The Bible as Literature

[Tyler]

Man, Adam threatens my life everytime I sneeze. I think it's less about what I'm doing, as he's just looking for an excuse now. But I hear what you are saying.

[CaptAdam]

I'm a fraid the Hull's are know for haveing overly strong hearts, so I'll probably have an anurism long before my heart will go.

Tyler like I said I truely do count you as a friend and only friends and family have ever truely pushed my buttons to the point of a physical confrontation.

Now if you truely wish to understand or learn what it is that I or other believe in that's fine and good. But going around an poking people with sticks to get a response is no better than the Crusades. After all we are all so proud how those turned out and all the many true converts at the edge of a sword we got. I'm sure this is what God was talking about by love thy neighbor and that they will know you by your love.

Tyler the method you go about again is much like that email I saw once about the non-violent person being pervoked to violence by another because he kept punching him in the nose, until he ran out of cheeks to turn and finally was ready to raise his hands to fight.

Also if all I was looking for was an excuss I would have beaten the crap out of my brother long ago.

The board is a great tool, much like the telephone. The problem is we all get this Tough guy on the telephone syndrome and we forget our mannors completly and we get more agressive in a speach than we would face to face and occassionally we need a reminder. Tammy did that for me on the other disscussion board when I attacked Jeff in a very poor show of respect (again I'm truely sorry for that, I would never do that to Jeff to his face so what gives me the right to do in on a board of words.)

Tyler like you I don't always feel others are taking what I'm saying seriously, I've dealt with this most of my life. So say something assnine to get their attention, the problem is this never works to my favor.

And this is what has happened with your responses. As I recall I don't think I've threatend you in a face to face discussion and that's because both of us (I beleive) has far to much respect for the other. Aside that time I made that dumb ass comment about you always being wrong.

So thoughts to think on. I'll shove my demon back in his bottle know and try to lock his lid a little tighter.

[Jeff]

Of course I’ve said a great many snotty things here on the board, too. Mostly I insult people indirectly—something like, “only a great idiot would think x.” But it’s the same thing and just as bad. I am really going to try not to do this any more, and I apologize for the negativity I've used thus far, especially to you, Adam.

[CaptAdam]

That's why I beleive we are all still friends after all these years, we're not to proud to acknogle when we got to carried away and in the end we all really do what these friendships to continue no matter what we may say to each other.

I am sorry to anyone that I may have offened on purpose or by accident and I hope to try and keep a better lid on my emotional out bursts. The Pawhuska group particularly is still the closest friends I have and I wouldn't want to ever damage or destroy that link. Maybe one day I'll be closer or have more free time to visit with the group in person, as bad as it may seem I do miss and yearn for the old days.

You all take care, I'll talk soon.

[mj]

In the news again:
www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/12/01/life.bible.general.reut/index.html

...teaching the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, in a non-sectarian, nonreligious way as a central document of Western civilization with a vast influence on its literature, art, culture and politics.

"The Bible and Its Influence" sets out its ground rules and philosophy on its opening pages. "You are going to study the Bible academically, not devotionally. In other words, you are learning about the Bible and its role in language and culture," it tells its readers.

[mj]

www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/national/22odessa.html?th&emc=th

ODESSA, Tex., Dec. 21 -Trustees of the Ector County Independent School District here decided, 4 to 2, on Tuesday night that high school students would use a course published by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools for studying the Bible in history and literature.

The council is a religious advocacy group in Greensboro, N.C., and has the backing of the Eagle Forum and Focus on the Family, two conservative organizations.

The vote on the disputed textbook, for an elective Bible study course, has not ended the matter. Critics say the book promotes fundamentalist Protestant Christianity.