Wisconsin Public Radio’s To the Best of Our Knowledge (TTBOOK) recently replayed an episode about building a new mosque in the Chicago area (http://www.ttbook.org/book/building-mosque-america).
One of the anti-mosque people quoted the Q’ran about killing idolators. Knowing that Mohammed and his followers were constantly harassed by idol worshipers (who made a lot of money selling statures of idols, I knew there was a larger context. Rather than offer my own explanation, I suggest you read “Does the Quran Really Sanction Violence Against ‘Unbelievers’?” by Kabir Helminski, Huffington Post, 2010-09-24, updated 2011-05-25.
One could cherry-pick the Bible and show that Judaism is a religion of hate: “But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.” King James Bible, Deuteronomy 20:16.
History is filled with “Christians” who tortured and killed those they even suspected of not being Christian enough: Torquemada and the Spanish inquisition, burnings at the stake, and more. Even in our recent history many who call themselves Christians feel no remorse in lynching or burning churches.
Buddhism is supposed to be a religion of peace, but “Buddhists” are killing Muslims in Burma and Sri Lanka. Do you really think the Buddha would approve of such hateful actions?
Showing posts with label Old Testament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Old Testament. Show all posts
Thursday, January 05, 2017
Thursday, October 10, 2013
A Bible for all seasons
The Bible is an amazing collection of history, fables, rules, and wisdom. Almost anybody can find something somewhere to support their beliefs. Some believe because the New Testament does not mention instrumental music then there should be no instrumental music in church services. On the other hand there are many who take the Old Testament to heart to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" with all kinds of instruments. Thank you, Bach, Handel, Verdi, and many others.
Unfortunately much evil has been done by some interpretations, from the burning of "heretics" to the following:
"John’s visions, throughout the centuries, have been applicable to almost every conflict or fit of us-against-the-world madness. Charles Manson read the Book of Revelation before his followers’ rampages; Hitler, encouraged by Joseph Goebbels, apparently read himself into the narrative as a holy redeemer, while the rest of the civilized world saw him as the book’s beast."
"Into the Apocalypse With an Unruffled Tour Guide: 'Revelations', by Elaine Pagels", Dwight Garner, New York Times, 2012-03-20.
Unfortunately much evil has been done by some interpretations, from the burning of "heretics" to the following:
"John’s visions, throughout the centuries, have been applicable to almost every conflict or fit of us-against-the-world madness. Charles Manson read the Book of Revelation before his followers’ rampages; Hitler, encouraged by Joseph Goebbels, apparently read himself into the narrative as a holy redeemer, while the rest of the civilized world saw him as the book’s beast."
"Into the Apocalypse With an Unruffled Tour Guide: 'Revelations', by Elaine Pagels", Dwight Garner, New York Times, 2012-03-20.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Be careful about quotes, especially from the web
The choir I sing in will be singing Bobby McFerrin's 23rd Psalm in the near future. It ends with "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen."
Hm! That contradicts the belief of the "End-timers" who believe the end of the world is near, based on their reading of Revelations.
OK, let's do a quick check of the "original" 23rd Psalm. "Psalm 23 'world without end'" gives Bobby McFerrin's version as first and several more later. The second item is from the burial section of "The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland". Oops! Every Psalm listed ends with "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen." This cannot be part of each of these psalms. Especially when it it proceeded with "GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;" The concept of the Trinity had not even been considered at the writing of the Psalms.
A bit more searching gives that this appendage is the "Gloria Patri". It is also known as the "Minor Doxology". A doxology is a short hymn of praise.
Interestingly, the original Greek uses a different ending. The "world without end" dates from Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer, either 1549 or 1552. Modern usage varies all over, from the Cranmer words to a closer rendition of the original Greek.
If scholars who know ancient Greek, Latin, and Hebrew can't agree on what the surviving texts contain, how can the rest of be sure what the translations state?
Hm! That contradicts the belief of the "End-timers" who believe the end of the world is near, based on their reading of Revelations.
OK, let's do a quick check of the "original" 23rd Psalm. "Psalm 23 'world without end'" gives Bobby McFerrin's version as first and several more later. The second item is from the burial section of "The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland". Oops! Every Psalm listed ends with "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen." This cannot be part of each of these psalms. Especially when it it proceeded with "GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;" The concept of the Trinity had not even been considered at the writing of the Psalms.
A bit more searching gives that this appendage is the "Gloria Patri". It is also known as the "Minor Doxology". A doxology is a short hymn of praise.
Interestingly, the original Greek uses a different ending. The "world without end" dates from Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer, either 1549 or 1552. Modern usage varies all over, from the Cranmer words to a closer rendition of the original Greek.
If scholars who know ancient Greek, Latin, and Hebrew can't agree on what the surviving texts contain, how can the rest of be sure what the translations state?
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