Just saw this one

[MajGenl.Meade]

"Her views are in the creationist field, and I believe she talks in tongues. i don't really know much more because we've all agreed that it isn't a topic we really care to discuss with her any more"

Yes I can easily see how the second follows from the first! Please do not be sorry! I enjoyed reading your first post and thank you for the second. Although by now I am almost suicidal. . . .

[BoSoxGal]

Hmm, so 'the meek shall inherit the earth' is interpreted as 'only the sissy la las will be left standing'?

Weird, that. Doesn't square with any of the theology I've ever learned, whether in the church or in academia.

[alice]

Hmm, so 'the meek shall inherit the earth' is interpreted as 'only the sissy la las will be left standing'?

Weird, that. Doesn't square with any of the theology I've ever learned, whether in the church or in academia.

Well, truth be told, if my rusty recollecions are anywhere near correct, I think the proper, original, Biblical interpretation of 'meek' was in reference to people in the service of God.

But I was preferring the modern T-Shirt slogan interpretation of it, because it suited my rant better.


MajGenlMeade understood

[Crackpot]

Hmm, so 'the meek shall inherit the earth' is interpreted as 'only the sissy la las will be left standing'?

Weird, that. Doesn't square with any of the theology I've ever learned, whether in the church or in academia.

Most of what he's saying is end times prophesy. The second coming occurs at the moment the "good side" is wiped out at which point Jesus returns destroying the opposition. leaving only those without the will to fight (aka the meek) left and since the believers and the resurrected will presumably be kickin it with Jesus in his earthly kingdom in Jerusalem the rest of the planet will belong to our friends the Meek.

[BoSoxGal]

Well, truth be told, if my rusty recollecions are anywhere near correct, I think the proper, original, Biblical interpretation of 'meek' was in reference to people in the service of God.

Exactly.

[Crackpot]

The translation form the Greek means simply "under restraint". This is often confused with OT translations to "meek"

[BoSoxGal]

You'll pardon my choice to adhere to 35 years of studying theology by guidance of those formally trained versus one newly come to faith whose statements on the subject on more than one occasion haven't made much sense to me.

[Crackpot]

So in other words you'll trust traditional theology (which has come up with such gems as "the world is flat", "Blacks are inferior" and Peter suddenly transformed from someone who was almost constantly wrong to completely infallible somewhere between denying his Messiah and Pentecost") to someone who has spent the majority of their adult life checking this stuff out on their own and oddly isn't all that far off of modern theology.

[BoSoxGal]

My study of theology has been lifelong, wide reaching, and has involved academic sources, not just indoctrination at church. I contemplated divinity school rather than law school, and have several colleagues who've done both.

I find your pronouncements on the subject to be overly confident and not often compelling. Sorry, but I'm entitled to the opinion and it is a learned one.

[Sean]

The meek shall inherit what they're bloody well given and be grateful for it!

[BoSoxGal]

By the way, CP, as an example: I think it's a bit of a misstatement to blame racism and belief in a flat earth solely on theology.

[dales]

The meek shall inherit what they're bloody well given and be grateful for it!

Find a better planet!

[loCAtek]

My study of theology has been lifelong, wide reaching, and has involved academic sources, not just indoctrination at church. I contemplated divinity school rather than law school, and have several colleagues who've done both.

I find your pronouncements on the subject to be overly confident and not often compelling. Sorry, but I'm entitled to the opinion and it is a learned one.

ROTFLMAO ....and how is your brother?
Has your 'learning' helped him any? Seems your living in a car for a year, has done nothing for your humility, nor for others. You went on a cruise, after your bankruptcy and just plan on judging others, because you can get away with it.

Try helping others, more than yourself; then we may be impressed ...and then you can judge.

But humility? ...not so much.


...no, not reflection on me; I'm a hella sinner. Thus so, I can see sin when I see it.

[loCAtek]

FWIW I don't find you a theological mentor at all, and I wouldn't recommend you as such to any one else.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Turn your back for 5 minutes and a theological debate breaks out!

Matthew 5:5
πραεις praus
prah-ooce'
mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness Strong's G4329

CP can you please elucidate "under restraint" - the Greek word and etymology?

Also citations for the "theology" declaring that the world is flat, that blacks are inferior and that Peter suddenly becomes infallible would be interesting.

The belief in the flatness of the world both pre- and post-dated Christianity. It was observational - not theological. I believe it is correct that the more accurate observation of the roundness of the world was also known and accepted before Christianity.

The inferiority of "not-us" populations is a common belief in all tribes throughout history, both before and after Christ. Those who consider themselves civilized always look down upon the "savage" - whether that be a black African, a yellow Asian, a Red Indian, Gauls, Goths (especially nowadays), non-Mongolians, French, Angles, Ay-rabs and so on. That a section of the Bible (the post-flood sons of Noah) has been used by various "christian" persons and groups to justify black chattel slavery is well known. That the same Bible, applied in its entirety, inspired the struggle against black chattel slavery is also well known. In my world both behaviours are known as "human" nature.

As to Peter, although I agree that Roman claims are nonsense (and probably blasphemous - whore and beast of Babylon and so forth), I also question that Peter has ever been regarded as "infallible" in the same sense as the current Pope is. That doctrine was not established until 1800 years after Peter's death and since no one has any idea of what Peter may have declared while "Pope", his 'infallibility' is both implied and meaningless. The only things we truly know of Peter consist of what is in the Bible - words inspired by God and both inerrant and infallible in the original autograph. Paul declared Peter to be "wrong" in at least one instance long after Pentecost.

A discussion of "modern" theology would also be very interesting to me if the above conclusions are typical.

FWIW I am now entitled to sign myself

Meade BTh
(South African Theological Seminary)

That doesn't mean I'm more right than anyone else. Just that I have a diploma showing that I paid attention for almost four years

My preferred explanation however is this:

MAN #2: You hear that? Blessed are the Greek.
GREGORY: The Greek?
MAN #2: Mmm. Well, apparently, he's going to inherit the earth.
GREGORY: Did anyone catch his name?
MRS. BIG NOSE: Oh, it's the meek! Blessed are the meek! Oh, that's nice, isn't it? I'm glad they're getting something, 'cause they have a hell of a time.

[BoSoxGal]

FYI loCAcunt, my BF took me on that cruise to the Mexican Riveria all expenses paid by him. I'm still living frugally whilst I pay off expenses from two major surgeries and repay my debts, 95% of which I reaffirmed.

And my two brothers are doing fine; I also have no doubt that I live a far more Christian life than you do.


Fucking

eta: while I was living out of my truck for seven months of unemployment, choosing to help a friend die of cancer rather than put my own needs first, I never once stooped to stealing or to begging money from Internet friends I had no intention of repaying.

You live in a glass trailer, bitch. CC950468

[The Hen]

Wow.

I know this is the sort of exchange that doesn't involve me and isn't my business and that I should keep out of, but WTF Lo?

Was that really something that was necessary to post?

[alice]

The translation form the Greek means simply "under restraint". This is often confused with OT translations to "meek"

Just did a fairly quick seach, and I think the two examples below help to illustrate the 'under retraint' definition.

Matthew 5:5 — Meek Inherit the Earth
By Wayne Jackson
In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ declared: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). There are two misconceptions commonly connected with this passage.

First, the nature of meekness is misunderstood.

Second, some contend that the verse speaks of a future, eternal abode upon the earth.

To many, “meekness” suggests the idea of passivity, someone who is easily imposed upon, spinelessness, weakness. Since Jesus declared Himself to be meek (Matthew 11:29), some perceive Him as a sissy-type character.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In the Greek New Testament, “meek” is from the Greek term praus. It does not suggest weakness; rather, it denotes strength brought under control. The ancient Greeks employed the term to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle.

In the biblical sense, therefore, it describes one who has channeled his strengths into the service of God.

http://www.christiancourier.com/article ... -the-earth

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

We need to realize that part of the war on Christianity is being fought by changing the meanings of words. For instance, in Hebrews 11:1 we read “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” However, our modern concept of the word faith is a blind belief, instead of belief based on the “evidence of things not seen.” That evidence is the revelation of Christ in our hearts when we repent and make Him Lord. In a similar way, we associate the word meek with weakness and cowardice. Most people do not consider those characterized as meek to be blessed. But the original word in Greek is praus, and it was considered by the great philosophers such as Aristotle to be one of the great ethical words, and a compliment to those described by it.

Praus refers to a person in control of his or her emotions and actions. Every person in the world is subject to manipulation by circumstances, spiritual entities, other people, and one’s own flesh. God wants us to be balanced and to control ourselves in an exemplary way – but He has to test us so we can find out where we fall short. The soldier hopes to be brave when he comes under fire, but until it is a reality no one knows whether he will fight or run. Until we have a conversation with an exceedingly provoking person, we do not know if we will lose our temper or not. Likewise, if we are never forced to submit to an unreasonable, overbearing person in authority, we cannot gain the essential experience of controlling our anger and practicing quiet submission. Most occupations require academic study, but are not truly learned until the student has participated in on-the-job training. The building of personal character is especially learned in this manner. Praus is a virtue that is forged through many personal, real world situations, some of which are painful.

http://www.pursuingtheword.com/blessp3.htm

The joy of the Bible, as far as good hearty debate goes, is that it's so open to interpretation. Depending on which version, and/or how the words were interpreted from their ancient native languages, and/or which Christian based religion put their slant on it, etc etc. Even among died-in-the-wool Christians of the same religion but perhaps different churches, may have small variations in their understanding of some of the words in the book.
Never has one book cause so much argument, grief and suffering (...and the joy etc as well, of course.But I'm focussing on the differences in this little rant, okay!! )

PS: (And my mum did a heap of some sort of biblical studies and has some fancy title from a reputable place of learning in a mainstream theological field. Having said that, I very much doubt that bigskygal, MajGenlMeade, or Crackpot would see eye-to-eye with my mum in their understandings of that darn book!!

[alice]

The meek shall inherit what they're bloody well given and be grateful for it!

I remember a T-shirt that used to say :AND THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH (if that's alright with the rest of you?)

[Lord Jim]

LoCA, Lord knows that I've made very clear that I've been very annoyed of late with BSG's snarky condescension, (on full display yet again in some of her responses to CP in this discussion) and exasperated with her blindness towards the way her own comments and behavior brings about the responses she receives,(preferring instead to fantasize about being some sort of an innocent "target"...a quality, which ironically, the two of you seem to share)

But that having been said, there is simply no excuse for the way you laid into her out of the blue by taking cheap shots at her personal life, and even trying to bring her family into it...

Especially in an exchange that you weren't even involved in....