And I love that I've got a tag for "onions," though I see various posts with onions that did not get the tag, including posts with the tag "onion rings," onion rings being a special, niche topic here on the blog. Remember these carnalized onion rings? And of course, these ("I doubt if any blogger will disagree with my assertion that, coming from Bill Clinton, the 'O' of an onion ring is a vagina symbol").
Speaking of comments, I can see some of you are saying I'm not giving you the kind of post you like anymore. There are at least 4 reasons for that:
1. The world is locked down, so things don't just happen anymore, not the kind of things that delight and intrigue. The usual places still have their articles, but they're filling space. They're doing what they have to do, and I can smell the fakeness, the ennui. I have my standard, and I'll read until something crosses the line for me.
2. The standard on this blog is not big over small. I'm not here to repeat headlines about what the President just did. In fact, if the headline is big, I'd rather go small.
3. I'm not interested in throwing my weight onto one side or the other, and if I have nothing to add, there's no reason to write about these things. With Trump, I have distanced myself from the relentless haters, but I'm in no mood to encourage him either. I'm waiting for the next few weeks to pass, hunkering down. I could spring out and denounce him, but I don't join mobs.
4. It's Christmas Eve. Talk about keeping a distance. What can you see from a distance? "When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, 'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?'"
Posts
187 comments:
God bless you, Ann Althouse!
Are the people denouncing trump supporters call for violence a mob? The anti-mob mob I guess.
love simmering like carnalized onions
Carnalize means "to make sensual", so the word might not be an auto-correct artifact, especially in light of "love simmering".
Well, Ann. When Georgia decertifies its Electoral College votes for Biden and sends Trump Electors, I think that will be bloggable.
There will be great drama on January 6th. At least a debate in both houses. I hold out a faint hope that Trump will prevail. As a Rule of Law guy, I can't bear the thought of a cheater in the White House.
Nothing has diminished my long-standing belief that you should have a "Trump is like Jesus" tag.
Restated, I wouldn't be so upset if Trump lost fair and square even with the loosened standards for mail-in ballots, but with the ATL videotape, all the affidavits and the stopping the count in the middle of the night in the key states and then an avalanche of Biden votes, it is clear to any rational and fair-minded person that the Dems cheated.
Blogger steve uhr said...
Are the people denouncing trump supporters call for violence a mob? The anti-mob mob I guess.
Which would they be? The BLM members and supporters (which include lots of the very rich) that were burning down Democrat cities last summers ? That mob ?
It was nice of the Obamas to let us see that lovely photo of kayaking in Hawaii while the sheep are all ordered to stay home.
Smug was dissing the truth tellers again.
I'm waiting for the next few weeks to pass, hunkering down. I could spring out and denounce him, but I don't join mobs.
Tell that to Sandmann and Kavanaugh.
And THIS writing is exactly what brought me to Althouse Blog and keeps me coming back. I like clever wordplay.
"There will be great drama on January 6th."
On my calendar, that date is called Epiphany.
"Popular Epiphany customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, having one's house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, winter swimming, as well as attending church services. It is customary for Christians in many localities to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve (Twelfth Night), although those in other Christian countries historically remove them on Candlemas, the conclusion of Epiphanytide. According to the first tradition, those who fail to remember to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve must leave them untouched until Candlemas, the second opportunity to remove them; failure to observe this custom is considered inauspicious."
I must say that for a person who doesn't go to church, as far as I know, Ann Althouse sure does knows a lot about the Bible and Scripture passages.
One of the best courses I took at Creighton was about the New Testament. The professor was Bruce Malina. He was a former Franciscan priest who married. His wife taught theology at Creighton Prep. The wife was hot and taught a class on sex at the all male Creighton Prep. For some reason, I wasn't in that class. I think that was the year I had Brother Wilmont.
Bruce could read Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin. He could really drill down into the linguistics and history of the Bible.
I wonder if such a course is taught in Madison?
"I must say that for a person who doesn't go to church..."
You don't know where I go.
Ann:
I wrote "as far as I know." Be fair with your ellipses.
My January 6th calendar. "Congress shall be in session on the sixth day of January succeeding every meeting of the electors. The Senate and House of Representatives shall meet in the Hall of the House of Representatives at the hour of 1 o’clock in the afternoon on that day, and the President of the Senate shall be their presiding officer."
Two words to the entire Althouse community: Pascal's Wager.
I learned the Gospels in a Classics Illustration Bible. It was basically Matthew.
Probably knew more than the kids who went to Sunday School while I hid indoors.
We were too smart for that religion thing, you know.
Talk about keeping a distance.
I won't be keeping a distance nor washing my tennis shoes for the next two days.
Classics Illustrated! Great comic books.
"I wrote "as far as I know." Be fair with your ellipses."
Sorry. I stopped reading in the middle of the sentence. I shouldn't have done that.
I got distracted by the question where is church and answers like "Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says, “Greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers."
Trump is like Jesus be ause he got crucifixioned for trying to throw out the money changers from the swamp. He will soon be resurrectioned on NewsMax TV.
Merry Christmas to Ann, Meade and everyone who reads and comments on this blog!
Ann:
You went full Malina on me with the Greek origins of the word "church."
I was speaking of "church" in the common or colloquial sense as I am a Deplorable living in flyover country. The Jesuits tried to educate me, but mostly failed. My lizard Cornhusker brain still fairly well runs my life.
“ From a distance
You look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance
I just cannot comprehend
What all this fightings for
From a distance
There is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And it's the hope of hopes
It's the love of loves
It's the heart of every man
Iit's the hope of hopes
It's the love of loves
This is the song for every man
God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us
From a distance
Oh, God is watching us
God is watching
God is watching us
From a distance”
—- as sung by Bert Midler
In order to believe that Pascal's wager has any significance, you have to believe that God doesn't know the contents of our heart. When I was a Christian, I believed there was no point in lying to, or trying to fool God, because he knew my heart. In my experience, you either have faith or you don't. I spent years searching for mine and never found it.
My response to the Pascals of the world, is why would I want to spend eternity with someone who is willing to sentence those he loves to eternal damnation for a simple lack of faith?
Pascal was a “wagger”...
I can see some of you are saying I'm not giving you the kind of post you like anymore.
I don't expect to always see posts that I like or ones that spark my interest. That would be boring if everything was what "I" liked. True. There are sometimes posts that I am interested in reading. Some that I am interested in making comments.
And others that I just don't give a fig about either reading further or making comments because the comment section can turn into arguments. That is my problem, not that of the author of the posts.
Other posts lead me to learn something, see something, new or different. Then it is down the rabbit hole.
...and also, get down with yobadself!!!
"There will be great drama on January 6th."
On my calendar, that date is called Epiphany.
On mine it is called my Birthday 😁
I imagine I was quite an Epiphany for my parents.
Carnal onion is my new band name
I don't expect to always see posts that I like or ones that spark my interest. That would be boring if everything was what "I" liked. True. There are sometimes posts that I am interested in reading. Some that I am interested in making comments.
Exactly. This is not the only blog I read and I have two blogs to post on things I want to.
Who is Bert Midler?
Did I miss an announcement?
Who is Bert Midler?
Did I miss an announcement?
Too bad Iman can't fix their mistake and delete your post.
>>Dave Begley said...
Two words to the entire Althouse community: Pascal's Wager.<<
I always wondered how much Pascal wagered on the Invisible Pink Unicorn.
"The world is locked down, so things don't just happen anymore, not the kind of things that delight and and intrigue."
We'll always have Florida.
Here's looking at you, kid...
I always shake my head when commenters here think they have any input as far as content. Regulars (should) fully understand you blog for you. You then allow those with a twist towards voyeurism to peek in and see what you are up to. Comment even.
If its not of interest, move on. Don't draft a complaint.
There's things posted I'm not interested in. Some that look at an item that I don't appreciate the angel on, some outside my area of knowledge completely. But I got other things going on. I do appreciate the widening of my world. That's mostly why I stop by. That and to read the most informed group of commenters on the interwebs, and trolls that don't get far. Reminds me I have to go back and congratulate Laslo!
I tried applying the logic of Pascal's Wager to what to do about this election, but I can't do it. It would require twice typing the words "If the election was stolen". We're way way way past "if". We're pretty much beyond metaphysical certainty that it was, and obviously so, and that the people gaslighting us that it wasn't are clearly willing to do anything - literally including mass graves - to pull it off, because at this point it is as much a life-and-death outcome for them as it is for us. So. What to do about it isn't a hard call.
Speaking of carnalized onions...
A friend sent us instructions and detailed photos of her favorite chicken recipe as she was making it.
The bird was all trussed up and stuffed with an orange in what appeared to be a rather obscene manner...
I asked her if the chicken was of consenting age, especially considering she was going to eat it afterward.
I don't think she got the joke.
"Carnalized onions?" Oh, MY!! Avert my eyes!!!!!! I refuse to SEE!!!!
I tried applying the logic of Pascal's Wager to what to do about this election, but I can't do it. It would require twice typing the words "If the election was stolen". We're way way way past "if". We're pretty much beyond metaphysical certainty that it was, and obviously so, and that the people gaslighting us that it wasn't are clearly willing to do anything - literally including mass graves - to pull it off, because at this point it is as much a life-and-death outcome for them as it is for us.
Is it? Seems like a free roll for them to me. They get to steal an election, and make it easier to steal the next one if they get away with it. There are no consequences for anyone, and they all get to write books, if they lose.
The stealing of the election has me dismayed, but what's pissing me off is watching the MSM and Left spike the football in our faces.
I've felt recently the topics have been less interesting, but then I go elsewhere, and there really is nothing else. Content creation is hard when things are locked down. The communist keep talking about how being free of capitalism improves the arts, but the arts just get shutdown completely, except for the $40million to the Kennedy Center and the few political patrons allowed to go there.
I bet Katie Hill has some good carnalized onion stories.
My response to the Pascals of the world, is why would I want to spend eternity with someone who is willing to sentence those he loves to eternal damnation for a simple lack of faith?
That is not my take of the teaching of Christ. The first Christian. Whose goal was to get away from "the Law", and towards God. I dont know of anytime Christ threatened any person with damnation.
The intentional commingling old testament and new testament scripture has lead to some confusion. The overall message of Christ is to abandon "self" to better be of service to others. That is a personal goal for your own peace on earth. Not something to be forced on others.
Turning water into wine is a good trick. Turning onions into meat is a good one, too.
Carmelizing wont solve this
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2020/12/23/bidens-choice-for-education-secretary-mandated-critical-race-theory-for-high-schools-n1227257
Today I'm being bitter about City inspectors, but the holiday spirit is helping me overcome their small addition og adversity to my life. When I see them again after Christmas, it will take a great deal of self control to avoid telling them what I think of them. Perhaps I'll just utter a surreally symbolic phrase, such as, "Now all I need are some good onion rings, to make my life complete!"
"It's Christmas Eve. Talk about keeping a distance. What can you see from a distance? 'When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?"
Except for the Jesus part, this is how I imagine "liberals" and "progressives" acting when they first encounter the State. Am I wrong, statists?
That is not my take of the teaching of Christ. The first Christian. Whose goal was to get away from "the Law", and towards God. I dont know of anytime Christ threatened any person with damnation
Christ may not have, but God sure did.
What is the only unforgivable sin according to the Catholic Church?
According to Church doctrine, I have a better chance of going to Hell than Hitler did.
No, these are the best kind of posts.
Yes the Lord set down 10 rules and it was expanded to six hundreds, its about community worship.
But there is a thread that runs from genesis (first disobedience to final judgement and redemption) revelation.
What I always found weird about that NT story was "Why are there pigs in 1st C Palestine?" Do you ever wonder who was eating pork in 1st C Palestine?
Could a 1st C. Palestinian Jew be a swineherd? I would think not, unless he wanted to live a life of ritual uncleanliness. The only thing you can do with pigs, unlike cows or sheep, is eat them. Who was slaughtering & eating them? Graeco-Roman occupation forces? Did the common 1st C Judean folk just not follow kashrut? I honestly don't know the answers to these questions.
But, we have one more answer to Reg's question: ""And what have the Romans ever given us?" "Well, Pigs".
They were being raised and sent to the other provinces im assuming.
Whoa, that's quite a story. I guess no one asked the pigs.
OK, before I forget, I just want to wish Ann, Meade, and all of the Althousians a very Merry Christmas. Every one of you. It's been an exasperating year. Wishing you and yours a few days of peace and smiles. With or without your mask. Frankly, I don't care. Enjoy your friends and family when you can. We are not guaranteed anything in this world. Treasure those close to you.
As for distance, might I suggest keeping the media, especially the social media, at a distance?
What can you see from a distance? How about a star in the heavens? How about angels of the Lord? Omens and portents surround us. Choose some and find meaning in your life.
I am enjoying Christmas in Zanzibar. No masks, no family, and they have comparatively free and fair elections.
Onion rings?
Brenda Starr knows!
Two words to the entire Althouse community: Pascal's Wager.
"He was totally disinterested in horse racing and held a lifelong contempt for gambling. Nevertheless, he had a $5 win bet on every horse in the fifth race. He knew, of course, that this rather unique system of betting would more than likely result in a loss, but he didn't care. For after all, he thought, what would the loss of twenty or thirty dollars mean in comparison to the vast sum of money ultimately at stake."
I was in Florida last weekend. SC is open, but Florida has condiments on the tables!
Ann Althouse said...
(Dave Begley) "I must say that for a person who doesn't go to church..."
You don't know where I go.
She strikes me as a possible Unitarian Universalist.
I have been to several Unitarian services in different Midwestern cities. They are sort of enjoyable and the people are very friendly. My sense is that the congregants are mosty educated liberals who view themselves as moderate.
"Yes the Lord set down 10 rules...
"..these fifteen...ten...I give you these ten commandments..."
Why does Althouse post things that don't interest me)
Why doesn't Althouse post about (current big deal)
I usually skip past ( so and so) but this time
I usually don't respond to (so and so) but..
I never read (NYT, WaPo)
I canceled my subscription to (left wing rag) in 1977
Althouse finally gets it about (such and such)
Why is ( so and so ) still here?
(So and so) is here, I'm gonna read a book
Oh, great, another boring (so and so vs so and so ) thread
If it was me, I would have..
Why didn't they just.....?
I never heard of ( that celebrity ), why should I care?
“Carnalized onions?" Oh, MY!! Avert my eyes!!!!!! I refuse to SEE!!!!
Smut gets in my eyes...
I like Carol’s sly joke about the “oh I got thrown out of Sunday school because I was such a smart and freethinking kid!! r/atheism 4-evr!!!” people. They are the worst. “Hay look how much smarter I am because I reject and mock something I don’t remotely comprehend, hurr durr!” It would be pitiful and cringey if it weren’t so annoying.
I think Althouse is clear about her interest in using language and that to some extent our responses to her stimulus is part of the art of this blog. All of us bring our own interests and expectations with us when visiting Althouse. One assumption I operate under is that she is more interested in seeing what we write in response to her post then when we respond to other commenters. But I also know I could be wrong about anything I assume at any time.
I keep coming back because I like it here. Every blog I read is less interesting, has less fresh content lately. Fatigue has set in across the land because this year has been a slo-no train wreck on so many fronts. And so much of 2020 is still unresolved. This has been an exhausting year and we have been powerless to stop the stupidity that is everywhere and damn near overwhelming to too many.
Who is Bert Midler?
Did I miss an announcement?
Never been a woman more deserving of the name.
"...The world is locked down...?" Sorry, Ann Althouse, I'm not a believer in that 'fear meme' produced by the MSM. Firstly, how do you know? Where do you get your information from and how can you trust the source of that information. Please don't cite the NY Times, they are elitist and had left the World Stage decades ago because of their mismanagement woes. Secondly, why do I think you're wrong. Because there are some 60+ countries around the World who are ruled by dictators or single party rule. There are another 20 + countries who are ruled under Autocratic regimes. Now AA do you actually believe those countries will reveal anything about themselves on Covit-19 if it reflects negatively on their rule? Do you believe in China's Covit - 19 numbers? LOL - we here in our civilized society seem to playing by one set of rules and the rest of the World by another. These so called civilized and developed countries are pure suckers for such a 'meme'. Because we are the 'Elitists' and know better - LOL. In conclusion, the rest of the World has played us for suckers forever.
The blogger posts what is of interest to her, the blog visitor reads the posts that interest them. It is a very simply system. Works great for me. FullMoon gets it.
Merry Christmas to Ann and Meade, and to all you commenters.
I Believe in Father Christmas
- Greg Lake
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin Birth
I remember one Christmas Morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
They told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked to the Sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first Light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your Heart and let your road be clear
Christ may not have, but God sure did.
And we are back to Old Testament. Ignoring the arrival of the Messiha, and the Holy Trinity. What did Christ say to the Jewish high Rabbis? You are focused too much on following "The Law", and not following God.
Hence the arrival Christ.
Don't really care, Ann. It's your sandbox. You get to decide what games are played therein.
I'll try not to shit in it.
BTW.
I'm wishing you and Meade and your various offspring a Merry Christmas. I hope the season finds you well.
Much Love,
Rusty
And the rest of you as well. You know who you are.
Yikes! 11:53 going all in, and cranking pedantic up to eleven, in a weak attempt to win an argument with no one on the other side.
Eating at 4:00 and church at 6:00 followed by desert when we get home. The daughter in Tampa has it all planned out. Going to store here I noticed ALL the men had on Bermuda shorts and a dark crew neck collar less T shirt. Thankfully the women were in tights.
As for Trump he either has the evidence or not. Until he uses it, we are ignoring the propaganda wars. So Althouse is our favorite habit again. And FTR she is a completed Christian.
If you aren’t free to work and earn a living this year then you are locked down. Too many are locked down. My state of CA is insanely shut down even though it hasn’t worked yet. Do I risk jail to protest the mandates? Do I demand indoor dining? I’m frustrated by the lack of any elected person making a stand for freedom! Since when can free healthy Americans be quarantined? And for how long.
Happy Happy! Joy Joy!!!
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Except for Bert Midler. Shim can go pound sand.
Tell ya what would close that distance. Veto. Trump vetos the monstrosity and the government shuts down. Once federal workers stop drawing a check maybe all of America will be allowed to return to work. I don’t know why Trump hasn’t ordered govt workers furloughed until COVID work rules are lifted and freedom for Americans restored. Why are we still paying these fuckers?
@Gahrie 10:12
I’ve always thought the point of Pascal’s wager is to fake it till you make it regarding faith. The actions start to have an effect on one’s heart.
I very much endorse this idea, which I find is common among Catholics. It’s not only applicable to faith and relationship with God, but also interpersonal relationships (particularly marriage.) Feelings are fleeting but as we were told at our Engaged Encounter retreat, “Love is an action, not a feeling.”
Of course the emphasis on action is what many Protestants object to, but James had a few important things to say about that.
Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and to Ann, Meade, and the rest of the commenters!
"Since when can free healthy Americans be quarantined? And for how long."
As long as they agree to be.
Mike wants all federal government employees held hostage this season of love and compassion.
I’ve always thought the point of Pascal’s wager is to fake it till you make it regarding faith. The actions start to have an effect on one’s heart.
I'm sure many do. But wouldn't God know that I am faking it? And why would he prefer me to fake it and lie to him rather than respect him and be true?
According to the priests, I got a "Get out of Hell free card" when I was confirmed. I can do literally anything I want, and if I sincerely confess and repent on my deathbed, I get to go to Heaven. However, if I live a Godly life, but have no faith, I am doomed to Hell.
If that's God's bargain, I'm not so sure I want to spend eternity with him.
Good onion rings are hard to find. The best I have ever found was at a restaurant in Lenoir City, TN called "The Burgers".
5. It’s no longer possible to post about anything Trump-related without confronting the absolute indefensibility of his crazed posturing. Best not to say anything at all. Instead, talk about the Times’ attitudes towards Yuppie sex.
When I was a Christian, I believed there was no point in lying to, or trying to fool God, because he knew my heart.
It's true! It's completely explained in Beaver 1:34.
I see a cool buzz and some tasty waves in the foreshortened not to distant future. Here's hoping that channeling Jeff Spicoli isn't to far afield for the erudite Althouse comment thread...
I don't see anybody good to replace Rush in the lineup except Steyn, and Steyn probably can't keep up the daily material pace. Maybe with help.
All the others are what you hate about right wing talk shows. Presumed joint outrage instead of humor.
"Mike wants all federal government employees held hostage this season of love and compassion."
And Mike is correct.
Stop paying government leeches (military exception) and the lockdowns would end in a heartbeat.
@Full Moon 11:48 AM
LOL
That about sums it up! You can imagine how it feels from my end.
That about sums it up!
Thank God for moderation..
Moderation sucks!
Seeing things from a distance can be developed. Simeon was led by his “feelings” to go to the temple at the exact right time.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant[h] in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
"Mike wants all federal government employees held hostage this season of love and compassion."
No, he wants them sent home to stay there without pay until the people who employ them are freed from the arbitrary restrictions that they're being forced to live under.
Sounds reasonable to me.
We are dealing with COVID anxiety here. Hoo boy. That's all I'll say.
Now Picking up our retriever who just had her left front leg amputated because of bone cancer. They say she’ll be walking around w/o assistance in a couple weeks but I have my doubts. She weighs 90 lbs and is 8 years old.
Blogger steve uhr said...
Mike wants all federal government employees held hostage this season of love and compassion.
Hilarious. I knew where that quote came from before I looked.
All we want is for them (you) to share the experience.
I agree with hardon. Losing Rush will be the end of an era.
Blogger Howard said...
Trump is like Jesus be ause he got crucifixioned for trying to throw out the money changers from the swamp. He will soon be resurrectioned on NewsMax TV.
Not bad. You could be right. Sorry, "correct."
CNN should be a bargain by April.
I come here every day and I haven't noticed much difference in the blog. To me it is all about Ann picking apart and analyzing crap arguments, wherever they may be found. And they can be found nearly everywhere - even during a pandemic.
Mike wants all federal government employees held hostage this season of love and compassion.
This Mike does too. Outside of our combat troops and a fraction of the LEOs, they have an overpaid, cushy work life. About time they paid for their privileged existence.
Deck Us All!
Good luck, Steve Urh with your beloved.
May I suggest that, as retrievers are extremely perceptive, that a positive mindset may translate to the dog and lead to an increase in the odds of walking?
Couldn't hurt!
Either way, I wish you both all the best!
Good luck. Your dog is extremely lucky to have you.
I’ve found a good balance in my Althouse blog existence. When the subject matter and comments are very interesting, I will comment. I often read all of Althouse's posts, it a part of my daily routine. Commenters here have always been er, um...intense. These couple past years I’ve increasingly found them to be too much to take without being disturbed for part of my day. So taking breaks from Althouse, for me, has been a good way of dealing with all the high anxiety over elections, or whatever is the current outrage happens to be.
I’m pretty into not harshing my mellow since Biden’s win, so I try not to engage here, I’m not always successful. I understand Althouse’s reticence regarding delving into the daily upset. I can imagine Althouse’s runs down the snowy path to see the sunrises and the brisk air and the peacefulness of it all, that state of mind is worth protecting.
Merry Christmas,Happy Holidays, peace and health to everyone, if only over the next couple days.
PS, just finished making my Gratin Dauphinois, fancy shmancy scalloped potatoes.
Merry christmas all.
Not even remotely hungry. {smells onions cooking}...I'm starving!!
That's it. That's the comment.
Merry Christmas, Inga.
Peace on Earth, good will towards men
Good will goes a long ways...
Are the people denouncing trump supporters call for violence a mob?
I don't know, Steve. You tell me. Anti-mob or not?
Steve's People
I like Ann’s blogging. She has a very interesting mind. She ties weird stuff together in a single blog entry.
Sometimes, I will skip over her blog entries, and possibly check the comments first. I never had much of an artistic temperament (so have been with someone who is for the last two decades). So, the artistic ones aren’t for me, nor all of her rat drawings. But I love her facility with language. And that she can be mildly playful in the face of serious challenges.
Keep it up.
Not every place in the world is locked down. Florida isn't, for example. And we like it that way. It's because our Governor wasn't trying to wreck our state's economy to ensure Biden's "victory." Our restaurants, bars and small businesses are mostly open, our schoolchildren have been in their schools, their parents have been working and our state isn't an economic basket case. And our COVID case rates and death rates aren't significantly higher than other states, despite having a larger population of at-risk elderly citizens than almost any other state.
It just goes to show that, as I heard Karol Markowicz say yesterday on Fox News, "Bad leadership isn't all that important in good times, but it's very important in bad times." A lot of places in the country and around the world have power-mad incipient fascists who love lording it over other people, telling them what they cannot do while doing the same things themselves. And then they'll tell you that they're working hard and doing a great job and on Santa's "Nice" list.
Things would have been a whole lot worse if DeSantis had lost to that Democrat candidate who almost immediately was caught up in a drugs and gay sex scandal. Can't remember the dude's name, just that he was bad news and that we dodged a bullet when he lost. I'm sure he would have been right there with the Cuomos and Newsomes and shutting us down if he had won. Thank God he never got the chance!
Love you, Inga. Keep being yourself.
With Trump, I have distanced myself from the relentless haters, but I'm in no mood to encourage him either. I'm waiting for the next few weeks to pass, hunkering down. I could spring out and denounce him, but I don't join mobs.
Perfectly describes how I have been feeling for about the last six months.
Someone beat me to the Bette Midler reference. From a Distance is a guilty-pleasure of mine. A God-affirming antiwar song. Unthinkable that such a song would be a massive hit today as it was 30 years ago. It's such an easy song to be cynical and snide about. An even easier target are the people who listen to adult contemporary stations, watch The Hallmark Channel, go to Church, are involved in their communities, and raise their children well. They do everything they're supposed to, and our culture just heaps scorn on them. They've been reduced to a singe basic cable channel, and even that's too much for some people.
Andrew Gillum was the Democrat. DeSantis only won by about 30,000 votes. If it had gone the other way, Florida would probably be a lockdown basket-case like a lot of states Up North run by bad leaders.
They do everything they're supposed to, and our culture just heaps scorn on them.
Maybe that's not our true culture.
The trouble with Pascal’s wager is that it seems like a race to the bottom: whatever deity promises to do the worst things to you for the longest time if you don’t believe in it (be it Quatzeqoatl, Kali, or Yahweh) wins. Of course, one could argue that it’s hard to imagine a more psychopathic, genocidal deity than Yahweh, but I’m not sure His backers want to go there.
Also, I’m not sure Pascal was really clear about how people believe in things.
Leland said...
...
I bet Katie Hill has some good carnalized onion stories.
Probably leeks rather than onions.
YoungHegelian (11:17am):
I think it's relevant that these were Gadarene swine. Gadara (SE of the Sea of Galilee in what is now Jordan but very close to Israel and Syria) must have been a very Hellenized city. As far as I know, the only Greek authors from before the year 0 who came from in or near Israel were (all three of them) from Gadara. Menippus was a cynic who invented what's still called Menippean satire - a mixture of prose and verse - though his works don't survive. Meleager is said to have written similar satires that don't survive, but 134 of his epigrams do, and he also was the first to compile a collection of epigrams by himself and 40+ other Greek authors, the nucleus of what is now the Greek Anthology. Philodemus was another epigrammatist a generation later, who was pet poet of Julius Caesar's father-in-law Calpurnius Piso. A few dozen of his epigrams survive, and most classicists are very disappointed that the charred rolls found in Herculaneum in a villa owned by Piso's descendants are mostly tedious prose expositions of Epicurean philosophy by this same Philodemus.
Anyway, the epigrams of Meleager and Philodemus are excellent, the best Greek literature from the 1st century B.C., and include lots of love poems for girls and boys, so very unJewish. In one of his (Greek Anthology 7.419), Meleager talks about his cosmopolitanism and greets his readers in three languages: "If you're a Syrian, 'salaam', if you're a Phoenician, 'naidios', if you're a Greek, 'chaire', you'll be saying the same thing". (Whether a Jewish 'shalom' was included in the 'salaam' I do not know: Greek has no way of expressing SH, so that may have helped to exclude 'shalom'.) In another (7.417) he says he's a Syrian, though he writes in Greek, but adds "we all have one cosmos as our fatherland, one Chaos gave birth to all mortals" - standard Epicureanism.
In sum, there were people in Gadara who had no problem with eating pork, or porking boys, for that matter, and others nearby on the Sea of Galilee side who had no problem raising pigs for them. I used to think it was awfully rude of Jesus to destroy some herder's valuable property while disposing of a legion of devils, until I remembered that Jews would not have had much respect for the property of sinful swineherds.
@steve uhr
The odds are pretty good, but there are prosthetics and carts available if needed.
Gabapentin is very helpful for pain, in combination with NSAIDs and or narcotics. If it hasn’t already been prescribed, talk to your vet (you can tell them you heard it from some vet on the internet, I’m sure they’ll love that!)
You know Gahrie, God calls us by our name as it truly is, not as many mispronounce it. We only have to hear when our name is called, not all the rest of it, what others think our name is. Same as Althouse doesn't have to comment the way [some] others think she should. And, by the way, for the last forty years the peacemakers have been established as the major model of how to be a Christian. But there are situations where "pastoral peacemakers" are just refusing to see reality as in the Milwaukee Catholic diocese under Archbishop Weakland in the Nineties. It may be that shortly you'll feel more at home with those willing to be known Christians.
Merry Christmas to all.
It should be noted that the Federal employees have zip to do with the lockdowns, which have been implemented piecemeal at the STATE level. If your state is locked down, it's because of your governor or your unelected (highly overpaid) bureaucrats at the state or municipal level. Bad leadership really matters in bad times.
"It should be noted that the Federal employees have zip to do with the lockdowns..."
Because nobody pays any attention to what the CDC says and certainly doesn't base any policy on it, I suppose.
For myself, it's not so much the mere existence of God that is the issue. I could easily be a deist, but I find it superfluous. It is the knowledge of God's will and intention that I would challenge. All of the major world religions are historically and culturally bounded, and they all have sacred literature, knowledge that did not originate from the human mind. I see no way to determine if all, some, or none of them really are sacred. I think by far the most likely answer is they're all man-made. But I'm fine with just having no opinion on the matter.
That said, I fucking hate the "New Atheist" movement. They almost make me want to convert to Orthodox Christianity. That seems to be the refuse of disaffected social conservatives. But the whole notion of debating God or religion is ridiculous. It isn't something that can be answered through debate. Or something that people arrive at through a process of reasoning. Religion is powerful because it engages our emotions, not our minds. I don't think Biblical literalism has been a helpful development in Christianity. You don't believe in the redemptive powers of Jesus Christ like you believe in heliocentrism or evolution. To me, someone devoting their time to young Earth creationism is totally missing the point.
Jerry, just remember. It's not a lie... if you believe it...
I'm going to miss not attending Christmas midnight mass tonight. I haven't attended mass since before the pandemic. Haven't done confession, or taken communion. Boy, I am tired of this pandemic. But glad for Christmas, and what it represents. Merry Christmas to all.
@Browndog:
Maybe that's not our true culture.
Such a good point! It is the culture of the elite transmitted to us via the culture-producing industries (e.g. film , television, radio, publishing). If cultural right wasn't so dismissive of Western Marxism and the Frankfurt School and actually understood the argument, they'd see much more clearly what is going on. Instead, they stupidly attack it and lump it all into an amorphous "left" that they despise.
Farmer:
Worship the Mystery. That would be my suggestion.
I wrote it over 8 months ago- if government workers had to go on unemployment like waitstaff did in March, there wouldn't have been a lockdown anywhere in the US. Laslo nailed it early on- it was Morlocks and Eloi, and nothing has changed since.
"It is the knowledge of God's will and intention that I would challenge."
Catholics, at least, believe that God gave us free will...
"Catholic teaching on free will recognizes that God has given men and women the capacity to choose good or evil in their lives. The bishops at the Second Vatican Council declared that the human person, endowed with freedom, is “an outstanding manifestation of the divine image.” (Gaudium et Spes, No. 17) As the parable of the Grand Inquisitor in Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, makes so beautifully clear, God did not want humanity to be mere automatons, but to have the dignity of freedom, even recognizing that with that freedom comes the cost of many evil choices."
'God's will' is something you hear in movies all the time, and maybe it's a Protestant/Baptist thing, but it is not Catholic...
Has Vegas Paid Out on the election bets? Merry Christmas and may you live in interesting times!
You don't know where I go.
I think I know where you’re going, at the end of your trip down the road paved with good intentions.
Oh, Farmer. You are so wise, so knowledgeable.
But you already know that.
Farmer, there no doubt it all starts with a leap of faith, but the chasm isn’t as large as people imagine. You plant a seed - you take one of the principles and live it. That requires faith. But when the seed starts to grow, your faith begins to be replaced by knowledge. And when you eat the fruit of the tree that grew and it is delicious to the soul, then your faith is replaced by knowledge *in that thing*. You no longer have faith; you have knowledge in that thing. All of us are fully immersed in this process all our lives. What do we know but what we have tried and experienced. But to first try requires faith.
I’m getting on in life, and my experience has been that when I read a little from scriptures daily and try to steer my actions by the principles that I read, things seemed to go better and I am happier and better able to face challenges. When I get focused on other things and don’t try, things don’t go as well and I fell unsettled and less joyful. That I can say for myself.
And to so say is perfectly scientific. Someone asserts ‘I took these steps - x through z - and God spoke to my soul in a way I knew wasn’t just me making it up, and confirmed his existence to me in an unmistakable way.’ First, that is evidence of a witness.
But second, all others are free to test the assertion - the steps and results - and see if the process holds true - whether they can confirm the assertion. That is nothing less than the scientific method.
“16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Now, 'God's will' in the sense of 'why do terrible things happen to good people?' is really just the Catholic version of 'shit happens.'
Even if there is a 'grand plan,' none of our puny minds will ever understand it...
And they can be found nearly everywhere - even during a pandemic.
“Love can be found anywhere. Even in a guitar.”
—- Bob “Bear” Hite
I believe in what I understand. In the words of Popeye, “I amsk what I amsk.”
@Joe Smith:
'God's will' is something you hear in movies all the time, and maybe it's a Protestant/Baptist thing, but it is not Catholic...
Thanks for the comment. I was simply using "God's will" to describe supernatural knowledge. That is, the knowledge contained in sacred literature like the Hebrew Bible, Gospels, Quran, Vedic texts, or Sutras. In the Abrahamic tradition, this is done in a very interpersonal way with God directly communication with people or sending messages via intermediaries. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it's more like some whispering in the ears of sages while they meditate.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
"But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him."
" But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
"neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
accept your celestial, eternal gift this O Holy Night.
All of us here @Ingachuck'stoothlessARM wish Meade & Ann,
and all Althousians great and small, a Blessed and Merry Christmas
...and to all a good night
@Quayle:
Farmer, there no doubt it all starts with a leap of faith, but the chasm isn’t as large as people imagine. You plant a seed - you take one of the principles and live it. That requires faith. But when the seed starts to grow, your faith begins to be replaced by knowledge.
That's a position that my mentor used to take. He hated therapists who described themselves as "eclectic" or not adhering to any particular theoretical model (e.g. psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, etc.). The point of the models are to impose discipline on your thinking. To draw the lines within which you color. Once you can color in the lines perfectly, then you can start deconstructing it.
He had a similar approach to religion and liked to say, "Nobody can be their own boss."
'God's will' is something you hear in movies all the time, and maybe it's a Protestant/Baptist thing, but it is not Catholic...
...Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
this is the realm of the other guy, Satan, the first rebel, You may not believe that God doesn't exist, it was said as much in Romans 1, what this world would turn into,
"I’m getting on in life, and my experience has been that when I read a little from scriptures daily..."
Whether you believe in God or not, the bible (old and new testaments) is great literature.
I'm sure many do. But wouldn't God know that I am faking it? And why would he prefer me to fake it and lie to him rather than respect him and be true?
I certainly believe that God knows what’s in our hearts and minds but I don’t see why lying is involved. The idea, I think, is to make an effort to live the way you would if you did believe and make a sincere effort to allow God to reveal Himself to you.
@Yancey Ward RE: Onion rings
Woodman's in Essex MA and The Clam Box in Ipswich MA (not far from each other in the Cape Ann area of MA) make different but excellent onion rings. The difference is the batter, the end results though are lovely.
Some liberal talking head was just calling the refusal of Congress to give $2000 vs $600 obscene and an insult. He admitted, reluctantly (as he had to point out), that he agrees with Trump. Open up the economy and the lock down and those who are "hurting" will get way more than a one time check.
Blogger tcrosse said...
'God's will' is something you hear in movies all the time, and maybe it's a Protestant/Baptist thing, but it is not Catholic...
...Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
The point though is that Jesus taught us to pray in this way, meaning that we vow to yield our will to His. He always gives us the option to choose otherwise and try to thwart His will, but it generally doesn’t go well.
Stepping back for the wider view, the arc of the story shows that His will was always to save us from ourselves, but only if we are willing to be saved.
make a sincere effort to allow God to reveal Himself to you.
Aye.
And he will. He loves you.
It's Christmas Eve. Ann Althouse opened her heart. It is NEVER an easy thing. Diggin' you Ann. The battle continues on Saturday, but for now...Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All.
Merry Christmas.
I have come to believe that the point of life is experience. We’re here to experience what we go through - to knock around between these eternal principals of good and evil, the good being that which brings about the most joy and freedom, and evil being that which brings sorrow and bondage. And we have two great gifts given to us: free will and the atonement of Christ. Free Will allows us to experiment and try things and figure out for ourselves what is good and what is evil. We get to act independently in our own desires. We are given life - preserved - to enable the schooling. Then, in the learning process we all mess up and make horrible decisions. The second gift of Christ’s atonement allows us to reset and start again. It enables the trial and error. It is what makes the whole thing work. Christ voluntarily fulfilled his mission to enable us to live our lives of learning.
And in the end, we will be given exactly what we truly desire. If we desire good, we’ll become it. If we desire evil, that is what we’ll get because God in his justice will tell us “OK”.
Merry Christmas to you all! We celebrate the gift that enables us all to learn and grow!
The standard on this blog is not big over small. I'm not here to repeat headlines about what the President just did. In fact, if the headline is big, I'd rather go small.
Welcome to the Biden Era. Nothing happens, so move along. Follow the science. Boring is good.
I get sick of politics too, but it's addictive and hard to ignore. As somebody pointed out to me, it's something we really can't afford to ignore.
But I suppose sooner or later, we'll all have to get back to it.
Merry Christmas, all.
Merry Christmas, believer or not.
The Prof's interests overlap with mine only part of the time, and I often skip whole posts-- by balancing inherent interest with number of comments already made I can use whole segments of my day more productively than here. But this is still the only blog I visit every day.
My son is fixing a ham to bring over tomorrow; my wife and I have been making candy and baking cookies all day--chocolate crinkles to an old recipe--and will probably make some of her killer fudge Saturday. Bro will join us, and perhaps we can avoid politics again like we did for Turkey Day.
Narr
Postrel's Fabric of Civilization under the tree . . .
Thanks for the comment. I was simply using "God's will" to describe supernatural knowledge.
Its rarely good to judge other people. But, Farmer, you will never grasp faith. You insist is cramming the entire world into your perceived knowledge.Faith has nothing to do with knowledge.
Quayle at 4:03 lays it out clearly and simply. Do these simple things, practice these principles in your life, and your life improves. Don't practice these principles and you are going to be at odds with your life. It's a choice.
Let the onions be. (They can't consent)
She strikes me as a possible Unitarian Universalist.
I have been to several Unitarian services in different Midwestern cities. They are sort of enjoyable and the people are very friendly. My sense is that the congregants are mosty educated liberals who view themselves as moderate.
Me: I disliked church with a vengeance growing up. To keep this story short, my dad took me and my sister to the local Unitarian/Universalist Church. It was okay, still boring to me during my Wonder Years. I suffered from atheism for years then was born again in the late 90s with the help of my then-wife, a part-time prison chaplain who worked for me, and Dion DiMucci (who discussed God with me many times and we went to a religious men's retreat together).
Anyway, that's a long preface to the joke about trying to scare the UU's out of town: you burn a big wooden question mark on their lawn.
I'm here all week, if the Good Lord provides. Merry Christmas!
Why is ( so and so ) still here?
I plan to continue asking such questions until I get some kind of answer from the Hostess. Not on every thread. Just the ones in which those-who-were-asked-to-leave post. And if you don't like that, feel free to take your own advice and scroll on past.
Merry Christmas!
@narciso:
this is the realm of the other guy, Satan, the first rebel, You may not believe that God doesn't exist, it was said as much in Romans 1, what this world would turn into,
In a strangely ironic way, this is true at the social level but not the individual level. A person does not need God, but a people do. The development of origin myths, temples, and a priestly class are all hallmarks of the development of cities. Knowing the origin stories and participating in the rituals and their meanings creates familiarity between otherwise unrelated people, and this allows people to expand their concept of kinship.
Instead of relying on direct familial relation to judge someone as in-group or out-group, you can rely on "cultural" indicators: speaking the same language, having the same religion, having familiar grooming and dietary habits, etc. Birth is how you become a person. Culture is how you become a people, a nation.
When Hebrew scriptures were translated into Koine Greek, the Hebrew word gōyīm was translated ta ethnē, roughly the "other people" or "foreign nations", having originally derived from éthnos. Having originally meant a group of people living together, éthnos later comes to mean a nation and is itself derived from éthō, meaning to be accustomed or familiar with something, which has its roots in a proto Indo-European phrase meaning to make as one's own, employing the proto Indo-European word "*swé" or self.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." -Galatians 3:28
Why is Chuck still here?
Today is the day we celebrate the birth of the king.
Da Fauch turns 80!
Iowan2 refers to Jesus as the first Christian. Odd that he does so. Never heard of Jesus himself as Christian in Sunday School. In 65 years I’ve never heard a priest, minister, or even rabbi refer to Jesus as Christian. AFAIK I don’t know any shamans, and I frankly don’t care what muslims think. Jesus Christ was Jewish on the day he was born, Jewish on the day he ascended into Heaven, and Jewish in between.
Unless the earliest days of the Church followers of Jesus weren’t even referred to as Christian. His followers were first referred to as Christians in the Syrian city of Antioch. Home of the Syriac Orthodox Church,
It appears nobody holds the title of First Christian. Could be an anonymous follower. Could be one of the disciples. An argument could be made it was John the Baptist, a believer before Jesus was born. Myself? I think anonymous is the best choice.
Why is Inga still here?
Have I mentioned I detest automiscorrect on my phone?
Unitarian Universalist.
Not really a religion. More like a social club.
Marcus. They are to be pointed at and laughed at. Their opinions are neither original or thought provoking. They regurgitate the usual progressive boilerplate.
Followers of Jesus the Christ. That path is intense. It's impossible. It's...intense.
You may start on the Way, and just have to get off the path for awhile. It's intense.
It's impossible. The gate is narrow, and few go in that way, understandably.
In this comfortable life, it's impossible. Yet...with God all things are possible.
God will make you a better man...if you want try the path.
In this Life, God will make you a better man.
@iowan2:
Its rarely good to judge other people. But, Farmer, you will never grasp faith. You insist is cramming the entire world into your perceived knowledge.
I was not judging anybody. I was talking about my own beliefs and why I have them. I was not criticizing anyone for having them but explaining why I don't. It is "rarely good" to criticize someone for being judgmental and then immediately start judging them.
Faith has nothing to do with knowledge.
That was exactly the point I made when I said, "You don't believe in the redemptive powers of Jesus Christ like you believe in heliocentrism or evolution." Faith is not a matter for debate.
Tonight we remember the greatest miracle. The incarnation of God in man. If one does not believe that miracle by faith alone, then all the rest including Jesus’ resurrection on the third day are not going to convert you.
But religions are still resisting Jesus because he dared to make sinners righteous...for free. Terrible religious business model, as Luther dared to proclaim to the Pope.
As for God’s will being done here on earth as it is in heaven, that is the purpose statement of The Christ. What a miracle that will be.
J Farmer -
A person does not need God, but a people do.
Uh huh. A person does not need God, but a people do.
Keeping saying that over and over. A person does not need God, but a people do.
oh a people do... oh a people do!
It's funny. not funny haha - but funny arrogant.
"A person does not need God, but a people do."
Missing it J. You are the only one that matters to God.
Chuck!'s a one horse pony.
I'm not joking!
I'm Not Sure said...
"It should be noted that the Federal employees have zip to do with the lockdowns..."
Because nobody pays any attention to what the CDC says and certainly doesn't base any policy on it, I suppose.
It depends where you live, state by state and municipality by municipality. For instance, the CDC recommendations were for vaccine "equity" and to give out vaccines to people of color in preference to the more at-risk elderly because they were too white. Gov. DeSantis said that in Florida, we weren't going to do that, that the elderly in Florida would be next in line after the front-line health workers. Some 25 other states were going to slavishly follow that pernicious CDC advice until so much pressure was put on the CDC that they changed that recommendation. If you live in one of those states, your leaders were perfectly willing to allow more preventable deaths to occur among the elderly if it meant vaccinating people of color who were less likely to die, simply for social justice reasons.
But only, of course, if you live in the wrong states with bad leadership, because everything during this pandemic has been done at the state and local level; there have not been federal mask mandates or lockdowns because of federalism. Trump and the federal government have been able to make recommendations, but whether to follow those recommendations was up to your state and local governments. And our so-called experts at all levels have been exposed as being both less knowledgeable and less competent than they should be, and not worthy of the public trust. Much of the so-called science has been exposed as pseudo-science, just as the pandemic numbers have been massaged by the statisticians so much that they should have had a happy ending.
4 years of lies from the left. Russia Russia - piss up a rope.
In the protestant rural south, you were expected to take down your Christmas decorations before New Years Day, or the witches would get you. Epiphany or Three Kings Day was never mentioned. Burning the Christmas tree, usually cedar, was a fun thing to do. It made a big hot fire. Also, on Christmas eve, at midnight, someone always shot off some dynamite somewhere. We shot firecrackers all day Christmas Day.
BTW, the swine herders in the New Testament were not Jews. They were called Gadarenes. They lived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee from the Jews.
I’m fixing a ham with a pineapple trim
To start my mouth a’watering
And it will flow-oh
And it really doesn’t matter if I’m fat or not
If I believe I’m not... if I believe
Chubby people standing there who disagree and call me fat
And wonder why they can’t fit thru my door
The name is Duroc... Ham Duroc...
It's Christmas Eve, so please excuse me if I add my thoughts about Christianity. The link that follows (if it works) should take you to a Christmas Eve sermon that is worth listening to. If the link takes you to the beginning of the service, listen to the music and singing, and the scripture readings, or skip ahead to 33:40 for the sermon. But listen to the sermon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oZh4h_OhfA
@BidenFamilyTaxPayerFundedCrackPipe:
It's funny. not funny haha - but funny arrogant.
Haha in a "strangely ironic way"? It doesn't matter to society if you believe in Christianity. It matters that you act like a Christian. Religion plays a social role that is not reducible to the sum of its individual members. It emerges from the interaction between them. This is why irreligiosity does not matter at the individual level. North America, Western Europe, and Eastern Asia are all much more irreligious than Latin America, Africa, the the Middle East, and Central and Southern Asia. It's not so much that you believe in the religion as you behave in the religion.
Missing it J. You are the only one that matters to God.
I'm not looking for something. I'm merely explaining my perspective. And I am not saying anybody else is wrong.
Religion may (or may not) serve as a sort of cultural herd immunity for the worst anti-social behaviors; on the other hand, it's demonstrably true that many individuals lead happy, productive, and socially useful lives without any religious affiliation or claims of belief--when the society allows, and only the best ones do.
OTOOH, too many religious believers seem to view unbelievers (non-participating, or non-immunizing if you will) as threats personally and within the social body.
Pretty much the best people on my block growing up were my friend' Kenny's parents. They were Unitarians, well-read, intelligent (but no college degrees), very non-racist for the time and place, so of course generally despised by most of the neighbors. They were founding members of the newer, hipper UU congregation that got the Church of the River built.
I've had occasion over the decades to attend some events or make some presentations there, and know some of the members, but the UUs seem overall to be the worst combination-- a church full of university faculty families.
Narr
"Church" if you prefer
@ Quayle "...... the good being that which brings about the most joy and freedom, and evil being that which brings sorrow and bondage."
Damn, I should have had a lot more threesomes with young women and a lot fewer marriages.
Oso Negro@ 11:33AM/
Zanzibar eh? Ever read any Thoreau? "It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar." :)
Merry Christmas to you, AA, Meade and the rest of the rogue's gallery of commentariat here. (Sitting here by the fireplace sipping cognac & drambuie on the rocks listening to Bulgarian, Serbian, Hungarian, Greek Orthodox, & Russian coral Christmas chants while contemplating our fourteen-foot Christmas tree reflected off a twelve-foot pier mirror in a darkened living room. Sublime..)
The lockdown and mask mandates seem to be more of a religious zeal to show faith and action,
rather than based on actual science.
A theory is it’s a way to create compliance, since what’s happening is very similar to brainwashing. Remove social support / isolate, control persons behavior, make them feel no control, etc.
I’m in California and My family is so frustrated with the kabuki theory.
Surely we can all agree with Farmers statement that a people need a God. I doubt a shared culture can emerge otherwise.
Merry Christmas to All.
"Now Ann has baited me into promiscuously spiking my anxiety stew with carnalized onions..."
Yes a small onion as sexy as a carnalized onion, but I am just a one horse pony in my posting references.
J Farmer
"It doesn't matter to society if you believe in Christianity. It matters that you act like a Christian."
Says who? Are there rules somewhere?
10 social worker commandments.
The idea that religion must produce a certain behavior - sounds like pseudo hollywood.
Also - J Farmer you adjust the topic to fit your ideas about things. The real world isn't in a book or on the TV.
Faith: "wishful thinking" by another name.
"The idea that religion must produce a certain behavior - sounds like pseudo hollywood."
I guess it depends on the religion, but most religions, including Christianity, should produce certain behaviors in their adherents. The Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments, (pre-Christian, of course), are prescriptions for and prohibitions against certain behaviors.
Robert.
The recipients were a tribal, fractious and argumentative people. They were about to go into a new land. Already populated by established and civilized people. The lord gave Moses a blue print on how to get along in a larger society. It is a bonus that it applys to anyone anywhere.
"What your heart holds most dear, let that be your god." Martin Luther. Something to shoot for J.
J.Farmer- "I'm not looking for something. I'm merely explaining my perspective. And I am not saying anybody else is wrong."
Like all of us in this life, you are a drop of water separated from the river. Here's the thing though. You don't have to be looking for anything. It's maddening to understand, but...
You are the only one that matters to God.
"The idea that religion must produce a certain behavior - sounds like pseudo hollywood."
Robert posted: I guess it depends on the religion, but most religions, including Christianity, should produce certain behaviors in their adherents. The Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments, (pre-Christian, of course), are prescriptions for and prohibitions against certain behaviors.
Me: Agreed. And many non-religious people live their lives according to those prescriptions and prohibitions without giving credit to its origins or have no idea where their moral code came from, other than parents I suppose.
THEOLDMAN
Here's the thing about following Christ. It is a process. If God grabs ahold of you and draws you to Jesus...you don't become Jesus. You merely begin an arduous path to be better than you were yesterday.
"None come to me, unless He who sent me, draws him." That ain't happy, happy, Joy, Joy, Love, Love. "None come to me, unless He who sent me, draws him."
Try out for the Army Special Forces. You might be drawn. Doesn't mean you won't ring the bell, and say, "Man, this is too intense. I can't do this.".
If you have a curious mind, get a copy of Oswald Chambers 'My Utmost for His Highest'.
Years ago, when I first encountered this, I made it through 3 pages, before I angrily thought, 'Man, this is too intense." It is intense. Unlike the Special Forces though, you can go back and begin again....if you're drawn.
@BidenFamilyTaxPayerFundedCrackPipe:
Says who? Are there rules somewhere?
10 social worker commandments.
Says me. After all, I'm talking about what I believe. If your question is about why I believe it, it's a combination of knowledge of history and the humanities and my own experience in the world.
The idea that religion must produce a certain behavior - sounds like pseudo hollywood.
That isn't the idea. I'm not talking about what religions "must produce," I'm talking about what religion does produce.
Also - J Farmer you adjust the topic to fit your ideas about things. The real world isn't in a book or on the TV.
I don't have the faintest idea what this is supposed to mean. Do you actually think that I believe the real world is in a book or on TV?
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