tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post2386732586003162495..comments2024-03-11T16:29:13.619-05:00Comments on Lingwë - Musings of a Fish: What we’re up againstJason Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-34360883307983952072007-10-12T10:01:00.000-05:002007-10-12T10:01:00.000-05:00Yes, you’re right, Cat, but I would also say that ...Yes, you’re right, Cat, but I would also say that there’s a sensible middle ground also, whose proponents argue that the Bible <I>does</I> contain divine truth issued originally from a holy source — however, subsequently reflected (imperfectly) through the necessarily fallible lens of the mortal, human mind, and therefore not to be taken absolutely literally.<BR/><BR/>For the record, I myself am more in the Bible-as-literature camp, and I make no differentiation between it and Hesiod’s <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theogony" REL="nofollow"><I>Theogony</I></A> or the Old Norse <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_Edda" REL="nofollow"><I>Poetic Edda</I></A>, for example.Jason Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-77141585503648154692007-10-12T06:48:00.000-05:002007-10-12T06:48:00.000-05:00...on what basis can one say the Bible itself is a...<I>...on what basis can one say the Bible itself is a work of non-fiction and not fiction? Seriously.</I><BR/><BR/>This issue boils down to two views: either the Bible is literature (written by mortal men) or it's the inerrant word of God to be taken literally. Christians who believe the latter are the ones who think magic is real and Harry Potter is the devil.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad Bil Lepp's essay speaks for the rest of us!The Cat Bastethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08766507614966971022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-85929037900955997932007-10-11T12:07:00.000-05:002007-10-11T12:07:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for that link, Cat Bastet! It’s an ...Thanks so much for that link, Cat Bastet! It’s an excellent summary of the issues involved. I especially liked Mr. Lepp’s point that “if that is a problem then I guess imagination is a sin.” Well said!<BR/><BR/>One bit raises the specter of another problem:<BR/><BR/><I>It seems to me that there was a time in this country when reasonable, rational people, adults included, could tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction.</I><BR/><BR/>This is part of the dilemma: many Christians have difficulty with this very distinction. In fact — and I honestly don’t mean to bait the Christians out there, but this is a fair question, isn’t it? — on what basis can one say the <I>Bible</I> itself is a work of non-fiction and not fiction? Seriously.Jason Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-38153895426110615712007-10-11T10:09:00.000-05:002007-10-11T10:09:00.000-05:00Mr. Carr needs to read Why Harry Potter Ain't the ...Mr. Carr needs to read <A HREF="http://www.buck-dog.com/methodist_minister_and_harry_pot.htm" REL="nofollow">Why Harry Potter Ain't the Devil</A> by Methodist Minister and professional storyteller Bil Lepp. (Yes, that is the correct spelling of his name. :)The Cat Bastethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08766507614966971022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-43890528643134337972007-10-10T14:30:00.000-05:002007-10-10T14:30:00.000-05:00I know how you feel, Cat Bastet, hahae. Although I...I know how you feel, Cat Bastet, hahae. Although I really feel more sad than angry. If this guy really believes what he’s saying, then he’s certainly too gullible to be giving advice to anybody else. I’m not impugning the Bible or its adherents, but taking anything written 2,000 or more years ago <I>literally</I> is quite a problematic position, I think.<BR/><BR/>The Bible may condemn witchcraft (then again, is a book about witchcraft the same thing <I>as</I> witchcraft?), but have a look at Leviticus 20:13, where the holy book says that “if a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”<BR/><BR/>And the Bible is full of such moral contradictions. There’s Christian tolerance for you. :/Jason Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-19125862316825776632007-10-10T13:28:00.000-05:002007-10-10T13:28:00.000-05:00I’m moving to Amsterdam :)Where instead of burning...<I>I’m moving to Amsterdam :)</I><BR/><BR/>Where instead of burning books, you can smoke them, right? ;)Jason Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-62813530409412946642007-10-10T11:22:00.000-05:002007-10-10T11:22:00.000-05:00You know the "love" i have for people who spout th...You know the "love" i have for people who spout this kind of nonsense. The latest here in Chicago is "My kid has to read 'The chocolate War' and that will damage his self esteem for life". Puhleeeze!!!!!<BR/><BR/>Why do people blame books and music instead of bad parenting? And why do we listen to them? <BR/><BR/>I'm moving to Amsterdam :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-31164461936811439932007-10-10T10:16:00.000-05:002007-10-10T10:16:00.000-05:00Hey PJ, thanks for the reply. And thanks for the c...Hey PJ, thanks for the reply. And thanks for the comparison to <I>Grand Theft Auto</I> (and the Internet). That puts things into a perspective, doesn’t it? There’s a reason you never hear about Harry Potter in the aftermath of shootings and suicides (e.g., Virginia Tech or Littleton). But you very often <I>do</I> hear about violent video games, easy access to guns, and so forth. And anyway, given how easy it is to pick up a rifle at a sporting goods store these days, I think I’d rather take my chances with a disgruntled citizen trying to <I>curse</I> me. At least then I get a <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_throw" REL="nofollow">saving throw</A>. ;)Jason Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809154870762268253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050528436539921312.post-23233978677868021862007-10-10T10:08:00.000-05:002007-10-10T10:08:00.000-05:00So, reading Harry Potter leads to Demonic posessio...So, reading Harry Potter leads to Demonic posession and killing your parents? Not having read the series (because now I'm afraid), am I to assume that the kids at Hogwarts are a secret society of Satan worshipers who chant Slayer lyrics? <BR/><BR/>Get a grip, mr. Carr! I don't see kids who read books and enjoy the plot lines and relate to the coming of age stories of the characters as a threat to society. I would worry more about the kids who spend countless hours playing Grand Theft Auto and even more countless hours unsupervised on the Internet. <BR/><BR/>Jason, thank you for the post. I'm sending this to every teacher I know in the Chicago area. It will make for a nice discussion.<BR/><BR/>And you, Mr. Carr, are a dope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com