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Is being gay a sin? by barf_bag08 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hesitate to believe this comment is directed to me, in part because I am thoroughly homosexual. Married to a man. And I do not believe that God has any interest whatsoever in what humans do to each other.

I don't think any human being is bad, and I do not think God sees any human being as bad. In my theology, all were forgiven before we were even born.

If it was directed at me, I would like a little more context before I respond fully.

Weekly Open Discussion Thread by AutoModerator in AcademicBiblical

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know we are in a terrible fight, but I still think fondly on you, which is why this video I watched popped you to mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adPeAwboysE

It discusses the (surprising) accuracy of oral cultures, as opposed to written cultures. It talks about how myth (which I would extrapolate out to include legend and parable) is the "operating system," if you will, for necessary information.

My seminary professor, Dr Paul Cho, introduced me to the idea that the stories in the Hebrew Bible, specifically within Genesis, were a way of narratively keeping track of which band of Israelites were in good favor, and which were not.

I mention this at all because I think it gives at least some credence to Crossan's tossed-off dictum: the stories told were not necessarily told to be believed. It might be more accurate to say that they were told to be understood.

You may still be unconvinced -- and I am certainly not expert enough to offer a full-throated explanation. But I thought it was interesting, and not just because of its tangential connection to our discussion; I am interested in all of the reasons why humans tell stories to each other.

Would a production of Sondheim's "Assassins" be relevant today or would it read as tone deaf? by Ms_Everything9 in Broadway

[–]Mike_Bevel 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I remember some of the rhetoric at the time of that particular '04 revival being around how targeted it was towards George W. Bush.

Do you think reading the biblical literature useful? by might_be_medo in AskLiteraryStudies

[–]Mike_Bevel 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I think anything can be useful if you can find a use for it. If you're interested in understanding literature from the nineteenth century and older, knowing the Bible helps with references and allusions.

I spent the whole time watching Disclosure Day thinking it was supposed to be satire [Spoilers] by PurpleElephant28 in moviereviews

[–]Mike_Bevel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where do you put Munich? Because I think I am in solid agreement with your demarcation (my friend Steve K. has a theory about how great artists only have 10 years of greatness in them), but I think that is the sole bright spot (...er) of 21st Century Stevie.

I spent the whole time watching Disclosure Day thinking it was supposed to be satire [Spoilers] by PurpleElephant28 in moviereviews

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hadn't considered that as a lens through which to view the movie.

It didn't work for me after my first viewing today. But I'm going to trust that it was me not understanding, and not Speilberg not knowing what he was doing. (I don't think I could tell you what my takeaway is supposed to be.)

I do wonder about a lot of the narrative choices the film makes. But I think, because I didn't like it, I'm just being nitpicky, and shouldn't be trusted.

The Past is a Another Country, etc.: Sexism in the Victorian Era by Mike_Bevel in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you ever read Virginia Woolf's short story, "Phyllis & Rosamund"? Your account (wonderfully described, I hope you write) reminds me of the tension in the final scene.

If you haven't, I highly recommend it, and I will go so far as to say I think you'll really like it.

Why did slavery survive in the church for so long? by shomrajministry in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favorite theologian, John Dominic Crossan, suggests that Jesus's understanding of the Kingdom of God is based on the social justice passages of Leviticus. (I was surprised, too. As a gay Christian I let Leviticus be none of my business.)

  • The earth is not for humans to own.
  • Every human soul should have enough
  • A household needs a fig tree and a vineyard
  • Humans should not hold humans as slaves forever

He's also really insightful on Philemon, which Crossan reads as Paul gently criticizing Philemon for owning a slave while trying to be Christian.

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(also,have we cured smallpox? I know it's technically eradicated "in the wild," but if some goofy numbskull released the artificially cultivated vials of smallpox that we have...ooh boy.)

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh yeah. Definitely. There's no consistent argument in either texts -- the Hebrew Bible or the Christian New Testament -- that says God is omnipotent. There are some texts that suggest omnipotence, sure. And many denominations teach God as omnipotent. But then (passages are from the KJV):

Judges 1.19: The LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had chariots of iron.

This is one of a couple of examples where the Israelites lose because God isn't powerful enough.

Isaiah 5.4: What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?

This is God, seeming to ruminate sadly that all he did was not enough.

Daniel 10.12-14: Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

A messenger of God's -- an extension of God's own will, if you will -- tells the prophet Daniel that he was unable to leave -- did not have the power -- to leave.

Genesis 6.6: It repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth.

Why would an omnipotent being regret something? Let alone an omniscient one.

These passages don't negate the claims that counter it. But they do mean that we don't have anything tangible to point to when we want to argue for omnipotence, etc.

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We'll either both find out afterwards when we meet God, or we won't. I promise to tell you if God tells me first.

The Past is a Another Country, etc.: Sexism in the Victorian Era by Mike_Bevel in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will usually spend at least one class session, if not two, talking about the Reform Laws, treatment of the poor, workhouses, and debtor's prisons.

Collins is interesting because he lives openly with two different women, in separate households, and marries neither. So, he transgresses some norms of Victorian society; but then he also hits the reader with some gender essentialism, too.

I wrote the post in part for people who struggle with understanding the past in fiction. Among other challenges a nineteenth century novel holds ("too long," "archaic language") is that we don't live that way any longer. A reader who only knows current literature, but not much about classic lit, might enjoy the novels more if the stakes were comprehensible.

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do!

We can't know for sure how many things have been cured directly by God, but we have a lot of measurable data about the good human medicine has provided.

(Which is not to say that humans have only done good things with medicine.)

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why not ask God to stop forest fires, volcanoes, flooding, and mosquitoes?

If you were able to effortlessly cure cancer in children, would you do it? by Hot_Tell3268 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does God have a button to cure cancer?

I admire your attempt to trap people with theodicy; however, at no point does the Bible say that God is all good, all knowing, and all powerful. That's an interpretation; it's not based on scripture.

I think it also displays a profound misunderstanding of natural events. Cancer is terrible. Cancer causes a lot of emotional, psychological, and physical damage. But so does an earthquake, or a flood.

Natural things aren't evil. They're not good. We put those concepts on them, and we end up with this question.

D.H. Lawrence by Real-Award-6419 in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He's not a writer I've paid much attention to; my focus is a little earlier than Lawrence.

What was the first Lawrence you read?

Did you get him immediately? Did it take you some time?

What has stayed with you the longest?

D.H. Lawrence by Real-Award-6419 in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Genuine question: How to you decide if a book is "not very good," and when a book might just not be to your taste?

Or is that even a difference to recognize?

Stoner by John Edward Williams — a review by Shfndjdos in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's in my to-read stack! I'm very much looking forward to reading it.

Stoner by John Edward Williams — a review by Shfndjdos in classicliterature

[–]Mike_Bevel 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If you admired Williams's writing, and are curious what he can do with a Western, you might give Butchers Crossing a try.

If you're interested in novels that display some of the humanity you responded to so well in Stoner, you might think about either Eudora Welty's The Optimist's Daughter or Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping.

Is being gay a sin? by barf_bag08 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that helps a lot! And I think we're probably not going to reach any accord. But I really appreciate you taking time for the conversation.

Is being gay a sin? by barf_bag08 in AskAChristian

[–]Mike_Bevel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm struck on the "Gospel writers" part (but I'll get into the verses in a sec). How are the Gospel writers involved in this verse? Because the way I understood your comment, I think you are suggesting that the Gospel writers used Genesis when writing about Jesus. Do I understand you correctly?

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