h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, 'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:22

Oh, I suspect there's a Deity out there and I suspect there's a whole heirarchy of internediate levels between us and the Godhead, I don't and never have had a problem with that concept.

It's just that some of the people down here who claim to have a direct line to the Deity, or insist their religion gives them special dispensation to tell us how to behave and what to think - they either scare the Hell out of me or they disgust me.

Joking aside, I have a particular respect for that moment in the Gospels where Jesus loses his patience with a thick audience and puts it as plainly as he can:

"Have I not said, ye are ALL Gods?" (John 10:34)

This is one that gets left out and/or skipped over because it doesn't fit the orthodox theology, but it's there, in plain view, in the Bible...

Hi AgProv

Where did you get that translation for John 10:34? I think you must be relating only a portion of that verse rather than the whole thing which if so, means that you should be quoting it as such "..."

I agree with you that Christians should not be telling non-Christians how they should live down here. But the Bible does command the disciples of Jesus Christ to reprove sin (see Eph. 5:10) which is quite a different thing from trying to teach somebody how to live.

RC

>But the Bible does command the disciples of Jesus Christ to reprove sin<

Yes rc, the extreme born-agains do a lot of that around here. Including hounding and bullying the 6 year old daughter of my former partner out of her school because her mother was bisexual. They condemned her sin. Her daughter had to change schools after being taken to hospital with breathing problems brought on by a panic attack because of all the condemning going on.

Very sorry to hear about that Effers.

Hi AgProv, RC,



Never seen that before... but that's exactly what it says in the KJV.

A quick web search reveals that Jesus is here quoting from Psalms, where God says the same thing.

Gif

Cheers mikey

No worries. I know you are a good guy....

Hi Gif

The KJV rendering of John 10:34 is not quite what AgProv wrote (close...but incomplete).It should read : "...Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? "

Problems will arise when verses are clipped. If we take the liberty of omitting even a single article, it can radically alter the intent of the text.

Sorry to hear Effers, that somebody close to you was hounded by a Christian over a sin issue. The intent of Christ's and Paul's teaching is to reprove (which means warn) and if ignored or scorned, then to simply withdraw -- not to continue badgering (see Matt. 4:17 ; 10:14,15 ; Tit. 3:10 (N.B." heretic " in the KJV can also mean "scorner.")

Because all Christians are commanded to reprove sin, they become a hated bunch, as was prophesied by our Lord (see Matt. 10:22-24).

RC

No I like plenty of Christians. There's lots of lovely ones.

And it wasn't *a* Christian, it was a whole load of a particularly virulent strain

I should probably unsub now rc. I still find the whole thing too upsetting to discuss calmly.

Don't unsub, Effers.
It'd be a shame to lose you.

>>..a particularly virulent strain<<

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:5

OK I'm back already.

I was thinking to widen things a bit just from just bible verses. I very much like some christian music etc. We could also have prayers. One of my favourite carols is the Coventry carol, which is an old English carol from the 16th century and sung as part of the traditional Mystery plays that were performed in churches and cathedrals in medieval times. I think a version is also sung as a lullaby. You can tell that in rythmn and words. It's almost hypnotic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_play

I have to say emotionally this is very much my kind of thing in Christianity. The Coventry Carol concerns the murder of the innocents. It's very moving and real somehow about life and loss. This is the more loving, caring side of Christianity, I really like, rather than all the running around reproving sin side of things... That is *so* not my cup of tea.

This is the Coventry Carol on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjjTqG2mpfw&feature=related

I like this a lot. I hope others do.

<>

At last!

<<This is the Coventry Carol on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjjTqG2mpfw&feature=related

I like this a lot. I hope others do. >>

Well, I do, very much!

Vicky

Very pleased to hear that, Vicky.

Proverbs 27:1,2

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Let another praise you
and not your own mouth;
someone else and not your own lips

Proverbs 27.3

Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but provocation by a fool is heavier than both...




v.6

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.

KUZU, I like.

'Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.'

****

Mine for today.

Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the
wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them
up:
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not
much earth: and forthwith they sprung up,
because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched;
and because they had no root, they withered away.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns
sprang up and choked them:
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth
fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

St. Matthew 13:3