Protestantism

» redback - "Don't Eat The Apple"

In response to "Don't Eat The Apple" posted by pink101:

"I think, "don't eat the apple," is a grossly misrepresented idea of the injunction..."

but an incredibly concise means of me posting. I am neither a Biblicist, religionist, literalist nor rabid liberalist. ABC

As I indicated in my topic, some things Biblical are superficially simplistic. And that can refer to both literal and allegorical. I question, not declare. The more complex the intended message, the greater my point. It is my belief that greater understandings can come by means other than direct lightning bolts of wisdom to the selct few.

-- posted by redback

» pink101 - "Don't Eat The Apple"

In response to "Don't Eat The Apple" posted by redback:

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Heh heh heh
./

-- posted by pink101

» redback - languages

In response to languages posted by Migisi:

In my much deprived childhood, older siblings used to very infrequently steal a chook aka chicken from the neighbouring farmyards...bringing it back to our floorless corrugated iron shed aka home. My mum would wring its neck...and I'd later partake in ill-gotten gains. God did indeed work in mysterious ways even then in his ability to provide when my dad couldn't or wouldn't. Mum didn't want to spoil us so it was an infrequent pleasure.

The evidence...the feather quills...were apparently not recycled.

-- posted by redback

» redback - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by Migisi:

I got a bit ahead in post 13 where I pondered another consequence ie 'disobedience'...rather than 'jealousy'. After being cooped up in an Ark for 12 months, they developed skills thus comfort and preference for, living almost on top of each other. Almost like today's....?

Some of this is interesting in that the intended audience were surely ancient peoples who would contemplate the reasonableness of buildings reaching the heavens ie fore-runners to the Empire State Building. So, I wonder what they'd make of our deliberations centuries later?

"Let us build an allegorical tower and give publicly digestible reasons for its purpose as the ends will justify the means? The more reasons we give, the more workers of differing motives, will help?"

"2 they laughed at this: If so, they should have built it on a mountain! 3 [and not in a valley]"

Even when flooding occurs in contemporary times, lessons are still not learned. Land is still sold in and people are still living in, flood prone areas even if the risk is "every 100 years". Maybe even the ancients saw it as a way of separating the classes.

There is ant-discrimination law that says if you can't change attitude, change behaviour. Changing a language is pretty punitive capital punishment unless you ignored your mother-in-law anyway.

-- posted by redback

» pink101 - Redemption

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I think, if we pay close attention, we will see that the greater message--the story--of the Bible is one of redemption.
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Here, we are learning how human beings, who were chosen by God to achieve divine purposes, are constantly falling into sinful and errant ways. But, God continues to hold out opportunities to them. Even so, they continue to fail. They will need a savior. Noah was one and we see that.
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It is a way of looking at reality--this idea that God has a chosen people that continually fail in their assigned roles to follow the divine plan; but, who will be saved by a messiah--or a promised one. We have been treated to that model recently with George W. Bush who was seen by so many in the Religious Right as the promised one to set things right between America and God. But, both the people and their president are failing and it will always be the way it is. That is, until Jesus comes.
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That's the Bible Story. It's called, Redemption.
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It leads to fascism. Check out Nazi Germany.
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by redback:

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After being cooped up in an Ark for 12 months, they developed skills thus comfort and preference for, living almost on top of each other.
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Good point. They discovered that their odds for survival increased through communal living?
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ancient peoples who would contemplate the reasonableness of buildings reaching the heavens ie fore-runners to the Empire State Building.
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City developers say 'if ya can't build out, build UP'. The spiritual perk: the higher one goes, one can observe more of the world - just like the gods can from their high perches.
And later dual purpose -- ancient castles, with tall observation towers, surrounded by walls and motes to protect their citizen workers within, offered the best defense against marauding invaders. Can't kill em if you can't reach em.
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"Let us build an allegorical tower and give publicly digestible reasons for its purpose as the ends will justify the means? The more reasons we give, the more workers of differing motives, will help?"
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As inferred in the Sanhedrin quotes...three parties having three different objectives for building upward.
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Maybe even the ancients saw it as a way of separating the classes.
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The elite and privileged stand upon pedestals above the commoners. Expensive suites on top floors of high rises - the 'high life' above the 'low life'? I get it.
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Changing a language is pretty punitive capital punishment unless you ignored your mother-in-law anyway.
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I was often glad I couldn't understand what my German-born mother-in-law was saying. Not punishment to me at all.

-- posted by Migisi

» redback - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by Migisi:

Imagine suddenly losing one's language and acquiring a brand new one that has no historical or cultural development. Imagine it causes no psychological problems as you realise you can't even discuss this MIRACLE with your life long friend...or your betrothed.

If the memory of the old language has also gone lest there be bilinguists...the knowledge gained through such language...knowledge gained through free will, has been (forcibly) removed?

Allegory or historical fact?

-- posted by redback

» redback - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by Migisi:

"I was often glad I couldn't understand what my German-born mother-in-law was saying. Not punishment to me at all."

I recall saying to my grandmother-in-law "Good naked" in German and my 'redemption' from embarrassment came with her laughing while hugging me. But when they huddled together, pointing and laughing, I learned a tad.

-- posted by redback

» Migisi - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by redback:

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But when they huddled together, pointing and laughing, I learned a tad.

You got that too, ay? The looks, and murmuring in the kitchen - the only word I understood was my name. Like I said, I was glad I didn't understand what they said. But I ~did~ understand facial expressions and body language. Often, pictures speak louder than words.

-- posted by Migisi

» Migisi - Vs 4 - Build a city and a name

In response to Vs 4 - Build a city and a name posted by redback:
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If the memory of the old language has also gone lest there be bilinguists...the knowledge gained through such language...knowledge gained through free will, has been (forcibly) removed?
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Hmm. That's something to ponder. If their original (first) language had been intentionally confounded to the point that they couldn't understand each other anymore - how would those who didn't understand the original language learn about, or be able to pass on, the pre-Babel knowledge of God? Or the knowledge of good and evil which had been obtained by Adam/Eve via the forbidden fruit?
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Did the Babylonians willfully reject God, or did they simply not know about him? Without that pre-Babel knowledge of God, they created their own god(s)?

-- posted by Migisi