The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I support the right to be promiscuously ANTI-. But people who do that without clarifying what they would like to see done differently among hordes of complainers who have the same complaints and a very definite To Do list do risk being lumped in with the crowd.

Bob says I don't like his recommendations for change, but I don't recall ever seeing one. Granted, I don't follow that closely, but I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed something other than "turn the clock back to 1955." Which, BTW, I am not nearly as opposed to as Bob et al. might think. 90% top marginal rate and this as fashion? We could do a lot worse.

Your memory is getting pretty bad. One easy one that I've told you many times and you've agreed with me on. We need to both cut spending and increase taxes to get the federal budget back to some semblance of balance. There's many more, but maybe that one will help you jog your memory.

 

[geezer]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

When I was at Tech, we had a small group of geriatric war protesters who stood out in the veteran's memorial park above the bridge between Houghton and Hancock where all the cars coming across could see them, with their "Grandmas For Change" signs. The running bad joke was that they wanted something changed, but they had forgotten what. Maybe their Depends needed changing.

Point is, you aren't supposed to have a plan or be all that interested in action, you're just supposed to complain. It's part of being American.

hehe. I love those grammas. If any are left, I hope they get all riled up about something and flood the streets in protest again. That is, like a flood of molasses. Very cold molasses, pushing a walker.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Your memory is getting pretty bad. One easy one that I've told you many times and you've agreed with me on. We need to both cut spending and increase taxes to get the federal budget back to some semblance of balance. There's many more, but maybe that one will help you jog your memory.

Nah, that's way too general. Everybody says we need to cut spending -- the pie throwing starts when they start listing examples.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Nah, that's way too general. Everybody says we need to cut spending -- the pie throwing starts when they start listing examples.

I remember when you thought it was a pretty good deal that I was endorsing not just spending cuts, but higher taxes. If you want to think that I don't propose much of anything, go ahead. I know different and I just don't care enough to worry that much if some poster on a hockey message board has a wrong concept about me, even one I respect a bit like you. Frankly, I'm trying to think what detailed proposals you make. But, I'll cut you some slack and realize I don't recall or probably even so a good deal of what you post around here.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I remember when you thought it was a pretty good deal that I was endorsing not just spending cuts, but higher taxes. If you want to think that I don't propose much of anything, go ahead. I know different and I just don't care enough to worry that much if some poster on a hockey message board has a wrong concept about me, even one I respect a bit like you. Frankly, I'm trying to think what detailed proposals you make. But, I'll cut you some slack and realize I don't recall or probably even so a good deal of what you post around here.

I do think it's a good deal to cut spending and raise taxes (provided we do both of them the right way). I don't think anybody here is very specific, and since we're not running for office that's fine. This isn't a rigorous environment, though it's pretty **** good as public boards go. You can count the cementheads on one hand and Ignore them, and the rest are giving it the old college try, anyway.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I do think it's a good deal to cut spending and raise taxes (provided we do both of them the right way). I don't think anybody here is very specific, and since we're not running for office that's fine. This isn't a rigorous environment, though it's pretty **** good as public boards go. You can count the cementheads on one hand and Ignore them, and the rest are giving it the old college try, anyway.

I've even said defense spending (along with healthcare and other sacred cows) needs to be part of the mix. I think that's a lot more than most folks around here put on the table and certainly more realistic than pretty much anything we see coming out of Congress or the executive branch.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I've even said defense spending (along with healthcare and other sacred cows) needs to be part of the mix. I think that's a lot more than most folks around here put on the table and certainly more realistic than pretty much anything we see coming out of Congress or the executive branch.

We should try secret ballot in Congress for one year. It could be the worst idea on earth, but what if the bribers could never tell if the Member stayed bribed?

Dr. Mrs. Kepler assures me that, having met and talked with most Senators and many House Members, that with very few exceptions they are actually honorable people attempting to help the country. Perhaps, in secret, they could. And yes, I know how sad a pass we have come to to even suggest it. The alternative -- going to pure public funding and banning all campaign contributions as unvarnished bribery -- seems much more sound to me, if only we could pass a Constitutional Amendment to that effect.

 

[joecct]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Turn off the TV cameras. If you're interested, read the Congressional Record.

 

[joecct]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Kep

This is fascinating reading:

http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2001_su_hildebran.html

You'll probably disagree, but something went south in the RC church from 1959 - 1978.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Turn off the TV cameras. If you're interested, read the Congressional Record.

Couldn't agree more. CSPAN destroyed session. They still do intelligent work in committee -- even the idiots who posture the most for the camera do great work in committee -- but TV just makes it another form of campaigning, so it's insipid.

House Open Session isn't even fun anymore since B-1 Bob lost.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Kep

This is fascinating reading:

http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2001_su_hildebran.html

You'll probably disagree, but something went south in the RC church from 1959 - 1978.

It's always interesting to hear from the Tridentines.

I am a big proponent of the Latin mass, and try to catch it whenever I can.

I don't have time to read the link now (Mets game) but will later. Thanks!

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Can we knock it off with the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" talk?

Every time I see something like that, it makes me think that "God" is up there, doling out pain and misery because he/she/it thinks you can handle it.

 

[cF[Authentic]]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Can we knock it off with the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" talk?

Every time I see something like that, it makes me think that "God" is up there, doling out pain and misery because he/she/it thinks you can handle it.

I've always been of the belief that the devil tends to go after two types of people... the strongest and those that are torn between Christianity and not. I don't necessarily think of it as God giving someone a battle but rather God not letting that battle be more than a person can handle.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Can we knock it off with the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" talk?

Every time I see something like that, it makes me think that "God" is up there, doling out pain and misery because he/she/it thinks you can handle it.

Agreed. That's one of they catchy sayings people will throw out when someone is going through tough times that I don't think reflects how things really are.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Agreed. That's one of they catchy sayings people will throw out when someone is going through tough times that I don't think reflects how things really are.

Meh, it's like prayer: it doesn't hurt anybody and if people find some sort of strength or solace in it, fine.

All that stuff is dumb, but important to keep up morale. "Our brave lads" is dumb -- it's more "the kids who blew the SATs." But consolation prizes are important in a world where privilege is unequal and we don't want the underclass murdering us in our beds.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Can we knock it off with the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" talk?

Every time I see something like that, it makes me think that "God" is up there, doling out pain and misery because he/she/it thinks you can handle it.

As Kep says, I'm pretty sure its a tool to help folks through tough times. If your positioned as tough there is likely some psychological reinforcement there.

I've always been of the belief that the devil tends to go after two types of people... the strongest and those that are torn between Christianity and not. I don't necessarily think of it as God giving someone a battle but rather God not letting that battle be more than a person can handle.

And I wouldn't be surprised if (related to your first point) #3 is weak Christians.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Meh, it's like prayer: it doesn't hurt anybody and if people find some sort of strength or solace in it, fine.

All that stuff is dumb, but important to keep up morale. "Our brave lads" is dumb -- it's more "the kids who blew the SATs." But consolation prizes are important in a world where privilege is unequal and we don't want the underclass murdering us in our beds.

Dumb. Yah. Nice contribution to the discussion. I know you can't resist such jabs.

 

[joecct]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Can we knock it off with the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" talk?

Every time I see something like that, it makes me think that "God" is up there, doling out pain and misery because he/she/it thinks you can handle it.

Well.....

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng
Blend with ours your voices in a triumph song

Christ, the Royal Master, leads against the foe
Forward into battle, see His banners go, oh

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane
But the cross of Jesus constant will remain

Marching as to war
(Marching as to war)
Oh, we're marching as to war
(Marching as to war)

Oh, we're marching as to war
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng
Blend with ours your voices in a triumph song
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before

Marching as to war
(Marching as to war)
Oh, we're marching as to war
(Marching as to war)

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I've always thought Matthew 5:45 was very applicable to this type of discussion.

"for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Good things happen to good people and bad people and everyone in between, recognizing that making certain choices in life might increase one's chances of bad things happening. And of course the whole concept of who is strong and who is weak in the Bible is not necessarily what a person might think at first blush, with verses like "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong," (1 Cor 1:27).

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

He moves in mysterious ways.