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 Jimmy Gillman

Published - Monday, May 05, 2008

POST COMMENT | READ COMMENTS (61 comment(s))

The attraction of B&W mythologies

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I’m not the least bit surprised that Friday’s long awaited release of “Iron Man” brought in more than $100 million dollars at the box office, making it the second most success non-sequel in movie history (I’ll let you try to guess which film ranks number one). The success of film’s like this, sometimes even when they’re not done very well (“Fantastic Four”), comes from the yearning we all have for a clearly defined universe and moral code.

Ironically, that yearning is best satisfied not through cinematic realism but the fantastic; stories that use characters as symbols and rely on broad, classic storylines. These stories reach something deep inside us, which explains why thousands of years later Greek and Roman mythology remains popular, and why comic book cinema and space operas continue to be irresistible to filmmakers and audiences alike.

It also explains why some people take to interpreting the bible literally, the desire for certainty overwhelming. I understand that yearning, although I always want to ask them just what version of the bible they’re referring to.

Click here for more on Iron Man.

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 Comments »

To So now... wrote on May 8, 2008 3:34 PM:

" The Old Testament and New Testament comprise the Christian Bible. The belief in the Old Testament is shared by Christians and Jews. The Jews reject the New Testament as being the word of God because they don't believe Jesus was divine. I disagree with the Jewish religion in that regard, but acknowledge they have every right to believe what they wish. My point that Old Testament morality is shared still stands. "

So now the Old Testament is Christian wrote on May 8, 2008 2:13 PM:

" To the 1:58 poster: You just keep getting yourself in deeper and deeper, and in the process display Christian elitism. So now the Old Testament is a Christian document, and the Jews, who pre-date Christianity, are just mimmicing someone else's model? You're not one of those "why can't the Jews just believe in Jesus" types, are you, because you certainly sound like one? "

To To To Are you wrote on May 8, 2008 1:58 PM:

" It was meant as a compliment. Christian Old Testament morality is very similar to Jewish morality. "

Michael Welch ...And Secular Utopianiism Has Yet To Recover... wrote on May 8, 2008 11:47 AM:

" On the secularist side there is a desire for a 'pluralistic,' 'diverse,' 'tolerant' society, using in quotes those typical buzz words that can take on, obviously, differing particular meanings. The desire is utopian but not dependent on the supernatural but on the efforts of humane humans. The twentieth century unfortunately gave witness to a utopian secularism that actually wasn't -- Soviet and then Chinese communism became centered on a 'living god' called Lenin or Stalin or Mao and the 'power to the people' was perversely delivered to these Putinesque figures. American socialism broke down on the rocks of those rationalizing Sovietism (and later Maoism) and finally liberalism cracked against a 'liberal war,' also unnecessary, against that hyper-demonized Vietnam... "

Michael Welch End Of The Toad... wrote on May 8, 2008 11:36 AM:

" I think Jews would rather wryly (and sighly!) say that it's CHRISTIANS who ATTEMPT to practice JEWISH morality but -- well, they haven't had enough time? The great divide in this bloggy debate is the one between the politicized Christian right and the liberal secularists and it's a division that is insuperable really. It's based, on the Christian side, on the perception that the US is, right ought to be, a 'Christian state' of sorts, that it is an 'exceptionalist' society superior to the rest of the world's, that property (monetary as well) is sacrosanct and authority is ordained by God -- unless it is 'liberal.' Never the twain shall meet really; we will only continue taunting each other like rival playground gangs. Enjoy it kiddies... "

To To are you wrote on May 8, 2008 11:16 AM:

" You must be joking. Jews do not practice Christian morality; they practice Jewish morality. How utterly insulting of you to think otherwise. "

To Are you.. wrote on May 8, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Don't Jewish people practice Christian morals? "

Are you anti-Semitic Tess wrote on May 8, 2008 9:16 AM:

" "When you move away from a Christian morality, you get leaders like Hitler, etc." Really, how do Jews figure into this brilliant equation? Sounds anti-Semitic to me. "

Planet to Brian wrote on May 8, 2008 9:09 AM:

" It is no wonder you can't understand the Bible. Your reasoning and conclusions are all over the place, with no logic. Here is a hint: God used men to write his Word down. Sometimes one event was described by more than one person. Different perspectives of the same event are like different pieces of a puzzle. That doesn't necessarily mean they are contradictions. Rather, many times, they complement one another. Get yourself a good study Bible. Visit some websites. Educate yourself. "

Gosset to Brian wrote on May 8, 2008 8:50 AM:

" Have you ever read the book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"? You ignore the response and bring it up on other boards, acting like it is a newfound discovery of yours. You have done this with Krause, Planet, etc. on several blogs. But, I will go on a limb and answer just one question anyway. I fear it is an exercise in futility, but, as to whether God sleeps, I don't know. You would have to ask God. A question is not a contradiction. Me not knowing the answer is not a contradiction. It doesn't matter if you believe God reveals himself to individuals or Prophets. You believing something or not believing something isn't what makes the world go round. It happens whether you believe it or not. The fact you don't understand how God works just shows you aren't God. "

Dear Gossett wrote on May 7, 2008 7:07 PM:

" I have FAITH in my REASONING...and it has served me and those around me well. I don't beleive in miracles or that god reveals himself to individuals or prophets.....it's plain stupid. And why can't god communicate in a universal language rather than in some gobbledy goop book full of bizarre stories that need spin and lipstick? Your view and this faith in that book are extremely narrow....but some folks are comfortable in their tight and tidy make beleive worlds. Good for you. BrianGSmith "

Ronnie to Brian wrote on May 7, 2008 4:59 PM:

" Lucky I don't have to choose between faith and reason, since the two aren't mutually exclusive. Looks like I have both, and you have neither, as evidenced by your name calling rant against Planet Stasiak, that you never offered a reason for. Nighty night. Time for bed now, little Brian. "

PS wrote on May 7, 2008 4:50 PM:

" And if the questions I've posed "have been answered" why don't you go out on a limb and answer ONLY ONE of them....please. Then I'll stifle my logic assault on you.- BrianGSmith "

Dear Stesiak wrote on May 7, 2008 4:49 PM:

" Yawn on you....these questions can't be answered fool. God sleeps or he doesn't....that ain't a complicated statement needing a Priest and some voo-doo shaman to translate and explain to me or anyone. You've chosen to beleive the Bible and therefor accept any doo-dahs half-asked explanation and spin. There's always an explanation as to why God's word says three different things about the same event....always. When is Jesus coming back...or did He already? It's all in the Bible....I've read it thrice....more than and your experts. - BrianGSmith "

Dear Planet wrote on May 7, 2008 4:45 PM:

" I ain't avoiding squat. You are a racist. - BrianGSmith "

Planet Stasiak wrote on May 7, 2008 3:13 PM:

" Yawn.....yes, Brian, these questions have certainly been dealt with. Asked and answered, so to speak. Not only here, but there are many websites that deal with Bible difficulties. Your problem is, they weren't answered to your satisfaction. But don't act as if these and other questions haven't been debated and discussed between scholars for many years. Anyway, I do notice that you have been ignoring my direct question to you regarding calling me a racist. "

Dear Ronnie wrote on May 7, 2008 2:56 PM:

" Go ahead and follow the silly god of the Bible...I'll follow REASON and Nature. By the way...when is Jesus supposed to return? What does the Bible say about His return? Is it coming soon... or did Jesus already return withing the lifetime of generation afger his alleged death? Curious minds want to know. - BrianGDSmith "

Dear Planeta Stesiak wrote on May 7, 2008 2:51 PM:

" No one has refuted anything of mine....sorry. Nice try though. Tell me....where does God dwell? Heaven or Zion? Was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale? What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink..vinegar and gall, or wine and myrrh, or only vinegar, or vinegar and hyssop? Can thieves go to heaven? Can God be tempted? Does God have a body? Does God sleep? How many sons does God have? Can God be seen? - - - These are but a few of the contradictions found in the Bible....there are literally hundreds. The answers to the questions above VARY....or are totally unrelated. Total contradictions coming from God's word. - BrianGSmith "

Unborn wrote on May 7, 2008 2:05 PM:

" We are not human. "

Michael Welch Confucius Say Is The Best Way... wrote on May 7, 2008 12:52 PM:

" We ALL of us -- as a society -- determine our social arrangements. These become often more flexible as the society develops and as power arrangements alter and diversify. Slavery and later segregation were presented in religious as well as patriotic terms as 'moral'; when Governor George Wallace of Alabama 'stood in the schoolhouse door' against the integration of the University of Alabama in 1963 he spoke of his stance in MORAL terms. The Bible permits and defends slavery of course -- as well as the slaughter of innocents if God commands. God Himself is beyond any moral standard, He Himself tells Job. As I wrote below, flexibility, generosity and tolerance are the basic ingredients of decent AND workable social conditions; rigidities are really the enemies of decency... "

Michael Welch Welch Feels SO STRONGLY He Says It TWICE... wrote on May 7, 2008 12:42 PM:

" Pardon me! I thought I had electronically lost that comment 'I Disagree With Your Premise' in the vastest cyberspaces so I rewrote it; hence the repetitive piece. But considering MANY commenters here -- we ALL 'love' to repeat ourselves don't we?!... "

Michael Welch No I Reject Your Premise Tolerance Is Necessary... wrote on May 7, 2008 12:36 PM:

" No, flexibility, generosity and tolerance are what permit decent societies for there are always diverse views of what is morally 'right,' especially as pertains to an individual situation. One of the great temptations of Satan was to offer Jesus temporal power over 'the kingdoms of this world'; Jesus rejected that and also later when Pilate the procurator threatened him Don't you know I can have you crucified? Jesus asserted that if he wished he could indeed call 'legions' of angels to his rescue but 'MY KINGDOM is NOT of this world.' The ideologies of both the nazis and the communists were rigid re: their perceived 'enemies' -- no middle ground, no flexibility allowed; that led ultimately to their self-destruction... "

Michael Welch I Disagree With The Premise... wrote on May 7, 2008 12:23 PM:

" I disagree; I think moral flexibility is the fount of true justice; it's what allows any society to exist as a diverse enterprise with people with profound differences still able to live in a functioning society. In the gospels one of Satan's temptations to Jesus was the temptation of establishing sectarian power -- to 'rule the kngdoms of this world' -- but Jesus rejected it as he did later before Pilate when the procurator declared Don't you realize I can have you crucified? Jesus said If he wanted legions of angels would defend him but 'MY KINGDOM is not of this world.' Rigidity in society and politics is what slaughters, whether it be fascist rigidity or communist; flexibility and generosity create great societies... "

Planet Stasiak to Michael welch wrote on May 7, 2008 12:14 PM:

" So, where do you draw the line at moral relativity and absolute truth? Obviously, with no absolute truth whatsoever, we would be a nation with no laws. Where is the line? When you would cause harm to another? Then, say goodbye to abortion rights. Who draws that line? You? Me? Someone else? "

To Michael wrote on May 7, 2008 12:10 PM:

" But, moral relativity with no absolute truth leads to things like the holocaust and abortion, see yesterdays 2:58 pm post. "

Michael Welch NOT That Nazis Were Uh Moral Of Course... wrote on May 7, 2008 12:07 PM:

" Now that hardly meant that the former street thugs and petty con men rising in the nazi bureaucratic apparati were morally 'untouchable' in a practical sense; as the head of a 1930s Jewish relief organization once put it, these creatures had the souls of criminals so they were eminently bribeable which is why the US government was urged to offer payoffs in return for Jews released from the camps. Deals could and would be struck but because the US wasn't flexible enough those arrangements were too few, and while the War Refugee Board rescued several hundred thousand (not a small number) hundreds of thousands more were abandoned to the death camps... "

Michael Welch No The Nazi View Was Rigid Inflexible... wrote on May 7, 2008 11:57 AM:

" All morality is 'flexible'; everyday life would be impossible if it weren't. As I pointed out below inflexible nazi ideology led to the systematic slaughter of the European Jews; and moreover the inflexible adherence to the 1924 US immigration restrictions (especially per central and eastern Europe) caused, in part, the deaths of millions of Jews. The nazi 'Nuremberg laws' were straight jackets, procrustean beds, measured for ALL Jews whether secularized or converted or even the most ardent dissenters to the Versailles treaty (MANY German Jews had fought FOR the kaiser after all) -- Jews were Jews and it would be 'immoral' to permit their continued pernicious influence and power: THAT's how nazis saw it; no moral 'relativity' to it at all... "

Planet Stasiak to Brian middlenameamystery Smith wrote on May 7, 2008 9:04 AM:

" Brian, here you go again. When you are tripped up on other blogs regarding the Bible or anything else, you come to another blog and start in with your same tired points(which have usually been refuted and answered). Now, Brian, can you go to the "name" blog and give an answer as to why you called me a racist? As I (and others) noted, when you are caught in a lie, you take a powder and show up on another board. Or, would you rather discuss it here? Maybe just ignore it like you usually do? Inquiring minds want to know. "

To Wingdam wrote on May 7, 2008 8:52 AM:

" Just because people do horrible things in the name of Christianity does not mean they are Christians or following Christian principles. If I go out and do something horrible in the name of "Wingdam", would you want to be judged for it? If you want to discuss religion and the Bible, great. But try to keep it real. "

Dear Tess wrote on May 7, 2008 3:14 AM:

" Read the Book of Joshua and then come back and try and restate your head-in-the-sand view of the Bible. It's a pastiche of stories cobbled together 4 centuries after Jesus allegedly died. It reveals a silly and childlike God....one I would never follow nor pledge any allegience to. Mores and morals.....hilarious. King David, one of god's fave's, used to send the husbands of ladies he wanted to have sex eith to the frontlines of battles.....with 'god's blesing". The bible, as it is, is the most damning biography of 'god' ever written.....I don't think you've read the book cover to cover. - BrianGSmith "

Wingdam wrote on May 6, 2008 11:58 PM:

" Here's a great example of bible followers in action!

http://www.local6.com/news/16169506/detail.html?rss=orlpn&psp=news
"

Wingdam wrote on May 6, 2008 10:10 PM:

" What morality lead to the Inquisition?
It killed more people that the holocaust and the methods of torture used by those God loving Dominican priests made the Nazis look like girl scouts!
"

Jimmy is either clever or just antagonistic wrote on May 6, 2008 8:00 PM:

" I think Jimmy is clever, because he knows which hot button topics get the most responses. I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy gets $ benefits from having alot of responses (and if he does, more power to him). I also think Jimmy enjoys the role of being an antagonist. How else do you go from a story about a comic book movie to people who believe the Bible is accurate? "

To Michael wrote on May 6, 2008 2:58 PM:

" Flexibility permits the type of morality that allows for abortion rights and the holocaust. See yesterdays 1:23pm post. If you are flexible, maybe certain groups of people become sub-human in order to fit your flexible morality, such as abortion and the holocaust. "

Ronnie to Michael wrote on May 6, 2008 2:54 PM:

" The Bible does not contradict itself.See my 5/5 2:38pm post and then a follow up by someone at 3:42pm. "

Michael Welch Flexibility PERMITS REAL Morality... wrote on May 6, 2008 12:15 PM:

" The Roosevelt administration feared that if it launched vigorous efforts to rescue European Jews the war would be characterized as one commenced 'for the Jews'; however there were strong efforts in the congress by disparate members to push the administration to act. Guy Gillette, a Democratic senator from Iowa, and Will Rogers Jr, the son of the late humorist and a Democratic representative from California, were not Jewish of course but their work coupled with other groups composed of US Jews and non-Jews pressured the administration to at last do the relative little it did toward the end of the war to save Jews. Rigid considerations like winning the war were then allowed the 'moral space' to do what was possible to rescue real people... "

Michael Welch How Jews Were Saved... wrote on May 6, 2008 12:03 PM:

" Further I'm glad that 'Johnny' and 'Tess' agree with me that the circumstances of World War II also show how selective morality is. The Roosevelt administration could have saved thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, more European Jews if it had altered its rigid 1924 immigration laws. Also independent Jewish aid groups and then the government War Refugee Board (established finally to help the Jews) had made indirect contact with high ranking nazis like Eichmann and found that they COULD (what a surprise!) be bribed. The pro-nazi Rumanian government actually released thousands of Rumanian Jews under threat of post-war crimes trials. Moral flexibility saved European Jews, not condemned them... "

Michael Welch The Bible Is Full Of Contradictions Like Human Nature... wrote on May 6, 2008 11:53 AM:

" The Bible is really rife with contradictions; as 'Johnny Hobo' and 'Tess Trueheart' constantly point out the morality of the scriptures is ALWAYS situational in practice, no matter what the commandments say. Abraham is to sacrifice -- murder -- his son Isaac because God's only standard for Himself is His own will or whim. The flood episode condemns everyone -- men, women, children, animals, plants -- but for the small remnant God chooses. The Jews have a concept called 'God's favorite'; the best example is David who arranges for the death of Uriah so the king can have Uriah's wife Bathsheba. David is 'punished' by the death of an innocent, his first born, but he can keep the wife and she bears him Solomon, his heir and an even greater king... "

Bugs to Tess wrote on May 6, 2008 8:15 AM:

" Oh, Tess, you are something else. Bless your true heart. "

Bugs to Brian wrote on May 6, 2008 7:13 AM:

" I'm a bit farther along. Frodo and Sam and Smeagol are attempting to cross the dead marshes. Interesting to note that in the 20th Century, only the Bible sold more copies than Lord of the Rings. "

Tess Trueheart wrote on May 6, 2008 6:21 AM:

" One of the hardest things to communicate to those who are a little slow on the uptake is that the Bible doesn't read like a novel or story or codified traditions. Rather, like a mosiac, it shares a series of incidents that provide a framework of mores and helps expose God to humans (as much as humans can understand.) As Michael Welch and Johnny Hobo point out, when you move away from a Christian morality, you get leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Obama. "

To Harsch wrote on May 5, 2008 3:42 PM:

" Gods Word does not contradict itself. Brian does not note any contradictions, he notes what he himself sees as inconsistencies. It doesn't mean he is correct. He has done the same thing on other blogs, and people have directed him to websites that address his concerns. People have also tried to address his concerns here. But, it is all an exercise in futility because BrianXSmith will believe what he wishes, and nothing will change his mind. He contradicts himself when it suits his purpose. Your Nazi references aside, I think Ronnie is wise to take the Word of God over the word of BrianXSmith. "

Harsch wrote on May 5, 2008 3:02 PM:

" God's word is contradictory. BrianGSmith notes the contradictions, but he is not God so God's contradictions must stand. This sort of reasoning seems more likely to support, for an instance too often alluded to here, Nazi ethics than a belief in evolution. The logical presuppositon of an absolute truth that as such negates all reason is a very dangerous tool. "

To Brian middlenameamystery Smith wrote on May 5, 2008 2:54 PM:

" Wrong. Most educated people in this country are Christians who consider the Bible the Word of God. You allege the same things in other blogs, but as pointed out to you on those blogs the evidence shows otherwise. "

Ronnie Gosset wrote on May 5, 2008 2:38 PM:

" Sorry, Brian, I have to disagree. The only reason you don't understand why God does everything He does only shows that you aren't God. That would be due to your shortcomings, not God's. I will choose to accept the Word of God over that of Brian Smith. However, I can't totally disagree with your post to mk. You are correct-you can't pick and choose. "

Dear Ronnie Gotsit wrote on May 5, 2008 2:15 PM:

" The flood story comes from the Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, etc...The Genesis story does somewhat follow the evolutionary line. First light (boom....the Big Bang), etc. However it is not the word of any god, far too many contradictions and humanlike shortcomings to be of the character of a god. The OT is simply frightened man's attempt to explain his existence and rationalize all the evil stuff men would wage on other men. (see Joshua) It's easy to chase women, kids, and the eldrly into the woods and slaughter them if god told you to. OT bible writers were no different than "Son of Sam".....BrianGSmith "

Dear mk wrote on May 5, 2008 2:07 PM:

" Can't pick and choose. Jonah was swallowed, Jesus was raised and God told civlized mankind it was wrong to kill and wrong to think about your neighbors oxen and wives. - BrianGSmith "

Hey Bugs... wrote on May 5, 2008 2:05 PM:

" You said you were reading "lord of the rings"....where are you? I'm on pg. 350.....the Company of Nine have left Rivendell and are in the treacherous and wold infested mountains....So far no hot Elven chicks like in the movies....BrianGusseinSmith "

To Michael wrote on May 5, 2008 1:23 PM:

" You bring up an interesting point in your 11:42am post. This is the same ideology supporters of abortion rights have-that the unborn are not really human. Dehumanizing the victims has long been a popular way to justify mass murder. "

Literal truth expressed sometimes in parables and stories wrote on May 5, 2008 12:59 PM:

" Like Planet Stasiak referenced in the first post, it's important to know the context, otherwise it doesn't matter if you read the Bible in the Greek, Hebrew, or King James English, it all tells the same thing. I find it strange that some Christians will believe that Jesus actually died and rose again on the third day, but don't believe that the whole world could have been flooded or a giant fish or whale could have been used by God to transport Jonah. If you believe in one supernatural event then why think God mislead in other places? Seems like convenient theology and not actual faith. "

Michael Welch Nazi Morality Was Rigid Also... wrote on May 5, 2008 11:42 AM:

" As for the concentration camps brought up Hitler and nazi ideology had their own rigidities -- first Jews were not exactly 'human' but rather a human 'bacilli,' an infection on humanity that must be destroyed as must any bacteria that threatens life. Therefore Jews who had converted to Christianity were still Jews; it was their unavoidable biological inheritance; and those who had one grandparent who was Jewish were deemed Jews. Heroic service to the country in WWI and patriotic identity as a 'German' also meant nothing in this absolute theoretical construct; Jews were Jews and therefore 'vermin' to be eradicated in this nazi 'morality'... "

Michael Welch The Spirit And The Letter... wrote on May 5, 2008 11:32 AM:

" As for the comment on moral absolutes -- one, distorting my views even as a continuing joke ought to be 'immoral' eh? -- but in the practical world we ALWAYS deal in situational ethics. The lengthy Jewish commentaries on the teachings of 'Torah' -- the Talmud -- are full of often intricate attempts to apply what appear to be rigid rules to actual living. Jesus indulges in some 'Talmudry' I'd say when he disputes the notion, If I pull an ox out of a ditch on the sabbath am I profaning the sabbath? No because saving even an animal from suffering or death is permissable any time -- BUT one must extrapolate that from the overall 'spirit of the law,' not from the 'letter' of it... "

Ronnie Gosset wrote on May 5, 2008 11:25 AM:

" mk, I am not sure why you would be unsure whether there was a global flood. When something was allegory or parable, it was made quite clear. Certainly, the flood is told as an actual, historic event. So, unless you believe the Bibles authors were untrustworthy and prone to lying, there is no cause to doubt that a global flood occured. Also, if there really was a global flood, you would expect to find billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the earth. And what do you find? Billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the earth. No discoveries in science or archaeology contradict the Genesis account. "

Michael Welch ALMOST As Good As Shakespeare... wrote on May 5, 2008 11:22 AM:

" I've written about biblical subjects many times on this blog and on the Trib blog. I do agree with the literary critic Harold Bloom (who calls himself a 'gnostic Jew') that one ought to assume that BELIEVERS do believe after all and that a literalist attitude toward the Bible would be more expected than a critical one. That doesn't prevent biblical mythology from having its own bizarre aspects; I also agree with the mythologist Joseph Campbell that every religion has its absurdities. I view the Bible as a composite mythology of Sumerian, Egyptian and Canaanite origins, very well written all in all as are the Iliad and Odyssey, and re: Bloom ALMOST as 'good' as Shakespeare... "

Harsch to MK wrote on May 5, 2008 11:16 AM:

" In this context, which you are familiar with, literal belief in the bible means belief in the flood and that Jonah was indeed swallowed. Seek offense elsewhere if you need it. "

Good Job Jimmy wrote on May 5, 2008 10:31 AM:

" The Bible link you provided includes many great links itself, that should answer most of the questions BGS, Bugs etc. always ask. Interesting stuff. "

mk wrote on May 5, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Jimmy you need to be specific about your definition of the term "literal" especially when referencing people's interpretation and faith in the bible. Though I'm unsure if Jonah was really swallowed by the whale or the whole world was flooded at one time and only Noah and his family survived, I literally believe in the moral teachings of the bible (for example the 10 Commandments and Christ's Sermon on the Mount). If you call yourself Christian you should believe in these "literal" interpretations of biblical stories. So the next time you decide to write an article that targets other people's faith in a book that is the cornerstone to their beliefs, use choice wording or you may lose a large portion of your reading audience. "

Bugs Raplin wrote on May 5, 2008 9:43 AM:

" Right on, Jimmy. This is why I'm so into the Lord of the Rings movies. "

Johnny Hobo wrote on May 5, 2008 9:23 AM:

" This is Jimmy, is that if you live life by a moral code, then, sooner or later, all issues come down to a binary choice. When we get flexible with morality, we end up with places like Bergen-Belsen, Tuol Seng and Nyarubuye and leaders like Hitler, Pol Pot and Obama. "

From The Man wrote on May 5, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy You just had to stir that pot again didn't you? "

Planet Stasiak wrote on May 5, 2008 9:09 AM:

" Since I am not fluent in Greek or Hebrew, I prefer my english version.(I prefer plain english as opposed to the King James english). Translations don't necessarily make the original writings less literal. Think of it like an interpreter in court. Sometime take a look at the very first few pages of your Bible-the "Introduction", so to speak. It will usually explain the methodolgy used to translate, etc. "


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