Yet Another Reason...
"He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes."
You call this ethical inspiration? Give me a suffering God any day to loveless extinction.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
"He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes."
You call this ethical inspiration? Give me a suffering God any day to loveless extinction.
6 comments:
That quote could be taken as a simple statement of fact, you know.
Ethical inspiration? Perhaps. You prefer a suffering God. I also prefer a suffering God.
Funnily enough, Belinda picked up the bible you gave her yesterday and asked me to read them a story from it. One thing led to another and we ended up discussing the meaning of Christ's sacfifice.
I began with the story of Cain and Abel, and God's preference for living sacrifice. I was struck by the astonishing change that took place in God. From demanding sacrifice, he made one for us instead.
The 'old' God was violent and bloody.
So my question is, what made God change?
And don't forget, Buddhism is beautiful too, but for different reasons.
I agree Buddaha's statement is true. I just don't think it's ethical inspiration, as touted by the link I got it from.
I'm so glad to hear about you and Belinda reading the Bible together!
Re: Cain and Abel - what I learned is that it isn't so much that God prefers a LIVING sacrifice, as that God wants the BEST we have. Cain just gave "an offering", while Abel gave "one of the best".
re: God's apparent change: God doesn't change...but WE do (human society, over time).
It's been helpful for me to think of it this way: When your pre-verbal toddler runs in front of a car while you are screaming "STOP!", you might choose (out of love) to give her a swat (so they can connect pain with your word of command).
When that toddler becomes a teen-ager and does something dangerous against your wishes, you wouldn't swat her...you'd do something non-violent.
In both cases, you are doing the most loving thing, based on the capacity of the recipient of your love. And it isn't YOU who have changed.
My understanding is that Cain offered produce from his garden whereas Abel offered the death of a lamb. God rejected the plant gift and would only accept animal sacrifices.
All through the old testament he demands these.
Yet in the new testament, he sends his son to be sacrificed instead, to signal his absolute forgiveness of all our sins. He takes our due punishment on his own flesh. He suffers.
I believe God went through a massive change - we humans, by contrast are probably about as sinful as we ever were.
My next questions are, what happened to the angels and archangels? Are they still active?
Also, as Jews worship Jehovah, or Yaweh, as Christians do, only they do not acknowledge Christ, are they in any way part of the church?
I can't answer my own question you know...
I've just been reading about sacrifices in another bronze age society and they are termed 'acts of devotion'. It struck me that it is perhaps not the God that demands but the man who wishes to give the most valuable thing he has.
Sorry! Missed it for some reason. I would never leave you hanging on purpose!
Angels are still active.
Jews (since we share a common "old" testament) are kind of like Christians who are still waiting for the Messiah. There are Messianic Jews, who are Jews that believe in Christ.
The "Church" has a very specific meaning in Catholicism, and Christianity in general. It means "the Body of Christ". In that sense, Jews are not part of the Church.
re: God demanding. Absolutely, you are right! God doesn't demand. God just is.
Our response to God...that should flow from who he is: Pure Love.
Post a Comment