Was Herodiotus there? Funny how the plague didn’t get into the city of Jerusalem. How did those germs/fleas know that only the Assyrians were the target of the plague.
I’m always happy to find an appreciative audience…
Holy Spirit: the third person of the Christian Trinity. St. Augustine of Hippo, I believe, likened them to mind, memory and will, or better to the Father, who so loves the Son and is loved in return, that the love between them becomes a “person” itself. That means that God has no need of any outside being to be complete: within the Godhead there is a community of love, far deeper and complete than we can possibly imagine.
According to St. Basil, we pray, “to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,” or “to the Father through the Son, united in the Holy Spirit.” The first form stressed the unity and equality in the Trinity; the second form stresses more the ways we encounter them.
ChuckTrent64 said, “How did those germs/fleas know that only the Assyrians were the target of the plague. ”
Probably the same way the plagues of the Dark Ages didn’t decimate the Jewish population as much as it did the Christians. ….. Cleanliness.
All those Laws written down in Leviticus and again in Deuteronomy about washing before meals and cooking ones food properly, etc,etc not only set God’s People apart from the rest of the people, it kept the germs at bay.
Holy Spirit doesn’t need to stand at the city gates to keep the germs out if the people inside the gates follow the rules about keeping clean.
ChuckTrent64 & DewSolo - Say huh? If you haven’t read the last strips comments you may not know, simplify for the unedjumicated please I can’t even tell if you are saying you are For or Against the Jewish population. Personally I am interested in learning about all religion/belief systems.
Please Be Nice Everybody!
I not only have notes on assertiveness. I have more than 100 camp song lyrics - I will share if you are not nice!
I agree that there is validity to lessons such as dietary and cleanliness having a point in the Bible. I am actually going over some stuff I wrote in a journal a couple years ago that covers some of what we have been discussing.
One of my difficulties with people who go strictly by what the Bible says is that the actual content of the Bible has not changed in ???? years. There are things that were taught then that don’t actually help very much in today’s society.
If God is always teaching us, why should we go by what was written long ago? Perhaps some of the lessons in the Bible are now obsolete as written?
Monkey 2 said they preached about Genesis recently. That it went God, Man and then woman. That women are supposed to agree with what their fathers thought and then their husbands. Is this what you want to teach the monkeys; that women are inferior to men? Not to think for themselves: I do know that you act as if men are superior to women, but do you really want the Monkeys not to think for themselves?
Actually the creation sequence when put together goes God, Angels, Universe, Critters (for want of a better term), Man. If you look at the Hebrew text where it talks about God breathing into man, it is talking about the breath of lives. That is a plural, so God endowed man with multiple lives (the man and the woman which was taken out from him). So from the start, the two were a team. There are better translations also for the word “helper”, it is actually more like a partner. Paul’s writings always put the woman on a pedestal to be honored, not trodden under foot.
On lessons being obsolete, I would not think so. But on laws such as dietary and some areas where things will be come obsolete as in First Corinthians chapter 14 where Paul talks about certain gives ceasing or disappearing, you then have one section of the Bible overriding another section for some reason.
I am not trying to get in a discussion and am not picking on that chapter, just what came to mind. I am trying to play nice ;-)
: ) Welcome to the discussion! So is the creation sequence is somewhere in Genesis? I have not actually read it.
The journal entry is what Monkey 2 told me she came home and learned from church. I have a lot of problems with that particular church. The impression I have gotten from people is that women are not equal to men in the teachings of the Bible. Whether they are treated as a prize on a pedestal or treated as a second class person; it does not seem equal to me.
It makes sense for women to look to men for protection in the past. But in the current times women are becoming increasingly independent and capable of being as equal to surviving in today’s society as men. To treat anybody as they are not equal because of something they have little or no control over does not seem right to me.
I would like to think if there is a God he continues to teach us what we need to be good people in the time we are living in at present. So something that applied even a hundred years ago may not apply now(or at least not in quite the same way). Much less something that happened approximately 2000 years ago.
(My time is up for now, problem with the phone line at home so not sure when I will be back later tonight hopefully. Have fun explaining why I am wrong, just remember keep it as simple as possible or my head may explode.)
When the Monkey 1 was 6 and Monkey 2 was 3; I made up this story to try to help them understand that people didn’t need to follow the Bible to be good and that not all who follow the Bible are bad.
Story — Bible Is Like A Knife
The Bible is like a sharp knife. They both can be used for good or bad.
The Bible can be used to teach and help people, to spread love and understanding. It can also be used to spread hate and justify killing people.
A sharp knife can be used to make food, like a sandwich or to perform surgery to help people get better. It can also be used to cut someone or even kill someone.
The Bible and knife are not good or bad. It is how people choose to use them that is good or bad.
@LuvH8, actually, there are two versions of the creation story in Genesis (first book of the Bible, so near the beginning, just after introductions, forewords, tables of contents and other such stuff): Genesis 1:1–2:4 is the “seven days” of creation, while Genesis 2:4-25 is the Garden of Eden story, followed in Chapter 3 by the Fall and expulsion from the garden.
Bunnyface after reading the creation stories in Genesis, I think I will keep my views of a possible God being loving. The description of God in those stories is not one I would choose to follow. I hope he gets better as time goes on.
How So Many Belief Systems Can Be Right
Each person perceives God(or equivilent) in a manner they believe is right but the true nature of God(or equivilent) and faith is not understandable. All belief systems have some truth. What matters is what lies in the heart.
Not Judging Others
It is best to teach others by being an example, and praising others when they change their ways in a positive manner. It is okay to let someone know if you think they are doing something wrong. It is not up to anyone to decide how we will be ultimately judged. We do know what is going on inside that person. We should strive to accept the person in spite of what we feel they are doing wrong.
Doc T - I do not advocate violence, but sometimes people need a thump in the head to get their attention. I hope you didn’t hurt him too much.
As far as ‘Bible Thumpers’ are concerned: I wish they would realize that they do more damage than help both to the religion they represent and to the psyche of the people they are putting down.
(Doc T - if you are not sure how God feels about it ……. wait you are an ordained minister. What does that mean? and why are you asking me?)
On religion/belief systems I have never found one I could fully embrace (or would fully welcome me, for that matter).
As to whether or not there is a God, I would like to think there is one (or several), but I do not know or believe.
I think there are good people in every belief system. They tend to be harder to pick out than the ones who believe they are good. (I hope that makes sense.)
Bunnyface especially has reminded me of what a truly good person someone of faith can be. I only hope I don’t offend him too much by how I express the fact that I don’t share his beliefs. Not that he would ever tell me if I did (unless I went way over the top).
Doc T I don’t think religion is bad. What some people do in the name of it is bad and what some people do with it is good. (people can screw up anything)
I was talking to someone who said religion got in the way of a relationship with God. It was my impression that religion was a way to help people become closer to God and others in their communities through their belief systems.
Hmm…. Sometimes I forget that people tend to think that other people think as they do. I tend to notice the things I consider ‘bad’ first, but the things that I consider ‘good’ are what I remember more. (Hope that makes sense.)
So while looking for suggested books I found a book ‘For the Love of God Handbook for the Spirit’ edited by Shield & Carson.
I was reading the first selection by The Dalai Lama, and i was agreeing with what I read, when all the sudden it hit me that I was agreeing with The Dalai Lama. And then I was like Hey!
I have come to realize that the better person I think I am, the worse person I actually am. The worse person I think I am, the better person I actually am.
Doc T - Doesn’t it scare you that I make sense to you?
Bunnyface - I had never read that before. I am not sure it makes sense to me (guess I have to think about it more). I don’t know ……. it seems that the more I find that agrees with what I believe myself the more I think of myself (become arrogant). Confused now (of course that’s normal).
: ) Lois G - Thank you for the link, I liked that strip.
dead.theologians.society over 14 years ago
I guess that means she wants to get rid of all the fat cats.
ChuckTrent64 over 14 years ago
Was Herodiotus there? Funny how the plague didn’t get into the city of Jerusalem. How did those germs/fleas know that only the Assyrians were the target of the plague.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Politics, religion, obesity…………….. not touching that!
———————————————————–
Thank you for help, thinking now!
Bunnyface - ( :
Gma T - What is the wee voice of the Holy Spirit? Actually, even though I have Catholic relatives I have no idea what the Holy Spirit is.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
HolySmoke TMI! TMI! ………brain overload……Kaw Blewey!
Okay that was a bit intimidating. Please simplify,
I was actually asking GmaT about the Holy Spirit. Although I will take answers from all who wish to contribute.
Was I supposed to try to summarize where people left off? (please say no, please say no)
dead.theologians.society over 14 years ago
Oooh pop some for me! I will make a pot of virtual nuclear coffee so we can stay awake!
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
I enjoyed last week too.
bmonk over 14 years ago
I’m always happy to find an appreciative audience…
Holy Spirit: the third person of the Christian Trinity. St. Augustine of Hippo, I believe, likened them to mind, memory and will, or better to the Father, who so loves the Son and is loved in return, that the love between them becomes a “person” itself. That means that God has no need of any outside being to be complete: within the Godhead there is a community of love, far deeper and complete than we can possibly imagine.
According to St. Basil, we pray, “to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,” or “to the Father through the Son, united in the Holy Spirit.” The first form stressed the unity and equality in the Trinity; the second form stresses more the ways we encounter them.
Dewsolo over 14 years ago
ChuckTrent64 said, “How did those germs/fleas know that only the Assyrians were the target of the plague. ”
Probably the same way the plagues of the Dark Ages didn’t decimate the Jewish population as much as it did the Christians. ….. Cleanliness.
All those Laws written down in Leviticus and again in Deuteronomy about washing before meals and cooking ones food properly, etc,etc not only set God’s People apart from the rest of the people, it kept the germs at bay.
Holy Spirit doesn’t need to stand at the city gates to keep the germs out if the people inside the gates follow the rules about keeping clean.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
ChuckTrent64 & DewSolo - Say huh? If you haven’t read the last strips comments you may not know, simplify for the unedjumicated please I can’t even tell if you are saying you are For or Against the Jewish population. Personally I am interested in learning about all religion/belief systems.
Please Be Nice Everybody!I not only have notes on assertiveness. I have more than 100 camp song lyrics - I will share if you are not nice!
(off to the library, be back later)
dead.theologians.society over 14 years ago
LuvH8 - I think everyone is trying to be nice.
BTW, there is a 4 part response to last weeks discussion on the 2nd page, and they are long.
I think Dewsolo has a valid point on the dietary and cleanliness laws being given for a purpose.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Phil N. DeBlanc -
I am mainly doing a little reminder before people get upset because I find that a little reminder before often saves hurt feelings later.
Thank you for the heads up on the response. That one is going to take some thinking about to try to understand.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
I agree that there is validity to lessons such as dietary and cleanliness having a point in the Bible. I am actually going over some stuff I wrote in a journal a couple years ago that covers some of what we have been discussing.
One of my difficulties with people who go strictly by what the Bible says is that the actual content of the Bible has not changed in ???? years. There are things that were taught then that don’t actually help very much in today’s society.
If God is always teaching us, why should we go by what was written long ago? Perhaps some of the lessons in the Bible are now obsolete as written?
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
For example (entry from journal/names changed):
Monkey 2 said they preached about Genesis recently. That it went God, Man and then woman. That women are supposed to agree with what their fathers thought and then their husbands. Is this what you want to teach the monkeys; that women are inferior to men? Not to think for themselves: I do know that you act as if men are superior to women, but do you really want the Monkeys not to think for themselves?
dead.theologians.society over 14 years ago
Actually the creation sequence when put together goes God, Angels, Universe, Critters (for want of a better term), Man. If you look at the Hebrew text where it talks about God breathing into man, it is talking about the breath of lives. That is a plural, so God endowed man with multiple lives (the man and the woman which was taken out from him). So from the start, the two were a team. There are better translations also for the word “helper”, it is actually more like a partner. Paul’s writings always put the woman on a pedestal to be honored, not trodden under foot.
Just my take on things.
dead.theologians.society over 14 years ago
On lessons being obsolete, I would not think so. But on laws such as dietary and some areas where things will be come obsolete as in First Corinthians chapter 14 where Paul talks about certain gives ceasing or disappearing, you then have one section of the Bible overriding another section for some reason.
I am not trying to get in a discussion and am not picking on that chapter, just what came to mind. I am trying to play nice ;-)
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Phil N. DeBlanc
: ) Welcome to the discussion! So is the creation sequence is somewhere in Genesis? I have not actually read it.
The journal entry is what Monkey 2 told me she came home and learned from church. I have a lot of problems with that particular church. The impression I have gotten from people is that women are not equal to men in the teachings of the Bible. Whether they are treated as a prize on a pedestal or treated as a second class person; it does not seem equal to me.
It makes sense for women to look to men for protection in the past. But in the current times women are becoming increasingly independent and capable of being as equal to surviving in today’s society as men. To treat anybody as they are not equal because of something they have little or no control over does not seem right to me.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
I would like to think if there is a God he continues to teach us what we need to be good people in the time we are living in at present. So something that applied even a hundred years ago may not apply now(or at least not in quite the same way). Much less something that happened approximately 2000 years ago.
(My time is up for now, problem with the phone line at home so not sure when I will be back later tonight hopefully. Have fun explaining why I am wrong, just remember keep it as simple as possible or my head may explode.)
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
PLEASE do not just sit back and watch, participate you are the only one I almost always understand.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doctor Toon - Most would consider it scary if I understand them. Mwa mha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa!
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
When the Monkey 1 was 6 and Monkey 2 was 3; I made up this story to try to help them understand that people didn’t need to follow the Bible to be good and that not all who follow the Bible are bad.
Story — Bible Is Like A KnifeThe Bible is like a sharp knife. They both can be used for good or bad.
The Bible can be used to teach and help people, to spread love and understanding. It can also be used to spread hate and justify killing people.
A sharp knife can be used to make food, like a sandwich or to perform surgery to help people get better. It can also be used to cut someone or even kill someone.
The Bible and knife are not good or bad. It is how people choose to use them that is good or bad.
bmonk over 14 years ago
@LuvH8, actually, there are two versions of the creation story in Genesis (first book of the Bible, so near the beginning, just after introductions, forewords, tables of contents and other such stuff): Genesis 1:1–2:4 is the “seven days” of creation, while Genesis 2:4-25 is the Garden of Eden story, followed in Chapter 3 by the Fall and expulsion from the garden.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Bunnyface after reading the creation stories in Genesis, I think I will keep my views of a possible God being loving. The description of God in those stories is not one I would choose to follow. I hope he gets better as time goes on.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
From last weeks questions, I considered what people typed and combined the answers into something I could understand and accept (Agnostic).
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
How So Many Belief Systems Can Be Right Each person perceives God(or equivilent) in a manner they believe is right but the true nature of God(or equivilent) and faith is not understandable. All belief systems have some truth. What matters is what lies in the heart.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Not Judging Others It is best to teach others by being an example, and praising others when they change their ways in a positive manner. It is okay to let someone know if you think they are doing something wrong. It is not up to anyone to decide how we will be ultimately judged. We do know what is going on inside that person. We should strive to accept the person in spite of what we feel they are doing wrong.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doc T - I do not advocate violence, but sometimes people need a thump in the head to get their attention. I hope you didn’t hurt him too much.
As far as ‘Bible Thumpers’ are concerned: I wish they would realize that they do more damage than help both to the religion they represent and to the psyche of the people they are putting down.
(Doc T - if you are not sure how God feels about it ……. wait you are an ordained minister. What does that mean? and why are you asking me?)
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doctor Toon That is really nice and beautiful.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
On religion/belief systems I have never found one I could fully embrace (or would fully welcome me, for that matter).
As to whether or not there is a God, I would like to think there is one (or several), but I do not know or believe.
I think there are good people in every belief system. They tend to be harder to pick out than the ones who believe they are good. (I hope that makes sense.)
Bunnyface especially has reminded me of what a truly good person someone of faith can be. I only hope I don’t offend him too much by how I express the fact that I don’t share his beliefs. Not that he would ever tell me if I did (unless I went way over the top).
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Bunnyface, Doc T & Lonewolf have been wonderful to me in a time when I really needed it. Maybe you can all pray for each other? ………. Luv to you all.
COWBOY7 over 14 years ago
LuvH8,You’re pretty special yourself. Thank you! And I also agree about Doc & Bunnyface(bmonk)
Shikamoo Premium Member over 14 years ago
Great discussion here. Hi bmonk, Doc et al
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Hello Shikamoo and Everyone!
So the Holy Spirit is the love between God And Jesus that is so strong it is like another person in the trinity?
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doc Tool does that mean I am close on what the Holy Spirit is?
Can anyone please explain the difference between having a religion and having a relationship with God?
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
VERY NICELY PUT, Dr. T!
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doc T I don’t think religion is bad. What some people do in the name of it is bad and what some people do with it is good. (people can screw up anything)
I was talking to someone who said religion got in the way of a relationship with God. It was my impression that religion was a way to help people become closer to God and others in their communities through their belief systems.
Hmm…. Sometimes I forget that people tend to think that other people think as they do. I tend to notice the things I consider ‘bad’ first, but the things that I consider ‘good’ are what I remember more. (Hope that makes sense.)
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
So while looking for suggested books I found a book ‘For the Love of God Handbook for the Spirit’ edited by Shield & Carson.
I was reading the first selection by The Dalai Lama, and i was agreeing with what I read, when all the sudden it hit me that I was agreeing with The Dalai Lama. And then I was like Hey!
I have come to realize that the better person I think I am, the worse person I actually am. The worse person I think I am, the better person I actually am.
bmonk over 14 years ago
@LuvH8, isn’t that thought on being a better or worse person what the Rule of Benedict says in Chapter 7 (On humility) about exaltation and humility?
LoisG Premium Member over 14 years ago
For those who are looking for THIS week’s For Heaven’s Sake, you can find it at;
WWW.CREATORS.COM
FOR HEAVENS’ SAKE and More at WWW.CREATORS.COM
http://www.creators.com/comics/cat-seeall.html
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Doc T - Doesn’t it scare you that I make sense to you?
Bunnyface - I had never read that before. I am not sure it makes sense to me (guess I have to think about it more). I don’t know ……. it seems that the more I find that agrees with what I believe myself the more I think of myself (become arrogant). Confused now (of course that’s normal).
: ) Lois G - Thank you for the link, I liked that strip.
Plods with ...™ about 14 years ago
This has only been up a week? Must be the new diet seems like waaaaayyyyyy longer.
DebJ4 about 14 years ago
Just wanted to let every one know that Creators.com ALREADY has Tuesday’s copy of FOR HEAVENS’ SAKE posted.
WWW.CREATORS.COM
FOR HEAVENS’ SAKE and More WWW.CREATORS.COM
http://www.creators.com/comics/cat-seeall.html