[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Most Influential
>From: "Peter T. Chattaway":
>On Fri, 8 Feb 2002, The Mattrix wrote:
> > Book: has anyone said, um...The Holy Bible!?! Is that too boring an
> > answer? I find that very telling, and VERY sad. Perhaps it is too
>obvious?
>
>That may be the case. It might be a little like you asking for a list of
>things I consider essential to my life, and me replying, "Breathing."
Yeah, but if I asked an enviromentalist that question, given his or her
concerns regarding pollution, that answer would definitely be given. Do you
see where this is going...?
God bless you for that analogy, though. I found it rather...lovely. :-)
>As I believe Don pointed out, the Bible itself is an influence on many of
>the *other* books that were listed as influences here -- it certainly
>influenced _The Screwtape Letters_ and _Saint Paul Returns to the Movies:
>Triumph over Shame_, the two books that *I* mentioned. :)
Sure it was, my brother. No denying it.
>I have difficulty calling the Bible a "book", anyway. It's not a book so
>much as it's an anthology, a collection of texts, some of which have
>influenced me a great deal, and others of which have not.
That's interesting. To me, a book is a book is a book, anthology or not.
Perceptual differences always seem to come into play between us, eh?
Rather than debate these differences, I'd rather pose a question: If the
Bible transcends the category of mere "book" then how about Jesus? Would he
also not be listed as among the most "influencial" in the people category
by virtue of the fact that he was much, much more than a mere man?
Conversely speaking, if I list Jesus as among the most influecial people in
my life, or the Bible as among the most influencial books I've ever read, am
I being a little unintetionally blasphemous or disrespectful of all that
they entail? Am I undervaluing them?
I'm NOT challenging anybody's faith here, just trying to have a little
intriguing discussion. There are no "right or wrong" answers.
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
---------------
Unsubscribe by going to http://www.actwin.com/OtR/
Follow-Ups: