Disqus - Latest Comments for hewhocutsdown

Re: Hope and Folly

hewhocutsdown — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:52:54 -0000

Pascal's wager was always pretty ridiculous, imho. Any meaningful following of Christ, of 'losing one's life' is hardly a costless endeavor. To say, then, that one risks nothing is to advocate a completely insipid Christianity, not really something worth following in the first place.

Re: The Spiritualityof Spamalot

hewhocutsdown — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:09:25 -0000

I heard Phil Baker, a pastor from Perth, Australia, give a sermon on Finding Nemo. In the introduction he mentioned that for one month of the year he gave sermons relating to popular movies. He had 3 of the 4 decided on, and brought his idea of the fourth to one of the elders. What transpired was something like this:

Phil: What do you think of me preaching off of The Life Of Brian?
Elder: Well, it'll probably offend the more religious congregants.
Phil: That's alright then - we don't want them in church anyways.

Re: Seeing What Love Has Done

hewhocutsdown — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:50:03 -0000

I am reveling in thinking through the varied overlapping aspects of theology as stories with their own horizons of meaning. I appreciate the specific example you highlighted here, Brandon, but I'm even more excited about the possibilities of looking at other concepts with these 'new eyes'.

Re: Pummel Me with Questions about Desire Utilitarianism

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:20:35 -0000

I'm not seeing how one can make the jump from:

* I have desire X and you have desire Y
to

* desire X is preferable to desire Y due to it's capacity to fulfill more desires than it thwarts.

This seems, at best, highly subjective - as is illustrated by your case of the community of sadists and the abused child. If you argue for the abuse of the child in this context, but against in a context where child-abusers are a minority, than 'morality' is merely subject to the sentient creatures in a given environment.

If you argue against, what principle or extra information are you using? It is not obvious at all that abusing a child thwarts more desires than it fulfills - how are we measuring thwarted/fulfilled desires? Without a mechanism for testing this, it's merely a new moral subjectivity.

After all, how can we argue with this that homophobia, slavery, sexism, etc are morally superior without subjecting each of them to the above test and comparing the results? It could be that some are indeed, morally superior using the mechanics of desire utilitarianism, which would cast your examples into the same fire you cast the prior arguments for morality into.

Whether or not you believe in the devil, I'm happy to play his advocate. ;)

Re: More coming after this break, so stay tuned.

hewhocutsdown — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:16:03 -0000

Looking forward to it! I've got a stack of stuff for the new year as well, from all my holiday meets and reads....hope all goes well.

Re: Who are the ‘Least of These’?

hewhocutsdown — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:53:27 -0000

Now that got me in the 'Christmas spirit'...and that actually means a lot to me, personally, thinking of Jesus thinking ahead and considering the hard times his newborn siblings would face.

Thanks, big bro.

Re: A Size 10 Hypocricy

hewhocutsdown — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:51:02 -0000

Thanks muchly....it's such a difficult balance to strike. I probably lean too far over the other direction - caving too much into the social pressures my environments dictate. But to speak hate of anyone is a lost cause....it fuels the fire.

I just finished watching the movie The Kingdom last night (brilliant, by the way) but the most tragic part was at the end - when one hoped for a light that would bring peace to the darkness - each side (U.S. and Saudi militants) comforted themselves with the reassurance that "we're going to kill them all".

What kind of hollow hope is that?

Re: Bush and the Case of the Flying Footwear

hewhocutsdown — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:26:26 -0000

Was there cause for such an action? Absolutely....but was it justified? I'd challenge that - loving enemies means loving enemies, not just the revolutionary-approved ones. ;)

As Micael mentioned, violence was not directed towards people, even people deserving of it. Like David with Saul before him, it becomes a prayer of "Stay my hand, Lord"

Re: Nobodies Who Think They’re Somebodies :: Part 1

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:31:05 -0000

I obviously haven't made it to that section of The Politics Of Jesus yet....wow. That is an interpretation that, in hindsight, makes perfect sense but I've never heard portrayed before.

Re: Jesus and the Two Swords: reflecting upon Luke 22:35-38

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:52 -0000

You are assuming that God is directly enacting these deaths by violence, nature, etc. You also won't find anyone here, I think, trying to justify the Crusades as much more than misguided and barbaric.

We hope to hear more from you - peace to you. I'll leave you with this:

nastagh-firuka ya Hakam
ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram
Isa ruhu-lah 'alalihis-salat was-salam
ya Halim, ya Qahhar
ya Muntaqim, ya Ghaffar!
la llaha ilallahu, Allahu Akbar!

Re: Early Christian Voices on War and Peace

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:42:09 -0000

Thank you for this fine collection of quotes...I knew of some, but many were new for me.

Re: An Advent Litany for those in Consumer Captivity

hewhocutsdown — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:55:11 -0000

Consume us, O God.

Amen. I may need to meditate on that one over this season.

Re: Gnome Chompsky Wreaks Havok on Village

hewhocutsdown — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:40:16 -0000

These evil gnomes are occasionally accompanied by their more ethereal counterparts - the dzinns. These dzinns, if caught, will grant wishes when asked through the means of a dialectic. They also cause mischief in minds unprepared for their assault.

Re: Pagan Thinktank Releases Annual Sol Invictus-Friendly Shopping Guide

hewhocutsdown — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:28:31 -0000

This. Is. Hilarious.

Thanks Ben!

Re: ReJesus: Revisioning Christology?

hewhocutsdown — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:53:56 -0000

I completely empathize with the attitude of "even a problem book is good if it gets you to think", and think it does. It's the books that shunt the thinking process that one need be most wary of.

I'll have to say though, as my current stack is getting dangerously high, I'll probably just leave it at the review here. Thank you - I'd honestly never heard some of the concepts presented above, and reading your article was quite the learning experience.

Re: Outlaw Caroling NOW!

hewhocutsdown — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:48:59 -0000

'Tis not merely the carols which incite such anti-democratic venom, but their true source, which is known alternately as the Bible, the scriptures, or the conjoining of Old & New Testaments.

These texts state, amongst other things, state that:

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

This king of theirs, a long dead icon known as Jesus claims in their texts that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

I posit that we remove these infidels, these religious terrorists from our borders before they beget the downfall of our very society.

Re: 2012

hewhocutsdown — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:27:01 -0000

On the get out-of-debt thing:

One idea I have had is that the Christian community pays off the debt of it's members. This serves two purposes - the capital that WOULD have gone toward interest is now kept, and the type of things that get paid off (or don't) are determined by the community, leading toward more accountability toward one's splurges.

After all, if you're openly discussing financing your second mortgage versus another parishioner's medical expenses, it'll put some perspective on what is important.

And no, I do not currently do this. But I'm willing to move in that direction, and we're working activity on destroying the debt we yet have.

Re: Angst-giving

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:04:04 -0000

You're very welcome.

Re: Angst-giving

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:17:31 -0000

It's amazing, the food/hospitality traditions abroad. I lived in Kuwait, and hospitality was a HUGE priority for the Arabs there - God forbid you do not have enough food, so there was always too much.

The Filipinos I ate with would fill my plate again if it got to be half full.....the Indians would rent out hotel conference rooms and cater baby receptions for friends, family and casual acquaintances (far out of their budget).

It's a completely different mindset, and it comes with it's own benefits and concerns.

I guess my caveat would be that, regardless of one's prophetic distance, there is also a time and a place to celebrate. The ointment poured on Jesus' feet could have been sold and spent on the poor; but that's not always its best use.

Re: Angst-giving

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:11:54 -0000

Two things on this....

First, the quote from Woody Guthrie's song has been taken hostage - both by you and culture at large. Read in full in it's original context, it argues against the unjust structures of society:

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
...
In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

Secondly, the gist of your article is solid. A great case example from the scriptures is from Amos, where he argues against their prosperity which they (Israel) say is from God:

This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
They sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.

They trample on the heads of the poor
as upon the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.

They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.
In the house of their god
they drink wine taken as fines.
...
I also raised up prophets from among your sons
and Nazirites from among your young men.
Is this not true, people of Israel?"
declares the LORD.

"But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
...
I will tear down the winter house
along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
and the mansions will be demolished,"
declares the LORD.
...
You trample on the poor
and force him to give you grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,
you will not live in them;
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.

Re: Litany of Thanksgiving in the Midst of Empire

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:02:48 -0000

Fill our lungs, animate our limbs and I would add, seed our imagination.

I'm finding the biggest barrier to me is lack of imagination in seeking God's will, followed closely by an unwillingness to do some of what I can envision.

Re: The 25 Lessons of Nonviolence

hewhocutsdown — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:42:26 -0000

"A shooting war is not necessary to overthrow an established power but is used to consolidate the revolution itself."

This one's quite intriguing....very few things garner unity amongst rebels like a common enemy.

Re: The 25 Lessons of Nonviolence

hewhocutsdown — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:43:00 -0000

Violence is a virus that infects and takes over.

This one seems a bit too vague.

I'm enjoying/processing the rest of them though.

Re: “A” Take On “An” Evangelical Manifesto

hewhocutsdown — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:07:05 -0000

Some writers more than other at Sojourners do affirm that idea. But there is an awful lot of pro-Democrat subtext as well, and it's just unfortunate. Is it possible to explore the same ideas, support the same causes, without becoming inextricably linked to a particular party? I'm not sure, but if it's possible, it's by strongly supporting the good which making it know that it is NOT partisan. The fact that some of us have a hard time telling whether or not it's partisan politicking means that it's probably playing things too close - it should be clear, there should be a prophetic separation, even as we get deeply involved.

Re: Unusual Politics: With or Without the Church?

hewhocutsdown — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:19:50 -0000

Our money really is one of the most telling metrics of our heart. I'm trying to see if there is anything like the Jesus Center in my town, I'm looking for something to get my hands dirty with.

Sometimes it's hard to find these things though...you really have to dig to find the people who are already quietly serving the community.