Talking about the commandments, not the conference and Hitchens weighs in with his typical dose of brilliance combined with a fairly restrained (for him) critique of Yahweh and His adherents:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/04/hitchens-201004?printable=true.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/04/hitchens-201004?printable=true.
Hitchens isn't breaking any new ground when he asserts that the commandments were written by and for a nomadic society concerned with agrarian details and close quarters living arrangements. That's how the "coveting your neighbor's ass" thing got in there, though you could probably argue that it's highly applicable to 21st century living only with a different posterior in mind. 19th century Texans and others had concerns about rustling, with summary death imposed on offenders--a prime example of the kind of thing that's highly important to a people living on the edge. Today, I'd like to see something adopted about shitheads driving slow in the passing lane (maybe lashing would work) but would prefer easing restrictions on the coveting of various lady parts.
Peace be with you.
5 comments:
Bible parsing by a smoking, drinking, xenophobic journalist seems a tad conflicted. Sounds as though he couldn't come up with anything more relevant to meet a deadline.
What should be the correct rules for living has been a topic of soul searching since the beginning of man. Most of our current code of morality is rooted in the Bible. But, remember that the Bible is written mostly as a collection of stories. There is nothing in it that says for every action there is a reaction that universally applies.
So, if you believe (as I do) that salvation results only from God's grace, and not from obeying a list of rules, does that change your sense of morals? I hope not!
As opposed to parsing from ministers every Sunday? Also, just what is valid or not valid when it comes to the various books of both testaments? Can you get God's grace alone and apart from the bible?
1) Yes. I don't go to an accountant when my knee hurts.
2) You have to decide for yourself. My point: there is no absolute set of rules that guarantees salvation. Evidence of this, to me, is the fact that scripture is interpreted so differently.
3) Yes. Read the book of Job.
I have no clue as to much of what you're saying but I appreciate the certitude of it.
Think of your relationship with your kids. Have you ever given them a set of rules and said "obey these or I will not love you?" I doubt it.
Doesn't mean they don't piss you off, disappoint or surprise you. But, the love you have for them is there because you choose to give it, not because they did anything to earn it. Regardless of how your kids behave, your attitude towards them is always your choice.
What do you think Brittany Griner's mom is saying to her these days?
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