Friday, February 27, 2009

Who is Jesus?

Greetings again friends. Today I'm writing about the last booklet I have in Grandpa's collection of literature from the Worldwide Church of God.

"Who Was Jesus" is a concise work by Paul Kroll, whom I know nothing about. The text is remarkably similar to explanations and arguments I've heard on the feasibility of the deity of Jesus of Nazareth, who lived and died about 2000 years ago.

Briefly, here are the main points:

1) There was a man named Jesus who lived in Nazareth in what is now part of the nation of Israel. Assassin's Creed players will find that this is North of Jerusalem, East of Acre, and South West of Damascus. This fact is attested to by not only the gospel accounts found in the Bible, but also by several ancient historians.

2). Jesus claimed to be God in human form. This makes him one of 3 things:
  1. A Liar
  2. Crazy
  3. Actually God in human form
3). Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God. Let's look at what this means in terms of the last 3 options. If he was lying, why continue to the point of death? Surely he understood these guys were serious. I mean, what did he gain by dying for a lie? Moreover, in death his movement would have ended, particularly as the Bible - from a historical context - provides that his followers abandoned him as he was being executed, at least one denying ever knowing him.

4) The story of Jesus of Nazareth continues 3 days after his death. According the Bible he rose from the grave and appeared to his followers again. For the sake of argument, let's contend you don't allow the bible as actual historical fact on this matter and he either 1) stayed dead or 2) was never really dead. I'd contend that as a dissident condemned to death, the Romans would not have half-executed him. Historically, the Romans were quite good at putting people to death. This leaves the option that he stayed dead.

5) So if he stayed dead, what's the big deal? His followers had abandoned him at his execution. Why are there still Christians today? Early Christian leaders posited that if Jesus had not risen from the dead, this is all pointless: he was either a liar or crazy in claiming to be God, but was never to be seen or heard from again. No, these early Christians felt so strongly that Jesus had come back to life (as he had predicted he would) that they resumed following him at great cost - many of them lost their lives as well for this reason - but felt that our 3rd option, that Jesus actually was God to be most reasonable, and the movement that started with followers scared of losing their lives for knowing Jesus has expanded into one of the largest world religions, many losing their lives willingly for this cause.

Okay, so much for being brief. Some of this is from arguments I've collected over the years, not exclusively from this booklet, but the booklet does a good job of surmising the basic reasons why Christianity developed from its roots. I also recommend Dr. Greg Boyd's "Letters from a Skeptic," which is more erudite but goes deeper on similar points of why there is evil in the world and why then Jesus Christ is God in human flesh.

Until next time,
Matt

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Spiritual Growth

Okay, so I've just finished reading the book "Becoming Soul Mates" by the oddly named collaborators Dr. Les Parrott III, and Dr. Leslie Parrott. They are husband and wife, and I believe the husband's name is actually also Leslie, but goes by Les to avoid a very slight amount of what must be an absurd preponderance of confusion. Perhaps this is what God meant by the two becoming as one.

This book is about growing spiritually within marriage. Why would I read such a book, you ask? Honestly, my marriage doesn't need at lot of help, at least at this point. I had the book as part of a stack of books a friend gave me a few years back. It looked interesting and may even help me where I'm at now. I'm not sure how true that is, but some things about relationships in general can be found.

1) Listening is important. Not only hear what the other is saying, but affirm the emotion behind what they are saying. Sometimes when a woman is explaining a problem, she's looking for empathy, not so much a solution, particularly if the solution is obvious.
2) The unity candle during weddings is bunk. While the 'two become as one' both partners retain their individuality. This can cause strife when one partner wants the other to be just like them and they aren't. The two remain independent but share life together. Recognize that.
3) There are essentially 5 types of conversations:
  • non-conversations
  • critical-of-family conversations
  • critical-of-others conversations
  • materialistic conversations
  • discussions of issues and ideas
4) There is a correlation between church attendance and staying married. Even as little as once a month can fortify a relationship.
5)Prayer is important. Corrie ten Boom asked "is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tire?" Basically prayer should guide us, not save us when things go awry.

So I guess I got a few things out of this, but probably more beneficial to the married peeps out there.

Later,
Matt

Friday, February 20, 2009

The American Revelation


Historian Neil Baldwin wrote this book as what he describes in the book's afterward as "...ten ideal-not the ten ideals-that shaped out country..."

Accordingly, the ideals enumerated and expounded upon concern some important and some lesser known facets of how American came to be. I was hoping for something more like THE ten ideals that shaped America. Somewhat interesting, nonetheless.

Basically the ten chapters concern the idea-formers and less about the idea itself, although room for both is made.




Here's the 10 people mentioned:

Saturday, February 14, 2009

What happens in Western Australia, stays in Western Australia, even after untold eons...

HP Lovecraft's story, "The Shadow Out of Time" concerns the man who suffers from some sort of breakdown, then revives his former self several years later. What he finds is that he now has vivid "memories" of times very past and very future. These thoughts are instilled in his mind to such a degree that it unnerves him. As time passes, he finds an archeological dig in western Australia, the goal of which he is strangely familiar, and thereby joins that endeavor...

Well done again. This concludes my collection of Weird Tales, although many others are available online, so it may not be my last review. As with other Lovecraft tales, this starts out slow and ominous and progresses to suspense and madness.

Matt

Friday, February 13, 2009

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

H.P. Lovecraft spins this tale of horror about a man researching architecture in the greater Arkham area. Local lore indicates nearby Innsmouth has fascinating architecture, but is shrouded in suspicion and alleged nefarious activity. Acting out of curiousity, the protagonist visits this frightful village...

This short work, though not Lovecraft's finest, is certainly compelling and disconcerting.

Matt

Thursday, February 12, 2009

At the Mountains of Madness

In what I can only describe as customary H.P. Lovecraft form, At the Mountains of Madness is nothing short of an accomplishment. This story, like so many other lovecraftian tales, starts with learned researchers. Unlike much of the other tales I have read, this does not take place in New England, but rather the scientists are a delegation from Miskatonic University exploring new regions of Antarctica. It is here that the scientists uncover remnants of an ancient society, the likes of which match up closely to the Great Old Ones as described in the Necromicon. Upon some study, havoc breaks out and communication is lost. Search and rescue gives way to curiosity, which in turn leads to more treachery...

What a fantastic story. Highly recommended.

Matt

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Dunwich Horror

HP Lovecraft strikes literary gold again with the tale of The Dunwich Horror. This is about a child that grows remarkably fast in a place shrouded with mystery, and probably wizards. This man-child, or rather a man who is actually aged that of a child breaks seeks an ancient text from several local universities in hopes of summoning evil creatures. After denied, there is a break-in at the local Miskatonic University, and well, you can figure the rest is exciting.

Its good stuff.

Matt

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

A Call to Communal Living

Recently I discovered a book amongst my tomes I acquired as a college parting gift from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. A few years removed from that auspicious occasion, I read "Following Jesus in the "Real World": Discipleship for the Postcollege Years," by Richard Lamb. At first I was struck by the clarity in which the author summarized my oft frustration in finding relevance in a sea of unimportant activity. Much truth is said from building wealth and hoarding one's treasures not bringing joy, but rather the joy of Christ si where one's peace best comes from. Earthly treasures are at best, by definition, temporal.

The author cites time and again that followers of Christ are to bunk social norms, particularly western views of individuality and privacy and embrace a radical, communal living, as he has done, despite being married and having children. Pooling resources and sharing bedrooms in an effort to live frugally does carry opportunities to give further resources to others. While the notion carries merit, I suspect this living arrangement is not for everyone. And by everyone, I mean not for me. Perhaps that's my Western culture talking, but I'm sure I could find people who agree that this guy's idea is a little out there. Among those who wouldn't go along with this idea are the author's parents (p 210). If this had been mentioned in passing, I suppose it wouldn't bother me so much as the fact that the author returns again and again to this idea. While a lot of the book offers solid advice on getting involved in a local church and forming community with a small group in a bible study or outreach ministry, this communal living arrangement seems rather hippie-like. I suppose I should just write it off attributing it to him living near San Francisco.

Anyhow, this was a great book. Highly recommended for soon to be college grads or grads that are trying to find their way (me). Take the communal living with a grain of salt though, as with his hang-up on owning one's one VCR. (its a little outdated).

Matt

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Tartuffified

I've been reading a Humanities text and within its pages rests a condensed version of Moliere's play, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (THE MIDDLE CLASS GENTLEMAN). Its an interesting play about a man who does well in life and falls into the trappings of upper-class life, and much humor ensues. It reminds me of another Moliere play, Tartuffe, I read a few years back. Tartuffe is filled with outlandish scenarios of the day and quite a bit of mirth. I'd recommend either.

Matt