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Showing posts with label Religion and Spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion and Spirituality. Show all posts

07 June 2024

Book Suggestions : Classic Literature: Francois-Marie Arouet (1694 - 1778) aka Voltaire

Francois-Marie Arouet (1694 - 1778), who later took the name of Voltaire, was once hailed as “the wittiest writer in an age of great wits”, and Candide (or Optimism) was considered “his wittiest novel”. The topic he chose to exercise his wit upon in this novel was the problem of human suffering.


Candide (or Optimism) was written in 1758. At that time, Voltaire was 64 years old. Most consider this his most important work — representative of The Enlightenment (1650-1800). The personal suffering he had endured in his own lifetime, and his study of history convinced him that there is no such thing as Divine Providence directing all human affairs.

Brief Bio of Voltaire and Intro to Candide - HUBPages.com




* * *
Interesting Link:
Long-lost letters reveal the young Voltaire | The Cotton Boll Conspiracy :  More than a dozen letters penned by French Enlightenment figure Voltaire nearly 300 years ago have been uncovered recently and are now being studied by a British professor …






Prezi. “Enlightenment Philosophers: Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau.” YouTube Video. YouTube, August 12, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3d609dAxMg. ‌


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20 May 2024

Sometimes I Babble - Can't You Tell?

Sometimes I babble.  But people referred to the Apostle Paul as a babbler too.  The words below in black are my statements.  The blue letters are found in the Bible.

Personification of knowledge (Greek Επιστημη, ...
Personification of knowledge (Greek Επιστημη, Episteme) in Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  • Ignorance was always a choice. (“… fools hate knowledge”)

  • Information was always currency. (“Buy the truth and sell it not.”)

  • Knowledge is freely offered and there for the taking or … accepting. (“Choose knowledge rather than choice gold.”)

  • Wisdom when rightly applied is the key to not wasting your life way. (“Teach us to number our days.”)


- Sometimes I babble.

- Sometimes I say things that are verifiable truths.

Am I babbling?




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10 May 2024

The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales (Guest Post)

Book Review: The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales by Bernard Shaw


The title piece in this anthology is a parable on the nature of religious belief. When first published in 1932 it caused quite a stir and I wondered whether the intervening 75 years might have rendered it something less of a shocker. I found that, apart from one violation of current political correctness and a few inevitable stylistic issues, the message had lost none of its poignancy and perhaps little of its ability to shock.


"The Black Girl in Search of God" is not a novel or a novella. It is not really a short story either. I choose to describe it as a parable because others have, but equally, it could be classed alongside Plato's symposium as a vehicle for examining a philosophical idea. It's not a discourse, but it could be a meditation, albeit a rather energetic one. The idea in question, of course, is the nature of religious belief.

The Black Girl of the title is only cast as such, I think, to provide Bernard Shaw, the author, with a literary vehicle to convey his otherwise naïve questions about Christianity. To this end, The Black Girl is presented as a "noble savage", and thus a tabula rasa. It is here - and only here - that Shaw violates current correctness. The character could have been cast as a child, but then she could not have threatened to wield her knobkerrie, her weapon, and nor could she have been portrayed as bringing no tradition of her own. We must accept, therefore, that there remains a functionality about the role of this character. She does not represent anything, except her ability to ask the questions she is required to ask.

The Black Girl has been converted to Christianity by a young British woman who has taken delight in amorously jilting a series of vicars. She then becomes a missionary, despite her clearly thin grasp of the subject matter. She is, perhaps, an allegory of colonial expansion. She goes abroad to teach others despite not having achieved fulfillment or knowledge in her own life. It might be important that the teacher and the taught are both women.

When her convert starts asking questions, fundamental questions that the missionary herself has never heard asked, never mind answered, she reverts to invention, not scholarship. Shaw's intention is clear. She invents myth to mystify myth. And this cloak satisfies the curiosity of the average Christian, but not The Black Girl, who thus goes off in search of God.

And, guided by snakes, she finds Him. And not just once, because there is more than one God in the Bible she carries. There is the God of Wrath, who demands the sacrifice of her child. When she cannot comply, He demands she find her father so he can sacrifice her. A good part of the Bible thus disappears from her new-found faith.

She meets an apparent God of Love, but he laughs at Job for being so naively and blindly devout. More of her book blows away.

She meets prophets who, one by one, deliver their different messages, most of which conflict and communicate individual political positions or bigotry rather than personal revelation.

On the way, she belittles Imperial power and male domination. She learns that most "civilized" countries have given up on God and hears a plea that people like her should not be taught things that the mother country no longer believes.

Scientists offer her equally conflicting opinions. They are careful only to describe, never to conclude or interpret. In a way, they are just modern prophets, each with their own interested positions.

There is an amazing episode where a mathematician implores her to consider complex numbers, the square root of minus x, which The Black Girl hears as Myna sex or perhaps its homophone minor sex, and is clearly a reference to feminism. Along with economic power and male dominance, The Black Girl sees guns as the highest achievement of white society. This anticipates the description of colonialism's trinity in Ngugi's Petals of Blood.

Then, in a strange section, an Arab discusses belief with a conjuror. These appear to be a pair of major prophets in thin disguise. But their discussions merely confuse the girl and their words skirt her questions.

And so she meets an Irishman, marries and settles down. She devotes herself to him, their coffee-colored children and the fruits of their garden. Note that she does not devote herself to herself. She projects out, does not analyze within. And in this utterly humanist universe she finds not only personal happiness, but also fulfillment and, with that, answers to her own metaphysical questions that religion per se could not even address.

And so, as the parable closes, we ponder whether the Irishman she marries is Shaw, and whether The Black Girl is the questioning, non-racist, non-sexist, socialist and humanist vision of the future he has personally espoused.

And as for the Lesser Tales, they are generally lesser. Don Giovanni explaining himself was fun and the Death of an Old Revolutionary Hero was prescient of the role of the Socialist Workers' Party adopted in maintaining Margaret Thatcher in power in the 1980s. A great, historical and fundamentally contemporary read.



* * *

Author Bio
Philip Spires
Author of "Mission", an African novel set in Kenya
www.philipspires.co.uk
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content


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05 May 2024

Religions of the World: What Do Muslims Believe About Angels?

Many of us in Western civilizations have somewhat of a familiarity with what the Bible teaches about angels, such as the scene depicted in the image below of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  But what do Muslims believe?

“Belief in angels is one of the six articles of faith in Islam, and all Muslims must accept their existence. The Qur’an emphasizes this in the following verse: 'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. All believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers.' (Qur’an 2:285). Although angels are part of the unseen and therefore mysterious, the Qur’an and hadith offer some insight into the creation of angels, their attributes, and their purpose."  (Quote Source: via What Do Muslims Believe About Angels? | suite.io)
  • Learn the basic teachings of Islam regarding angels, their creation, and their attributes.

* * This article discusses:

  • What Are Angels?

  • Why Were Angels Created?

  • How Many Angels Are There? Where Do Angels Live?

  • What Do Angels Look Like? Do Angels Have Wings?

  • How Big Are Angels?

  • Are Angels Male or Female?

  • Angels Can Take the Form of Humans


* * More Reading on Islamic Beliefs

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:
  • Angels in Islam (Al-Malaikah) – Learn the names and duties of angels mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith.
  • What Do Muslims Believe? – An overview of the basic beliefs of Muslims, also called the six articles of faith.
  • Satan in Islam Compared to Satan in Christianity – Learn how Muslims’ belief about the devil differs from that of Christians.

* Muslims invoke Allah’s blessings on the Prophet Muhammad whenever his name is mentioned.
All articles were written by Christine Benlafquih, a Morocco-based writer who covers varied topics including religion, food, health and culture.


 **BLOG PUBLISHER’S COMMENT: 
I used to contribute articles to this site and like to share contributions made by fellow freelance writers such as this one. Writers for Suite101.com are often professionals who publish articles on various topics, from current political issues to ancient history, health, food, entertainment, religion, and more. It takes no effort to search the database and find articles on just about anything.  HOWEVER, Suite.io no longer exists.  But the information extracted from the Suite.io articles written by Christine Benlafquih can likely be found at this site:  Islam Religion - Articles



Image Credit:
Carl Heinrich Bloch: Angel comforts Jesus before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane
Source: Wikimedia Commons


* * * Additional reading?
( #giftabook - Public libraries often operate on limited budgets. If you purchase a book, after reading it, please consider donating to your local library.)


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20 March 2024

Christianity: Footsteps of Jesus? (And the Sea of Galilee)

Most people know that Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus.  Most Christians have read the account in the gospel of the moment in time when Jesus publicly announced that He was the Messiah.  (Luke 4: 21)

ARTICLE EXCERPT:  “Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He studied and prayed in a synagogue, the ruins of which are believed to lie beneath a church built by the Crusaders in the 12th Century and that is known as The Synagogue Church.”

No doubt a visit to this historic place is a numbered item on the bucket list for many believers.  For me, this wonderful article by a fellow freelance writer and friend, Sheri Oz, puts a wonderful spin on the phrase “footsteps of Jesus”.


Jesus’ Synagogue Church in Nazareth, Israel


synagogue
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 Since we’re on the subject of seeing places where Jesus walked, couldn’t resist sharing this amazing photograph.




Related Content:







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16 September 2023

Women of the Bible: Rahab - The Noble Harlot

In the History of the Jews, Rahab was a Canaanite Harlot Who Believed.  The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew mentions five women. One of them is Rahab.

{Before you read this I have a couple of questions that are not answered in the Bible about Rahab, but it would be interesting to know the answers. QUESTION:  When the spies entered Rahab’s house or “business”, she told them she believed the account of an incident that had occurred 40 years ago.  It was not breaking news on CNN.  So … how old was Rahab?  Was she about 50 years old?  Was she older than 50?  Older than 50 and turning tricks?  (“Turning tricks” means still servicing customers.) ANOTHER QUESTION:  Because of her actions in hiding the spies, she saved her father, her mother and her brothers.  Would you not say her family was incredibly trusting and really had a lot of confidence in her?  But she was a whore!  Hoes get no respect!  Her family put their lives in her hands? To think of it, the story of Rahab is a remarkable story!]
 

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(Image credit: Tissot_The_Harlot_of_Jericho_and_the_Two_Spies.jpg )


Rahab (alternately spelled Rachab) was a Canaanite harlot who lived in Jericho . Her house was on the city wall. Though forty years has passed and Moses, the great Jewish leader and prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt had died, Rahab spoke to the Jewish spies who came to her house, about the parting of the Red Sea as if it were a current event. (The writers impression.) She mentioned the event along with another happening, the destruction of Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites and informed the spies that the people of Jericho were afraid for their lives, as was she.

Unlike the inhabitants of the land of Jericho, Rahab's heart did not melt. Rahab had decided (because she believed the reports about Jehovah, God of the children of Israel) that since the destruction of Jericho was as certain to become an historical event as had the other two events she referenced, she could only bargain for her life and those with her, and hope that the Israelites would honor the agreement. The Jewish spies promised her protection. They agreed that when they attacked the city of Jericho, she and whoever was in her house with her their lives would be spared. This they promised because Rahab had risked her life by hiding them from the kings messengers and helped them to escape. When the Israelites captured Jericho they kept their promise to Rahab.

Indeed Rahab was afraid but her survival instinct seems to have overruled her fear. Or was it her faith? The kings messengers could have discovered her secret and what would have been her end? The Jewish spies could have just as easily broken their promise and what would have been her end? Why did she do what she did? Was it fear? Or was it faith? Faith in a God she had only heard reports of, about incidents she had not witnessed. No scriptures for her to read. No prophet to guide her. No one to teach her the difference between the gods she likely had been taught to worship versus Jehovah.

In Christian (New Testament) scriptures, Rahab is listed as one of the heroes of faith (Heb 11: 31) and commended for her example of faith (James 2: 25). Rahab was accepted as a proselyte (convert) to the Judaism and became an ancestor of King David, the beloved second monarch who ruled over the united kingdom of Israel. Though Matthew the Apostle and Saint Luke both trace the lineage of Jesus, only Matthew mentions Rahab a prostitute who became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz, the grandmother of Obed, the great grandmother of Jesse, who was the father of David, King of Israel. (Matt 1: 5, 6) 



References:

  • The scriptural references provided can be used to piece together Rahab's real life story. JOSH 2: 1; 6:17, 25; MATT 1: 5; HEB 11: 31; JMS 2: 25
  • "Seekers of the Promised Land." Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1974.
  • Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995. 

glitter-graphics.com




Rahab's Story



Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter



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Women of the Bible: Tamar - The Noble Harlot

In the History of the Jews, Tamar was a dutiful widow who played the harlot.  The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew mentions five women. One of them is Tamar.

 * * *
(Image credit: Gelder, Aert de - Tamar and Judah; Public Domain)

 Tamar (alternately spelled Thamar) was the wife of Er, the firstborn of Judah, who was the fourth son of Jacob. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. Jacob fathered twelve sons who became the twelve tribes which comprise the nation of Israel. Er died and according to the Law of Moses regarding marriage, a man was required to marry the widow of his brother, if the brother dies with no male heir. (Note 1) This was to be done to preserve the name and estate of the deceased. Therefore, Onan, Ers brother married Tamar. But Onan also died. 

Judah, the father-in-law had a third son, Shelah. At the time of Onans death, Shelah was too young to marry. Being fully aware of the law and its requirements, Judah promised Tamar that when Shelah was old enough, he would give her to him in marriage. But when the time came, Judah did not honor his word and obey the law. In desperation to conceive a son who would preserve her late husbands name and estate, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot (a prostitute) and offered her services to Judah. She became pregnant with twin sons. Months later, when Judah was informed of Tamars pregnancy, he demanded that she brought out publicly and put to death; the penalty for whoredom. IT WAS THE LAW!!! 

When Tamar proved that Judah, her father-in-law, was the father of her unborn, Judah publicly acknowledged his own guilt. Because he had not allowed Shelah to marry Tamar, he was the outlaw. Tamar was fully vindicated. She had obeyed the law and was judged as not having committed any act deserving of punishment; particularly punishment by death. Tamar was acknowledged as being righteous, because she was determined to preserve her late husbands family line. The names of the twin sons were Perez (or Phares) and Zerah (or Zara) recorded in the Gospel of Matthew as follows: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar (Matt 1: 3) 

Tamar understood her duty, and she also knew her rights and the rights of the dead. The scriptures do not indicate that she conspired or consulted with anyone for advice. She determined what needed to be done in order to right a wrong and had the courage to follow through. 

Note 1: Among the Hebrews marriage with a brother's widow was forbidden as a general rule (Lev. xviii. 16, xx. 21), but was regarded as obligatory (Deut. xxv. 56) when there was no male issue, and when the two brothers had been dwelling on the same family. 


References:

  • The scriptural references provided can be used to piece together Tamar's real life story. GEN 38: 6, 24; RUTH 4: 12; 1 CHRON 2: 4; MATT 1: 3

glitter-graphics.com

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter





Related articles

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28 December 2020

The History of Astrology and the Gifts of the Magi

Some people celebrate the Adoration of the Magi every year on January 6.  Read an interesting article about the history of astrology and how it was applied in the beginning. (Reference: Good Heavens! Oldest-Known Astrologer's Board Discovered | Live Science) 

Per Wikipedia "Astrology is a pseudoscience that claims to divine information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the movements and relative positions of celestial objects."
  • I believe the initial use of the real science of astrology (as opposed to pseudoscience), "in the beginning", i.e. used to predict the weather for agriculture purposes, natural disasters, etc., is the correct use or application of astrology. 


The article goes on to state that people began to say they could apply astrology in human affairs for success. 
  • I believe that "beginning" (of when people started saying how astrology could be applied) could possibly be the beginning of when scam and con artists began to leave their indelible marks on the history of mankind, i.e. deceivers started telling people they could predict their future success by the stars and that deception has continued to this day (psychic readings, hotlines, etc.). 

  • I believe there is only one exception where, not the stars, but a single star, was applied to human affairs for salvation and its appearance lent itself to the prediction of the rise (success) and fall (failure) of many.

*The star that led the wise men to Jesus.* 



Image credit: Star Of Bethlehem by FullMoonMaster on DeviantArt
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The visit of the Magi may be a part of the so-called Christmas tradition but more importantly … it's a true story.  


It's an integral part of the most beautiful story ever told.  


Christmas Tradition: The Gifts of the Magi

Christmas Tradition: The Gifts of the Magi


Every year during the month of December, many people direct their minds to the story about the birth of Jesus, revered by faithful Christians as the Savior of the world. Although the nativity scene always shows the three wise men (also called the three kings) adoring a newborn baby and bearing gifts, the biblical account indicates that their visitation did not occur on the night that Mary gave birth.
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21 July 2020

Only One Day Left: What’s your Final Answer?

This is a common question asked to provoke thought and/or make people appreciate their lives more.

This is my answer.  What's yours?

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28 May 2020

Should We Get Rid Of Religion? | Response to Article by HUBPages Contributor Nell Rose

Whenever people ask a question and use the word “religion” my response is always the same. I have followed this definition for religion ever since I read it in the epistle written by James the apostle.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
In the first part of the definition, you're lending a helping hand to the needy. 

In the second part of the definition, the only person whose way of life and behavior you're responsible for “controlling” is your own!

Even if there were not a God looking down at what you do, why wouldn't you do it anyway? So why get rid of it?
  • Don't you want to exercise your own free will over your own life?
  • Don't you have compassion for those who are less fortunate and want to help them if you can?
It's a neat and simple rule, principle, or guideline to follow.

You want to get rid of something? 

Get rid of people who abuse, oppress, and kill other people and claim they have the “authority” to do it in the name of “religion”.

Of course … that's not so simple.



♦♦♦♦♦♦
Good HUB! Very thought-provoking. 
A lively discussion going on over at:


How would you answer this question??

* * *
The above remarks are my comments left behind. Re-sharing here at my blog because when “thought bursts” like these come to me, sometimes it's good to keep a backup record of them elsewhere.  :)

HUBPages is an online writing community that has been around for several years. But you don't have to be a writer or Contributor to participate in the discussion and leave a comment. You can just join the network to read the articles and supply any additional information you may have, and/or your thoughts, opinions, and perspectives.  It's a great way to meet people and make friends. 

Sign up free and create a HubPages Network account. 


Do you like to write? Become a HUBPages Contributor?  View Sample Writer Profile
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23 May 2020

No Coffins – Organic Burial Pods = Recycling's Finest Hour (Reblog)

Organic Burial Pods???!! 

I am so on board with this concept!!  

Isn’t everyone??


 I mean … a Jew or Christian surely can’t object. 

It’s totally scriptural.  :)
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” 

Genesis 3:19

Forget Coffins – Organic Burial Pods Will Turn Your Loved Ones Into Trees | Bored Panda (Reblog)




Forget Coffins - Organic Burial Pods Will Turn Your Loved Ones Into Trees

The idea of coming full circle and returning whence we came is captured perfectly by this beautiful new burial method developed in Italy. The Capsula Mundi project by designers Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel has developed an organic, biodegradable burial capsule that will turn the deceased's body into nutrients for a tree that will grow out of their remains.


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Similar links of interest:

Trees Deserve Respect

Ailanthus altissima is an ornamental tree grown mainly for shade and also for its leaves which the silkworm feeds on. Sounds prettier when it is called by its unscientific name: "tree of heaven". The acacia thrives in the wilderness of Paran (the location of several historic events in the Bible).

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African Baobab Tree

The baobab tree (adansonia) is the national tree of Madagascar and has been called the tree of life (although I personally believe that any tree on the planet can be called a tree of life**).
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Sam Van Aken's Tree of 40 Fruit

So the voice in my head says: 'Why are there so many different trees? There should be one tree that bears all of my favorite fruit! Why does there have to be an apple tree, an orange tree, a mango tree, etc.?' OK. There was no voice in my head that said that.

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Trees Have Benefits

This article briefly touches upon a selection of trees chosen for two reasons. (1) To highlight and emphasize the contributions made by trees to sustain our life force. (2) Because these particular woody plants have interesting history associated with them that can be gleaned from the Bible and it makes for interesting reading.
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23 September 2019

Should Churches be Tax-Exempt? | HUBpages Contributor Catherine Giordano

It seems the U.S. laws regarding tax exemptions for churches, other religious institutions, and non-profit organizations is a carryover from the days of Emperor Constantine. 

But is it really a good idea?


This matter being discussed thoroughly at an article written by HUBPages Contributor Catherine Giordano.  

Should Churches beTax-Exempt?




These are only partial comments submitted by me and approved by the author.  Completed comments are a bit "windy".  :)
Fair? Unfair? Tax? No tax? Interesting discussion but for the faithful, it's just “much ado about nothing”. Speaking with respect to Christians. Can't speak for the mission of other religious organizations and non-profits, but the mission of the body of Christ is clearly spelled out in Matthew 28: 19 – 20 (and other scriptures). If you don't tax the church, we'll carry out the mission. If you tax the church, we'll carry out the mission. Jesus left the example. He didn't argue about paying taxes. He paid the tax and carried on with His work. (Matthew 22: 21) So the question has already been answered. Whatever the government in any country decides to do ... i.e. taxing, imprisonment, etc, ... the “laborers” will continue God's work until “The Harvest”. Christians don't need government support or approval to know and to do what is right.

You will find many HUBpages article links shared via this blog.  HUBPages is a spirited community where one can usually find intelligent conversation and interesting reading material on all kinds of subjects; not just religion and politics and history, which are usually my interests.  It gives me great pleasure to direct readers to pages penned by my fellow freelance writers.  Why should I have all the fun?  :)

Would you like to join the discussion?
Create a HubPages Network account.  It's free to join.


Related articles


http://amzn.to/26uPLpM

“… the fruit of 16 years of research in Talmudic, gnostic, cabalistic, apocalyptic, patristic, and legendary texts. …”

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19 January 2018

You Can See Your True Colors

Gehazi - The Faithful Unfaithful Servant


Gehazi was the name of a faithful servant of a Hebrew prophet named Elisha. Faithful as long as he was with Elisha and there was no temptation.


One day a man who was sick of a skin disease came to the prophet for healing. Elisha cured the man but refused to take money or accept any reward for what he had done. Gehazi was privy to the exchange between these two men. Seeing that Elisha could not be persuaded to accept any form of payment, the man went on his way intending to return home, but Gehazi chased after him. When he caught up to the man he told him that his master had a change of heart and would be more than happy to take a talent of silver and two changes of clothing. For the needy? But of course!

 LIAR LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!!

 Elisha had said no such thing.


 Gehazi lied! Gehazi gave in to his own greed and misused a position of public trust to STEAL!

 Did his sin go unpunished? NO! This is a Bible story. Where moral lessons abound and good always overcomes evil, and black is black, and white is white. If you want to know what happened you can read about it in 2 Kings.
So what is the moral of Gehazi's story?

 MORAL LESSON:
You can lie to others, but not to yourself.
You can always see your true colors even if nobody else does.


***
Original Post Feb 25, 2014 at TreasurePen



Gehazi, The Sinner Detected: A Sermon-in Puritan style-on Temptation and Secret Sins: "Be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32
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22 November 2017

Ethiopian or Philistine? Am I a Dog?

Published this post and although the stats show it had a reasonable amount of views and even a few Plus Ones, the question has still not been answered.

Can an Ethiopian change his skin? *

My answer is:
“Never been to Oklahoma but do like Sir Paul McCartney.”
(Yep. That’s right. DUH! Totally changed the subject.)

The question was prompted because of some dialogue in a Denzel Washington movie. Had the script been written and instead of saying “Ethiopian”, if the character had hurled his insult by threatening to call Mr. Washington’s character a “Philistine”, the scene in that film would have made sense to me. 


Most Bible students know the menacing Philistines were the enemies of the Israelites. There were constant struggles for control of the land of Canaan (an older name for Palestine). A study, just a quick study, of the people of Philistia might lead one to conclude that if they had not always been battling with the nation of Israel, they would have been at war with another group. They liked to fight!!


WHY? Because they could!!


The Philistines were skilled warriors; on land and at sea. In fact, they were once called Sea Peoples. Their navy consisted of fleets of the finest warships during that time, expertly manned by experienced soldier/seamen. As for their army? The infantry, i.e. trained foot soldiers, possessed superior weapons of iron and wielded them masterfully and mercilessly. 


For hundreds of years, the Philistines waged continuous war against the Israelites. David, Israel’s second king succeeded where the nation’s first king, Saul, had failed. Around 1000 B.C., he finally subdued these fierce fighting men and once crushed, their power began to decline. Other nations coming in afterward, would reap the benefits of David’s military efforts. Somewhere around 800 to 700 B.C., the Assyrians attacked and conquered cities of Philistia. Then between 597 and 586 B.C., when the Jewish people (Israelites) were exiled to Babylonia (as was foretold to them by their prophets), the Philistines were taken away as slaves too.


Not much is known about the origins of this ancient people and none of their literature has survived; just fragments of pottery and coffins, some images on Egyptian reliefs, and what is written about them in Old Testament scriptures. Historians and archaeologists have very little to reconstruct their past.  However, according to an article published in Science News, an ancient cemetery has been found that might yield some clues.

Bower, Bruce. "Ancient Cemetery Provides Peek into Philistines' Lives, Health." Science News. Society for Science & the Public, 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.  (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-cemetery-provides-peek-philistines-lives-health). 


Ancient cemetery provides peek into Philistines' lives, health


In our vernacular (American English), to call someone a “Philistine” is not a compliment. It is a term of contempt and means the person has uncultivated tastes or lacks culture (i.e. lacks refined behavior, good manners and/or social graces). That sounds very subjective. Perhaps the easiest way to explain the insult would be to take the question the Philistine giant, Goliath, asked a young shepherd boy, and superimpose it. Imagine that the person you’re staring down asks you this same question and you simply nod your head up and down as an affirmative response, because you don’t want to waste your breath.

“Am I a dog?” **


Image credit: Gebhard Fugel [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



* Jeremiah 13: 23

* * 1 Samuel 17: 43



D.C.'s Bible Museum to debut with $42M worth of cutting edge technology

Washington, D.C.'s newest religious museum is set to unveil next year with a location only three blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Recently, The Museum of the Bible released information on the $42 million high-tech experience visitors will experience.


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04 July 2017

Difference Between Politics and Religion

Politics and religion. What's the difference?

In case one might think the lines are blurred. They're not!

Continue reading:
 


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11 November 2016

Religion within the limits of my reason: ​​Christianity and IS (Reblog)

Below is a link from a blog that I am occasionally invited to read and my comments are being provided in the form of a blog post because it is too much information to be included in a Comments box.  (You can refer to the statements as "my crazy thoughts" if you don't want to call it "information".)

 Religion within the limits of my reason: ​​Christianity and IS : max-aschmann-park

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MY COMMENTS:


In Judaeo-Christian history, for the period between the Testaments (which many in our circles refer to as Malachi to Matthew), there were no prophets. Before Jesus arrived there was one prophet, known as John the Baptist, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”. His “voice” was to let others know the Messiah was come. He accomplished his mission and lost his head. By the time of his death, the ministry of Jesus was in full force. The ministry lasted for 3 years. Jesus also accomplished His mission, was crucified, died, resurrected, ascended back up to heaven and now “has all authority in heaven and in earth”.

By His authority he never authorized the killing of anybody!

Jesus made it very clear to Pontius Pilate and others while He was here on the earth, that His kingdom is not of this world.  

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

His disciples were COMMANDED to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel. He who believes and is baptized and shall be saved.”  Converts are not to be FORCED into conversion.  They must hear the Word, believe it, become convinced and convicted of sin in their life, repent (turn away from the sin), publicly confess that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and be baptized for the forgiveness of the sins and they are "born again", a new creature, prepared to live a sanctified life and work out their soul salvation.

Christians don't want to conquer or rule the world!

We just want to live our lives in peace on this earth being a "peculiar people, zealous of good works", and go to heaven when we die! 

If we can not live our lives in peace, without persecution, then whatever happens in this life … it's God's will.  We were also warned that we would be persecuted FOR OUR FAITH.  We trust Him.  All we need to do is stay faithful.

Romans 8:33-39


33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As for ISIS, the establishment of the Caliphate, etc., etc. and any other movement based on religious, philosophical, political or any basis or foundation for their motivations and mission to gain power IN THIS WORLD … as far as faithful Christians KNOW … “this too shall pass”.

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The Passion

Often if an article is about to discuss a topic that can be categorized as "religion", the author may feel the need to state that the writing is not an attempt to convert people to their "way", i.e. beliefs, convictions, faith, etc. Point noted. However that same point can not be made by me.

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