Shulamite

Reply to The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

EXACTLY, little whip! Thank you! Q, "all y'all" is the way I'd write it. And yes, I'm guilty of saying it. I know it's utterly redundant, but, according to my History of the English Language course, it comes from Irish roots. We say "he himself," "her ownself," and such redundancies because of Irish dialect's spread through the south at a crucial point in history. Yes, spelling Southern dialect could be crazy if you're not a southe

Reply to The <i> Da Vinci </i> Code in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

The DaVinci Code is based on the Gnostic gospels, ficticious gospels written to question the divinity to Christ. The writers of these gospels chose names that would gather attention to them, unlike the names of the writers of the actual gospels. (For example, Luke wrote a gospel, but never saw Christ. He recorded Peter's teachings, though. The Gnostics chose the name Thomas for one of their alleged writers. The goal is quite obvious.)

Reply to The Great Moral Teacher in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Adnauseam. You say he had insight into things the normal Palestinian did not. I consider him a Jew, but regardless, the issue is abnormal insight. You say, "He was probably a philosopher." Historically, we know he was a carpenter by trade. He was not a scholar like the pharisees, though he was teaching in the temple at 13. My question to you is, if you acknowledge is abnormal insight, where did this ordinary carpenter get it? His stepfather, Joseph, wa

The Wonder That is Y'all in Misc JoeUser Forums

Anyone who’s spent anytime on my site knows I’m a proud Southerner, ready to share the richness of our heritage. Something I’ve been meaning to write on is the amazing word “Y’all.” My daughter is watching an episode of Scooby-Doo that has a ghost of a confederate soldier in it right now. The ghost used the word “y’all.” He used it incorrectly. Now that just

Reply to Am I a JU fake? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Um, I don't tell any "personal" info. No need. And I could've just written the article you did; I mean you spoke my mind for me. I like the name I chose and I think it says something about me my real name doesn't. Insider info, there! I love writing honestly and fervently. What's the point of writing dishonestly and lukewarmly? If you accomplish that better by leaving out your birth name, address, social security number, and work history, then kudos. S

The Great Moral Teacher in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

I am constantly surprised by how many people call Jesus Christ a “great moral teacher” and stop there. He is often called an enlightened philosopher, a worthy prophet, and many other praise-filled things whereupon the speaker abruptly stops. The speaker stops short of calling him God in the flesh, Savior, Messiah, or any of the other more miraculous titles he is given

The Truth is Never Sexy in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

"The Truth is never sexy," sings Derek Webb, the current artist in my CD player. I've thought about it and I have to agree with him. When is truth ever seductive? It's rarely even attractive for one. We describe truth as "hard to tell" at times. We easily slip into the seduction of a lie, though. Truth never makes polite conversation and small talk. It doesn

Reply to my poetry in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Very interesting. I've been to one of those hospitals! The one I went to was in Central America... you'd be better off not going to the hosptial, you know? The thing I didn't expect about such a poetically inspiring force such as the CA rain forest was the amount of litter all round. I was amazed at the trash... more prepared for deforestation than for litter. more later...

Reply to So, You Want To Be Jewish? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I think mysticism religions are also attractive because they're a way to "tame" God. All the nice stuff, none of the bad stuff like conviction, judgment, or righteousness getting in the way. Often they take a grain of truth and surround it in ever-increasing jumps of logic, often based on feelings. (This is a generality.) I read what you said about contact with the Infinite, Larry, and I have to say the orthodox Christianity still fits this l

Reply to Prayer Requests in Misc JoeUser Forums

The prayers of the righteous avail much... Prayer is so important! and what an amazing resource we have at our fingertips! It not only gives us direct communication with our Creator, but it allows us to build a relationship with Him AND to receive direction and information, comfort and assurance from Him! We know as we draw near to God He will draw near to us... Gideon, I think you'd make your name sake proud. (I always laugh at the thought o

Reply to my poetry in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Your poetry is very vivid. I'm curious, how do you approach poetry? The blank page? I guess I"m asking, what are your steps and how do you make your decisions regarding the verse? "

Reply to Can a mind anlyze itself? in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Very interesting. I find it truly interesting that a person, not believing in a higher power, God for instance, can use his or her own mind alone to come to a single conclusion about the universe. The reason is as you state above: if we truly hail from a billionth of a chance due to chemical reactions, what makes us trust our own thoughts and conclusions? They're simply chemical reactions themselves. Without an outside force to interact, our thoughts a

Reply to So, You Want To Be Jewish? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Kudos on the Hasidic imagery... wow is that a newspaper cartoon waiting to happen. Often, we see people turn to a buffet-style form of spirituality. Whatever floats your boat, toss what doesn't. I suppose that's more philosophy than faith. Faith isn't as easy. I have to say, as a Christian, I'm eager to know all I can about our Jewish roots and study all I can on the topic. I admire the Hasidic Jewish committment regarding "dating"

Reply to Reviving the lost art of letter writing in Misc JoeUser Forums

OOOOH! I adore writing hand-written letters. I'm a huge fan (and student) of Abigail Adams. She and her husband wrote many letters to each other. An amazing amount! He wrote seventy some odd letters to Jefferson in their twilight years -- almost two for each of his. One of the joys that comes with hand-written letters is stationery. I get plain giddy when it comes to finding beautiful stationery. I send hand-written letters to my best friend

Viewing Philosophy from Below in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

A pregnant woman is thrown into a dungeon. The dungeon is circular, stretching upwards to the sky where only a small patch of sky is visible. A small slot allows food and water in. Her child is born in the dungeon and grows there. The woman is an artist and teaches her child everything she can using her sketch pad and pencils. She draws for him the outside w

Reply to God, Indifference and Denial in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Steven -- First, let me say your vocabulary is astounding. However, in the chaos of my home in the afternoons, Wow does it make it difficult for your profound thoughts to stay afloat in my distracted mind! I still think I get what you're saying, in spirit anyway. (Pun intended.) Please correct where I've gotten your wrong, for it is quite possible. Basically, you're proposing that the three paths you've outlined do not need to try a

Reply to My Personal Quotes this Sunday in Politics JoeUser Forums

On cowardice and war: Steven, you know I'm an avid reader of CS Lewis. He wrote an essay called "Why I am Not a Pacifist." (Also found in the book of essays called The Weight of Glory .) In it, he suggests we are against war because it brings upon the soldier all the horrors we dare not face. Impoverished lifestyle, poor living conditions, food shortages, illnesses, maiming, and most harsh, the real possiblity of death. <b

Reply to Forgiveness in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Andy, Kayles, I'm glad you found this article insightful. Wuxiaomao -- I admit, your remark is confusing. Please entertain a rebuttal, since I'm deciding to leave your remark posted despite my disagreement with its uneccesary vulgarity. First, notice I place this article under "philosophy," which I believe is the proper place for "opinions" as you classified my article. Moreover, the article is spiritual philosophy. I'm expecting spiritu

Forgiveness in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Do we really go to God for forgiveness? Or do we all too often bring him reasons why He should excuse us? An excuse is not the same thing as forgiveness; if there is an excuse, we don't need forgivenes. We say, "I know I did wrong, God, but you know I was late for work..." or "The kids were really grouchy..." or "that guy hates me though..." or "I

Reply to A Problem with Prayer in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Big Dreamer, Adventure Dude -- thanks for the insightful replies. I realize for those who don't have a committed prayer life, these problems don't really ring clear. They're odd and don't make a lot of sense. I'm glad they do for you guys. Glad to be of whatever help I may be. Stevendedalus: I don' t think your definition is spot-on exactly. See, you say, "getting in touch with your conscience." However, for Christians, it's as the psalm say

A Problem with Prayer in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Just a prayer philosophy as I was reading my pal, Lewis, recently. In one address (recorded in The Weight of Glory ) he mentions a problem Christians face as they mature in their faith. We pray for all sorts of stuff. We put all sorts of things before Him. We believe He wants to help us and He wants to talk to us. But then we get off our knees before H

Reply to Leaving in the morning! in Travel JoeUser Forums

It was awesome... the prisoners who accepted Christ as Savior and King on the last trip couldn't wait to find us... they wanted to tell us how powerfully their lives have changed! They've even gotten a new Christian Dorm (called a Tango) at the prison just for them. They're hated by all the other inmates but they persevere. And man, I can see the change. It's visible. You'd not understand unless you'd been there; this is not the same prison each time w

Leaving in the morning! in Travel JoeUser Forums

I'm about to make my second trip to a developing country and WHOOO am I excited! And don't let this come across as one of those "oh, she goes to these developing countries, sees the tourist traps, and then feels somehow better that she's actually been to a developing country." Not one of those trips, my friend. (For my friends out there who are extremely rig

Reply to Easy Banana Pudding in Misc JoeUser Forums

Hey, I'm workin on it! (When you start studying quantum physics, you wonder if you're ever really where you think you are at all... why couldn't I share my pudding digitally? Question is: is it true that I can't share any pudding unless I first share meat?)

Reply to What's your favourite book? in Art JoeUser Forums

Oh man, and I hate Fitzgerald... Sorry Dylan. All I got was the same character and plot over and over and over and... My list: I'm in the Bible every night... rock on Mason. What a read, eh? (Jael, a chick, killing that man by putting a tent stake through his temple as he slept -- so much better than fiction!) The books I've read to my daughter that I ADORED: Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, The Lemony Sn