One of the best references about biblical influence came from my blogmate Tornwordo: "I'm tired of people relinquishing their critical thinking skills based on that frigging book." He was referring to the holy war against gay marriage in California (Proposition 8 anyone?). He remarked that the millions spent by Christian opposition could have fed starving people. I wonder if Jesus would agree. And there's the rub: simply by asking, I am bound to get a pummeling of Biblical verse telling why he would think this way or that. Truth is a mighty sword to wield, but it begs the question: is the Bible truth?
Allow me to continue on my road to blasphemy as I review this wonderful new edition of the Christian text: Bible Illuminated: THE BOOK New Testament. The strengths of this volume are endless:
1. The translation is very readable; suddenly reading the Bible isn't a chore.
2. The layout of the text is similar to an edition of Vanity Fair, minus the ads--it is user-friendly to a mass audience.
3. The illustrations are well chosen, metaphoric and movingly suggestive of us puny humans dealing with an unjust world we strive to understand.
4. If one wants to read the New Testament, but finds most editions either too difficult or downright boring, this book is the one for you.
5. The editors see the New Testament as a vehicle for social change, not dogma--the reader will see image associations that will provoke dismay, joy, horror and a need to do something--sounds good to me.
6. This edition is contemporary, not only in language and in the selection of images; more importantly, it ushers in what many of us in liberal arts already know:
We live in a post-literate world in which the image, not the word is the symbol of meaning. In teaching my courses, I discovered that the texts only became real for many students when some use of visualization accompanied the reading: a movie, a video, a slide show, exercises in forming collages. For example, my students didn't understand Sunjata, even with my power points. Only when I showed a correlation between Aragorn in Lord of the Rings and Sunjata's journey toward his destiny as king, did the students finally get it.
Many academics and educators are fighting this trend, forcing students to read books and write essays without the benefit of the image. Sure, I understand this; I was educated in the same manner. But times have changed: people are bombarded with You Tube videos, talking heads that pose as news anchors, photos of Britney Spears without makeup, movies, television that often rivals literature in quality, texting, blackberries, webcams---you get my drift. I've attended countless meetings in which I am told that I must buck this trend; I cannot allow my teaching to support this post literacy. I cannot enable the American numbing of the mind. Am I? I look at this book and I think: there are many ways to convey ideas through language; why not use the image as a tool, instead of seeing it as the enemy? Am I Borimir of Gondor who wanted the Ring of Power to defend the world of men, chosing an instument that was designed only to answer to one master? Maybe I am Galadriel who sees the days of elves, along with the rings of power, as over--the rings must end and the elves shall leave Middle Earth so that the Age of Men becomes the new reality.
In reading this edition, I began to wrestle with all my spiritual questions: do I really think the Bible is "true", aren't we all just reading translations with an agenda, do I even like the Bible? It speaks well of this version that I even got to that point. So what are my answers. Is the Bible true? Well, didn't Pilate ask Jesus "what is truth"? Does anyone remember the answer he gave? That's right: he didn't give one! I often wondered why Jesus didn't reply, but now I think I know. In the gospel of John, Jesus tells Pilate: "Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." Pilate's question was his first step as most people don't care about truth; they care about getting their needs met. In all of the gospels, Jesus uses the word truth indiscriminately, but it is particularly evident in John. Here is that famous quote: " I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes by the Father except by me" ( in other translations the preposition through is substituted for by).I often wish Jesus hadn't said that, or that he had rephrased it differently ---too many people have been told they are hellbound, heretics, sinners and the like because of that quote. Too many Christians hold onto that quote like a dollar bill, anticipating that it will get them those mansions in the sky. I'm still with Pilate: I still ask "what is truth"? Was Jesus giving a factual answer through silence or was he choosing metaphor--truth is no easy thing to understand, yet everyone wants it to be literal; this way life makes sense. I love books, but not one has told me the truth; instead, their words have confirmed some nagging idea that I sensed all along.
It is interesting that this edition uses images of the feminine to illustrate the Gospel of John, from high heeled pumps to a woman lying with her eyes closed as Jesus says: "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her." Jesus was not a misogynist, yet so many Christians are. Why?
This is where I answer my other questions: many Christians who profess love are filled with hate. Freud would call it reaction formation: we deny what we really feel so unconsciously we recreate ourselves to be the opposite. This is how I see Paul, the author of way too much within the New Testament. In this version, I began to realize why I often bristle when people quote Paul at me. I don't believe him;I don't like how he sees humanity; I don't trust his unconscious motives for his work, commendable as it may be, and I resent that the medieval Church chose his letters among so much other material, including the Gnostic Gospels, to make a Bible and thus standardize Christianity.
Paul isn't a complete loser--he writes good things like:"When I was a child, my speech, feelings and thinking were all those of a child; now that I'm an adult, I have no more use for childish ways." But in another epistle he writes: "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church." Where did Paul get that one? Jesus never told wives to submit to husbands. Paul prides himself on telling various churches such goodies like: "the law is no longer in charge of us." Then he gives the Church some rules that have become law in way too many Christian communities. What does a Christian wife do when her husband is a philandering, violent monster who is an adept at looking perfect in front of the community? Women who leave such men are penalized all too often, not the husband. Thanks, Paul and thank you, Council of Nicea, for setting the foundations of an authoritative Christianity in order to save your Empire-loving behinds.
Perhaps the most notable interpretation within this edition is this: there are no traditional images of Jesus, Mary, the disciples and other usual suspects. For the quote in Mark: "God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.", the editors use images of Nelson Mandela who says:"Only free men can negotiate", There are other expected figures: Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandi, Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama,Aung San Suu Kyi, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. They also use more controversial ones like Bono, Bill Gates, Angeline Jolie, Al Gore, Che Guevara, Princess Diana, John Lennon and Muhammed Ali. The variety shows us how we often interpret words--we think in images. If the messenger in the New Testament announces change, then we look to the figures who will usher in the process. Just like scripture, not all will agree, but many will say--yes, there is something here that warrants attention. If Jesus is the path to truth, then a lot of people are following him without knowing it. Look at the pictures in this book, and maybe then my words will make sense.
(All images used in this book review come from the website: The smaller photographs are part of the text; the larger ones are from a discussion forum about the new edition. You may also order the book from this website.)
THE BOOK
44 cruel utterances:
I think I will become a disciple of Paul. That way I can demand on-the-spot bj's from hot intolerant xtian bitches. "Suck it for Jebus" is my new motto. Does your local nunnery have any Asians in it?
Ok, I plead ignorance on the subject at hand. I have never read the Bible and more than likely never will.
I can't help but wonder about the differences of faith,which are all based from Islam as I understand, Chritianity says a Woman will bow to her husbands request,funny Islam says the same thing,but the Woman will cover her face because, she is considered a Temptress. It is all the same,just conveyed in the way the Author want's it to be.
I always try to take something from various classes I am required to take here at work. This lesson came from a leadership class in the recent past.
The mind is a funny thing,when you speak to someone. Your opening words are what matters the most. If for example I were to say,Look all of you assholes this is what happened yada, yada. That is all they see right away, is the fact that I see a bunch of assholes that in fact can't see for themsleves.
But if I were to say,for example, guys check this out for a minute in a non derogitory tone,they may in fact listen. Any and all impressions of them being assholes, never even comes up.
Point being is,we see what our mind want's us to see,everyone is different in their opinions and we all see things a little differently.
Religion is a tuff subject, I believe we came from somewhere but I don't know for sure, where that was.
I was raised to treat people with respect,that came from my parents. If you want to piss me off just harm old folks or young childern,Respect is almost a lost tactic in todays society. One should not have to infringe their belifes on others outside of their Castels.Just look at all the stuff going on with Religion and the Constitution, going on in our schools today.
If I were a parent, I would be very pissed off if a Teacher tried to teach a very young mind, anything other than respect for their fellow humans. Every other belief will come from the home.
We are born,we live,we die. I can look in my mirror every day and know for a fact that the things that I have acheived in this life are because someone pointed me in some key directions,and I did not step on anyone to get the things I have achieved.
I hope I didn't stray to far from the subject at hand. I plead the fifth and the Devil made me do it.
You are one hell of a writer,other people who claim to be Writers seem to bore me to death with the use of $.50 words and a very large vocabulary,it could be just my simple mind at work here.
But for the readers of the Bloggs, I like the walking mans domain as well,check him out. He is another very knowedgeable person on the subject of religion,if you can get him to talk about it.
Good point about the gay marriage irony: that the millions spent by "Christians" could have helped people instead of trying to suppress them. But trying telling them that. They'll just call you a pagan (or worse) and then get back to their preaching and judging.
I almost forgot about that term "reaction formation." I took some psychology classes a long time ago, and when I learned that term, I started seeing that behavior all around me (that goes for other Freudian terms too). I'd be thinking "reaction formation -- that's what that person is doing," "now there's a perfect example of projecting," etc.
I didn't see a link to the website to which you're referring. Am I missing something? I would be curious to read other reviews.
Nietzche said that there was only one true Christian and that he died on the cross- that what was called Christianity was in fact Paulicianity.
I agree- and I don't like Paul. I don't like his outlook, period.
And my view is if Christ came back today, he'd turn in horror in what is said in his name.
I think Christ would have supported the rights of gay people to form lasting couples.
Christ taught love. Christ didn't teach judgement.
translations with an agenda ...
"What is truth?" the Pilate asked.
Easy!
"There can be no opinions about truth," according to eastern proverb.
Jesus was dead on to stand mute and let Pilate answer his own question by sharing the silence. After all, silence IS the voice of God, correct? So if we are to interpret that, then yes, our own fundamental needs demanded by reality are the greatest truths that we can ever know.
I love literature, it's taught me to be so artful in my answers to difficult questions. Some say the Devil has the same skills...
hmmmmmm...............
As for the millions spent by Christians to crusade against gay marriage, no amount of hipocracy surprises me anymore.
I 'll come back later I don't know when - work is keeping me busy and my weekend could be probably crammed.
I like how Grant always gets to the most important point directly and quickly.
Mercy, Sweet Chile...this here is a rather large topic.
In anticipation of tomatoes bein' thrown, may I make a few points?
Christians spendin' $$ on prop 8 is dwarfed by what gays spent--but for all concerned about $$ goin' to the poor, have a little chat wif' Obama who says he cares fer all the poor folks, then spent 700 million on his campaign. If he cared so much abou the poor, why'nt he redistribute some of the campaign 700 million to the poor?
I reckon we could jes' skip the religion rhetoric--they's a heap of reasons to keep marriage as it is --wif' nuthin' to do wif ' religion AT ALL.
Prop 8 ain't an "anti-gay" unless gay opposition to it is "anti-straight."
Prop 8 is only pro-marriage. Iffin' same -sex pairs wanna declare a public affection/commitment, go ahead, sure--jes' doan call it marriage.
What happens in a marriage is different. Specificity of words is an intelligent feature of civilization and advanced culture. Men and women ain't interchangeable, they's significantly different an' the union a'tween 'em is the union of the two halves of the human species. That is a very particualr and specific relationship.
Gay sex is same-sex. That union is not the synonymous wif' marriage--so give it its own word.
A medicine man once told me, "Beware of anyone who claims to know truth." I bristle with any mention of "one true path". I believe there are as many ways to know God as there are people on the planet.
Susan I understand that truth is dual in nature. The first being that truth is what humanity understands it to be; I count this as more honesty than truth.
The second nature is truth as it understands itself to be.
The old subjective and objective nature of thought chestnut.
It makes no difference what I think about who or what God is, but rather what is important is that God understands who H/She is. The closer I can align myself with God as Gods understands the divine self to be the more pin point my understanding is.
Can I find the way to God through the bible of the Christians, yes,yes I can. Can I find my way to that understanding of the deity through the Gitas, Quran, Buddhist texts, why yes I can. Why? How? If God is singular then how can I understand such a mish-mash of writings flawed in that they are penned by the hand of man.
Peter wrote I believe "written by holy men of God inspired by that spirit."
Personally I believe that God can relate to individuals in the framework of their understanding.Whether that understanding has any religious connotation in it or not, what is most important is belief; not words. If we realize and believe that God is not some far off idea perpetrated by men to subdue other men with. If there is a one God, above all other gods we must first believe that God lives and is a separate being from us. That a spirit is not a flavor or feeling, like team spirit, but rather a LIFE, not human but a life none the less and that the spirit of God is available to dwell within all men, whether Jew or Gentile.
It is when we avail ourselves of that spirit, the gift delivered to man after so many millenia in the desert, that we begin to have commune with God and begin to understand what is the nature of that spirit. Yes one must be born again...but to define what that is, is a journey all its own.
Christianity..in it's overall is the cult of Jesus. I am firmly convinced that the prophet and messiah, Jesus, drew deep distinction between himself and God. By following him, Jesus meant for us to go after his example of one in consort with God, not to elevate him to the position rightfully held by the Father. Will I pray to Jesus? No, Jesus is the example of what mankind is meant to be, when I pray I pray, talking to God. May I have consort with Jesus? As one who lives I may commune with all life and Jesus is alive, born again from death as told us in the texts. But Jesus is not God.
So what of Christianity and all religion in it's present incarnation. Slavery! A tool of them who fashion themselves masters; used to keep men from their divine destiny of harmony without intercessor, with God.
Can another edit of the Christian texts do anything but confuse the issue further? No...modern man, the person of the 21st century has a different way of communication then the man of the 3rd century. If one is to build a framework of understanding for God to work in it is better to not have to struggle with archaic language that has no meaning in the present day reality. If holy men of God are inspired in this work by choosing images to communicate with then I would have to believe that God has directed them to those images in order to facilitate God's harmony with mankind in this day and age.
*shrug* the journey is the thing not the trees that make up the borders of the path.
I could talk about "truth" vs. "fact" in the bible (did you see NOVA last night) or how marriage is about more than definitions (legal rights and responsibilities and why on earth we would ever deny them to any single living American) but I'm just going tell you (Enemy) to go over to my blog and view something entirely unrelated.
You know I’m nodding my head in agreement and shaking it in disbelief right now as I’m reading your post this morning with one eye opened and one eye closed because I just woke up.
You have woken me up more than my coffee was able to.
You made me think.
You rattled my tiny brain.
I will get you back for this.
Pffffft. ;)
The other day, oddly enough, I discovered that I may prefer the King James version of the New Testament as opposed to the New Living Translation.
For example:
Proverbs 16: 6 in the NLT: “Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the Lord.”
The same scripture in the KJV: “ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
So, the meaning of “truth” in this passage means faithfulness. Faithfulness is what? Faith, loyalty, commitment.
“Covering sin” is not necessarily the same as departing from evil. Covering sin is basically still sinning, but hiding from it, right?
Back to “truth”: Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes by the Father except by me.”
In my honest opinion and belief, the reason why Jesus does not tell you the “truth” in details, the way people expect it: the “truth” is “your faith”. If you “believe”. That is “your truth”. So, for Jesus, if you do not believe in Him, then again, that still may be your truth, however not His. God gave us choice.
So in translation: truth = faith.
As far as photos along with text – I do this myself most of the time when writing. It just makes it more entertaining and yes, sometimes more understandable for some. I do think when people navigate too far away from the original idealistic versions of the Bible, it definitely is the sign of times. People are getting bored. Things are changing rapidly and many kids don’t want to pick up a book. They hop online and read blogs or someone’s Myspace page. What’s the difference, right? For me, there are many differences between picking up a good old-fashioned book and opening someone’s blog online. The further we get from the basics, the more we desire the new and “improved”. Are we simply getting lazy? Or are people getting more creative with their writing style and ways to enhance your reading experience? I honestly don’t know, but I do feel that it’s so important to still hold on to the old way too. That’s just me though. We’re visual creatures and love entertainment. What would we do without our plasma TVs???
Now from what I understand, when Paul states that “the law is no longer in charge of us”---for me, and many believers, it’s about Christ’s death upon the cross. When Christ died on the cross, the “old laws”---the law which Paul speaks of that stems from the Old Testament, no longer applies.
For me to have understood this, I read this scripture:
Romans 7 1-6
Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only to a person who is still living? Let me illustrate. When a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.
So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.
It also has same references here in Galatians chapter two verses 17 through 21:
But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! Rather, I make myself guilty if rebuild the old system I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me an gave himself for me. I am not one for those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Also, this doesn’t imply that we run around rampant sinning and committing evil deeds. It simply means: we’re human. God knows this. God knows our hearts and understand the struggles we go through here on earth. This is the very reason God gave us His son for our Salvation.
Thank for letting me add my 200 cents on here.
Also, thank you for stimulating my brain this morning. The hell with coffee in the morning!
xoxo
Enemy --- Got your email. My first thought is to agree with Frizzy. Is she ever wrong?
"The Book" looks to me like a pig with lipstick only that the lipstick is all wrong, all new agey, dressing up a stark story with Jesus Christ Superstar technicolor glitz and not much more than fizz and pop.
I like my Jesus story straight up, undiluted, ungassed up or down or sideways. Spare me the "post whatever" marketing angle.
Will comment later on your review.
If reading is a chore then you obviously have the wrong book in your hands.
Insightful and thought provoking as always. Your mention of Paul immediately arose my hackles -- I have long viewed him with deep suspicion. The way he wrote makes me think that he's the ancient equivalent of a modern televangelist: arrogantly judgmental and expounding messages of fear wrapped in obligatory nods to Love in the abstract. Also known as the modern GOP.
8xyy8: I never could stand him as a theologian--he was a brave man and faithful to his God, but I resent that his letters are holy writ. Yes, some GOP is in there.
NYD: I actually enjoy the gospels, but there is a lot of the bible that is boring or simply nonsensical. One day I just decided to test myself and I read Leviticus cover to cover. Not a great read, but later on I was glad, because I had ammo on which I could fight the homophobes.
X-Dell: I mailed you the link, but it should be working.
Guys, I will return in the morning--I'm really sleepy--oh did anyone hear about Dick and A. Gonzalez? Thanks for the tip, SJ.
DD: Made it to your blog. Am I going to be the only female watching Star Trek in a theatre again? I hope they aren't making my Eric look creepy.
More tomorrow--thanks for coming--I really am glad you read this.
Am I wrong for having issues with people who read the bible? Well, I should say some people.
This is the same book that they used to justify slavery, used to justify why they are able to invade other people's land, the same book that gave them a reason to fight wars. This book has given people a sense of entitlement. Why can't people read it for the betterment of their own lives rather than the destruction of others?
I'm just asking questions here... More rhetorical than anything. I miss reading your blog on the regular. You keep me thinking.
You must be working to hard ?
some thoughts: truth<>belief<>faith<>words - truth can only be approximated in those ways...(the map is not the territory)... truth is life (or existence if you are a rock or similar configuration of units of energy) and therefore truth can NOT be an absolute, but is as varied and morphic as is life itself... it must be lived and in such a way as to be consistent with one's state of development! (rocks just live slower apparently) - Absolute Truth then must be an attempt by this or that hierarchical power structure to provide those with non-critical thought some team to root for... kind of like enlightenment by committee conferences that somehow by the grace of astute and pointed editing and exclusionary 'relevatory' process kept all but the acceptable and politically appropriate material out of their clubs sacred rule book and Life of Brian pre-parody... qui bono?
=-=-=
Maybe if the translation of what supposedly the old radical actually said had been rendered properly (true to life-fact) it might have been something like "the IAM is the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes by the Father except by me". As i understand this it relates to the unknowable complexity and non-static energetic 'ocean' within which i (or to put it another way with more letters- this state of development of conscious activity) have become self-aware and that greater organization of energy (ie: energy ocean) which some may call 'the Father'... "the Way, the Truth and the Life" then would indicate a realization and identification with that 'energy ocean'... kind of like "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30 KJV)
=-=-=
as for "marriage is between one man and one woman" and being full of 'holy' outrage EITHER way (pro or con, not as in one man and as many woman as can support themselves as our Moroni magic boxer boys would have) how about a recognition that as there are AT LEAST five genders (or sexes) that everyone, who wishes to, is entitled to love and be loved and to enjoy ALL the associated activities and responsiblilities, rights and benefits without some incorporated entity (which is a whole other false-to-life-fact kind of abomination and behind which usually hides greed and fear/hate) or it's semi self-aware apologist-by-proxy saying Not Allowed... this is OUR word and you can't have it!
pffft... intolerance
I'm coming out with my own updated version of the Bible as well. Here are a few highlights:
1) All "according to's" will be replaced by "per";
2) All "begot's" will be replaced by "pumped out";
3) Pontius Pilate will be changed to the more culturally relevant "Pontius Palm Pilates";
4) All references to "Romans" will be replaced by "The Man";
5) Jesus visits The Olive Garden after the last supper, because he was still hungry.
A Ball of Light--Good to see ya--better comment soon.
Pug---GRRRR!
Chris: I am. I've been putting my soul into a power point plus grading online and teaching my classes via the computer. It's getting to me. So today I'm checking email and not much else--I was feeling like I was losing my eyesight and getting terrible headaches! So I will slowly be around, but right now, I need to be in a room with no sound, lights off except candles, some incense and a lavender bag over my eyes. Oh, and I need a cat.
Guys, will return. These headaches are murder!
Put the lavender bag in the frezer before you apply to the eyes. Rest, rest, rest. My job gets in the way of my life also,take care catch you later.
Hope you feel better soon. Constant pain in the organ we need most to have working right is a horrible thing to endure.
if you are dealing with academics and educators that are trying to force students read and learn without images, they are full of shit. i hate self-righteous bastards like that..
there are many ways to learn the same thing. many people are visual learners .. i am one ..
many are tactile/kinesthetic learners, some are auditory learners ..
hope your headaches get better soon ..
That "I am the way..." line I find plastered on many cars in Chennai. I guess that line is being abused by the ultra-zealous types since they automatically add an "only".
Anyway getting to the point... I wonder if there is a truth at all? Outside of a very basic factual level isn't truth more of an perception? My truth may not match yours.
re headaches... take the web of one hand's index and thumb junction between the thumb and finger(s) of the other hand and massage the hard little knot you will probably find there... you should notice an almost immediate sensation of relief in the head (and depending on how knotty it is a bit of ouch in the hand being massaged) - work out the knot & that pain should lessen as well as your headache...
The text on this link says everything:
http://blovinator.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-kinda-morning-hillary-sarah-dying.html~Will not cure head, will enchant
Sorry for being so tardy to the party, but I have nothing constructive or original to say about the Bible, only that I have read it and that I don't believe in it.
I do wish you'd get more encouragement in your teaching methods though...I like your way better than the 'trend' way.
excellent review. i think umberto eco talked about semiotics- the language of symbols. i think its tricky in that imagery is immediate and can be easier manipulated than words. im troubled by the post literate world - i think reading engages your mind in way separate and critical way. i am an image driven person too but i think some material is better left to the words. for one thing a provided image might prevent a specific visualization that would be more beneficial - that each individual should have their own visualization(s)
I am sorry my Cruel friend. You lost me on the first point. That the translation was easy to read. In my opinion, the translation is the problem. Who's translation is it? Who is telling me what the passage means. If it is a right wing nut job, then they will twist it to say what their agenda is. If it's a Catholic, well, when I was growing up as a Catholic, I was forbidden to read the Bible unless it was the "Catholic" bible, whatever the freakin' hell that is.
My point is, I want the oral tradition. Tell me a story, let me come to a conclusion. Let me take what I need and leave he rest. Don't tell me that what I just read means this or that.
Besides, they're always trying to sell you something. I don't have to buy afterlife. We will all die and find out the truth. It's all about the end of life, all trying to figure it out. All trying to tell you how to live, but it's all about death when no one knows what's gonna happen. I'll wait and have the experience without the explanations of what to look for.
Sorry for my cynical viewpoint, but I am totally against the forecasted teachings that the bible holders have to offer. Human beings all around us teach us more than the clergy or the good book, who are paid by the way.
In the meantime, Peace to you and all you hold dear.
The Bible very hot topic, I think that the bible is deeply misunderstood and a remix or update would do it some good to make it more culturally relevant
Spadoman hit it right on. I grew up a Jehovah's Witness and I was told always to read only the New World Translations. Much later, when I was 13 and old enough to be baptized, I was told I could also read the King James version as well, but that's it. I asked why, and was met with some mumbling and eyes cast at the floor, and vague little bits about other translations were "wrong" but only the New World translation was right. I added "and the King James version too" to which they said yes, but I would probably need to read it within a study group overseen by an experienced reader (read, a Witness) to help us to "understand it". I wanted to keep on with "I thought you just said it was OK for me to read it" but decided I had found the sore spot Dad and others who had been "dis-fellowshipped" (ex-communicated) had warned me about. (The others also told me the key to having a long relationship with family who are JW's was to NOT get baptized, ergo, don't yet accept the "keys to the kingdom" so that if I falter, I won't be barred from speaking with family and friends forever like has happened to many of them.)
I quickly got the point and quit going to church.
Every translation has somebody's agenda written between the lines.
Sad.
But true.
I notice that not many people here have pummeled you for asking whether the Bible is truth. Who pummels you for asking that question? In my view it's fine to ask the question as long as you keep looking for the answer by asking more honest questions and accepting the answers no matter where they take you.
Why do you pummel Paul for his writings?
Well, your post made me want to see this Bible, and to get me to want to look at the Bible is a fine trick! What I think of the Bible is very simple. It has the truth in it but it is not the truth. And frankly, I have for the most part, stopped being interested in it a log time ago. To be even more frank, when I look at a blog and someone is writing about the Bible, I usually just stop reading right there. So, again you've done a trick to have me reading your posts and your blog when you talk about he Bible and your Christian Faith. You've actually been a witness to me that has made me remember to try not to discount it so much. (I don't mean to be intolerant...it's just that I've seen a lot of things that haven't impressed me or given me a good opinion. I need to remember sometimes that not everyone who is a devout Christian thinks or behaves like some of the people I have known.)
On different media-I am always so surprised at how judgemental the older generation is to the younger. (She says after blasting Christians!)They say in essence, because kids don't do things the way adults did, they are wrong.
I have a book by Micheal Goldman, the guy who wrote emotional intelligence, and he talks about how computers are causing an entire generation of children to have no social skills and how they are all going to have ADD etc...and I find myself offended by his surety that all of this is going to happen. How can he know? There has never been a generation of people raised with computers. No-one knows what is going to happen with this. There is no doubt it will be diffent But different does not automatically mean bad.
Besides, if they all have poor social skills then they'll all be too thick to notice each others poor social skills anyway won't they? Nyuk! Nyuk!
With something like the Bible, I think that if you truly are getting the message, it will be in a more non-linear, right-brained way. Being left-brained, quoting Bible verses, rattling off lineages etc...is impressive but does not convince me that you have 'gotten spiritual'. I could see something like this reaching a lot of people who might not ordinarily have the patience to try to read it. And lets be real! It's not just this generation with their supposedly ADD, short attention spans that can't read it because they are flawed. No-one likes to read it unless you just get that calling. And then even if you do get the calling it is often be squelched very quickly when one attempts the Bible. That's just me. I think the Bible is very dry and not easy to read, Living Bible, King James, they are all a struggle...it just never resonated with me. So what's wrong with something to help it resonate! How many people might be reached if they were given a different path to reach it. Maybe things like this will finally get us past the pharisee/scribe channelers...how can they argue with a camera angle. Well, of course I'm being facetious but if a spirituality is not FELT then you haven't had an experience and I think that there are a lot of things in church that seen to actively try to keep that from happening. It's dangerous I guess. If we all just ran around randomly having spiritual experiences without anyone to interpret them for us, who knows what could happen. I wish I could give you more details about what I mean by that but I'm too tired.
I want to see it when it comes out, you made me curious so put a notch in your belt, no-one else probably could have. It's why I think you should be a minister you have a way of making it resonate. Things that I've read over and over and that really meant nothing to me when I read them, you will help me see it.
I don't like Paul either. His books were chosen to fit an agenda.
I would hate to see reading lost. My son told me that there was really no reason to buy a book anymore because anything that you find in a book, you can find on the internet and well....I was shocked....I didn't really know what to say except..."Can I have a swab of your cheek to be sure that you are actually my son." I know that if I wasn't so tired I could tell you why but I guess I'll have to save it for another day.
Guys--Forgive my absence--I've been nuts with work and I"ve had blinding headaches. You've all left such good comments.
Eric: I'm so glad to see you blogging again--I look forward to reading your poetry.
BBE: In my classrooms, I have a rule about cell phones and texting. Yet students still do it--they have it in their backpack, their lap--I told them that they were junkies when it comes to that thing! It's just nuts! Even my son notices it when he comes with me to class. I think that author is right--if a student can't endure 50 minutes without texting, there is a problem and they know I will grade them down for it.
Lance Mac: I thought about your questions. I wish we could talk--I don't have your email anymore--I hope you have mine--maybe we could chat about this. Do I pommell Paul? Well, I don't think most of his epistles should dominate the NT. I would leave Romans in---I especially like chapters 6,7 and 8. Paul's description of the armour of God is also very good; I use that one a lot. And I am fond of First Corinithians, plus the ending in second Timothy. But I don't think the faith should be based on his words--his epistles were put in to organize the church as a stand against Arianism, the Gnostics and a variety of other schools of thought about Jesus--St. Augustine broke away from one and used the Confessions to talk about what a fool he had been. So I see the dominance of his epistles as largely political, and frankly I find him prideful. I don't discount his great work for Christ and the suffering he endured. Many in the early church suffered even worse fates and we aren't reading their epistles today--surely some did exist. I know I've only answered part of your question--as for truth, well, that hunger has been in me. I want to say more, but I have to stop right now--will return.
I would suspect that your student's behavior has more to do with bad manners than an inability to pay attention.
The book I'm speaking of is called The Social Brain and it is written by Daniel Goleman who also wrote Emotional Intelligence. I have a hard time reading his books and get upset when I read them. (So quit reading them! Duh!) I had Emotional intelligence in the workplace and threw it out because it upset me too badly. When I have symptoms I lose my ability to have the social intelligence he claims is so important for success so what he says is painful to me. He makes it sound like it's so horrible to be someone like me.
He goes into these long, detailed explanations of how awful everyone is going to be in a few generations and the awful people he describes sounds like me when my symptoms are bad. I'll mail you the book, I don't know if I can ever read it again.
S...Paul, in this age, are we to say that all the decision's that led to the text's of Christianity are made for political or secular reasons?
Or do we discount them that have a historical taint because it galls us. I personally can accept Paul as the twelfth apostle (after the suicide of Judas) simply because according to the accounts, he was chosen by the reborn Christ.
The other 11 had a lottery and chose whom they wanted, yet what of them? What is their place in secular history?
Paul's interpretation of the revelations may be a hard thing to accept in this day and time yet the order he spoke of in the social unit was necessary for the cohesion of that unit in his day.Being a mostly agrarian society there had to be unit cohesion and order.
Would you expunge, say...Ephesians?
While I will not try to rehabilitate Paul or any of the other apostles of Jesus, I would you to see him from a different point. The others had a very real lifetime eyes on experience of Jesus in their midst while he lived among them. Paul on the other hand had to have the majority of his experience through that spirit placed within him.
There are bound to be differences in both Peter and Paul's adjustment to life after Christ ascended. They were not the same, had not the same experiences ergo they would look at the rules of order differently.
In Peter we find him wanting to keep the adherence to Mosaic law, yet in Paul a scholar of that law, we find that God has released all of mankind from the stricture of the law. This, to me is Paul's greatest revelation from God and contribution to our spiritual life.
seems to me all my God moments come while in the cathedral of trees or listening to the creek or a perfect web wet with dew...corny, i know. but that is it. its a reception on knowledge that i cant articulate, quantify, or prove. i will say that when those moments come and i notice that they came? it slips away. once the true thing gets filtered through anothers perception the original content is corrupted. so often the good work of the Word is lost because of the failings of the messenger(s).
more bailouts.
thank you sir! can i have another?
sorry, OT
11 trillion national debt + 7.4 trillion bailouts + ~70 Trillion unfunded future liabilities / 100 Million tax payers = revolution and $884,000 per taxpayer of debt (minus interest).
Most Americans will never gross that much in their entire working life. why worry? hey hey just pass that on to the lil children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.....
i am planning a post just for you. you'll be sick to your stomach.
"The Editors See The New Testament As A Vehicle For Social Change"
The Change We Need...A Social Reformation....
I think marriage should be abolished and replaced by contracts, between couples who wish to cohabit, which state their intentions expectations and property rights. said contracts to be revised in accordance with the couple's changing circumstances.This would mean same sex relationships would be the same as heterosexual ones vis a vis legal rights.
As for truth and the bible.... nah!
K9: I understand what you mean by the God moments. I had one yesterday as I hiked through the woods with my yoga posse (I'm training to be a teacher.)It is inexplicable.
I havent' checked today's news, so I will be interested to see who is getting more of our money. I will be calling my representatives to voice my ire at that and at current foreign policy in the Mideast.
WM: I do see where you are going and I often ask myself: how much of Paul's words are indeed from the Spirit of God and how much is his own speculation? I read Romans and I think God used him well; he describes what the Koran calls the greater jihad--the struggle against self--how we do precisely what we know we shouldn't do, and indeed we actually want to do it. He is very good there. There is good stuff in Ephesians--yes, there is material that I do think is Paul and not the spirit. I find I read Paul and I ask myself that constantly-where is God and where is Paul? If the Bible is truth, then should I be asking that question or is that my humanity showing through? I don't know. Your description on the disciples is apt, but there were epistles from Timothy and other church leaders, many who did not know Christ as a man. They didn't make the cut-maybe they shouldn't have as Paul is about organizing a church. Fine. But I just will not buy that every word from his lips is holy writ. The author of James is actually believed to NOT BE the apostle James. His epistle is hard for me to read, and it does support the Protestant "works" system, but the fact that I resist his words so much to me spells that he is onto something. With Paul, I just get more annoyed.
Guys: I'm sorry I've been a lame commenter. I will try to address some I missed:
Allan and Urban-Urban, I've missed you too. I know I have two more blogs in me, then I must take a rest--all this thinking. I know that neither of you care for the Bible much and Allan, I know you've had bad experiences with it. Urban, yes, it is the source of anger, war, lies, hypocrisy-but that is human interpretation priviledging it-making it law and twisting it to its own needs. The Bible, for all its flaws, is not supposed to be that at all. For some, it is the true word of God. For some it is a historical reference. For some, it is a metaphoric understanding of God--I may be in the last camp, but I also consult books like the Rig Veda, the Koran, the writings of the Sufis, Taoism--any text can become the reason for abuse and hate. But it isn't the source; that comes from humans. okay, my connection is about to blow...
Marilyn: Welcome!
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