From: gordons@netcom.com (Gordon Storga)
Subject: Re: What is Sex to God?
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 05:09:23 GMT
Organization: Stay Awake Software
Followup-To: talk.religion.misc

<1992Aug20.182722.15644@menudo.uh.edu> HADCRJAM@admin.uh.edu (MILLER, JIMMY A.):
><1992Aug19.215631.18865@coopsol.com> gordons@coopsol.com writes:
>> <1992Aug18.124519.25933@menudo.uh.edu> HADCRJAM@admin.uh.edu (MILLER, JIMMY A.) said:
>> ><1992Aug17.172854.6645@coopsol.com> gordons@coopsol.com writes:
...
>> >Perhaps you should explain why your interpretation is any better than mine--
>> 
>> *Mine* isn't an interpretation, yours is.  All I did was quote his words
>> in context.  You're the one who feels the need to draw all sorts of
>> unwarrented conclusions from his simple commands.
>
>  Deny all you like, but what you and I have both done is make an interpreta-
>tion.  

You are the one who took simple words and read all sorts of grandiose
phraseology into them.  I read the words written, in the context they were
written - along with other passages where he claims to have come here to
cause division in families.

[light brigade analogy deleted, but acknowledged]

>  My conclusions are not unwarranted in light of his other words--yours are.
>I've read the rest of the orders.

As have I.  I've been through the bible study mill.

...
>> >          Christians are also told to love their enemies, forgive them, turn 
>> >the other cheek, and hate sin, not the sinner--commands at odds with your
>> >interpretation.  
>> 
>> Nope.  I made no interpretation.  You did.
>
>  Sorry, Gordon.  It was.  You decided what he meant by those words.  

Yes, having an understanding of the english language I was able to
assertain what the words "hate your family" mean.

>                                                                      It is an
>interpretation.  

Only of what the little spashes of arranged ink patterns on the page
translated to in the language we know as English.  Tell me, which word
did I get wrong?

>                 And you did not answer my implied question.  How can one do
>all those things I mentioned above *and* hate thier parents?  They are at odds.
>They are in direct conflict.  

I agree 100%.  The bible is full of contradictions - these being just a
sample.

>                              Therefore, one thing is *not* a command, but mere
>hyperbole used to prove a point.  Which do you think it is, something that is
>mentioned once or twice, or words repeated over and over?

I think the man was seriously confused and possibly deranged.  He managed
a following of questionable size despite this (we know this is possible by
looking at other examples in our own recent history - Hitler, Mussolini,
Hussein, Oral Roberts, Jim Jones).  He told people what they wanted to
hear and went for shock value when it suited him.  I think the
"historians" were far kinder to him than our present day press media would
have been.  The fact that his own "eye-witness" apostles couldn't even get
their own stories straight speaks volumes.

followups to talk.relgiion.misc, ok?

Gordon
-- 
The opinions expressed are my own, and not the beliefs or opinions
of whatever company you think I work for.  So there, thhhbbbt!
Message to Kodak:  Freedom for Dan Bredy.