Let's not :)

In cases where two people disagree over the meaning of a post, isn't it simpler just to ask the author what he meant? We can then argue over whether Sprite expressed himself clearly enough, but it seems silly of us to act as though we couldn't go to the Horse's Mouth for the truth of what he meant to say. Sprite's language is somewhat tempestuous, but no more so than that of certain biblical figures. Here is St. Paul, railing against the Church of his day: "I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name." And here is Jesus, railing against the orthodoxy in his time (remember, he's speaking about the equivalent of the local good church people): "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. . . You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" Lest you feel I've left anyone important off this list, here is Job giving his opinion of God: "Know then that God has put me in the wrong, and closed his net about me. Behold, I cry out, 'Violence!' but I am not answered; I call aloud, but there is no justice." His friends are shocked and accuse him (more or less) of "putting Self over and above the Word of God." You may recall God's response to those friends. :) "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." There runs through the entire Bible a strong protest, not only against whatever happens to be the orthodox religious view of the day, but also against God himself. This is clearer in the Jewish tradition than in the Christian tradition, but Jesus himself asks (whether to make a point or out of genuine anguish, we can never know), "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" To question the ways of God is not unChristian. To never question the ways of God may be. Heather [E-mail]   [Home Page]