Religion

edhopper

(37,544 posts)

49. I am reminded of the episode of

Thu Aug 7, 2014, 11:40 AM

Aug 2014

Star Trek / The Next Generation where they meet a species that only talks in metaphor. the problem is that without the social context, there is no way to know what the meaning is.

"Darmok and Jalad... at Tanagra."

"Shaka, when the walls fell."

If we don't know if Mathew or Luke was referring to God, or Jesus or Herod or someone else, we can't say what the meaning of the parable is, only interpret it however we want.
For a book inspired and or written by God, seems a poor way to communicate.

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Religious scholar Reza Aslan destroys �charlatan� Joel Osteen: Jesus hated wealth [View all] cbayer Aug 2014 OP

Aslan is right about Jesus' condemnation of wealth. JDPriestly Aug 2014 #1

Fascinating, excellent book. Highly recommend! truebluegreen Aug 2014 #12

I read a book on the general topic before. Suddenly the New Testament really made sense. JDPriestly Aug 2014 #31

"It is Jesus' wisdom and teachings that matter." truebluegreen Aug 2014 #33

Interesting. Thanks. JDPriestly Aug 2014 #34

My parents told me a long time ago that the Anti-Christ was the opposite of Jesus. LiberalArkie Aug 2014 #32

Most Christians feel Jesus and the New Testament, its spirituality, are a revelation. But? Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #42

That's refreshing to read. trusty elf Aug 2014 #2

This is how the megachurch charlatans of today have justified their corruption AngryOldDem Aug 2014 #3

I have no doubt he would throw them out of the temple. cbayer Aug 2014 #5

Matthew 19:24 Ilsa Aug 2014 #4

Camels are easy. I'm just not sure it'll be much use as a camel, after it goes through the juicer. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #16

Yeah, that's a fun one to visualize, even as a kid Ilsa Aug 2014 #19

Read on. Igel Aug 2014 #21

My one verse wasn't intended to be Ilsa Aug 2014 #27

To be factual...... TheMick Aug 2014 #6

Welcome to DU and the to religion group, TheMick. cbayer Aug 2014 #7

If people want to...... TheMick Aug 2014 #10

I also individualize my donations and look carefully at who I am donating to. cbayer Aug 2014 #11

All that wealth interferes with or blocks us from having a relationship with God Justice Aug 2014 #8

Neither side has clean hands in this. Igel Aug 2014 #26

Yes. People think of Jesus as wholly"spiritual." But 1) liberals want material things for the poor. Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #38

Well, Aslan certainly has better credentials okasha Oct 2014 #73

Idunno, he got pretty pissed off at the moneychangers at the temple. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #17

But then he delivered big physical goods: physical resurrection it seems Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #43

I tend to give to specifics as well... Ilsa Aug 2014 #20

I suspected Jesus hated quite a few things. Igel Aug 2014 #23

Joel probably thinks.... DeSwiss Aug 2014 #9

+infinity. nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2014 #30

Shame about the Parable of the Talents/Minas intaglio Aug 2014 #13

What the hell is that edhopper Aug 2014 #14

I agree entirely intaglio Aug 2014 #15

Do you know what the general edhopper Aug 2014 #18

I think the general modern interpretation is that intaglio Aug 2014 #24

the one I heard was DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #61

Sounds like a stretch edhopper Oct 2014 #62

I am just telling you what I heard, since you asked DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #63

I know edhopper Oct 2014 #65

maybe, but DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #68

One interpretation I heard regarding this verse had to do with the gate's construction... bluesbassman Oct 2014 #70

Simple. okasha Aug 2014 #22

Okay edhopper Aug 2014 #35

No. Go back to the text. okasha Aug 2014 #37

I don't see it that way edhopper Aug 2014 #39

Whatever. okasha Aug 2014 #40

You see no connection between Jesus, or God, and the Kingdom of Heaven? Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #45

What I was taught about this parable was to ignore the Ilsa Aug 2014 #25

I didn't say it could be interpreted in other ways intaglio Aug 2014 #28

I see your point. But Ilsa Aug 2014 #29

It's a pretty fair bet that when a Gospel says, okasha Aug 2014 #36

Parable - a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson intaglio Aug 2014 #41

In the Greek of the NT, okasha Aug 2014 #46

The Herods themselves were considered Jewish. Many Hellenized Jews followed them, as their ruler. Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #47

I repeat I am not saying that your particular interpretation is "wrong" intaglio Aug 2014 #48

I am reminded of the episode of edhopper Aug 2014 #49

Sure edhopper Aug 2014 #44

Real charlatan is Reza Aslan Texprof Oct 2014 #50

Hello Texprof and welcome to DU. cbayer Oct 2014 #51

One does not get a PhD with a focus on religion Goblinmonger Oct 2014 #52

His PhD is specifically in "The Sociology of Religions" cbayer Oct 2014 #53

All I'm saying is that claiming that one is an expert in all religions Goblinmonger Oct 2014 #57

When has he said he was an expert in all religions? cbayer Oct 2014 #58

From my understanding, Christianity was not his area of study. Goblinmonger Oct 2014 #60

Are you referring to his book on Jesus? cbayer Oct 2014 #64

OK, that's not the same attack. Goblinmonger Oct 2014 #66

I'm not calling you a racist at all, just informing you that cbayer Oct 2014 #67

Former Sec. of State Rice also has a PhD. Leontius Oct 2014 #69

What ever you may thing about Dr. Rice's politics, she is extremely cbayer Oct 2014 #71

I'm sorry I missed the rest of your post because I fell out of my chair at "bright". Leontius Oct 2014 #72

he takes too many of the stories in the NT as if they happened edhopper Oct 2014 #54

And one can disagree with his POV on those things, but cbayer Oct 2014 #55

Agree edhopper Oct 2014 #56

Compared To Joel Osteen, Sir, Our Cat Is an Expert On Sound Christian Doctrine The Magistrate Oct 2014 #59