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Streetcar Line
Hanukkah Before Advent
The great sources of His Coming.
My high school was founded by a Jewish philanthropist, originally exclusively for Jewish orphans; nearly half of my graduating class of 96 were Jewish. It therefore embarrasses me to admit that while I pretty well understand Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and Passover, I never quite bothered to pay attention to what Hanukkah was all about. I knew my classmates lit candles, and that sometimes Hanukkah fell more near to Christmas Day than others — but that was about it. Such is the cultural myopia of a Christian focused on his Savior’s birth, and on the attendant societal celebrations. My Jewish friends could do what they would do, and I wished them all the joy of the season — but I should have taken an interest in what they were commemorating, both out of respect for them and because I probably needed the edification. That which is no threat to one’s own culture or faith should be embraced for its contributions to cultural richness.
As for my own faith, the longer I moved into adulthood, the more I felt more spiritually energized and enlightened by Advent than by Christmas itself (although, in a way that counter-intuitively rejoiced in its Jewishness, I clearly love Christmas as well). Advent’s promise of a profound change in our very covenant with our Lord somehow appeals to me more (maybe because of what might be an over-intellectualized conceit of mine) than does an idyllic baby in a manger, helpless and majestic at one and the same time. This babe, our Lord made flesh, is almost too perfectly symbolic of new life — so obvious in its symbolic meaning as to be too easily grasped, too little requiring us to stretch ourselves, to struggle for understanding, and through that struggle to grow. God’s gift of self and Son is so perfect, so simple, that we weak humans too easily take it for granted.
Advent, on the other hand, is not so much joyous as it is challengingly hopeful. Advent is less the time of Christ than of John. “In those days came John the Baptist,” reads the King James Version of Matthew, “preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repent. Advent, from its very start, requires something of us, something difficult. “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,” promised John, “and with fire.”
And in Luke’s account, Zacharias prophesied about his newborn son John, saying that he would prepare the way of the Lord, “to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” Or as explained in the Gospel of John, the Baptist came “to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
Even that light, though, was a threshing fire, as John repeatedly made clear. Before we can celebrate, said John (back to quoting Matthew), “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Only after repentance, indeed only after martyrdom, would the fruits be available, the light fully unveiled, the promise everlastingly fulfilled. Without that corrective advance warning from Advent, Christmas becomes too much a celebration unmerited, a Gift received too facilely, a joy too devoid (on our end, not the Christ child’s) of conscious purpose.
These thoughts, in form recognizable but far too vague (because I hadn’t bothered with the discipline yet of writing them down), were swirling in the recesses of my mind in the days since church last Sunday, when an odd and serendipitous thing happened. In the course of my near-random daily Internet surfing, looking for whatever news might be of interest, I saw a mention that Thursday marked Hanukkah’s end this year. And, for once, I felt enough embarrassed by my cultural cluelessness to take the time to find out what this Jewish celebration is all about.
And, lo and behold, I found it eerily similar to Advent. From the website www.Chabad.org, the page called “Chanukah in a Nutshell,” the first sentence: “Chanukah… celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration.” And, as in Zacharias’ account, it is a light offered “in the shadow of death”: A wicked king (Antiochus) from a foreign land “enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews.” Thousands were put to death for the audacity of insisting, despite the threat of death, on abiding by the ordinances of their faith and honoring their G-d. When Antiochus saw the Jews still unbowed, he raised a mighty army against their vastly inferior numbers… yet the Jews repelled the army. A second and a third time he sent ever larger armies against the Jews; but at great cost, the Jews prevailed. But the greatest miracle was not the victory in battle; no, the greatest miracle was far quieter, and it was a miracle of light in the darkness.
The Jews “reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d. When they sought to light the Temple’s menorah (the seven branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.” In words that Christians could easily interpret as presaging the Sermon on the Mount, the Jews at Hanukah thank G-d for “delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few… the wicked into the hands of the righteous.”
It’s a great story, and a greater message. Hope amidst despair, sacrifice for one’s Lord, miraculous light in darkness, life from death, rebirth in all its glory.
None of this should surprise us, of course. Christianity grew out of Judaism. Its ethical codes flow from the same root. Its faith is in the same Lord, the Lord of Moses. It should be no wonder that the themes of some of its holy observances are the same.
For Christians, by definition, the Lord of Moses is newly revealed, and His covenant updated, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. In Advent, though, in these weeks before Christ’s Mass, we know not exactly what is in store for us; we merely know that it requires our repentance even unto sacrifice, our faith against the odds, our willingness ourselves to shine miraculous light in times and places cursed by darkness.
Of Zacharias, Luke tells us “his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.” Burn oil or burn incense, the flame will create more than it destroys. The son of a Jewish priest will “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The Lord is in Advent; the Lord is coming. As we await, in all solemnity, His promised arrival, may we take time also to honor the abundantly holy people of the ancient faith from whence He comes.
About the Author
Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (107) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 12.10.10 @ 6:54AM
Daddy used to say that Jewish holidays boiled down to *They tried to kill us. We won. Lets eat!* There is always celebration -- but it is celebration of something accomplished, not just a party. Its the one thing the enemies of the Jews will never understand -- that line from Psalm 23 about preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Nyah!
Advent, like Lent, reminds us why Jesus came -- why He NEEDED to come. And it is a beginning of the liturgical year that grants us one more season, perhaps, to get it right. It is what Scrooge (in the book, not the movies that make his repentance a matter of embracing Hollywood socialism) promised the Ghost of Christmas Future, on his knees faced with his own death -- that he did repent and would amend his life.
This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday and a chance to celebrate how far we have come. Let us not thereby neglect to remember how far we have to go -- and why.
ThomH| 12.10.10 @ 8:02AM
It is nice to see a religious celebration as ridiculous as Christmas. It is all make believe, even the chosen people part.
Ryan| 12.10.10 @ 8:23AM
Even so, Lord Jesus, come!
NavyBrat | 12.10.10 @ 9:25AM
Great. So why don't you just impale chickens on fence posts, pray to the party god, or do whatever YOU do that makes you happy. WE DON'T CARE. Nor do we denigrate you for it. Too bad you can't do the same for us.
elizabeth| 12.10.10 @ 2:19PM
NavyBrat, just want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah...hope you and your family has had a wonderful celebration. Sorry I know this is late.
Shalom!
Jesus Loves You| 12.10.10 @ 10:31AM
For those who thrive in spiritual darkness turning from darkness to light is scary. They don’t want anyone to urge them to turn to the light. They mock those who do, but actually, everyone must turn to the light. Our rightful place is in the light. An example is useful. Dolphins provide a parallel of the deadly environment in which humans exist. A dolphin is a mammal. It is born under water. The first act of the baby dolphin is to swim to the surface to breath. The environment it exists in (water) is death to the dolphin, while the environment it cannot live in is life (air). Humans are born into and must live in a toxic darkness, a spiritual climate that produces death. We must live in this world, but our life comes from God, so we must turn to the surface as soon as we realize our predicament. Without him we would drown in a toxic, hostile environment dominated by our own foolishness and rebellion. Staying in the darkness is called sin which is why God calls us to repent.
Don’t be afraid. God wants everyone to turn to Jesus and live, but note, he gives everyone the choice. It is a freewill choice, no force is used. You may, like a dolphin who refuses to swim to the surface, remain in the darkness. You may continue to curse those in the light, but the light is where you naturally belong, so turn and live. Light seems blinding at first. Soon the eyes adjust and the beauty beyond comes into focus. As the Bible says, taste him and see that he is good. If you need assistance speak with a child of the light. Join us. Jesus loves you.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 10:56AM
Jesus Loves you,
I have never heard...or thought...the beautiful picture you just painted about porpoises and the light.
I just copy/pasted it to my permanent documents file, and I think I shall send it to everyone on my
Christmas card list.
Thank you
Ryan| 12.10.10 @ 12:47PM
Where is the scripture for me being naturally a "child of the light?"
Jesus Loves You| 12.10.10 @ 2:03PM
Ryan, our natural place is with God, and our unnatural place is apart from him, or he would not have sent Jesus to make us one with him. You could start with the verses quoted in the article by Mr. Hillyer. Then see the book of Isaiah, for example 50:10, 58:8. But for precise wording, see John 12:36, Ephesians 5:8, and 1 Thessalonians 5:5 which says, “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
Jesus Loves You| 12.10.10 @ 3:31PM
Ryan, a further note on why I used "child of the light" instead of Christian. The term Christian has been co-opted by the "Christian" left, and by the Jeremiah Wright's of the world. I did not want to use a term that is confusing.
mzk1| 12.13.10 @ 1:55AM
The Christian Left and the Jewish Left have basically the same beliefs, which they try to force on the rest of us. Intolerance in the name of Tolerance.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 2:47PM
Ryan,
........Uh re-read Genesis...uh before the "fall"
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 1:54PM
You don't understand the Chosen part, ThomH. It is chosen to be an example.
For example, there are 6 Billion people in the world, and thanks to people like you, from our high number in the world of 18 million people in 1939, we are now down to 13 million in 2010.
22% of the Nobel Prizes in the world have been won by Jews. We win Nobels like the Yankees go to World Series. But no chosenness, no.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 1:57PM
Quin,
Thank you for the lovely article, and Merry Christmas to you and yours. You certainly deserve blessings year round.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 3:13PM
Occam's Tool
One small quibble. Insert the word "we" in place of "it".
Personally, I always enjoyed the verse..."...a light unto the Gentiles".
At Baylor U. (Jerusalem on the Brazos river), I was introduced to the scientific underlayments of the the Israeli faith.
How in the world...my profs continued to ask... HOW IN THE WORLD...could the Israelites know so much solid science that protected them from so many ills due to their "laws".
My Lord, it was still several thousand years before anyone discovered "germ theory", but so much of the "rules" they followed...simply understood it.
How?
We have a couple of self professed fools here who question the existence...and involvement...of a loving Creator.
I gotta paste Jesus(Rabbi) Loves You here again.
Jesus Loves You| 12.10.10 @ 10:31AM
For those who thrive in spiritual darkness turning from darkness to light is scary. They don’t want anyone to urge them to turn to the light. They mock those who do, but actually, everyone must turn to the light. Our rightful place is in the light. An example is useful. Dolphins provide a parallel of the deadly environment in which humans exist. A dolphin is a mammal. It is born under water. The first act of the baby dolphin is to swim to the surface to breath. The environment it exists in (water) is death to the dolphin, while the environment it cannot live in is life (air). Humans are born into and must live in a toxic darkness, a spiritual climate that produces death. We must live in this world, but our life comes from God, so we must turn to the surface as soon as we realize our predicament. Without him we would drown in a toxic, hostile environment dominated by our own foolishness and rebellion. Staying in the darkness is called sin which is why God calls us to repent.
Don’t be afraid. God wants everyone to turn to Jesus and live, but note, he gives everyone the choice. It is a freewill choice, no force is used. You may, like a dolphin who refuses to swim to the surface, remain in the darkness. You may continue to curse those in the light, but the light is where you naturally belong, so turn and live. Light seems blinding at first. Soon the eyes adjust and the beauty beyond comes into focus. As the Bible says, taste him and see that he is good. If you need assistance speak with a child of the light. Join us. Jesus loves you.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 9:24PM
My bad, I'm sure, Ken. The "it" was not referring to the people, but the concept, but I probably got it wrong, anyway.
Clint| 12.10.10 @ 8:09PM
Then, The United States must be The Chosen Example with 317 Nobel Prizes, according to your standards.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 9:27PM
Yes, Clint, and what percentage of the US' Nobels were won by Jews? About 37%, or 18 times their percentage in the population. 18 in Hebrew means "life."(Yod, hay---10 plus 8)
You see, Clint, the US is blessed because it blesses the Jews (just like the good book says).
Clint| 12.10.10 @ 10:19PM
Ya wanna play that game Israel Firster, then what percent of Nobel Laureates were Israelis?
They rank 38th with 9. That's 308 Short of The United States, Israel FirsterBoy.
Aaaand, since only 40 Women have won The Nobel Prize,Your Crap Standard is sayin' Women are Not The Chosen Example Sex.
You're A Pseudo-intellect Blowhard with an Ego Issues.
Physician Heal Thyself,Dweeb Jerk.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 11:21PM
Yes, Clint, and they have 1/40 the population, and have only been around since 1948, and have been fighting wars all that time. 9 X40= 360. OOPs. The Israelis ARE punching above their weight. And so are the American Jews, my dear Amalek.
Clint, take your Lurasidone and fit the white sheet back on your head.
Incidentally, women tend to have fewer geniuses and deviants (such as yourself) than men. That's why there are fewer women prisons. Also, men have had fewer restictions on doing research than women. That accounts for the discrepancy in Nobels.
Incidentally, it should be "with Ego issues," or "with an Ego issue."
"Your mind is to mine as that of an amoeba, but do not be afraid. No harm will come to you."
I fail to understand why you want to war without allies if you are an American Firster. Personally, I think you're just a Father Coughlin wannabe, without his good qualities.
Clint| 12.10.10 @ 11:55PM
Uh Oh ! Israel Firster Mensamboy is reduced to playin' the lecturing school marm over a typo.
By your bogus standards Faux-intellectBoy, women, at only 40 Nobel Prize Laureates are World Class Morons,which is your bogus scientific crap. It's about opportunity and goals and values.
Aaaand, I ain't one of your Middle East Sandmonkeys, JudasBoy.
Now, take your Haloperidol and two shock treatments and call me in the morning, Psycho-Pervert Selfhelp Shrink.
The United States has No Written Defense Treaty with Israel.
Aaaand, I think you're an Israeli Firster Jonathan Pollard, Ben Ami Kadish Wannabe,who would sell out The United States' National Interests for Your Israel Agenda.
Appleby| 12.11.10 @ 7:27AM
Clint, obviously you are not a Girl, nor were you one during the enormous stretch of time in which Girls were chattel property whose accomplishments were routinely co-opted by men. You might ask *How many Nobel Prizes awarded to men were in fact earned by Girls whose work was credited to o co-opted by those men?
I grew up at the tail end of that age, and I was well educated in the subjecct by the time I was 10, when I was told that Girls could not BE astronauts; we could only GIVE BIRTH TO astronauts.
Read history and find out the WHY as well as the WHAT.
Clint| 12.11.10 @ 7:53AM
You May Wanna Reread My Post & Tool Job's Posts Appleby.
I was pointing out Israel Firster Tool Job's flawed logic regarding Nobel Prize Winners,which would " Falsely & Erroneously " conclude that Broads are Industrial Strength Imbeciles for only Winning 40 Nobel Prizes.
Now, if Ya Wanna, You Can Straighten Out Pseudo-Intellectual Israel Firster Tool Job, On That Matter.
Carry On.
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:07AM
The latest Jewish Nobel Prize winner from Israel was a woman, Clint. Ada Yanoth, I believe. Chemist.
"Your conversation grows tiresome. Now is the time on Shprockets when we dance." Remember to Cap Every Word, Clint. Makes You Look Smarter.
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 6:36PM
So, Shove Off Pseudo-intellect Israel Firster Creepy Dude.
mzk1| 12.12.10 @ 2:55PM
Where do you get this chattel property business? Among both the Jews and the Arabs (Nabateans) in the time shortly after the second temple, women represented themselves in court. Only the Romans required a man front for her. (See Yigal Yadin, Bar Kochba, and he is quite secular.) You are makingthe common mistake of assuming that history is a straight line, and that it was always the same everywhere.
Eric Cartman| 12.11.10 @ 9:39AM
Wow - where to begin? Israeli Firster??? What he hell is that? If it means protecting Israel from, oh, I don't know, a few hundred million savage Muslims (you know, the guys who want to kill you for being you and wearing nail polish) who use the "Palestine was stole from us by the Jooozzz" bullshit fantasy, than I guess I'm one, too.
And I suppose you enjoy your private property rights? You can thank the Jews for that. They have been protecting private property rights for 5,700 years (give or take a shtikl). Remember "you should not covet your neighbor's ass" - no matter how good looking she is? They got that from the Highest Authority. They understood the power of protecting private property (by G-d's law) when most civilizations were worshiping sticks or Chumo the Clown. So you may want to thank the Jewish people for the idea private property.
Also, Jews put a high value on education, so they have excelled in many areas, that's why they - as a people - have so many scientists. and doctors. It's not a conspiracy. It's called opening a book. Try it. It's refreshing. (But I have to warn you, there's a thing called a Kindle now. You may miss the whole book thing if you wait any longer).
And as for business, the Jews excelled at trade and banking because they were the first to figure out that carrying around a piece of parchment transferring ownership of a herd of goats was much easier than actually carrying around a herd of goats. The person guaranteeing the goats had to be a trusted individual (see private property rights above) and so he charged a premium for his service - that's called profit (again, see private property rights above).
And don't even get me started on laws, hygiene, diet, etc. I may wrap my lobster in bacon (it's so good!) but there are good reasons not to (gout being just one). So get off the Israeli Firster shtick. Wanting to protect a valued friend like Israel is what protects civilization. And I don't believe Occam ever said women were morons - just pointed out some history and physiology. Moron.
Margie| 12.11.10 @ 11:30AM
Cartman, Appleby & others:
You DO realize that Clint is Tim*.
Have at the beast, it's about time!
Clint| 12.11.10 @ 3:29PM
Uh Oh ! Apocalyptic Crank Lady Is In The Building.
Clint| 12.11.10 @ 3:36PM
Well Israel Firster Agenda Boy, tell us all about Israeli Spies Jonathan Pollard & Ben-ami Kadish .Then tell us about Israel illegally Selling United States Weapons Technology to The Red Chinese, jeopardizing Our Allies Taiwan & Japan.
Later You can tell us all about Israeli Company Checkpoint getting the same treatment as Dubai Ports from C.F.I.U.S. in The Sourcefire Deal.
Occam's Tool| 12.11.10 @ 11:58PM
Clint:
doesn't throwing cApitolS Seemingly Here, there, And everywhere Tire you out? When ARE YOU going to start bragging about your non-existent Jewish friends, like Elwood P. Dowd's rabbits.
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 6:39PM
When Are You Gonna Start Braggin' About Your Muslim Friends Israel Firster Creepy Dude?
Eric Cartman| 12.12.10 @ 1:54AM
Wait, wait, wait. You sound familiar. Let me think . . . Gore Vidal? Nope, not self-important, gas baggy enough. Cynthia McKinney? Could be. Doesn't seem to have mastered the English language. Wait a minute! Hold the phone! You're Jesse Ventura! I knew it! Wow. Jesse, what the hell happened? Too much feather boa dust? You have to seek help, Jessie. Dude, Pollard is in jail, Israel isn't selling weapons to Red China (Red China? Really? Red?) And Dubai Ports deal never went through. And your point about a failed business deal with Checkpoint is? And CFIUS investigated like they should and this means???
Ya know, you can't just throw a bunch of non-sequiturs together and think you're making a point. You actually have to have a logical argument. You know, deductive or inductive reasoning, conclusions supported by the premises, real facts, provable data. You can't say things like, "Jews drive a lot of Mercedes Benz, Hitler had a Mercedes Benz, Jews supported Hitler". It's just wacky and you sound deranged! Jesse, I'll do you a favor. Clam down. Breath. In, out, in, out, in . . . . OUT BREATH OUT! Phew. Okay, breath normally.
Listen, JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Area 51 is a Classified Military Base - not home to green illegal aliens. 911 was perpetrated by pissed off Muslims, not George Bush. Pollard leaked secrets to Israel. We spy n them, too. The UK spies on us, too. We also spy on them. Pollard got caught and is in prison.
And last but not least: Clinton and the Democrats sold a bunch of our missile technology to China for campaign contributions. If you want to get pissed at somebody, get pissed at them.
Okay, Jesse. Now, you promise to seek help? Okay. I have to get to sleep. Good night.
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 6:59PM
Do Your Homework.
"For years, the US government has expressed concerns over Israel illegally transferring technology to China. During the Gulf War, the US gave Israel Patriot missiles as protection against Iraqi Scud missiles. In 1992, a US intelligence report revealed that soon after the end of the Gulf War, Israel had sold Patriot anti-missile data to China. Israel denied the intelligence report.
Washington has also alleged on several occasions that Israel violated agreements by exporting restricted US technology it buys with yearly US subsidies. This was the case with the largely US-funded Lavi fighter-plane program. Israel, the Americans believe, passed on technology to Beijing. China's F-10 fighter jet is believed to be almost identical to the Lavi."
Eric Cartman| 12.13.10 @ 1:04AM
So let me get this straight. You quote a letter you wrote to CBS news web site that was posted on a story that had to do with hacking into computer systems by China and you expect us to do what with that? That's your homework? Wow, you are one screwed up dude, Jesse. Ya know, that doesn't count as research or data or news stories or, well, anything. You liberals sure are funny.
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:17AM
Thank you, Eric. Women are less likely to have IQs at your level, Clint, because FEWER women are morons. Fewer are genuises, as well. Fewer are deviants. Fewer are criminals. Fewer are Maniacal Capitalizing Scum. They have fewer outliers from the curve. That being said, several of my ex-girlfriends, in addition to my wife, had higher IQs than this Mensan. People are individuals.
Nonetheless, when a certain group excels at something (like your forebears excelled at onanism, Clint), one should examine reasons why. In the Jewish situation, it is because the culture ploaces emphasis on learning, as your ancestors placed emphasis on excessive straining while passing stool, Clint. Just as your grandfather had an irresistable compulsion to chase first carriages, then cars (how he met your grandmother, as she, too, was chasing a carriage through the snow on all fours when he met her), and you have an irresistable compulsion to race wallabies through Central Park Zoo when not on your medications, some people are compelled to higher things, like learning.
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:19AM
I look forward to your witty reply to me, Clint: something on the jocular vein of "Well Israel Firster Agenda Boy."
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 7:13PM
You're A Slandering Liar & A Little Creepy Dude Who's Mouth Writes Checks He Can't Cash.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:02AM
I'm sorry, what does that mean, boy?
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:34AM
Sorry, not "ploaces," "places." I do like the comment about Wallaby racing. I think I'll leave that in.
Le Cracquere| 12.12.10 @ 1:48AM
I understand your desire to be charitable qua onanism, O.T., but your definition of "excelled" must be different than mine. When I was a lad, vigorously attempting something didn't prima facie count as "excellence"--certainly not if one couldn't do it without injuring himself or bystanders, or rolling down a hill.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:02AM
I stand corrected, sir. Thank you.
Eric Cartman| 12.12.10 @ 2:09AM
Onanism. Hee hee. Onanism. Perfect.
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 7:17PM
Tell Us all about Israel withholding intelligence from Our U.S. Military in Lebanon, regarding the Mercedes truck,which blew Our Marines to hell in their barracks.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:05AM
I don't think they did. We ignored it. Our Marines did not play well with the Israelis warning them, and it cost them. Very unfortunate.
Benny Morris, in his review of Osrtovsky's book, wrote that Ostrovsky was "barely a case officer before he was fired; most of his (brief) time in the agency was spent as a trainee" adding that due to compartmentalization "he did not and could not have had much knowledge of then current Mossad operations, let alone operational history." Benny Morris wrote that the claim regarding the barracks was "odd" and an example of one of Ostrovsky's "Wet" stories which were "mostly fabricated."[51]
Honestly, Victor ostrovsky? Wear tinfoil much, Clint?
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 7:40PM
What are you all girly giggly about. Tool Job is a well known Gifeltaphiliac.
Eric Cartman| 12.13.10 @ 1:31AM
I'm girly giggly about you, Jesse. You big hunk of man-beef, you. I get all vapory just thinking about you sitting there in your sail-boat boxers with a Mountain Dew in one hand while finger-typing with the other and Cheetos dust speckling the front of your "I'm with stupid" tee-shirt and I think, "It's raining men!" You sexy beast, you!
Clint| 12.13.10 @ 4:26AM
You sound like you're a fruit.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:06AM
I don't like Gefiltefish. As for anything else, I'm happily married, and not living in mother's basement.
Margie| 12.12.10 @ 1:01PM
I would just like to add this to the conversation:
Israel & the U.S.A. ~ Perfect Together!
I really think that ought to be added to the next Republican campaign for the office of the Presidency, don't you, Occam's Tool, Eric, Appleby, Ken?
Ha,I just love irking the little weasels like Tim* (Clint) and his ilk.
In all seriousness though, if we did that, it would surely make a needed line of separation and clarification in the party as to where we stand as a nation.. in support of our clear allies. And it would also discourage the crowd of anti-Israelites from bothering so hard. Hmm.. just a thought.
Michele Bachmann, are you reading this? :^)
Clint| 12.12.10 @ 7:24PM
Tell Us All About The U.S.S. Liberty Israel Firster Victor-Margie.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:07AM
You are a wonderful lady.
jstwndring| 12.10.10 @ 11:35PM
Yes, and we better make sure we elect people in the future that understand that. :)
Alan Brooks| 12.11.10 @ 2:46AM
"It is nice to see a religious celebration as ridiculous as Christmas. It is all make believe, even the chosen people part."
ThomH,
Why don't you yell: "HUMBUG!"
mzk1| 12.12.10 @ 3:01PM
The Hasmoneans were clearly NOT make-believe, any more than Mohammod was.
I'm not sure you exist, however.
One should note for those who try to make this Hanukkah = Christmas thing, is that the whole point of the holiday is the right of a people NOT to follow the religion of the major civilazation that is ruling them. It has nothing to do with personal religios freedom, however; in fact it was the Hellenist Jews who incited the Selucids to help them put down the "fundies".
believer| 12.12.10 @ 3:13PM
ThomH- Your making a statement like it's all make believe shows your ignorance of Historical events, The Jews are the only race in history to have been driven off their land and kept their National Identity, and then restored to their homeland. God's word outlines this process if you would care to check it out. Isreal is due for a battle for survival as written, but promised to be saved just before annialation. Ignorance is a condition that can be remedied, are you man enough to study?
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 10:42AM
Baroch atto Adonai Eliheinu ho olom b're hogofen.
Franco| 12.10.10 @ 11:53AM
You forgot the "Melech"!
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 12:58PM
Opps. My bad. Nice catch.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 2:00PM
And, Al Adab, may all the wine you drink this festive season be bledded by G-d.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 2:01PM
Sorry, El Adab, "Blessed" by G-d. D and S are right nest to each other. Sorry.
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 2:02PM
We all seem to make typos these days. Perhaps too much wine? May you have a blessed Christmas yourself.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 2:53PM
Guys,
You need to learn to hunt and peck like IDO, and you wudn"t have that probrem.
mzk1| 12.12.10 @ 3:02PM
That's quite decent of you, but Hannukah is about the only Jewish holiday not connected to wine. It's porbably the least material of all of the holidays, possibly excepting Yom Kippur.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 10:44AM
Quin,
Thank you for that...and your 2008 piece as well.
Idolatry:
It is a word that popped into my mind yesterday.
Perhaps just a kernal for you to work on in your unique way.....
We conservatives...or "constitutionalists"...are NOT "Idolators" .
We don't worship the constitution. We merely harken back to it as our compact...our contract with each other.
A bunch of splendid, if fallible men wrote it out of their attempt to form a Judeo-Christian based society...but not a theocracy.
Who wrote our pledge of allegiance?
..."With liberty and justice for all"
Man, I am 65 years old...and I still get chills every time I hear it or write it or read it.
When I was traveling the world...and dropped by one of our embassies for a courtesy call in-country, Those splendid Marines in their dress-blues, literally personified that pledge.
I must admit that I ALWAYS got misty eyed every time I walked up to them to present my passport.
...and when one is thousands of miles from home, watching those Marines raise the flag at dawn, or lowering it at sunset.....brrrrr...chills of thanksgiving....every single time.
So,
This time of year, as crazy as it may sound, I thank Christ again for our constitution, our country with all its scabs, and for the opportunity to pledge back to those Marines my commitment to hold down the fort until they get back home.
I truly believe God gave Isaiah a glimpse of our country at its best...formed upon the framework of Liberty, and Justice for all...under God.
Have a wonderful Advent season.
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 1:55PM
Funny, Ken, you don't write like a 65 year old. Have a lovely Christmas, my friend.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 3:21PM
Hey Tool!
I'm not through with YOU through Christmas.
I'm going to be rattling your bones most every day.
(Check your e-mail.)
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 9:28PM
I look forward to 'em, Ken. By the way, I love Chocolate, not pipes. I keep a record of all the types of chocolate my nurses like.
Carlie Coats| 12.10.10 @ 11:44AM
Handel's _Judas Maccabaeus_ is written about
parts of this story. I agree: it is a very
Advent-themed topic.
I first sang that oratorio about twenty years
ago, and was surprised (shocked) when I first
rehearsed with the soloists a few days before
performance: the Judas Maccabeus character
first comes on-stage just after having been
appointed as Hebrew general (after the death of
his uncle Simon in that first great battle), and
he sings, "Let Not Lust for Unbounded Power my
Heart Inspire,"
It suddenly struck me that of all the sermons I
had heard (more than two thousand, at that
time), I had *never* heard a sermon on lust for
power. Shocking: that sermon needs to be
preached, today more than ever.
And I'd really like to hear "We worship God and
God alone" as music for advent, too...
Perusha| 12.10.10 @ 1:02PM
Thanks for the advent edification, Quin.
The “adventure” that begins when we decide to become a human being is surely a continual test to BE the Light Being we truly are, despite the heavy and gross appearance of this earthly realm.
Enjoy, or not, a simple meditation “chant” I usually say, in a low voice, as I walk around and observe and understand the Present bubble of “my” plucked Being---
Lord, in Your Company,
Your Ecstasy
Has come to me
So Gracefully.
My Spiritual Master, years ago, changed the name of Christmas into---
“God in everybody day”.
Why, even a recent pope, when meeting with Stephen Hawking, didn’t disagree with the up-to-date understanding of physics about how our space-time “darkly complicated” reality popped out, MYSTERIOUSLY, from the singular point known as the Big Bang.
On as many occasions as I could manage to, when subbing, I’d give high school students the “quick and dirty” explanation of the evolution of our OWN physical bodily reality, all the way from Light.
The climaxing revelation that always brought a smile, at least to those who paid attention---and, I must say, usually I had them ALL in the palm of my hand---was to bring it all back HOME to them, and tell them that the logical implication of this Scientific Materialism “adventure” is that---
We are all STARS! Literally!
Now, that’s some En-LIGHTENING Pizza to enjoy!
What about “joy”?
Dare I reveal the outcome from an experiment in my radical days?
Oh, what the heaven---
Knowing my tendency toward addiction, I never wanted to do more than smoke pot. But, while living on a loose commune in beautiful Southern California, near Escondido, a guy arrived one day with one hit of “window pane” LSD, that he planned to use himself. We convinced him to split it four ways.
After a while, I thought it was too little to make a difference, but before too long, I noticed that the people I was among started looking very strange. So, I took a hike to my favorite place atop a small ridge nearby, to “commune with nature”, by myself.
Only by steadily focusing on some distant foliage did even a little “wavering” of the sensations happen. However, I had just previously been, AGAIN, trying to understand what Martin Heidegger was up to, by reading a book by an Asian Indian.
I kept wondering, what does he mean by the difference between Being and “a” being, etc?
And, after a while of deeply contemplating this, my mind “flipped”, completely “knowing” that I could NEVER know anything, ultimately---
And my mouth started uttering, “enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it---“ad finitum!
Later, the trilogy, Being-Consciousness-Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda in Sanskrit), from Hinduism, entered my awareness.
So, despite appearances, it is Absolutely the case, that It All is paradoxically Being AND Consciousness AND Bliss = Joy!
Hey, are “you” conscious? Being Conscious? Yes!
And, another word for Bliss and Joy is---ecstasy.
“Ecstasy” means to stand outside yourself.
In our almost deadly constricted human bodily realm, we, as an “I”, or ego, BELIEVE that we are stuck behind the eyes, or otherwise contained inside the epidermis---ONLY.
That is a LIE!
“When I go toward the door of the lecture hall, I am already there, and I could not go to it at all if I were not such that I am there. I am never here only, as this encapsulated body; rather, I am here, that is, I already pervade the space of the room, and only thus can I go through it”. By Martin Heidegger
Final thought for NOW---
One evening, wandering around the lovely grounds of the health ranch that was our “commune”, indubitably in an altered state induced by some marijuana, my tightly wound contraction suddenly loosened, and I blurted out, “The world is what it is, otherwise it would be different!”
This realization has, ever since, LIGHTENED up my own very screwed up life, even NOW.
“To be whatever you appear to be doesn’t really make a damn bit of difference.” By Da
Free John
Enjoy it!
Yikes!| 12.10.10 @ 2:17PM
Sorry Pal, but God is not in pot-smoking, LSD-imbibing self-deluders like you. Otherwise God then becomes part of the problem, instead of the solution. No my ecstasy seeking friend, the God of the Bible is the solution. And yes, the world is what it is, screwed up by our fallen nature. Thanks for the fine example of it in action.
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 3:12PM
Perusha,
Speaking of knowing.. do you know Him? If you truly are seeking true knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom, it only comes from Him. Otherwise you'll be led astray.
How do you know Him? If you are wanting to find Him it must be by His way... as in this:
"Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him." Jn. 14:6 & 7.
Regards,
Margie
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 3:25PM
Margie,
you beat me to the punch once again (smile).
You smarty-pants.
I was just going to paraphrase as I usually do, but you nailed it.
God bless
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 3:27PM
Smarty-pants is my middle name, for better or worse. Glad I beat ya to it. :^)
My best regards,
Margie
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 3:34PM
Margie, Ken:
Best wishes and a Blessed Christmas to you both.
PS Ken, the kid loves the baseball book. Nice job.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 4:07PM
Al Adab,
Aw shucks. Thanks, but please be careful not to "out me."
Did you see "Jesus Loves You" above?
WOW!
I have already sent it via e-mail to all of my thousands of "contacts" in my e-mail file as a Christmas gift.
I hope the guy/gal will contact me through my Agent... sales@texassaidno.com.
As you know, (shhhhh!) my publishing company is always searching for talent loaned like that.
One day, about twenty-three years ago, my seven year old son and I were driving back from the ranch, and he asked me if I "believed in reincarnation".
After a couple of minutes of silence on my part... heh that he was used to...
I said "Of course!"
Then in words to the effect......... "Darned right! I think God sent us here on a mission!
"I don't know how many times you and I have been "re-cycled"... but I always have the re-curring dream that we have been here before... or on some planet before ... to tell people God loves them.
"The trick is, son, he sorta' erases those memories and we have to start from scratch... sorta' like the boy Jesus had to."
He has always thought that idea was pretty cool.
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 5:26PM
Ken,
Not to woryy, your secret is safe with me. Have a great weekend.
Yikes!| 12.11.10 @ 4:18AM
Ken, For a man who purports to be a Christian, you certainly gave an un-Christian response to your son. Reincarnation is a fabrication that enables a world without God to evolve to perfection over time. In God's world the one constant is Jesus. In him humanity will be salvaged according to God's plan. God's Spirit will do the job of evangelizing when he inspires current and future generations. He doesn't need to recycle you to do his work for him.
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 5:33PM
Al Adab,
I know you love the following, like I do:
"For to us a Child is born, to 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 of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His Kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this." Is. 9:6 & 7.
Thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you, too.
Al Adab| 12.10.10 @ 5:39PM
! ! !
Margie| 12.12.10 @ 2:07PM
“The world is what it is, otherwise it would be different!”
Perusha,
When I was almost 20 years old, I too suddenly proclaimed something one evening:
"I know, I know! The Creation is part of God's Nature. The world is Man's."
Now, flesh and blood did not reveal this to me, as the Bible says in Mt. 16:17. It was God. The God who created the Universe. And soon I would find out that that is exactly what it says in the Bible.
You see, the Bible (and that is the Authority on Truth). It explains exactly that:
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth. He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable." Is. 40:28.
~He is the Creator of the ends of the Earth.
"For thus says the LORD, who created the Heavens (he is God!), who formed the Earth and made it (He established it; He did not create it a chaos, He formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other." Is. 45:18.
~He did not make it in chaos. Man "created" all the chaos:
"The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil." Jn. 7:7.
A few months later I would come to know this same God, through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I will explain. I too, was a truth seeker. I strongly desired to know the truth. Why was I here? What was my purpose? What was I supposed to be doing with my life and time?
I took to reading all kinds of books. Philosophers and poets, English and French, past and present. Here this was only in my teens.. God put within me such a strong desire to know! But I found nothing there, that explained it. I did find a lot of depression as to the reality that is called life in this world.. and that I shared with them but I wanted out of that. I wanted purpose and meaning.
Back to that night. I was a 19 yr. old who experimented with a few drugs.. so awfully mistaken.. and that same night I proclaimed the truth, above.. I temporarily went blind. At the same time God was so strongly beginning to reveal Himself to me with His Truth, I was at the utter point of self destruction. He had a plan for me. He gave me my sight back, and then caused me to meet some Christians.. the kind who carry their Bibles with them every day. They pointed out to me.. every single question that I had, an answer to it, from the Bible. I still had some doubts.
Well, the kind sister said, what better way than to humble yourself and ask Him yourself? She asked me if I'd be willing to give Jesus a fair trial. That if He promised to reveal Himself to me, would I promise to follow Him for the rest of my life?
I said yes, and got on my knees and sincerely prayed to the God of the Bible. And He came into my heart and changed it.. He softened it. He also renewed my conscience. He forgave all of my sins and gave me joy, the kind the world can not give.
So, I do know.. I know Him. He is a good Lord. A faithful Lord, one who never fails me. I'm still a wretched sinner, and the older I get the worse I get, in the flesh.. but as Paul said, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57.
"For by Grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--" Eph. 2:8.
Perusha,
There are many false gurus and false teachings in the world.. but they won't help you. They can't. Maybe on some feel good semi-truth sort of way, but the reality is, (and faith makes reality real), there is only one God, and there is only one Way to Him, and only one Way to Heaven, and it's through Jesus.
"Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me." Jn. 14:6.
He won't force you. But He is found by those who honestly seek Him.
"Let them know that Thou alone, whose Name is the LORD, art the Most High over all the earth." Ps. 83:18.
I've let you know.. you see, now that is my purpose and meaning and joy in life!
"I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me." Pro. 8:17.
Go and read Proverbs chapter 8. You'll find the truth there. And then humble yourself, get on your knees and ask Him, His way, to reveal Himself to you. Or else..
"I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless." Is. 13:11.
So.. "Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; His going forth is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hsa. 6:3.
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 5:42PM
Dear Ryan,
You asked this question and I thought of the answer. In the poster JesusLovesYou's comment in saying that we "naturally belong in the light", he or she is correct. Here is the Scripture that applies, and what Ken means too, when he told you to "re-read Genesis, before the Fall of Man."
"Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices." Ecc. 7:29.
He restores our souls when we return to Him, if we choose to, as was His original intent and will.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.."
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.10.10 @ 8:47PM
OH Margie you outed me...
my cell ringer is that tune................GRIN!
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 11:29PM
Dear Ken,
Is there a better one? No way! :^)
Occam's Tool| 12.10.10 @ 9:30PM
Margie! It's good to hear from you! You are an angel! Have a lovely Christmas, you and Victor.
Margie| 12.10.10 @ 11:27PM
Occam's Tool,
If only I knew your name, it would be an honor to address you accordingly.
If you only knew.. realized how much God loves you and that that love is realized through His only begotten Son. I am praying for you!
As for me, I am no angel.. but a very ruined sinner saved by His Grace. Did you know that God's Grace IS Jesus Himself? Yes, He is!
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.. that saved a wretch like me.." we are all wretches. And yet He is mindful of us:
"It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him?" Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for every one." Heb. 2:6-9.
You have just received a little but at the same time great part of the gospel of the Saviour of Mankind. I figured Christmas time would be a good time, so there you are.. a little gift to you from Him.
and from us, the lowly messengers, Victor & Margie.
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:02AM
Thank you Margie and Victor. Like Ken, I have reasons to be anonymous. I need all the prayers I can get, so thanks. (Although life is good right around now)
Ryan| 12.13.10 @ 8:33AM
It's a bit double edged.
Here's the problem - we NEED Christmas because we are sinners - because we refuse to seek the Light because of our fallen nature.
Romans 3: 10as it is written,
"(S)THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD..."
and so forth.
Christ didn't come because He saw something in us, He came because there was nothing in us at all.
Now, there is a point that we were originally created - before the Fall - as perfect and naturally belonging to the light. But I don't really find in scripture anywhere that the light is still there - our nature is not to turn from Christ unless He grants repentance - if we could on our own, we would not need the Cross. We would not need the Gospel.
And THAT is the great story of Christmas - that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!"
Sandra| 12.11.10 @ 9:51AM
Late to the party again.
Think about it, a really "minor" cultural observance, that in today's society has approached the stature (in the minds of the general society of non-Jews) of a major series of sacred days...
The miracle of one night's supply of oil for an oil lamp that burned continuously for Eight Days. (The week of creation and one day more)
The "light" that represents the faith and FIDELITY of the Jewish people; which Christians have taken to be, "a light for ALL nations."
The roots of (Western Civilization's) ETHICAL laws and societal behavior are ROOTED in the laws of the Jewish peoples. A race chosen by God to be an example to the world.
Just as the traditional observance is for the lit Hanukkiya or Hanukkah Menorah, to be displayed in a window or in public places. The light to be seen by all peoples.
There are some really serious and often times sinister forces at work in the world. It is still within personal experiences, the horror that was the totalitarian states of the Soviet Union (all religious beliefs) and NAZI Germany (all religious beliefs, starting with the Jews)...
That light was nearly extinguished in Europe in the last century. Today, we see it more often, even as those that "hate" seem louder, and more prevalent in numbers.
The feeble light of a single candle - CAN ignite the world.
Gmar chatimah tovah
"May you be sealed totally for good"
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:03AM
A Dutch senior politician noted that there "is no future" for orthodox Jews in Holland, and a terror bombing just occurred in Stockholm. Friends of Clint.
Clint| 12.13.10 @ 4:31AM
You're A Slandering Liar. Jonathan Pollard, Ben-ami Kadish Wannabe Israel Firster.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.11 @ 12:08AM
Friends of Clint. Take responsibility for what you support, wallaby chaser.
Perusha| 12.11.10 @ 12:19PM
There is ONLY God.
Another thought arose, after my “confession” of sins from “my” youth---
Quin’s heartfelt article about opening up enough about his fellow humans, who happen to be Jews, NOT Christian believers, as he is, leads to the further question:
Why not, likewise, study and inspect and, indeed, try out, ALL the religions of the world, at least as thought experiments, similar to what Einstein did---imagine being on a light beam, as if moves at the speed of LIGHT?
My spiritual master Absolutely recommends---nay, DEMANDS!---that we check out as much as we can about the deepest teaching of ALL the major religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism.
All you Jesus freaks are too closed minded to test your mostly programmed-from-birth beliefs, rightly afraid what you may find out could truly bring you to a crisis of belief.
Read Kierkegaard. I recommend “The Irrational Man-A Study in Existential Philosophy”, by William Barrett, 1958, which I first succored on in 1969, while suffering my last year in the Army.
As I’ve surely written before, being “saved” isn’t about believing in ANYTHING or an historical figure, or even “knowing” Him or Her.
Paradoxically, though, the prime etymological meaning of “know”, as in “to know a woman, if a man”, and vice versa, comes closest to indicating real Realization.
We are split-off Beings, so to “cleave to” a woman or man is to physically restore the “break”, for a while, and be IN, and experience, the ECSTASY of union.
Our presently configured human world is, these dark days, barely human! So, most of us are running around as closed-minded egos, completely convinced---conned---about our brainwashed weltanschauung.
If one welcomed a crisis in belief, though, then an opportunity to throw off childish “clothes” can be either grudgingly or eagerly grasped.
Why do “you” think True devotees bow down to Real God Realized humans, such as Jesus?
It’s NOT that they “believe” they are slaves to this “Master”.
True Gurus are EMPTY, with hardly any trace of an ego---maybe just enough to maintain a connection with ego-bound humans.
I clearly remember a day when I realized my Spiritual Master was such a One---there was NOBODY home!
“First Transcend the mind, not the body. Inwardness is flight from love.”
We are all fictional characters, anyway. Around the age of 2 or 3, we begin donning a persona, in order to function and survive in this egoic realm. (BTW---what do you think autism is? Maybe it’s born humans who are reluctant to leave the bliss of unity they are swimming in?)
Finally, for all you KNOWERS out there---
Allow “me” to pluck some truly RADICAL memories, that will really offend “you”:
“You are never in danger of knowing anything!” If It-All is One, who is there to know, and what is there to know?
“Eating is s*itting!”
“Seeing is f*cking!”
Let’s get down and grossly “dirty”, since this is such a place.
Eric Cartman| 12.11.10 @ 1:17PM
"Oh!" "Thank" "God" "you" "are" "here" "to" "set" "us" "straight". "You're" "so" "enlightened". "I" "can't" "wait" "until" "your" "next" "brain fart".
Occam's Tool| 12.12.10 @ 12:37AM
Dear Eric;
you are right about the bacon. Like a good friend of mine puts it: "Meat is murder. Tasty, tasty murder."
Margie| 12.12.10 @ 12:53PM
Yes! Have you heard the new definition of P.E.T.A.?
People Eating Tasty Animals!
Yum. That incredible, edible beef.
Rich D| 12.11.10 @ 1:32PM
"I clearly remember a day when I realized my Spiritual Master was such a One---there was NOBODY home!"
Sounds like you're on your way, if not there already.
This is what happens when you plant a nice lawn and shrubbery. The dogs from across the way get tired of their own brown patches and waddle over to deposit their filth on yours.
Nick| 12.11.10 @ 4:36PM
You should change your name from "Perusha" to "Pazuzu."
Yikes!| 12.11.10 @ 7:59PM
Perusha,
As you said, "Why not, likewise, study and inspect and, indeed, try out, ALL the religions of the world...." If you had then you would have found out that they are only religions. They require religious behavior to know yourself, or some concept of a god, or to achieve some erotic heaven (Islam). If you had read the post of Jesus Loves you above, you would already know you are a prime example of someone on the dark spiritual path to eternal death. I propose you now try the way that is not a religion at all, it is life. Turn to Jesus. Do you have the courage, or are you all bluster?
RonL| 12.11.10 @ 8:37PM
Here's to the Judeo-Christian heritage that makes America a holy nation, despite our imperfections. Quin gets it, as do most of his respondents.
gary siebel| 12.12.10 @ 3:17AM
Emperor Constantine was a murderer. It is because of his fiat that Jesus was elevated to the status of God.
Fortunately, none of the influential members of the 1787 Convention believed Jesus was Deity.
Margie| 12.12.10 @ 12:33PM
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Jn. 1:1-5.
You may choose to not believe it, to your own peril. One day, as the Bible says, "On that Day", you will know that you were wrong in your choice.
Jesus is Lord!
Mikecampbelly2k| 12.12.10 @ 8:31AM
Just wanted to say/write "Thank You!" for the inspiring and thoughtful article. With the culture wars over religion and specifically Christmas raging, I'm very glad the Spectator does not hesitate to print articles about our Faith and heritage. Thank you Quin Hillyer!
mzk1| 12.12.10 @ 3:05PM
Oh, thank you all for showing the door to that unAmerican anti-semite. George Washington would have directed him to the next ship back to Europe, where he belongs.
Margie| 12.12.10 @ 3:10PM
Dear Quinn,
To your lovely article I am reminded of what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well:
"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews." Jn. 4:22.
Merry Christmas to you, sir. And thanks for all that you do.
Love,
Margie
Caped Crusader| 12.13.10 @ 10:14AM
To all indignant unhappy unbelievers I have only one thing to offer you in this holiday season from my favorite bumper sticker:
"Jesus Loves You Whether You Like It Or Not"
So Merry Christmas to all Christians and a Happy Hanukkah to all Jews and know that all true Christians love all true Jews and are appreciative of you.
And if I was a sure as you atheists are I would just keep my mouth shut and snicker on the inside as you see we Christians and Jews going about our supposed foolishness and be merrily amused by it all, rather than being so hostile and unhappy. Any chance the person you are really trying to convince is yourself?