Comments on: God and Marx http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/ crafty goodness Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:50:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: papyrus http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-276 papyrus Wed, 03 Jan 2007 07:28:30 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-276 I've not only read these verses before but I've even preached on them. But don't worry I'm not going to give you my sermon now. I do think it just points to the vital importance of reading the Bible for oneself and also of it being taught systematically in church to open up all its riches to God's people. Jumping from one text to another inevitably means the church gets an unbalanced diet. On reading, I really would encourage you to keep on and aim to read the whole of the Bible. Maybe there will be things you don't understand. Note them but don't be unduly bothered by them. Note any questions that arise. How about setting up a group blog for reading the Bible and recording our reactions, questions etc. Interested? I’ve not only read these verses before but I’ve even preached on them. But don’t worry I’m not going to give you my sermon now. I do think it just points to the vital importance of reading the Bible for oneself and also of it being taught systematically in church to open up all its riches to God’s people. Jumping from one text to another inevitably means the church gets an unbalanced diet.

On reading, I really would encourage you to keep on and aim to read the whole of the Bible. Maybe there will be things you don’t understand. Note them but don’t be unduly bothered by them. Note any questions that arise.

How about setting up a group blog for reading the Bible and recording our reactions, questions etc. Interested?

]]> By: Tarun http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Tarun Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:40:41 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-274 http://www.churchhopping.com/ten-verses-never-preached-on/ Text called <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/science/06cnd-judas.html?ex=1167973200&en=42cc438f5ad256bd&ei=5070" rel="nofollow">the gospel of judas</a> "You can see how early Christians could say, if Jesus's death was all part of God's plan, then Judas's betrayal was part of God's plan," said Ms. King, the author of several books on Gnostic texts. "So what does that make Judas? Is he the betrayer, or the facilitator of salvation, the guy who makes the crucifixion possible?" http://www.churchhopping.com/ten-verses-never-preached-on/

Text called the gospel of judas
“You can see how early Christians could say, if Jesus’s death was all part of God’s plan, then Judas’s betrayal was part of God’s plan,” said Ms. King, the author of several books on Gnostic texts. “So what does that make Judas? Is he the betrayer, or the facilitator of salvation, the guy who makes the crucifixion possible?”

]]> By: JanePoe (aka Deborah) http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-272 JanePoe (aka Deborah) Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:17:50 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-272 I had not heard of these verses, but I am not well-versed in the Bible. I do however believe that God does speak to us in amazing ways & the fact that you ran across something twice, is more than serendipity, it is a message. What that message is exactly often takes some time and unfolding to completely realise ... and perhaps more pieces of the message will show themselve to you ... the thing is to keep mind and heart open. Much peace, love and happy New Year's wishes to you Michelle. Warmly, Deborah I had not heard of these verses, but I am not well-versed in the Bible. I do however believe that God does speak to us in amazing ways & the fact that you ran across something twice, is more than serendipity, it is a message. What that message is exactly often takes some time and unfolding to completely realise … and perhaps more pieces of the message will show themselve to you … the thing is to keep mind and heart open.

Much peace, love and happy New Year’s wishes to you Michelle.

Warmly,
Deborah

]]> By: mary http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-270 mary Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:48:36 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-270 When I was at college, which was pretty leftist and liberal-minded, there was a seminar called "Jesus was a Communist." There's so much in the bible that is progressive and revolutionary. I would suggest looking into Liberation Theology - which is or was mainly Catholicism and Marxism working together in Latin America, in the 1960s. I think it would truly fit some of your political and religious leanings, that you find left out or outrightly decried in the standard American churches. Religion has been a big topic around our house lately. With the baby coming, I have a strong urge to commit to some religion or belief system. But it certainly won't be Christianity and R is a non-practicing, non-committed Muslim. Right now we just plan on trying to raise Peanut with good values and exposure to many ideas. Who knows if that will be enough! When I was at college, which was pretty leftist and liberal-minded, there was a seminar called “Jesus was a Communist.” There’s so much in the bible that is progressive and revolutionary. I would suggest looking into Liberation Theology – which is or was mainly Catholicism and Marxism working together in Latin America, in the 1960s. I think it would truly fit some of your political and religious leanings, that you find left out or outrightly decried in the standard American churches.

Religion has been a big topic around our house lately. With the baby coming, I have a strong urge to commit to some religion or belief system. But it certainly won’t be Christianity and R is a non-practicing, non-committed Muslim. Right now we just plan on trying to raise Peanut with good values and exposure to many ideas. Who knows if that will be enough!

]]> By: Wende http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-269 Wende Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:45:13 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-269 Ok, so I'd be the WRONG person to ask this of, considering my vocation. But it's been my experience that most people attending church have very little experience with the biblical text. In fact, most only hear snippets, and usually only from the New Testament. So, Kudos to you for reading it in its entirety. There is a reason, tho, that most people don't read the whole thing. The Hebrew Scriptures (as my kind likes to call the Old Testament) are difficult, circuitous, and often contradictory. Too many people have a deep sense of a "loving God" they presume is in the New Testament--and that's not who they find on first glance in Old Testament. But... as a person who has spent most of her life in pursuit of reading Hebrew Scriptures, I beg you to look deeper than the first glance at the OT. Because, if you read deeply (and it does require outside help!) you will find a beauty worth knowing! Despite God's reputation in these texts, they are chock full of cries for justice and decrees to end oppression. Anyhow... don't let all the "death and destruction" fool you--that stuff was written for very theological reasons and it cannot be taken "at face value!" Ok, so I’d be the WRONG person to ask this of, considering my vocation. But it’s been my experience that most people attending church have very little experience with the biblical text. In fact, most only hear snippets, and usually only from the New Testament. So, Kudos to you for reading it in its entirety.

There is a reason, tho, that most people don’t read the whole thing. The Hebrew Scriptures (as my kind likes to call the Old Testament) are difficult, circuitous, and often contradictory. Too many people have a deep sense of a “loving God” they presume is in the New Testament–and that’s not who they find on first glance in Old Testament. But… as a person who has spent most of her life in pursuit of reading Hebrew Scriptures, I beg you to look deeper than the first glance at the OT. Because, if you read deeply (and it does require outside help!) you will find a beauty worth knowing! Despite God’s reputation in these texts, they are chock full of cries for justice and decrees to end oppression.

Anyhow… don’t let all the “death and destruction” fool you–that stuff was written for very theological reasons and it cannot be taken “at face value!”

]]> By: Pacian http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Pacian Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:24:55 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-267 Well Marx was an atheist, and if I was looking for a system which abolished wealth I'd personally steer clear of communism - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_socialism" rel="nofollow">libertarian socialism</a> is more my speed, and there are certainly others. In any case, try Googling the term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_socialism" rel="nofollow">Christian socialism</a>. Well Marx was an atheist, and if I was looking for a system which abolished wealth I’d personally steer clear of communism – libertarian socialism is more my speed, and there are certainly others.

In any case, try Googling the term Christian socialism.

]]> By: Kamsin http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Kamsin Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:29:30 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-266 I'm kind of concerned that despite growing up in church you've never heard those verses before, I mean seriously, what was your church teaching? Anyway, I guess I was lucky to be part of the Navigators as a student, who really stress the importance of EVERY Christian reading the WHOLE Bible for themselves. They kind of go a little far, but at least after four years with them I know what the Bible says. Anyway, I think this verse is getting at the way early Christianity was all about community, about living in harmony with each other, way more than it was about a bunch of rituals to follow, or things to be believed or accepted on an intellectual level. Does that make sense? Anyway, good luck with the reading! I’m kind of concerned that despite growing up in church you’ve never heard those verses before, I mean seriously, what was your church teaching? Anyway, I guess I was lucky to be part of the Navigators as a student, who really stress the importance of EVERY Christian reading the WHOLE Bible for themselves. They kind of go a little far, but at least after four years with them I know what the Bible says.
Anyway, I think this verse is getting at the way early Christianity was all about community, about living in harmony with each other, way more than it was about a bunch of rituals to follow, or things to be believed or accepted on an intellectual level. Does that make sense?
Anyway, good luck with the reading!

]]> By: Margaret http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Margaret Tue, 02 Jan 2007 05:44:24 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2007/01/02/god-and-marx/#comment-264 I had heard of those verses,and many others that are selectively used or ignored by certain people! That's why I could never be a Bible literalist. I had heard of those verses,and many others that are selectively used or ignored by certain people! That’s why I could never be a Bible literalist.

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