Oh dear unidentified responder who are you? The commenter who leaves such nice well written responses to my rambly entries? I’ve racked my brain thinking of who you may be as you claim to be a fellow co-worker. Come out of the shadows of anonymity! I’ll be nice I promise.
Is it blasphemous to find particular chapters of the Bible amusing? There is just something about Exodus Chapter 5 I find hilarious.
Exodus 5:1 – 4 (New International Version)
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.' "
2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."
3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
4 But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!" 5 Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working."
My idea…. For some reason I keep imagining the Pharaoh to be some snotty bastard. And when this was read out just before the Pastor’s sermon at church I suddenly imagined this…. In fact I suddenly consumed by giggles….
Moses: (visiting Pharaoh) The Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go, so they may hold a festival to me in the desert.’
Pharaoh: (Mocking tone) ‘Let my people go…so they can have a festival for me in the desert. I don’t know this Lord of yours why should I listen, therefore I will not let Israel go.
Moses: You’re just saying that because God hardened your heart aren’t you?
Pharaoh: If this God has done this then it is true, now GO AWAY I HATE YOU!
Moses: But, but, but...the God of the Hebrews has met with us, so let us go into the desert for 3 days to offer sacrifices to him or he may strike us with the plagues or the sword.
Pharaoh: (Again with the mocking tone) ‘The God of the Hebrews has met with us, so let us go into the desert for 3 days to offer sacrifices to him or he may strike us with the plagues or the sword.’ That’s the biggest bunch of baloney I’ve heard in my entire life. Moses, Aaron, why are taking these people from their labour! Get back to work you’re all lazy!
Of course after this Pharaoh decides to up the douchebaggery by deciding the Hebrew’s are to gather their own straw to make bricks and to make the same quota as before and when they can’t do this they are beaten. So obviously they are a little downtrodden and extra pissed off with Moses. So logically they complain to who they see has brought on this extra dose of misery upon them. Then when Moses goes to God and asks why, God is all like it’s because I am all powerful and because of my powerfulness Pharaoh will see how mighty I am, etc. I think the whole point of the sermon was it has to get worse so God can show you how amazingly powerful he is.
So now that I am on the topic of religion. I made a fool of myself on Jo’s blog, (spelling errors included). In which I am apologising for. Here is what I said (spelling errors corrected)
Jo,
This is solely my opinion but, I've been reading a lot of your entries pertaining to Christianity and to be honest I find a lot of your views biased and over generalised. You need proof as well as personal experience. You shouldn't criticise things you don't truly understand.
Also (still my opinion) God and religion are too separate things. Religion specifically Christianity is a man made institution which is merely a vehicle to reach God and to please him. A relationship with God and truly believing in him and having faith with or without church to me is entirely different. I believe the Bible is written by God and man and has been reinterpreted many times by man to suit there understanding and unfortunately to suit there own goals and belief systems which I agree with you can lead to abuse. I also agree it’s a very patriarchal based religion, but so are many others. I prefer to think of the Bible as a collection of stories and history and it’s from this we can learn. It can't be taken in the same context as today because it is an entirely different culture then now. However, you must remember not all Christians are bad or think they are holier then thou, it's a stereotype. And maybe when people who get come to faith lose contact with friends is because they have troubles reconnecting with those who haven't or have disconnected entirely.
I prefer to say I am a secular Christian and I will always be your friend no matter what, whether you're Christian or not. Given your experience some of your opinions are valid, but some are not.
For some Christianity gives people hope and meaning in life. No one can "interrupt there joyful ignorance," because they truly believe.
Maybe I should elaborate on the things I said, but I fear I’d make things worse….
I won’t apologise for my beliefs (which I am starting to question again, grrr…) But I will apologise for doing something I thought I’d never do…which is forcing my beliefs down someone’s throat especially when religion is a touchy subject with them to begin with. I think I was just feeling defensive because the Christianity I’ve experienced now is nothing how she describes it even the positive descriptions. That’s what I met by validity. The Christianity, I have experienced for 20+ years, varies from positive, conservative to strange and no where similar. I kind of forgot that when I made the comment. So now I’ve made it seem like I am invading her personal space. So I hope she will accept my apology.
P.S. I get make hangy-outy with Pretty Blue Eyes on Friday!
1 comment:
remember that pretty blue eyes is a part of your life who makes you happy! enjoy each and every moment and remember to never doubt your value to the world around you!
enjoy,
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