Disqus - Latest Comments for somasoul

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:40:34 -0000

This is shaky, almost heretical stuff. Good stuff to debate.

I worry that this "God as mother" has more to do with America's understanding of feminism (or the modern woman's role or whatever) than it does in theology.

The Bible's use of Father is pretty clear. The "Mother" stuff........a little more vague.

Jesus came as a MAN. If HE, as the SON (a MALE) called God "FATHER" because of cultural norms............well then, I don't buy it. Jesus frequently broke cultural norms. Breaking cultural norms was HIS bit. It's what pissed people off. Why stick with this one?

I don't claim to have laid eyes on God. I didn't birth Him. I'm not his internist. I can't claim to know firsthand his gender. But the Bible seems pretty clear on the subject. Jesus, HIS SON, came as MALE, did pretty MANLY stuff, hung out with a bunch GUYS who HE charged with continuing HIS ministry.

If Jesus is God. And if Jesus is Male. Well then.......I'm going to start assuming some things. Namely, Jesus ain't birthing or nursing children anytime soon.

Call me sexist.

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:40:34 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:40:34 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:13:04 -0000

Okay, you can use the God has wings verses to support your argument that God has a female side. But I get to use the same verse to support my opinion that God is also an Ostrich.

God is an ostrich.

Begin debate.

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:13:04 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:13:04 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:19:29 -0000

Okay Mark, here goes:

*Leaves all bird/aniaml/ostrich verses out*

Isaiah 42:14 is describing what God is doing, not his physical descriptive features.

Isaiah 46:3-4 Why use this? God tells Isaiah, "I am he" in these verses. Like, duh. (Playful banter. Not mean-ness.)

Isaiah 66:9-13 Descriptive language on what God is doing, not who He is.

Luke 13-20-21. I don't know who the woman is in the analogy. You get this one.

"Luke 15:8-10: This time Jesus compares the kingdom to a woman who finds a lost coin. Doesn’t this compare God to a woman who loses a coin?"

No, the woman is a woman is finds salvation. She does not represent God.

1 Peter 2:2-3: I'll share this one with you. On the one hand this verse is telling us to grow up. I believe that it is simply saying "Rise in maturity" and uses descriptive language. However, it also tells us that the word is like milk which could be feminine. (but not human milk, perhaps this is an animal verse???).

Didn't Jesus call God "Daddy"?

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:19:29 -0000

Okay Mark, here goes:

*Leaves all bird/aniaml/ostrich verses out*

Isaiah 42:14 is describing what God is doing, not his physical descriptive features.

Isaiah 46:3-4 Why use this? God tells Isaiah, "I am he" in these verses. Like, duh. (Playful banter. Not mean-ness.)

Isaiah 66:9-13 Descriptive language on what God is doing, not who He is.

Luke 13-20-21. I don't know who the woman is in the analogy. You get this one.

"Luke 15:8-10: This time Jesus compares the kingdom to a woman who finds a lost coin. Doesn’t this compare God to a woman who loses a coin?"
No, the woman is a woman is finds salvation. She does not represent God.

1 Peter 2:2-3: I'll share this one with you. On the one hand this verse is telling us to grow up. I believe that it is simply saying "Rise in maturity" and uses descriptive language. However, it also tells us that the word is like milk which could be feminine. (but not human milk, perhaps this is an animal verse???).

Didn't Jesus call God "Daddy"?

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:19:29 -0000

Okay Mark, here goes:

*Leaves all bird/aniaml/ostrich verses out*

Isaiah 42:14 is describing what God is doing, not his physical descriptive features.

Isaiah 46:3-4 Why use this? God tells Isaiah, "I am he" in these verses. Like, duh. (Playful banter. Not mean-ness.)

Isaiah 66:9-13 Descriptive language on what God is doing, not who He is.

Luke 13-20-21. I don't know who the woman is in the analogy. You get this one.

"Luke 15:8-10: This time Jesus compares the kingdom to a woman who finds a lost coin. Doesn’t this compare God to a woman who loses a coin?"
No, the woman is a woman is finds salvation. She does not represent God.

1 Peter 2:2-3: I'll share this one with you. On the one hand this verse is telling us to grow up. I believe that it is simply saying "Rise in maturity" and uses descriptive language. However, it also tells us that the word is like milk which could be feminine. (but not human milk, perhaps this is an animal verse???).

Didn't Jesus call God "Daddy"?

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:09:55 -0000

There have been several comments indicating that Jesus never told us to NOT call God mother, therefore we can.

Jesus never told us to not baptise cats.

Jesus never told us to not look at porn online.

Jesus never told us to emabrk on squirrell shaving opportunities.

Jesus didn't say lots of stuff. That doesn't give me the right to do whatever I wish because Jesus didn't mention it (or the Gospel writers ignored them).

I was talking to a good friend of mine form church, a mennonite. And the issue of homosexuality came up. She said something akin to "I support homosexuals because Christians have done wrong to them over the years."

That isn't a reason to support something (nor is it a reason not to). I get that Christianity has seemed patriarchal. I get it. I really do. But that's just a crappy reason to call God mother. Jesus never called God mother. I won't.

Maybe God is genderless. Maybe He isn't. I dunno. But I'm not gonna flip scripture to be politically correct.

"Someone mentioned earlier that Jesus came as a MAN, which apparently means that masculinity was valued over femininity or something like that."

I said this. I hate women and want to enslave them to do my laundry and pleasure me. (Of course I'm kidding.)

I don't know how calling God "Father" sexist. But I guess it's a brave new world.

I'm Old Skool.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:09:55 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:09:55 -0000

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:09:55 -0000

There have been several comments indicating that Jesus never told us to NOT call God mother, therefore we can.

Jesus never told us to not baptise cats.
Jesus never told us to not look at porn online.
Jesus never told us to emabrk on squirrell shaving opportunities.

Jesus didn't say lots of stuff. That doesn't give me the right to do whatever I wish because Jesus didn't mention it (or the Gospel writers ignored them).

I was talking to a good friend of mine form church, a mennonite. And the issue of homosexuality came up. She said something akin to "I support homosexuals because Christians have done wrong to them over the years."

That isn't a reason to support something (nor is it a reason not to). I get that Christianity has seemed patriarchal. I get it. I really do. But that's just a crappy reason to call God mother. Jesus never called God mother. I won't.

Maybe God is genderless. Maybe He isn't. I dunno. But I'm not gonna flip scripture to be politically correct.

"Someone mentioned earlier that Jesus came as a MAN, which apparently means that masculinity was valued over femininity or something like that."

I said this. I hate women and want to enslave them to do my laundry and pleasure me. (Of course I'm kidding.)

I don't know how calling God "Father" sexist. But I guess it's a brave new world.

I'm Old Skool.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:09:55 -0000

There have been several comments indicating that Jesus never told us to NOT call God mother, therefore we can.

Jesus never told us to not baptise cats.
Jesus never told us to not look at porn online.
Jesus never told us to emabrk on squirrell shaving opportunities.

Jesus didn't say lots of stuff. That doesn't give me the right to do whatever I wish because Jesus didn't mention it (or the Gospel writers ignored them).

I was talking to a good friend of mine form church, a mennonite. And the issue of homosexuality came up. She said something akin to "I support homosexuals because Christians have done wrong to them over the years."

That isn't a reason to support something (nor is it a reason not to). I get that Christianity has seemed patriarchal. I get it. I really do. But that's just a crappy reason to call God mother. Jesus never called God mother. I won't.

Maybe God is genderless. Maybe He isn't. I dunno. But I'm not gonna flip scripture to be politically correct.

"Someone mentioned earlier that Jesus came as a MAN, which apparently means that masculinity was valued over femininity or something like that."

I said this. I hate women and want to enslave them to do my laundry and pleasure me. (Of course I'm kidding.)

I don't know how calling God "Father" sexist. But I guess it's a brave new world.

I'm Old Skool.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:35:49 -0000

I agree with Casey. His last name also kinda looks like the word "Ostrich".

Extra brownie points.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:35:49 -0000

I agree with Casey. His last name also kinda looks like the word "Ostrich".

Extra brownie points.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:35:49 -0000

I agree with Casey. His last name also kinda looks like the word "Ostrich".

Extra brownie points.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:05:24 -0000

ox's aren't as cool as ostriches though they may be superior.

I think I just participated in animalism, where I subjugate one animal and exploit him and think others are better and more therefore better. How does God feel about this?

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:05:24 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:05:24 -0000

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:35:49 -0000

I agree with Casey. His last name also kinda looks like the word "Ostrich".

Extra brownie points.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:35:49 -0000

I agree with Casey. His last name also kinda looks like the word "Ostrich".

Extra brownie points.

Re: Our Heavenly Mother

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:05:24 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:05:24 -0000

Re: Contemporary Service blasted for being “too traditional”

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:05:38 -0000

I wrote this piece as a joke knowing full well these discussions happen in nearly all contemporary churches.

I hope you laughed.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:05:38 -0000

I wrote this piece as a joke knowing full well these discussions happen in nearly all contemporary churches.

I hope you laughed.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:05:38 -0000

I wrote this piece as a joke knowing full well these discussions happen in nearly all contemporary churches.

I hope you laughed.

Re: Another Song About Me?

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:08:50 -0000

I think it's funny how worship songs come across, oftentimes, as hyper-sexual.

Jesus, lover of my soul???

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:08:50 -0000

I think it's funny how worship songs come across, oftentimes, as hyper-sexual.

Jesus, lover of my soul???

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:08:50 -0000

I think it's funny how worship songs come across, oftentimes, as hyper-sexual.

Jesus, lover of my soul???

Re: Virginia Church not in Virginia

somasoul — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:05:26 -0000

That's funny, Mark. And when I started writing this piece I tried to take it in that direction. I just couldn't get it to work. I'm dumb.

Maybe I'll do some followup in a couple months.......................

Re: Virginia Church not in Virginia

somasoul — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:05:26 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:51:32 -0000

A lot better than the *#&^@&# flame wars I've been involved in lately on the same subject.

Re: A Mountain of Bones: Being White in USAmerica

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:51:32 -0000

A lot better than the *#&^@&# flame wars I've been involved in lately on the same subject.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:10:56 -0000

Sure, I blogged about how Advocacy Groups are Dumb on Young.AnabaptistRadicals.org. I used the NAACP as an example. The comments section quickly delved into a war about racism and how all whites are "white supremacists".

It got kinda ugly.

Re: A Mountain of Bones: Being White in USAmerica

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:10:56 -0000

Re: Revolution is in the Details

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:17:34 -0000

*Completely and totally off-topic*

Mike,

I saw this and thought of you

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340869,00.html

Looks like your marriage is safe, Mike. :)

*End off-topic*

Re: Revolution is in the Details

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:17:34 -0000

*Completely and totally off-topic*

Mike,

I saw this and thought of you

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340869,00.html

Looks like your marriage is safe, Mike. :)

*End off-topic*

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:33:39 -0000

Yeah, YAR can be a weird place. There, if I don't admit to being a "White Supremacist" I am viewed upon with scorn. It went down hill quickly. My attempts to explain were cast off and I was vilified further for trying to explain my standpoint. (Now there's a post about white males being.......something or other)

I get that we've come to this point in history with slaves. And war. And genocide. I get it. Really. But so has every other culture on the face of this planet. We just had badder assed weapons then those unforntunate other cultures 200 years ago.

Re: A Mountain of Bones: Being White in USAmerica

somasoul — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:33:39 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:50:09 -0000

Tanden,

There is no one innocent. Everyone on this planet resides on piece of dirt that was fought over and people were killed over.

Pointing fingers is useless.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:04:41 -0000

I have four kids. Here's advice:

1)Convince the wife to breastfeed. This way you'll never have to prepare a bottle during football.

2)You think the baby wants you to make funny faces at it. It doesn't. You're scary.

3)There's tons of stuff to buy for babies. A couple things: Car seat, high chair, diapers. You's baby will puke on everything else.

4) bean bag chairs are good for older babys.

5) experts don't know anything. all kids are different. find out what works. (hint- find your kids weakness and exploit it)

Re: Baby Van Steenwyk!

somasoul — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:04:41 -0000

I have four kids. Here's advice:

1)Convince the wife to breastfeed. This way you'll never have to prepare a bottle during football.
2)You think the baby wants you to make funny faces at it. It doesn't. You're scary.
3)There's tons of stuff to buy for babies. A couple things: Car seat, high chair, diapers. You's baby will puke on everything else.
4) bean bag chairs are good for older babys.
5) experts don't know anything. all kids are different. find out what works. (hint- find your kids weakness and exploit it)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:44:36 -0000

Aw, CRUD!!! Just what I need...........my wife and one other woman critiquing the gibberish I submit to JM.

: )

(Waits for stones)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:07:28 -0000

You suck, Mark.

; )

In all sincerity, I think this happens more often than we like. We let our tounges loose and BAM!!! you regret something. Sometimes people call you out on it but most of the time you're left wondering "Did that offend anyone?" "Should I have handled that differently". There is no lack of philosophers and religious leaders commenting on our ability to talk ourselves into a corner.

If it makes you feel better when I was a young Christian I said dumb stuff nearly everyday. Once I used the word "tit" in a sermon. Yeah, I apologized.

Re: An Apology to Emergent Village

somasoul — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:07:28 -0000

Re: Going Public with my Privates, pt. 1

somasoul — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:42:28 -0000

Geoff,

Great play on words and very insightful and thoughtful. Good stuff.

Paul,

Never thought about it that way. I guess we are just confusing.

Re: Going Public with My Privates (part 1 of 3)

somasoul — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:42:28 -0000

Geoff,

Great play on words and very insightful and thoughtful. Good stuff.

Paul,

Never thought about it that way. I guess we are just confusing.

Re: group of white men around the age of 30 challenge “everything”

somasoul — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:42:35 -0000

Seeing as that Sunday seems like a day of the week when races typically don't intermingle a thought.

Perhaps the stream of Christianity that whites inhabit is going through a change. Perhaps blacks too will or are going through a change. But this might not be a race thing as much as it is the types of churches whites typically attend. God is calling those churches into a period of change and we are responding.

One reads the gospels and though many women have done great things men have done considerably more. Does God call us more? Do we demand more? Do we push women aside? (I'm not trying to assume anything of those things nor wish to discuss them, just trying to say that men seem to do this stuff more often.)

The very young have no means to change anything and therefore cannot. The older sit in the positions of power and seem content with how they entered the church. But around 25 a lot of people want something new. And at 30 they just kinda get fed up.

There are reasons.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

somasoul — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:34:47 -0000

Yup. Me too.

Re: Confessions of a Recovering Nationalist

somasoul — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:34:47 -0000

Yup. Me too.

Re: Thank You Note to a Child Laborer

somasoul — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:57:25 -0000

The great thing about satire is exposing hypocrisy in unlikely places then letting the audience stew in their own thoughts. Between the boat, SUV, & brothel...I think most people won't find a way to connect emotionally, which is what you want with this sort of thing. By trying to incorporate so much guilt into the piece people won't feel guilty at all.

Re: Thank You Note to a Child Laborer

somasoul — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:26:00 -0000

Mark, you bring up another good point. The capitalism that the experiences isn't capitalism at all. It's supported by bogus markets. The situation you talk about in Mexico is a product of that. American farmers can't compete with Mexican farmers. So the government helps them out. Then the Mexican farmers cannot compete.

True capitalism makes lots of sense logically. Yet, people are not logical people. And a pure market would create problems for the poor to be taken advantage of by the rich.

Socialism and Communism present their own problems.

There will never be a perfect government because people are imperfect. They are infested with the sin of that first bite into the fruit.

I feel for Bophra, the fictional laborer. Yet, I also know that without any job people tend to starve to death. This is why we must declare Jesus as our only King. Yes, we will fail. But if we try to do right by people, I think we will be rewarded in heaven.