, the results are suggestive of two broad stress coping strategies, similar to the bold/proactive and shy/reactive pattern: more exploratory capuchin monkeys exhibited increased values of proeminence in Pacing, aberrant sexual display and Active 1 BPIS, while less active animals exhibited increased probability in significant sequences involving at least one BPIS, and increased prominence in own stereotypy. Capuchin monkeys are known for their cognitive capacities and behavioural flexibility, therefore, the search for a consistent set of behavioural indictors of welfare and individual differences requires further studies and larger data sets. With this work we aim contributing to design scientifically grounded and statistically correct protocols for collection of behavioural data that permits comparability of results and meta-analyses, from whatever theoretical perspective interpretation it may receive.

Daughter of Eve, "Femme Fatale", and Persecuted Artist: The Mythic Transgressive Woman in Oscar Wilde's and Richard Strauss's "Salome"

Historically, Salome was an unexceptional figure who never catalyzed John the Baptist's death. However, in Christian Scripture, she becomes the dancing seductress as fallen daughter of Eve.  Her stepfather Herod promises Salome his kingdom if she dances for him, but she follows her mother’s wish to have John beheaded. In Strauss’s opera, after Wilde's Symbolist-Decadent play, Salome becomes independent of Herodias’ will, and the mythic avatar of the femme fatale and persecuted artist who Herod has killed after she kisses John's severed head.  Her signature key of C# major, resolving to the C major sung by Herod and Jokanaan at her death, represent her tragic fate musically.

Quintus Curtius before his sources: the episode of Alexander and the Scythians on the Tanais

Quintus Curtius found in his sources a speech where a Scythian censured Alexander, followed by the King’s reply. Curtius drastically abridged this second discourse in order to highlight the criticism of the Macedonian. The Scythian’s words have a striking rhetorical language and some allusions taken from Greek literature, in addition to possible indirect references to Caligula. Curtius declares that he follows his source word-for-word aiming to justify these inconsistencies, but also trying to hide the manipulations he has done to achieve his own narrative purposes.

"Sub Tiberio quies"? Judaea’s Political Situation under the Prefects (6-41 c.e.), between Reality and Ideology

Deeply conflicting views on the political situation of Judaea under the Roman prefects (6-41 c.e.) have been offered. According to some scholars, this was a period of persistent political unrest and agitation, whilst according to a widespread view it was a quiescent period of political calm (reflected in Tacitus’ phrase sub Tiberio quies). The present article critically examines again the main available sources –particularly Josephus, the canonical Gospels and Tacitus– in order to offer a more reliable historical reconstruction. The conclusions drawn by this survey calls into question some widespread and insufficiently nuanced views on the period. This, in turn, allows a reflection on the non-epistemic factors which might contribute to explain the origin of such views.