Wow, another month is nearly gone! Here is the list of books I finished this month.
Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God by Paul Copan -- see previous posts
American Jesus by Stephen Prothero -- subtitled "How the Son of God Became a National Icon" -- see previous posts; one other interesting thought is the author's summary that America is both the most Christian nation as well as the most multi-religious one
"Like America's Jesus himself, who was born among Protestants but now lives among Christians and non-Christians alike, the United States has developed from a Protestant country into a nation, secular by law and religious by preference, that is somehow both the most Christian and the most religiously diverse on earth." (pg. 302)
The Storyteller's Daughter by Saira Shah -- London-born, but of Afghan heritage, this book tells of the experiences of this journalist who wanted to discover the Afghanistan of her father's stories. I enjoyed her tales of the people of Afghanistan, the fighters, the women and children, even the aid workers they met while traveling. One thing that saddened me was the fact that so many young people are growing up without any education plus their family farms are ruined. All they know is war. It's their way of life and as one person put it "they will try to keep on fighting in any way they can."
Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner -- see previous posts
Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us, and Why It Matters by James Zogby
Importance of listening -- pg. 1
Arab world shrouded in myths -- pg. 13
"When you really listen and learn, you have the responsibility to act." - pg. 20
Wilson wanted the Arab opinion and got it, but Lord Balfour dismissed it - pg. 23
the role of language in Arab identity -- "a common language suggests a shared history and being connected by the values and culture that are expressed by that language." - pg. 77
"It's the policy, stupid." -- what Arabs hate about America - pg. 85
a Lebanese friend said it wasn't that they rejected America, but they felt rejected by Americans -- "not hatred of America, but feeling hated by America." They wanted to be accepted and respected by America. - pg. 90
The talk on pages 149-150 about America wrongly believing itself to be the agents of change that the Arab world wants and needs
Lesson from Fatah and Hamas -- "when you roil a region, turn it against you, and then advocate an election, the side that ends up winning may not be the one you favor." pg. 150
understanding the histories of both Jews in Israel and Palestinians is important for both sides - pg. 160
"when it comes to diplomacy and much else, the public sector has a great deal to learn from the private one." - pg. 204
Jesus & Muhammad: Parallel Tracks, Parallel Lives by F.E. Peters -- see previous post
The English Is Coming! How One Language Is Sweeping the World by Leslie Dunton-Downer -- Great book I found on the new book shelf at the local library. I had a lot of fun with this by posting trivia and asking questions on Facebook. The author covers the roots of English, how it formed from borrowing from a number of languages (1/3 of English vocabulary comes from Norman French, for instance) and how things such as the Black Death and John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible into English influenced it. In the final chapter she demonstrated how, based on the precedent of English grammar becoming more simple over time (dropping inflections and gendered nouns), Global English could further develop by possibly dropping "the" and "a" articles such as in a number of languages or having a new word take the place of "his or hers" (Chinese use ta for that phrase). Because more non-native English speakers will be in the world, English is likely to add new words - say from Chinese banking systems - in the coming years.
What have you been reading and enjoying lately? Book, magazine, internet article or cereal box? :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thoughts on the Quran (mostly)
I'm reading Jesus & Muhammad: Parallel Tracks, Parallel Lives by F.E. Peters. I found it on the new book shelf at the library the other day. Peters delves more into the historical Jesus and historical Muhammad as well as the texts and extra-biblical or extra-quranic sources that speak of these men, their communities, their ministries, the stories surrounding their births, lives and deaths. Nothing spectacular has stood out although I have found much of it good and interesting. I guess the part about Jesus that made me pause was early on when the author said "Jesus and his followers were avid students of the Bible. Isaiah and Daniel were among their favorite reading, but they were equally interested in what we - but not they - have called the apocrypha, the various works attributed to Ezra and Baruch, the Assumption of Moses, the Testament of Abraham. It was from them that both Jesus and his audience were drawing upon their understanding of the past, and the future, of the Covenant." (pg. 5). This statement made me want to go find these Writings just to see what types of things the Jews of that day were reading!
The author talks much about Q and the Gospels, but what I found of greater interest - perhaps because it was new to me - were his thoughts on the Quran. I decided to copy some of it to see what you think and to hopefully find out what Muslims have to say about their own scriptures concerning these matters.
So what do you think of this?
The author writes:
After taking a closer look at the Quran:
The author realizes the suras were written to different audiences. In Mecca Muhammad was writing to encourage people to leave idolatry and become Muslims, whereas in Medina new rules were needed for the growing ummah. But the author suggests also that maybe Muhammad found a scribe in Medina as the suras there seem more like they were dictated. "The Prophet could no longer recite in the earlier bardic style but now had to pronounce, and slowly and clearly enough for an unskilled scribe to catch and record it." (pg. 135)
Earlier in the book the author had noted that "the Quran shows an ongoing awareness of audience reaction. There are ... on-the-spot explanations - introduced by "What will make you understand...?" - that are obviously cued by audience reaction (101:9-11), or in these instances, perhaps a lack of it. There are direct answers to both questions and criticisms (2:135, etc.). And there was, finally, the charge that the 'revelations' were somewhat too improvised, that Muhammad was in effect making it up as he went along, with one eye steadily fixed on the main chance (21:5, 52:33). No,he recited only what - and when - he had received from God (10:15-16). Not all of these responses had necessarily to occur in the original performance, however, since these performances were certainly, and in the case of the Quran, necessarily, repeated, and there was an opportunity for the poet, or the prophet, to make adjustments." (pg. 76)
What do you think of what F.E. Peters wrote about the Quran? How do you explain the differing style of the earlier suras compared to the later ones? Do you think the idea of Muhammad editing the text by his supervising the memorization of the words has any truth to it? Do you agree that Muhammad made adjustments depending on audience reaction? What do you think about Muhammad perhaps having a scribe in Medina thus the style of the Quran changed because the words could now be written down instead of merely memorized by the followers (which would require shorter, more rhyming suras)? Any thoughts on anything else mentioned in this post or from your own understanding?
The author talks much about Q and the Gospels, but what I found of greater interest - perhaps because it was new to me - were his thoughts on the Quran. I decided to copy some of it to see what you think and to hopefully find out what Muslims have to say about their own scriptures concerning these matters.
So what do you think of this?
The author writes:
In our bondage to written texts, we must constantly remind ourselves that, when it comes to the Quran, there can be no question of an "original." The original of the Quran is the recitation or performance that Muhammad chose to have his followers memorize, and which is very unlikely to have been its first utterance. Thus, the "original" of our Quran is the finished sura that either Muhammad or someone else had edited and that had then become fixed by social memorization. In neither instance is there any concern to preserve what we might think of as the original revelation in the sense of the first (and only) words to issue from the Prophet's mouth on a given subject. As we have seen, that notion, though theologically a cornerstone of belief - the Quran is God's unchanging Word - defies every convention of oral poetry and performance. Our Quran, like the Iliad, is a fixed product standing at the end of a complex and fluid process. (pg.134)
After taking a closer look at the Quran:
We note a marked change in the suras after we have arranged them in something approximating their chronological order. The revelations delivered at Medina are quite different from the earlier Meccan ones. The high emotion, richly affective images, the rhymes and powerful rhythms of the Meccan poetry have all yielded at Medina to something that is not only longer but far more didactic and prosaic. The high poetic style of the Meccan suras disappears, along with their insistent rhymes and assonances. The oaths, the bold imagery, and the intense fervor of the early poems - we may even call them songs, as we have seen - have yielded to a flatter diction and a lower and more level emotional pitch.
The author realizes the suras were written to different audiences. In Mecca Muhammad was writing to encourage people to leave idolatry and become Muslims, whereas in Medina new rules were needed for the growing ummah. But the author suggests also that maybe Muhammad found a scribe in Medina as the suras there seem more like they were dictated. "The Prophet could no longer recite in the earlier bardic style but now had to pronounce, and slowly and clearly enough for an unskilled scribe to catch and record it." (pg. 135)
Earlier in the book the author had noted that "the Quran shows an ongoing awareness of audience reaction. There are ... on-the-spot explanations - introduced by "What will make you understand...?" - that are obviously cued by audience reaction (101:9-11), or in these instances, perhaps a lack of it. There are direct answers to both questions and criticisms (2:135, etc.). And there was, finally, the charge that the 'revelations' were somewhat too improvised, that Muhammad was in effect making it up as he went along, with one eye steadily fixed on the main chance (21:5, 52:33). No,he recited only what - and when - he had received from God (10:15-16). Not all of these responses had necessarily to occur in the original performance, however, since these performances were certainly, and in the case of the Quran, necessarily, repeated, and there was an opportunity for the poet, or the prophet, to make adjustments." (pg. 76)
What do you think of what F.E. Peters wrote about the Quran? How do you explain the differing style of the earlier suras compared to the later ones? Do you think the idea of Muhammad editing the text by his supervising the memorization of the words has any truth to it? Do you agree that Muhammad made adjustments depending on audience reaction? What do you think about Muhammad perhaps having a scribe in Medina thus the style of the Quran changed because the words could now be written down instead of merely memorized by the followers (which would require shorter, more rhyming suras)? Any thoughts on anything else mentioned in this post or from your own understanding?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Listen and Learn
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. ~ James 1:19
Shhhhh! Listen.
What do you hear going on around you?
If you are like me perhaps you hear a car zooming through the neighborhood or a dog barking in the distance. Notice a motor coming to life and the clock on the wall ticking off moments of time.
There is always stuff to hear. Even when we are not purposefully trying to listen to anything and, in fact, want peace and quiet.
But how often are we hearing things of great importance, but not really listening? How often is someone trying to explain, sharing her heart or wanting to get a point across, but our minds are two steps ahead planning what we will say in reply or wondering when this person will hush so we can go on with our lives. You know...to do something more important. Like watching a favorite show or running an errand or reading an assignment for class.
Has Jesus' words about "he who has ears, let him hear" ever puzzled you? Was Jesus talking to a crowd of earless people or was he perhaps instructing those who really wanted to learn to have attentive ears? To not only hear that words were being said, but the importance of those words. For those to listen, to take note of and be influenced by those godly principles.
In Arab Voices, author James Zogby has one theme that stuck out the most to me: listen to people. More specifically for this book, the Arab world. Too often we barge into situations perhaps believing we are the better educated, better informed, dare I say, better developed and civilized people so we have the authority and right to dictate things, to show those people a thing or two about life in the 21st century. Ah, such arrogance really.
I remember when I first met Samer over three years ago. He often marveled that I cared enough to ask questions and get to know more about his views, his people, culture and religion. He expected me to not care because, well, because he was an Arab, a Muslim and surely the American in this friendship would dominate the conversation, yes? Never underestimate the power of listening to another person as he shares his heart and his experiences and his point of view. It's such a wonderful way to learn from others, expand your understanding about the world and to show that other people matter to you.
Ever notice how Jesus was approached by people and instead of acting like a know-it-all, he listened to them? What do you want me to do for you? What is your problem? Jesus knew he had the answer. He was the miracle worker. He was the Blessed One from God. He knew. If anyone had the right to speak first and dictate, he did. And he did his share of teaching and instructing. But he also listened. He wanted to hear the heart of people so he could help them.
Do you want to help others?
Perhaps we should go through life listening more.
Luke 6 records these words from Jesus:
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
Perhaps people don't do what Jesus said because they aren't listening.
So what do you have on your heart? I'm listening. Please share.
Shhhhh! Listen.
What do you hear going on around you?
If you are like me perhaps you hear a car zooming through the neighborhood or a dog barking in the distance. Notice a motor coming to life and the clock on the wall ticking off moments of time.
There is always stuff to hear. Even when we are not purposefully trying to listen to anything and, in fact, want peace and quiet.
But how often are we hearing things of great importance, but not really listening? How often is someone trying to explain, sharing her heart or wanting to get a point across, but our minds are two steps ahead planning what we will say in reply or wondering when this person will hush so we can go on with our lives. You know...to do something more important. Like watching a favorite show or running an errand or reading an assignment for class.
Has Jesus' words about "he who has ears, let him hear" ever puzzled you? Was Jesus talking to a crowd of earless people or was he perhaps instructing those who really wanted to learn to have attentive ears? To not only hear that words were being said, but the importance of those words. For those to listen, to take note of and be influenced by those godly principles.
In Arab Voices, author James Zogby has one theme that stuck out the most to me: listen to people. More specifically for this book, the Arab world. Too often we barge into situations perhaps believing we are the better educated, better informed, dare I say, better developed and civilized people so we have the authority and right to dictate things, to show those people a thing or two about life in the 21st century. Ah, such arrogance really.
I remember when I first met Samer over three years ago. He often marveled that I cared enough to ask questions and get to know more about his views, his people, culture and religion. He expected me to not care because, well, because he was an Arab, a Muslim and surely the American in this friendship would dominate the conversation, yes? Never underestimate the power of listening to another person as he shares his heart and his experiences and his point of view. It's such a wonderful way to learn from others, expand your understanding about the world and to show that other people matter to you.
Ever notice how Jesus was approached by people and instead of acting like a know-it-all, he listened to them? What do you want me to do for you? What is your problem? Jesus knew he had the answer. He was the miracle worker. He was the Blessed One from God. He knew. If anyone had the right to speak first and dictate, he did. And he did his share of teaching and instructing. But he also listened. He wanted to hear the heart of people so he could help them.
Do you want to help others?
Perhaps we should go through life listening more.
Luke 6 records these words from Jesus:
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
Perhaps people don't do what Jesus said because they aren't listening.
So what do you have on your heart? I'm listening. Please share.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
"Do you support the Islamic jihad...and sharia law?"
Last week in this post I told you that I may share some parts of conversations that I have on Facebook from time to time. The latest discussion happened due to a link I posted related to the Egyptian revolution. I think I told you or you know from personal experience or reading online that some Americans are less-than-thrilled. What if it's another Iran? What if the radical Muslims take control? Ack, have you heard of the Muslim Brotherhood? What about precious, darling Israel in the midst of all those hateful Arabs who want to wipe it off the map? What about oil? What about our interests in the region? Mubarak was our ally! How dare the people get rid of the guy we were supporting all these years! When we want to get rid of an Arab dictator, we'll do it on our own terms, at our own expense (i.e., Iraq).
Fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear.
*ahem*
I say we either drop the "we love democracy everywhere in the world" spiel or we back it up by encouraging people who are trying to dispose of autocrats who have histories of rigged elections and oppression against their own people! This playing both sides is hypocritical and - really - who are we fooling? It just makes us look even more idiotic to the rest of the world! (To which some Americans will say they don't care and that's fine, but some of us care when America equals Christian nation to a lot of people. Do we want Christ to be dragged into it because we are poor examples of him? All righty then.)
So anyway, I ended up chatting off and on for a few days with someone whom I will call E to protect his identity.
Eventually the conversation got to this with E asking,
"Susanne, do you support the islamic jihad?"
My reply:
So he asked:
"Do you support sharia law?"
My reply:
Feel free to share your own thoughts. Maybe you think I am simplistic and plain old wrong in my thoughts. So tell me. Shape and/or change my views. Tell me why I should believe differently.
E also asked something that lead me to share my thoughts on Israel. I'll do that in another post as it may take more explaining. Plus it was a longer reply.
Thoughts?
Fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear.
*ahem*
I say we either drop the "we love democracy everywhere in the world" spiel or we back it up by encouraging people who are trying to dispose of autocrats who have histories of rigged elections and oppression against their own people! This playing both sides is hypocritical and - really - who are we fooling? It just makes us look even more idiotic to the rest of the world! (To which some Americans will say they don't care and that's fine, but some of us care when America equals Christian nation to a lot of people. Do we want Christ to be dragged into it because we are poor examples of him? All righty then.)
So anyway, I ended up chatting off and on for a few days with someone whom I will call E to protect his identity.
Eventually the conversation got to this with E asking,
"Susanne, do you support the islamic jihad?"
My reply:
Nope, not a fan of the extremists' version of jihad which most Muslims do not agree with either. Jihad (which means struggle) for most Muslims is first an inner struggle to do what is right in order to please God (e.g. the five prayers, fasting, almsgiving, dressing modestly). Similar to our "good fight of faith." This is the greater jihad.
The lesser jihad is defensive wars or wars against oppressors. For example fighting against occupying Americans who invaded and killed is legitimate. (If someone invaded America, you'd feel this 'jihad' was legit too.)
The extremists' version of jihad is the one even most Muslims despise. The extremists wrongly think they can fight *anyone* who does not agree with their version of Islam which is vile, hateful and which I too will reject with everything in me.
Good question! Now you know how I feel about jihad. :) Any others?
So he asked:
"Do you support sharia law?"
My reply:
Nope. If you have a Muslim-only country and want sharia (which they believe is God's law kind of like the Children of Israel thought of the Mosaic Law), then fine. But it's not for me since, well, I don't believe it's from God or else I'd be a Muslim. And really a number of Muslims don't want all aspects of sharia enforced because whose interpretation of sharia do they use? The conservatives, the moderates or the progressives? It's kind of like applying God's laws to the US and how the variety of opinions within Christianity would make that a nightmare for many.
Feel free to share your own thoughts. Maybe you think I am simplistic and plain old wrong in my thoughts. So tell me. Shape and/or change my views. Tell me why I should believe differently.
E also asked something that lead me to share my thoughts on Israel. I'll do that in another post as it may take more explaining. Plus it was a longer reply.
Thoughts?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Ten Things About Me
Wafa' had this on her blog and I decided to do it.
1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you aren’t anonymous, do you wish you started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?
I don't mind that my blog isn't anonymous. I don't have much to hide from the world! :)
2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side?
No one was ever able to guilt me into having children.
3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?
Some days, a clown. Other days, a person who can't believe how little she really knows about things.
4. What is your favourite summer cold drink?
Nothing quenches thirst better than water...and it's my favorite
5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?
read, blog, sit on the porch and just think and watch the birds soaring in the sky
6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life?
I'd like to travel more. I think. I would like to accomplish living in another country for a while. It would be great to learn another language, but that seems far-fetched since I'm not actually trying to learn one.
7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?
I studied hard to make good grades and I always wanted to do my best. And I was friendly with almost everyone so I had friends in the popular group as well as the nerdy group and all the in between groups too.
8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?
the time my great-grandmother was dying and several of her children and grandchildren went outside and gathered in a big circle crying and hugging, when my uncle told his mom to tell Ritchie (his son who was killed in a truck accident at age 24) something when she got to heaven; and my last day in Syria which was full of touching moments
9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog, or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people and events?
it depends on the topic; some things I've been open about sharing and other things I will not share because I always wear a mask ... or a bit of one
10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why ?
I love to read and hate talking on the phone. Maybe it's sad to admit that I'd rather read about someone else or a topic in history or politics or religion than talk to someone and further a relationship.
Anyone who wants to do this, consider yourself tagged!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Girl Meets God -- Resurrection and Confession (Forgiveness of Sin)
A bit more from Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner
There are other things from this book that took my attention - how she read the book of Ruth as an Orthodox Jew and now as a Christian and how the story of Obed plays into Matthew's telling of Jesus' genealogy in that gospel. I reread that part to grasp it all. Really good. But I won't copy it all. Anyone interested can get the book perhaps.
I like how she said she chose Episcopalianism because she liked the liturgy and Tradition and reading the Scriptures through the eyes of the Church. She said this was familiar to her because Jews read the Torah and Writings and Prophets the same way. Jews reading the Bible without the rabbis were "heretics of the first order." (pg.137)
I wanted to share how one girl in the five-and-six-year-old class she taught described communion. How that it was God that the priest poured into the cup. (pg.185)
But I will instead choose two things, resurrection and confession, and leave it at that.
"Judaism taught me daily to expect God to resurrect the dead. True enough, over the centuries the rabbis have debated the details of Jewish afterlife, but it boils down to what you say every day in prayer. ... [In] the middle of Shemoneh Esrei ... is that God 'heals the sick' and 'releases the prisoner' and is 'faithful to raise the dead.'
Easter, it seems to me, is the most profoundly Jewish of all Christian holidays. For a Jew becoming a Christian, bodily resurrection is no surprise. It is what we had been expecting all along." (pg. 193)
And concerning confession.
"Father Peter will grant me absolution, but confession isn't just about absolution. It's not some kind of antinomian free-for-all, where, since we know Christ has already forgiven us, we can just keep sinning. The change, I think, that conversion gradually effects on your heart is this: you come, over some stretched-out time, to want to do the things that God wants you to do, because you want to be close to Him. So the point is not just to be forgiven, it is to be transformed. The religious languages have better words for this than English -- teshuvah in Hebrew, and metanoia in Greek. A complete turning around.
I doubt I will achieve a complete turn around here on Earth. I will always need this ritual of confession, because I will always keep screwing up. And God will somehow keep forgiving me, and pulling me closer to Him. He will, over time, make me sadder and sadder when I spit in His eye. He will make me love Him better. And that might mean, maybe, that I will sin a little bit less." (pg. 212-213)
I like her thoughts on confession and how she explained that one who is drawing closer to God won't want to sin or "spit in His eye." Would you want to spit in your loving mother or father's eye? I get the impression from some that once we know Jesus, we can go on sinning and just say the magic words and he will take away the consequences of our sinful behaviors so good behavior is optional for Christians. Not so. If you really love Jesus, you won't take God's forgiveness lightly. You will recognize those bad deeds hurt Jesus as much as your cheating on your husband would crush him. And if you love your husband, you won't want to hurt him. You won't want to destroy him this way. So why would you love Jesus and then purposefully hurt him?
Any thoughts or comments or impressions that you want to share? Was it a surprise to you to learn Jews also expect God to be "faithful to raise the dead"? What do you think of Lauren's impression that Easter is "the most profoundly Jewish of all Christian holidays"? Would you have guessed this? What do you think of confession to a priest? Why is this important or not important to you? How is being sorry for your sin different from "a complete turning around" concerning them? Or are they the same?
There are other things from this book that took my attention - how she read the book of Ruth as an Orthodox Jew and now as a Christian and how the story of Obed plays into Matthew's telling of Jesus' genealogy in that gospel. I reread that part to grasp it all. Really good. But I won't copy it all. Anyone interested can get the book perhaps.
I like how she said she chose Episcopalianism because she liked the liturgy and Tradition and reading the Scriptures through the eyes of the Church. She said this was familiar to her because Jews read the Torah and Writings and Prophets the same way. Jews reading the Bible without the rabbis were "heretics of the first order." (pg.137)
I wanted to share how one girl in the five-and-six-year-old class she taught described communion. How that it was God that the priest poured into the cup. (pg.185)
But I will instead choose two things, resurrection and confession, and leave it at that.
"Judaism taught me daily to expect God to resurrect the dead. True enough, over the centuries the rabbis have debated the details of Jewish afterlife, but it boils down to what you say every day in prayer. ... [In] the middle of Shemoneh Esrei ... is that God 'heals the sick' and 'releases the prisoner' and is 'faithful to raise the dead.'
Easter, it seems to me, is the most profoundly Jewish of all Christian holidays. For a Jew becoming a Christian, bodily resurrection is no surprise. It is what we had been expecting all along." (pg. 193)
And concerning confession.
"Father Peter will grant me absolution, but confession isn't just about absolution. It's not some kind of antinomian free-for-all, where, since we know Christ has already forgiven us, we can just keep sinning. The change, I think, that conversion gradually effects on your heart is this: you come, over some stretched-out time, to want to do the things that God wants you to do, because you want to be close to Him. So the point is not just to be forgiven, it is to be transformed. The religious languages have better words for this than English -- teshuvah in Hebrew, and metanoia in Greek. A complete turning around.
I doubt I will achieve a complete turn around here on Earth. I will always need this ritual of confession, because I will always keep screwing up. And God will somehow keep forgiving me, and pulling me closer to Him. He will, over time, make me sadder and sadder when I spit in His eye. He will make me love Him better. And that might mean, maybe, that I will sin a little bit less." (pg. 212-213)
I like her thoughts on confession and how she explained that one who is drawing closer to God won't want to sin or "spit in His eye." Would you want to spit in your loving mother or father's eye? I get the impression from some that once we know Jesus, we can go on sinning and just say the magic words and he will take away the consequences of our sinful behaviors so good behavior is optional for Christians. Not so. If you really love Jesus, you won't take God's forgiveness lightly. You will recognize those bad deeds hurt Jesus as much as your cheating on your husband would crush him. And if you love your husband, you won't want to hurt him. You won't want to destroy him this way. So why would you love Jesus and then purposefully hurt him?
Any thoughts or comments or impressions that you want to share? Was it a surprise to you to learn Jews also expect God to be "faithful to raise the dead"? What do you think of Lauren's impression that Easter is "the most profoundly Jewish of all Christian holidays"? Would you have guessed this? What do you think of confession to a priest? Why is this important or not important to you? How is being sorry for your sin different from "a complete turning around" concerning them? Or are they the same?
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