Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    To My Fellow Readers:
    
    WHEN YOU SEE ME WRITING IN THIS MANNER...THEN I AM SHOUTING.  When you
    see me writing in this manner...I am gentle as a lamb, pure as the
    driven snow and all that mushy stuff!!
    
    -Jack

i do see the bible as a story book, containing many wisdoms, though i only 
consider the gospels to have SOME measure of truth when the story is recounted 
of jesus. the reason for this caution is found in the bible footnotes itself,
which state that in the first christian communities, the work of these 
communities and the word of jesus were synonymous and it is retrospecitvely
not easy to discern what originates from jesus and what originates from the
communities.

i am fascinated by the symbolism - the virgin birth, turning wine into water 
at the wedding, the walking on the water... the symbolism grabs me intwo ways. 
one is in taking the symbolism at face value, feeling the power of the symbol, 
of the image, a power which only an image can transmit and which cannot be put 
in words (also like the images which i so loved to study in the richly 
decorated churches whilst living in rome. this is a symbolism which is missing
in protestant churches). the other way in which the symbolism grabs me is in 
working out how the symbol came about, how the 'legend' was created. for 
instance the symbolism of the virgin birth. looking into life around me i 
sometimes get ideas how the symbolism could have been created, and that is 
usually worth a chuckle, there are so many possibilities.

i also find the parables that jesus is reported to have told symbolic. though
these are, imo, of a less crude symbolism than the first kind. i see the 
parables as a way of putting a truth across in symbols. because symbols live 
longer than words in an evolving language (idiom) and symbolic parables also
suffer less from translation than concrete stories.

what i find the most inspirational than all the symbolism though is the message 
of jesus about unconditional love and of turning the other cheek. strangely 
enough, as simple as they sound i think they are enormoursly complex and rich 
in content. a richness which i can only ever fathom by getting into the spirit 
of the message. due to the simplicity and strength of these messages (they have 
survived all recounting and translation) i believe that jesus is undoubtedly 
the originator of these messages.



andreas.

    Andreas,
    
    I agree with much in your note.  I am learning that I have a deep
    recognition of the "Christian" symbols. " " indicate for me that they
    are symbols that I have learned through Christianity, but may in fact
    be symbols the are inclusive of many other religions as well but
    because I learned religion as a Christian, they became my symbols.
    
    Light, water, rock, dove, bread, Mountain, cloud, candle, Cross, skull.
    
    Each is deeply meaningful.
    
    The parables and stories are wonderful.  They are living.  Each, such
    as the parable of the wayward son, can be read and reread and read
    differently each time.  As the stories are applied to our daily
    experience they transcend the time and cultural differences.  The
    themes are so simple and yet so powerful.
    
    Then the message of unconditional Love for all.  What a powerful
    message.
    
    The word is a Living Word, not in its historical accuracy, but in the
    Word of the simple stories that resonate for all time.
    
                                          Patricia

Note 87.246

>    Richard,
    
>    What is your definition of Bible believing as you define yourself?

I believe the Bible to be sacred and holy, that is, set apart.

As you know, much of the Bible is a collection of texts based in oral
tradition.  The texts were set in writing at different times by different
persons (most likely men), and copied over and over and over.

I believe the contents of the Bible have the capacity to shed light on
the experience of those who came before us and of their struggle to
understand both the God of history and the human condition.

Shalom,
Richard

	Generally speaking, Protestants hold the Bible as the ultimate
(or primary) available authority.  In addition to the Bible (which varies
a bit from the standard Protestant Bible), Roman Catholics rely on Church
authority (or tradition).  I have come to consider the presence of the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God in Christ, to be the ultimate available
authority.

Shalom,
Richard

    Andreas:
    
    Revelation is a book of grace my friend.
    
    "Blessed is he who readeth"  Revelation 1:3 or so
    
    Imagine having a telescope into the future...and having the ability to
    avoid total catastrophe.  Now imagine the inability or lack of desire
    to see this, yet reject the way!
    
    -Jack

    Yes,
    
    Imagine the certainty with which folks have been predicting the end
    of the world for eons using this telescope!
    
    
    

    Revelation does not pinpoint the exact time of Christs return as this
    would contradict the very teaching of Christ in the gospels.  We were
    taught not to concern ourselves with this but that we were to look for
    the sign of the times.  Interestingly enough, the Church of
    Thessolonica fell into this trap and sold everything they owned
    thinking Jesus was to return at that very time.  This is understandable
    considering Nero was the emporer of Rome.
    
    -Jack