Axis Mundi X discussion
A Day in the Life
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Sign of The Apocalypse
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I like the Book of Ruth. Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty and love. And "laying with" in the Biblical way. Plus redemption. But mostly loyalty ("For wherever you go, I will go..." ).
I always liked how Naomi told Ruth to uncover Boaz' feet while he was sleeping to wake him up. I guess it's more subtle than shaking the shoulder
I always liked how Naomi told Ruth to uncover Boaz' feet while he was sleeping to wake him up. I guess it's more subtle than shaking the shoulder
I prefer the KJV: "Whither thou goest, I go." I like saying goest.
If you reread my post, you'll see I got it right.
Yes, I hear you, Char. I keep Ecclesiastes in my car, the KJV, and read it if I get stuck in the drive-thru line or I'm early picking up the kids from school or something.
You da goest with da moest.
Mod
also.... you geeky booky types make my heart go all pitter pat. language is lurve.
What's the one in hotel rooms? Gideon or whatever? That Bible is AWFUL. I've tried to read it.
That reminds me, a conservative Christian with whom I went through grad school just wrote a 15 PAGE letter on why conservative Christians should vote for Obama and sent it to everyone on his email list. Amazing. I love him.
Here's an excerpt:I believe the Bible is clear about our obligation to the poor. "There is an overwhelming religious mandate, often ignored by fundamentalists, to alleviate the plight of those who are in need. Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, reports that he and a group of other seminary students searched the Bible to find every verse that referred to wealth and poverty. They were impressed to discover that one of sixteen verses in the New Testament, one in ten in three of the Gospels, and one in seven on the Gospel of Luke referred to money or to the poor. In the Hebrew Scriptures, only idolatry was mentioned more times than the relationship between rich and poor (Our Endangered Values, Carter, p. 178)."
We are called on over and over in these passages to assist the poor. Our government policy does the opposite. Proverbs 22 states that “He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.” Proverbs 31:9 says, “Defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 14:31: “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Matthew 19:21: Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 2nd Corinthians 9:9: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Acts 10:5: “The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.’” Ezekiel 18:12: “He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery.” These are a just a tiny few of the verses I found. Does our country’s policies live up to this standard or do we do the opposite?
Former President Jimmy Carter, a long time Southern Baptist, had a interesting take on poverty and another moral issue, abortion when he wrote, "Many fervent pro-life activists do not extend their concern to the baby who is born, and are the least likely to support benevolent programs that they consider 'socialistic.' They ignore the fact that once a doubtful mother decides not to have an abortion, she and her family usually have a number of needs: continued education for the mother, or a maternity leave for her job; special health care, with insurance to cover the costs; and tax credits to help the employed mother and her child have a decent life. Two-thirds of women who have abortions claim their primary reason is that they cannot afford a child (Our Endangered Values, Carter, p. 73)."
I feel that the conservative wing of the Republican Party states that their actions are guided by the Christian faith, but I don’t find this consistent with their policies concerning poverty and health care. Look at the numbers I have cited, and this is only concerning our country. Our nation, under the current administration, has reneged on many pledges it has made to the poor in other countries, too (Our Endangered Values, Carter, pp. 188-189). "For a nation whose leaders frequently invoke their belief in the Bible, curious indeed is how the political rhetoric ignores the overriding duty of the New Testament to care for the poor. 'Sell all that thou hast, and distribute it to the poor' for 'it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.' Jesus said those who believe must sacrifice for the poor; we sacrifice for the rich at the expense of the poor (Free Lunch, Johnston, p. 18)."
This is my favorite passage from the King James Bible:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv...
And this is the New Living Translation of that passage:
8That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"
13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors.
Hey, that's from the Charlie Brown Christmas special, Dave. That passage kicks ass.
Yeah, it's hard to say whether it's my favorite because of the Special or because of the verses themselves.
Mod
Hey RA ... I would be interested in reading the read of his letter if possible.
Beware CH: that's where xtians come from. So - is it time to take up chicken farming? Of course, here in Cali it's the new and improved humane post-apocolyptic chicken farming methods that must be employed.
Mod
Mod
I dunno, sounds like you might have a new career ahead of you. Will it include chicken farming?
wait for it
The Bible.
I read the Book of Ruth. And the Index at the back. Until 3am.
Who here besides me takes this as a sign that the Apocalypse is nigh? I'm telling you, watch out for a rain of toads next.
You've been warned. Carry on.