When we talk about the law in theology, we are referring to the Law of Moses. That harsh thing. 600 odd commands. How oppressive. Not. It is very hard to talk about the oppression of the law when the current tax and health laws in the US run to thousands of pages, a woman gets … Continue reading The state accounts us as slaves.
Month: June 2013
We rely on an interventionist God.
One of the things we tend to forget in this life is that much of what we do ends in apparent failure. As far as the world is concerned, we are fools. We worry too much. Atheism and agnosticism (or lazy atheism) have a certain comfort. The idea that we are living in an uncaring … Continue reading We rely on an interventionist God.
Work Stuff (on Radio NZ)
From the Radio NZ website. A new study shows a growing number of synthetic cannabis users are being admitted to psychiatric care. The study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows 13% of all patients admitted to Dunedin hospital's psychiatric ward over a period of 3½ months were using synthetic cannabis Researcher Chris Gale … Continue reading Work Stuff (on Radio NZ)
We don’t need no stinkin’ ikons.
People expect that the righteous, those chosen by God, those who we look up to, those who were the prophets and kings of old to be flawless. To have this static state of perfection, like some kind of living ikon. And woe betide the celebrity that breaks the narrative, or worse seeks help to become … Continue reading We don’t need no stinkin’ ikons.
Schandenfreude.
Our neighbours in Australian had a slight change of PM last night. The Labor party there is facing a landslide against them, and two of the independent MPs that allowed them to govern have indicated they will not seek re-election. Kevin Rudd will lead the party into the election. It reminds me of a certain … Continue reading Schandenfreude.
Our righteousness must include economic righteousness.
I;ve said for some years that the structure of this economy is not sustainable. In NZ we have had three bailouts, and we simply have no money in the kitty -- all the government's spare caseh, and a fair amount of insurance money, is committed to rebuilding Christchurch, our second city, which was flattened two … Continue reading Our righteousness must include economic righteousness.
Wisdom in a time of tyrants.
I like Gamaliel. He was an elder of the Jews, a Pharisee, quite zealous for Judaism, and he trained a certain Saul of Tarsus -- to be an activist, to incarcerate Christians. But here he urges caution. His argument is that the messiahs are like waves, but if this is the Messiah it is Tsunami … Continue reading Wisdom in a time of tyrants.
Smash the idols of this public religion.
Over the last year or so this Blog has become more overtly religious and less political. It's also become less about the other things that happen in my life -- in part because I do not want civilians harmed (one has respect privacy. Including within one's family) and in part because focusing on the lectionary … Continue reading Smash the idols of this public religion.
Choose carefully. How to live, and where to live.
Persecution comes, but it is most likely to be regional. A wise person can choose where to be, and where to raise their children. This is not something to delegate, but something to think carefully about. At times the urbanite will have to flee, and the rural person may find themselves being challenged -- even … Continue reading Choose carefully. How to live, and where to live.
At times, run.
This text follows directly on from the one in the lectionary yesterday. I'm not sure when Jesus was talking about Jerusalem being surrounded -- he had prophesied the destruction of the the temple, which happened in 72 AD, when Titus circumvalleted the entire city, leaving it surrounded from armies. But from this there is a … Continue reading At times, run.