Promised Land by Sahira Vergara

Political Influences

svergara — 2015-03-26 14:09:52 UTC

In the Promised Land, the leaders are known as Shepherds because they are the ones that are leading the citizens to the right path. The Shepherds have many laws and rules. Their biggest one is that the people may not follow any other religion except for Catholicism and that they have to follow what ever the Bible indicates. There has been a war called the Pietistic Wars. These wars had to do with the citizens of the Promised Land and the Rebels. Since then, the people think that by becoming a Rebel, you commit a very bad sin, therefore, they will send you to the Unperceived so you can get murdered by the Rebels. The Promised Land has no treaties outside of the community, they are independent.

This is the symbol that is represented by the leaders. The people look on to them like "shepherds" because they are the ones that talk to God and lead the people in what God wants.

Economical Influences

svergara — 2015-03-27 14:15:32 UTC

The Promised Land is basically a agricultural community. Almost every job is based on agriculture. They grow and harvest their food as well as trade them to families when necessary. The community does not have a money system, only trading the other people. Children, from the age of five and up, start to learn the chores of everyday to help their mothers. Once they are older, the boys can help their fathers tend the animals and help with the farming. The girls can help their mothers with the cooking and the cleaning in the house. When it is the time of harvesting, everyone helps.

This image shows what the people eat, harvest, and trade with each other. Sometimes the harvest can be abundant, sometimes it can be very scarce.

Religious Influences

svergara — 2015-03-27 14:15:58 UTC

Religion is a very big thing in Promised Land. The religion they every one follows is Catholicism. Everything is based on religion, from laws to education. In addition, the only holy book they have is the Bible. They also go to daily mass in the morning, if the people do not attend, then they will commit sin, then they will also get sent to the Unperceived to get murdered. The only deity is God, although worshiping the Shepherds is not allowed, or they also commit sin, for that they will recieve the consequences. The Shepherds only hear Gods words and carry it out to the people.

"God of This City" by Chris Tomlin expresses how God is the one that governs this city through the Shepherds. He is the ruler of Promised Land.

Social Influences

svergara — 2015-03-27 14:16:11 UTC

The Shepherd of the Promised Land want everyone to feel like they belong and are important to the community. Therefore, social classes have been extirpated. Families should at least have two children. Because there is a lot of tending of the gardens, there is rare time for entertainment, but workers sing during their work. Promised Land still follows holidays such as Christmas and Easter. No body works on days of holidays. There are no social classes, but there are the Rebels. The Rebels are the people that rebeled against God because they wanted to worship other deities. They have declared war many times on Promised Land so they can get more people on their side, but the peoples faith is too strong. Since then, they are living beyond the community, in the Unperceived. Though they are not giving up yet, they are planing another war, but obviously they will not win. Without the Rebels living at or neat the community, the people live in peace.

The symbol of the dove represents how the community lives in peace without any problems. Unless there is someone that is starting to rebel

Intellectual Influences

svergara — 2015-03-27 14:16:33 UTC

In Promised Land, everything is based on farming and Catholicism. When children go to school, the very first thing they do when they enter the classroom is sing the Milieu Paean, which is "Jesus king and center of all hearts, by the coming of you kingdom, grant us peace. Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands." Then, sprouts learn how to grow and take care of a crop. Blooms learn to grow a flower garden. In addition, both learn math, science, reading, and writing. They apply math and science to develop new ways of taking care of crops and animals. For their reading time, the children read the Bible. For their free time, they sing canticles of praise from the Bible. It is seen sinful if anyone sings any song that doesn't have to do with the Bible teachings, therefore, they will reciever a small penalty.

The song "Word of God Speak" by MercyMe represent how everything is based on the word of God, (the Bible,) from reading the Bible to singing a song of praise.

Area/Geographic Influences

svergara — 2015-03-27 14:16:58 UTC

The Promised Land is in what used to be Ohio. Here, the land is great for growing crops and gardens, but, during the time of winter, it is very hard to grow any food. Therefore, the people conserve food for these times. Every family has their own stables and stall for their animals. They also have their own carts and wagons to pull heavy loads. People get around by horses, donkeys, or walking. Aside from the community, there is the Unperceived. Anyone crossing into this area will be looked upon with shame and will have committed a sin, and they will leave them there to starve and probobly get killed. There, in the Unperceived, is where the Rebels live.

This is a photo on how the crops and gardens of the people might look like everyday. Each section is divided on kind of fruit or vegetable it is. Here it is a nice day, which would be a great day to work, but when it is a rainy or snowy day, the people are not expected to work.