Reclusive Deity Hasn’t Written A New Book In 2,000 Years
Leading writers, scholars, and publishers gathered this week at Fordham University for a literary conference and panel discussion on God, the widely praised but reclusive deity who has not published a book since His landmark debut 2,000 years ago.
Hailed by critics as one of the most important authors in recent millennia, the eccentric divinity is said to have long ago retreated from the public eye, eschewing a life of celebrity for one of solitude and quiet. To this day, experts confirmed, His artistic reputation rests exclusively upon His bestselling and highly acclaimed first work, the Bible.
God has granted no interviews, made no public appearances, and kept entirely to Himself for what seems like ages, and yet its fair to say that no other author has been quite so influential, said noted critic and conference attendee James Wood, observing that while the fiercely private immortal being has only one book to His credit, He remains among the worlds most respected and quoted writers. For many readers, Gods writing had a transformative impact on their lives, and countless people list His book among their favorite titles. But for reasons that we can only speculate about, God has chosen to stay out of the limelight and let His words speak for themselves. Perhaps it is Gods retreat into His own world that allowed Him to render His vision so vividly on the page.
Its also possible that, with the first book, He simply said everything He had to say, Wood continued. Though one would think a writer of such impressive knowledge and power would never lack for inspiration.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/reclusive-deity-hasnt-written-a-new-book-in-2000-y,36936/
edgineered
(2,101 posts)Wed absolutely love to see more stories, psalms, epistlesanything He has, Eakins continued. In His first book, He created this dense, sprawling, multifaceted universe, and there are readers out there clamoring to know whats happened to all those characters since the Bible ended.
Eakins said the Lord Almighty retains an incredibly loyal international readership and, to this day, His writing continues to attract legions of devotees. Since the time of the Bibles first publication, when God was heralded by critics as a promising new talent, successive generations of booklovers have reportedly found themselves returning again and again to what they regard as a timeless and enduring classic.
Many of Gods most ardent fans still make regular attempts to contact Him, sources said, despite the fact that the reclusive being is infamous for never responding.
Its natural to want more, Boutwell added. But in the end, maybe God only had the one Bible in him.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)but religion is deeply personal and heartfelt for a lot of faithful, and they might not see it the way others, who don't care for the Bible, see it. They'll see it as ridicule, and ridiculing a person's chosen faith is the same as ridiculing a person's significant other. It is disrespectful. Just thought I'd make mention of it.
That said, Christians (since you're referring to the Bible) understand that with the death of Jesus the Christ, no more needs to be written.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)edgineered
(2,101 posts)...with the death...no more needs to be written.
BlueCaliDem wrote:
That said, Christians (since you're referring to the Bible) understand that with the death of Jesus the Christ, no more needs to be written.
Is this a older book we're talking about?
Ino
(3,366 posts)when others make vicious attacks on what they like to disparagingly call "woo"... which is also ridiculing people, their experiences and beliefs.
Or is it only Christians who deserve to be coddled and respected?
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)And no where did I mention the word "coddle". That's all you.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)It can be subject to satire or ridicule as much as anything else.
You want to believe in an invisible cloud being, go for it. Doesn't mean nobody will make fun of it.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)I'm very capable of doing it myself, thank you.
That said, does the word "respect" have any meaning to you? Does it hold any significance with you? Judging by your posts, it doesn't appear to, but I could be wrong.
Allow me to repeat ... religion and faith (two different concepts, btw) are personal choices for people. It's exactly like choosing a spouse or s.o. Yes. It's a relationship with a deity, so ridiculing that deity is ridiculing that person's choice, and it's disrespectful and prejudiced. Being respectful of a person's faith, even if you don't give two hoots about any "invisible cloud being" or being respectful of any other concept you don't agree with, for that matter, doesn't cost you a thing, but it does elevate you as a thoughtful, kind, and generous person.
Ino
(3,366 posts)...admonishing them. What, pray tell, do you think wagging your finger means?
The Catholic church had its hooks in me for 18 years, including 12 years of Catholic schools. I have EARNED the right to be as disrespectful and disparaging as I want towards Christianity. I think it IS ridiculous. But Christians (or at least Catholics) LOVE that. They spent years warning us how others would "attack" our faith and how to hold on to our precious beliefs in spite of it. If no one attacks them, they'll make up something to be offended about, like their War on Christmas (which is more about THEIR being disrespectful and dismissive of other faiths). I don't give a damn if Christian feewings are hurted by a look at their god as a reclusive author...
...any more than they give a damn if anyone else is offended when they insist that the USA is a Christian nation. Or plaster their religion all over our money. Or their never-ending efforts to put praying in all schools, Ten Commandments posters in the courthouse, nativity scenes in front of city hall, crosses on public property, prayers before public meetings, telling people they'll go to hell for whatever they themselves don't agree with, etc. etc. etc.
A priest told my class once that "Christians get to work on time because it's the right thing to do. Jewish people get to work on time because they'll get fired if they don't." Excuse me while I (respectfully) barf.
It did not escape my notice that you completely dodged the question in my post, choosing instead to take issue with word definitions.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)I didn't call anyone disrespectful. That's what you made out of it. I called the act of ridiculing a person's chosen faith, in this instance, the Christian faith, disrespectful. Nice pivot, though.
It did not escape my notice that you completely dodged the question in my post, choosing instead to take issue with word definitions.
Since you asked the question with sarcasm, I didn't feel inclined to give it a serious answer. There. Now you have an answer.
Ino
(3,366 posts)More completely ignoring the gist of a person's post to argue semantics and definitions.
You are the one pivoting and dodging, focusing on the least important and ignoring all the rest.
Welcome to my ignore list.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)But there's no denying that it's always a bad idea to be overtly disrespectful of a person's choice to believe in something you don't. It shows intolerance and prejudice.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)edgineered
(2,101 posts)I didn't know this was posted for light humor. I thought you were just sharing an article. I didn't see where you typed anything.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)that channel him daily and know exactly what he is thinking and they are willing to share their knowlege with us.
edgineered
(2,101 posts)I thought I heard bullions and munions, and then my foot started to itch.
had to edit: My foot must have heard mullions and bunions.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)I have this thing where if I listen to one person for long enough (5 minutes) I start to copy their accent. So, by the end of the day I would sound like Data.
TexasTowelie
(111,938 posts)Sure God can lay out a few thousand shekels and some greedy publisher would be willing to strike a deal, but creating a masterpiece that will be bought by the masses is challenging and only occurs every other millenia or so.
edgineered
(2,101 posts)Your words were perfect: "and only occurs every other millenia or so"
How long has it been now?
hint: this is where you say, "or so"
TexasTowelie
(111,938 posts)Then there is the issue of finding any writers to submit quality stories these days--after all he lifts portions of his works from other authors (Moses, Solomon, Mathew, Paul, etc.). They exhausted all the sins already so it is nigh impossible for modernists to commit new ones for inclusion into the sequel. Who really wants to read the tale of the flaming dung heap?
edgineered
(2,101 posts)about what you're saying. You have faith and it works for you.
It doesn't work for everyone. Just as much as you like to share your faith, others like to look at things without faith. It doesn't have to be offensive, most of the time its not, but we're all people and we do people things.
TexasTowelie
(111,938 posts)Yes, even though I am going through some tough circumstances I do have faith (and a sense of humor to go with it).
edgineered
(2,101 posts)something, maybe last week, but didn't comment. I hope everything goes as best possible.
pscot
(21,024 posts)in letters of flame 3 feet high. Or not, depending on her mood.
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)...which She choose to write under a pseudonym to avoid sabotaging the revenue stream from The Bible. As I heard it, God wanted to write as Kyrie Eleison, but Her agent dissuaded Her because of the obvious connections to the earlier work. Eventually they settled on assigning authorship to EL James, as a subtle reference to that best selling King James release of God's blockbuster. However, an undetected transcription error resulted in naming E.L. James as the author of the new work and the publishers decided to go with it rather than discard the 10 million copy original printing.
Fortunately, the decision to change the author photo on the inside cover page subtly, from this:
to this:
was not fumbled. And the goal of broadening the appeal to a wider demographic was successful and resulted in accolades from heretofore silent factions of the Christian following...that is, of course, the Christian Grey following.
The release strategy worked well as the response to the new book and its two sequels was impressive:
The series of Grey, Greyer, and Greyest has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 52 languages, and set the record as the fastest-selling paperback of all time. Critical reception of the book, however, has been mixed, with the quality of its prose generally seen as poor, although significantly better than the hodge-podge moralistic style of God's earlier work.
edgineered
(2,101 posts)discussion here about the new book. Putting that aside for a moment, when you mentioned She choose to write, a momentary flashback of how ridiculous I thought it was that the god was a guy. It just didn't make any sense. Anyway, back to the new book. For some reason learning about the new bible didn't spark any interest so all I know about it is that it, like the older bible, is upsetting to some people.
msongs
(67,361 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Response to Zorro (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Zorro
(15,722 posts)Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, newbie. Sorry I hurt your tender feelings.
Now go hug a Bible.
Response to Zorro (Reply #25)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Zorro
(15,722 posts)Who's the one telling another to shut up?
Why do you feel compelled to stifle the free expressions of others?
edgineered
(2,101 posts)Review this thread and look for anything Zorro said prior to replying to you. You won't find it because its not there. Obvious to anyone who is reading this thread is that you are contradicting yourself.
You say, "I'm comfortable enough in my own skin that I don't have to constantly attack the beliefs of others", but here it is - you not being comfortable enough to not attack. What gives?
independentpiney
(1,510 posts)I know plenty of Christians who have eyes to see and ears to hear humor as humor.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)Kind of to find out what happened to that lost tribe and all. And, hey, no mention was ever made about the Western Hemisphere in the bible. Not that my ancestors were complaining. We be like, keep them away, Jehovah. We've got our own bloody human-sacrificing gods we're worshiping over here. We can wait for your genocidal followers for another millennium or two.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,266 posts)(original author unknown, so I'm copying the whole thing here):
It was in Hebrew.
It had no cited references.
And it wasn't published in a refereed journal.
His paper was never submitted for peer review.
Some even doubt He wrote it himself.
It may be true that He created the world but what has he done since?
His cooperative efforts have been quite limited.
He never applied to the ethics board for permission to use human subjects.
Some say he had his son teach the class.
When one experiment went awry he tried to cover it up by drowning the subjects.
When subjects didn't behave as predicted, he deleted them from the sample.
The scientific community has had a very rough time trying to replicate his results.
He rarely came to class, just told students to read the book.
He expelled his first two students for learning.
Although there were only ten requirements, most students failed his tests.
His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.
http://www.smart-words.org/humor-jokes/smart-jokes/god-tenure-university.html