Tuesday, May 17, 2011

 

A good take, and another one.


I've got a great job. I get to teach, which I love, and put ideas up for public debate, which I find meaningful, humbling, and sometimes thrilling.

One thing that comes with that is that I am putting my ideas up for anyone to discuss-- Perez Hilton, other law professors, Kriss the Sexy Athiest, whoever. That's good-- the part I find thrilling is when my ideas reach those who probably don't agree with me, because that is who I need to talk to. The internet, of course, has ushered in an age where if you have a provocative idea, it can bounce around the world like a pinball.

For example here is a little sample of the public discussion of my ideas over the past few days, both of which I welcome-- one positive, and one largely negative:

Baptists Today

Scumbag Style

Comments:
Scumbag Style: gotta love the straw man.
 
I felt like I was suffering for my own sins when reading the Scumbag article. Firstly the drawing of him scared me very badly. He had crazy angry eyes. Remind me never to invite him to tea.Or perhaps I should,to overcome the prejudice I have against crazy,angry eyes. As one who loves to write myself,I have to say,and he would hate this,his style is a combination of the divine and profane. And is original,which I count precious. Odd word. I know you don't want me to discuss style. The article by and large made me sad. He sees no Love. To focus on the scapegoat metaphor instead of the Man,Jesus Christ,who he was and what he said is an astounding,cruel loss. Years ago,what I came to,was that the crucifixion of Christ is the only way God could get us to listen to him,to perceive exactly how we are loved. Without this,we repeat our hellish mistakes and die every day.To give your only son who is blameless,perfect to a humiliating,horrifically painful death to save a people you love,is an unmistakable message. Before Jesus,humanity could say to God,"you don't know what it is to die,you don't know what it is to suffer,to be a human being. It isn't fair. It isn't fair." Scumbag's reasoning is human being reasoning and so it doesn't make sense.The trial was important,because it was as much a picture of the jury as it was a picture of the defendant,the prosecutor and defense. Who are we really to condemn someone to death?
 
Unitariansim and Evangelicalism- a marriage made in heaven.

From the tone of the author of "Scumbug Style", I should not have guessed that he had read Ludwig Wittgenstein; my mistake though, he has probably also read Levi Struass.

As for his anger, there is therapy for that/
 
Love the cartoon on Scumbag! Says it all.

Lee
 
Gotta love the “blanket worshipers” in the Church of the Holy Comforter. Anyway I have to say that I appreciate the different perspective Scumbag Style offers with sarcastic aplomb. But then this opinion comes from someone baptized as a Greek Orthodox whose grandmother was deeply faithful, whose mother was agnostic, father a scientist and ambivalent in matters of faith and exposed to a steady dose of Bolshevik indoctrination up until early adulthood, the effect of all being that I am always open to see valid points from anyone able to articulate them in love, sarcasm or anger.
 
Perhaps it is exactly because I have seen those eyes somewhere before, that they disturb me so. Perhaps in my own mirror.I don't think mine are angry,but I suppose they have been crazed from time to time. I struggle with being judgmental every day of my life,an inherited gene, along with occasional deep sadness.But at least I struggle. It is because I know what it is to think that you alone are spinning all the balls of the Universe, that I feel some pain in recognition when I see that face. I hope it came out that I think he is a talented writer and that he makes his points well.
 
Wow Scumbag style. Unfortunately because I clicked the link and read Maestro Scum's take I will probably be bombarded with strange ads on FB. C'est la vie....
 
Christine: I did and thought the same thing...
 
who is that guy in teh picture You have posted that photo before.
 
That guy is my student at Baylor...
 
You do realize that he looks like you,right? Especially through the eyes and a similar smile,I'd say.
 
"Because on the cross Jesus in humiliation proves his and God's love for the world, death is followed by the resurrection, for death cannot contain love. 'For love is strong as death' (Song 8.6b). That is the meaning of Good Friday and Easter Sunday: the way of God to humankind leads back to God. Thus the divine idea of Jesus comes together with Paul's interpretation of the cross, and the cross becomes the center and paradoxical symbol of the Christian message. A king who goes to the cross must be the king of a miraculous kingdom. Only those who understand the profound paradox of the idea of the cross can understand the meaning of Jesus' saying: 'My kingdom is not from this world' (John 18.36)...Christ is not the bringer of a new religion but the bringer of God. So, as the impossible way of human beings to God, the Christian religion stands beside other religions. Christians can never do something good on their own by their being Christian, for that remains human- all too human. They live, however, by the grace of God, which comes to human beings and comes to everyone who is open to it and understands it in the cross of Christ. Thus, the gift of Christ is not the Christian religion but the grace and love of God, which culminate in the cross."- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
Love that,Scott! What came to me was I Corinthians 1:27:
"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." Thank you for the Bonhoeffer.
 
And hair.
 
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