Let's not forget the whole tone and tenor of New Testament morality. A large chunk of our society has made mincemeat out of it.
Authoritarians want to control information, the flow of information, what is true, and what is not true, including wisdom traditions that are thousands of years old. This is their nature. We have to wrap our heads around the fact that a large portion of our society wants this reality and understands reality this way.
Testing, Carol. Standardized testing obliges all to forget all humanities, all humanity.
But look what you get if you excel at testing's priorities (rational grouping of all life, linear chronology only, and remembering that only distant, anonymous elites ask the questions).
You get admission to the Epstein class which rules, to the police state Donald intends, all brown neighbors formerly picking our fruit and caring for our elderly now in vermin-filled concentration camps, freedom to rape underage girls, and $50,000 signing bonuses.
That's the one that causes all the trouble. US took in the extraterrestrial strangers, allowed them to vote, to run for political office, to serve in the military. Today they are turning US into a Christian nation to insure humans continue to welcome them.
Even in the 17th century, the translation errors of the KJV were recognized; however, its power to capture and convey the essence of the Gospels has never been equaled. Compare the RSV or the NRSV or (I suppose) the "paraphrases" used in lieu of the Bible by the fundamentalists.
By Gospels, you appear to be referring to just those of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Those were only four of a great many, the others of which were almost completely erased from memory.
If this doesn’t ring a bell with you, take a look at Elaine Pagel’s little book, The Gnostic Gospels.
As I understand it, Christian (Protestant) fundamentalists interpret the bible literally. To me, a deeply sad and tragic consequence of biblical literalism is that it effectively throws out the spiritual baby with the religious bathwater.
For example, Genesis is not an assembly manual (on the morning of the first day…), but a beautiful metaphorical statement of monotheism.
Those who wrote it were small bands of people who lived in a sea of polytheists, who had separate named gods to perform each of the various tasks.
The Bible itself is not a discrete book in and of itself, but rather a diverse collection of various stories of assembled manuscripts originally combined during the time of the Emperor Constantine for various reasons and purposes, high among which was to cement a top down social or cultural power structure in the form of the Catholic (meaning universal or all encompassing) Church.
Power corrupts.
That said, the language of the KJB can be ethereal in its beauty. It is in its interpretation where the rubber meets the road.
It was to systematize divergent Christian stories from far and wide so that everyone is "on the same page." (Social cohesion)
In other words, he demanded secret handshakes, oaths, magical myths, be created so that everyone knew who was a club member and who wasn't. It made it pretty easy to be a member of the club after these were agreed to.
To create order - Team Spirit. Everyone singing the same song and libretto increases order. He couldn't foresee the political structure of the "universal" church, centuries ahead. In fact, he probably started this on a whim. No serious historian confirms the crosses on the shields story. It's difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint psychological motivation.
Thiel is like Satan in Book Two of Paradise Lost, debating with the other devils how best to oppose God, and deciding not to attack God head-on, but to subvert God's beloved but weak human creatures.
What struck me about Thiel (yes totally insane, "slipping down the drain" - to quote Sondheim - was that he sees Greta Thunberg as a threat. That gave me pause for thought. A mega billionaire vs. a young woman on a mission to defend the climate. Trump, Putin, Piers Morgan, have all talked down to her. Misogyny, anyone? As for JDV, he has shown what a good Christian he is, now that his wife Usha is pregnant. Maybe he was trying to self-correct for the little dance he did with Kirk's widow on the stage, she in her tight leather pants, he in his tight little embrace of her.
In November, we’ll need to keep in mind that JDV confessed to Dana Bash (CNN, 9/18/24) that he creates stories. “If I have to create stories so that the … media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, that’s what I’m going to do, Dana.” He wasn’t VP yet. Not sure how he wasn’t disbarred for that, other than purview confusion (he resides in Ohio but is licensed to practice law in Kentucky. Which raises other questions). https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/15/jd-vance-lies-haitian-immigrants
Brutal, but accurate. The glaring and nauseating incoherence between the behaviour and pronouncements of the 'Christian Right' and any reasonable reading of Christian doctrine (charity, grace, preferential option for the poor and oppressed, ...) continues to grow. Same as the incoherence between Russia's actions in Ukraine and its self-styled protection of traditional Christian values.
I’m struck by Trump not seeing that Iran is subjugating its people and he’s saying they should fight back, but he’s doing exactly the same to people in the US for protesting against his foul and vicious ICE patrols. He’s utterly demented.
Timothy Alberta, journalist and author of "The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory", observed that the question that is uncomfortable for many evangelicals/Christian Nationalists to answer is: "Have they entertained the possibility that the rise of Trumpism was the ACTUAL TEST chosen for them in this moment in time to measure their fidelity to their beliefs and convictions as followers of Jesus Christ"? If that is the case, can they then withstand the testing of their political identity, that has taken them further and further away from the teachings of Christ, to become followers of a political agenda that is intended to demolish the wall of separation between Church and State?
If the American people sincerely embraced the gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, we would find community with others; have harmony not discord; we would be instruments of peace, guardiand not warriors; we would impart empathy not vindictiveness; we would have hope not despair; and, most importantly, love would transcend over fear and hate.
One can only hope and pray that "we the people" will be delivered from this evil - have faith!
"harmony not discord . . . empathy not vindictiveness." Nice, Marilyn.
But you err in citing human values, when all U.S. schools subdued under the rule of testing impart only the worsening, tightening yoke of being neutered, worshipping only the abstractions, grouping, categories, and linear stupid chronologies built into that series of instruments meant only to float what we now see (or don't see) as the Epstein class.
This was brilliant, but what about the Antichrist, Professor? Peter Thiel was represented as 666 on South Park, one of the most highly quoted shows in history.
The Trumplican's are the "rotten fruit" that Jesus Christ taught us to recognize in his gospel teachings.
The Trumplican Prayer is the polar opposite of the "Lords Prayer" - it's the darkside. Read the gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, especially the Sermon on the Mount
In the Trumplican Prayer their "kingdom" is earthly and includes idolatry; they do not give the "daily bread" to those in need but withold it; they will not "forgive us our trespasses" or forgive those that tresspass against them and instead want retribution; they are "delivering us into evil" through cruelty, hate and fear of the "other"; and, they are "leading us into temptation" the love of power vs the power of love - Amen 💔🙏
The biblical verse you use is a basic Jewish one from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5. recited at every service. It continues to tell us that we must place the verse on our doorstep (mezuzah) and more.
Let’s not forget Matthew 25:35. “I was a stranger and you took me in.”
Let's not forget the whole tone and tenor of New Testament morality. A large chunk of our society has made mincemeat out of it.
Authoritarians want to control information, the flow of information, what is true, and what is not true, including wisdom traditions that are thousands of years old. This is their nature. We have to wrap our heads around the fact that a large portion of our society wants this reality and understands reality this way.
If it is true that "a large portion of our society wants this reality and understands reality this way", we are deeper down into hell.
Not the largest portion, but a sizeable one.
Testing, Carol. Standardized testing obliges all to forget all humanities, all humanity.
But look what you get if you excel at testing's priorities (rational grouping of all life, linear chronology only, and remembering that only distant, anonymous elites ask the questions).
You get admission to the Epstein class which rules, to the police state Donald intends, all brown neighbors formerly picking our fruit and caring for our elderly now in vermin-filled concentration camps, freedom to rape underage girls, and $50,000 signing bonuses.
Ah those drump sycophants.
"What would Jesus do?" they ask themselves after which they'll do the exact opposite.
Sad but true.
That's the one that causes all the trouble. US took in the extraterrestrial strangers, allowed them to vote, to run for political office, to serve in the military. Today they are turning US into a Christian nation to insure humans continue to welcome them.
What are you talking about? "Extraterrestrial stangers"/
Or, Orwell 101: “Up is Down”.
Particularly chilling is how, in the end, Winston Smith, broken, came to love Big Brother.
I think the translator of the KJV would not regard this as a travesty. Well done.
The KJV is a musical translation to our ears. It is not considered an accurate one.
Even in the 17th century, the translation errors of the KJV were recognized; however, its power to capture and convey the essence of the Gospels has never been equaled. Compare the RSV or the NRSV or (I suppose) the "paraphrases" used in lieu of the Bible by the fundamentalists.
The story of the KJV is quite a story!
By Gospels, you appear to be referring to just those of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Those were only four of a great many, the others of which were almost completely erased from memory.
If this doesn’t ring a bell with you, take a look at Elaine Pagel’s little book, The Gnostic Gospels.
As I understand it, Christian (Protestant) fundamentalists interpret the bible literally. To me, a deeply sad and tragic consequence of biblical literalism is that it effectively throws out the spiritual baby with the religious bathwater.
For example, Genesis is not an assembly manual (on the morning of the first day…), but a beautiful metaphorical statement of monotheism.
Those who wrote it were small bands of people who lived in a sea of polytheists, who had separate named gods to perform each of the various tasks.
The Bible itself is not a discrete book in and of itself, but rather a diverse collection of various stories of assembled manuscripts originally combined during the time of the Emperor Constantine for various reasons and purposes, high among which was to cement a top down social or cultural power structure in the form of the Catholic (meaning universal or all encompassing) Church.
Power corrupts.
That said, the language of the KJB can be ethereal in its beauty. It is in its interpretation where the rubber meets the road.
It was to systematize divergent Christian stories from far and wide so that everyone is "on the same page." (Social cohesion)
In other words, he demanded secret handshakes, oaths, magical myths, be created so that everyone knew who was a club member and who wasn't. It made it pretty easy to be a member of the club after these were agreed to.
In other words, to consolidate top down control.
To create order - Team Spirit. Everyone singing the same song and libretto increases order. He couldn't foresee the political structure of the "universal" church, centuries ahead. In fact, he probably started this on a whim. No serious historian confirms the crosses on the shields story. It's difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint psychological motivation.
“To create order.” Yes, one he controlled.
I doubt he created it on a “whim”.
Outstanding. You summed up everything about the worst of evangelical Christian nationalism.
I read a very good article about Thiel in WIRED. When asked whether he himself might be the anti-Christ, he was stumped. He hadn't thought about that.
Must be hard for Thiel to look in the mirror and see Satan staring acknowledge at him.
Thiel is like Satan in Book Two of Paradise Lost, debating with the other devils how best to oppose God, and deciding not to attack God head-on, but to subvert God's beloved but weak human creatures.
How appropriate
Perhaps vance Should give it some thought!
JD is the JV--"Ant-Christ."
Nah. JDV is just an opportunist with opportunistic values. He’s not stupid. He took what he could get. He has no moral structure. He is not benign.
"thought," Sandra, from one of the chief impresarios of the Epstein class?
Thiel is totally insane! Or at least a very warped narcissistic genius,
a paying member of the club!
What struck me about Thiel (yes totally insane, "slipping down the drain" - to quote Sondheim - was that he sees Greta Thunberg as a threat. That gave me pause for thought. A mega billionaire vs. a young woman on a mission to defend the climate. Trump, Putin, Piers Morgan, have all talked down to her. Misogyny, anyone? As for JDV, he has shown what a good Christian he is, now that his wife Usha is pregnant. Maybe he was trying to self-correct for the little dance he did with Kirk's widow on the stage, she in her tight leather pants, he in his tight little embrace of her.
I guess Usha has no moral compass either. How could this woman stand him?
Note, he didn’t deny it.
What would you say if you were asked the same question?
In November, we’ll need to keep in mind that JDV confessed to Dana Bash (CNN, 9/18/24) that he creates stories. “If I have to create stories so that the … media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, that’s what I’m going to do, Dana.” He wasn’t VP yet. Not sure how he wasn’t disbarred for that, other than purview confusion (he resides in Ohio but is licensed to practice law in Kentucky. Which raises other questions). https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/15/jd-vance-lies-haitian-immigrants
Another relevant passage can be found in Matthew 22:35-40 of the King Trump Bible:
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 JD said unto him, Thou shalt praise Trump thy King with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt hate all that is weak and poor and not white-skinned.
40 On these two commandments hang all of MAGA and trumpism.
So clever… I’ve been preaching this for 33 years, and it struck me in new ways today. Thank you!
You're and me both.
Brutal, but accurate. The glaring and nauseating incoherence between the behaviour and pronouncements of the 'Christian Right' and any reasonable reading of Christian doctrine (charity, grace, preferential option for the poor and oppressed, ...) continues to grow. Same as the incoherence between Russia's actions in Ukraine and its self-styled protection of traditional Christian values.
I’m struck by Trump not seeing that Iran is subjugating its people and he’s saying they should fight back, but he’s doing exactly the same to people in the US for protesting against his foul and vicious ICE patrols. He’s utterly demented.
You write “I’m struck by Trump not seeing that Iran is subjugating its people…”
Alternatively, he just doesn’t care.
he doesn't give a whit about tthe Iranian people, just like he could not care less about us, the US.
Jesus wept!
While Atlas merely shrugged.
πολύ μεγάλο βιβλίο, πολύ κακό βιβλίο
Timothy Alberta, journalist and author of "The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory", observed that the question that is uncomfortable for many evangelicals/Christian Nationalists to answer is: "Have they entertained the possibility that the rise of Trumpism was the ACTUAL TEST chosen for them in this moment in time to measure their fidelity to their beliefs and convictions as followers of Jesus Christ"? If that is the case, can they then withstand the testing of their political identity, that has taken them further and further away from the teachings of Christ, to become followers of a political agenda that is intended to demolish the wall of separation between Church and State?
If the American people sincerely embraced the gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, we would find community with others; have harmony not discord; we would be instruments of peace, guardiand not warriors; we would impart empathy not vindictiveness; we would have hope not despair; and, most importantly, love would transcend over fear and hate.
One can only hope and pray that "we the people" will be delivered from this evil - have faith!
"harmony not discord . . . empathy not vindictiveness." Nice, Marilyn.
But you err in citing human values, when all U.S. schools subdued under the rule of testing impart only the worsening, tightening yoke of being neutered, worshipping only the abstractions, grouping, categories, and linear stupid chronologies built into that series of instruments meant only to float what we now see (or don't see) as the Epstein class.
"Travestied"? Not at all. This packs a real punch, and is the best commentary on the murder of Alex Pretti that I have read. Many thanks.
This was brilliant, but what about the Antichrist, Professor? Peter Thiel was represented as 666 on South Park, one of the most highly quoted shows in history.
"You will know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:18
The Trumplican's are the "rotten fruit" that Jesus Christ taught us to recognize in his gospel teachings.
The Trumplican Prayer is the polar opposite of the "Lords Prayer" - it's the darkside. Read the gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, especially the Sermon on the Mount
In the Trumplican Prayer their "kingdom" is earthly and includes idolatry; they do not give the "daily bread" to those in need but withold it; they will not "forgive us our trespasses" or forgive those that tresspass against them and instead want retribution; they are "delivering us into evil" through cruelty, hate and fear of the "other"; and, they are "leading us into temptation" the love of power vs the power of love - Amen 💔🙏
No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were:
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were.
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne
The biblical verse you use is a basic Jewish one from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5. recited at every service. It continues to tell us that we must place the verse on our doorstep (mezuzah) and more.
Well said, good and faithful servant.