29 December 2013
1422 hrs
Dear and Patient Reader,
The draft of yesterday’s blog included credits for
some of the photos used; (those of which had such information available when I
found them) but for some reason they did not publish in the final draft.
I believe strongly in attribution and try to do it when at all possible.
So I list them now, with apologies to the artists.
The pic of the splitting head is “Psychosis 4.0”, by MistaBobby;
The dripping eye is found at:
jeffreymasson.wordpress.com
So . . . I just received a comment on my last post, Why Do You Say That I Am Mad?
The commenting party is a fellow by the name of Steve
Finnell, evidently a Xian, who also has a blog of his own entitled, “A Christian
View.” (that’s how I deduced he was a xian . . . pretty good detective
work, eh?)
I went to his blog a few minutes ago, just to see whence the sentiment erupts. I may not agree with the Xian viewpoint; may even strongly disagree with it, for the very reasons those loyal Patient Readers of the masses already know from my rants.
So shall I proceed with a retort? Splendid!
I need empirical proof to accept a “best-theory” scenario. The Scientific Method, which basically uses repeatable experimentation, resulting in proof that supports a hypothesis, thereby explaining best the facts as we know them.
That’s not to say that there may very well be
an Old Man In The Sky that grants wishes. Those who assert this have
every invitation to prove it. In fact, proof is the burden placed on
those who assert, whatever the topic. Show me proof, or rather, Prove It
(using extrabiblical evidence- not circular reasoning), and I will
genuflect ‘til the proverbial cow returns to its humble manger.
Yet I will “fight to the death” Steve’s right to voice his opinion. I even post his comment, in its entirety, below. Just remember something folks: You cannot convince me the bible is divinely inspired by quoting to me from it, so please curtail these urges. Mother Goose said Jack and Jill went up some hill, but that doesn’t necessarily make it fucking so, hmm?
Please feel free to visit Mr. Finnell’s blog. Everyone has something to say that deserves attention. Steve, if you’re out there, please do more than quote to me from your favorite book (your words, not mine).
Xians out there, I have read the bible many times;
several times from cover to cover.
I took several terms worth of courses at a prominent southeastern bible college; we were actually graded on it, and I had taken that pretty seriously.
Please find a new argument; this one is thousands of years
old. Better yet, read a science book. The bible was completed about
1500 years before the scientific age began (which began, arguably, with the
Renaissance). There is no science in the bible.
And I will sum up what I have learned about the bible by quoting
Mark Twain, with whom I strongly agree:
-Mark Twain
Letters From The Earth
Ok, I can’t resist a few more:
“But then I sigh and, with a piece of scripture, tell them that God bids us do good for evil; and thus I clothe my naked villainy- with odds and ends stol’n forth from Holy Writ, and seem a saint when most I play the Devil . . .
WM Shakespeare-
Richard III
WM Shakespeare-
The
Merchant of Venice
“God is no saint . . . strange to say . . .”
Jack Miles-
God- A Biography
Allow me, Fennec Fox, to quote some scripture here:
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?”
Amos 3:6
Remember, Dear and Patient Reader, when the KJV uses “LORD” (all upper case), it is a literal replacement of YHWH- tetragrammaton of YAHWEH, bible-god’s proper name. There can be no mistake to whom is attributed this rhetorical question in this passage above, found in a book that is purported to be the inerrant word of a perfect god.
Anyone can quote the bible, Steve. Even the devil, as Billy up there said, were the devil to be real. Keep in touch, Steve, but be original with your (apologetics?) arguments. Oh and, by the way, Twain, Shakespeare, and Miles are and/or were real people.
I infer, perhaps incorrectly, that a “prayer” (I never used that word) for the mentally ill mentioned in yesterday’s blog is not sufficient, according to you; that I should encourage everyone to Go Forth and Proselytize?
That’s not my fucking job. My duty as a member of mankind is to try to extend compassion, however I may define it; to TRY to ease the suffering of another sentient creature. Not just people (ick), but to dogs and cats and aardvarks and any other carbon-based life-form. If you want to spread your god’s word, that’s on you, and more power to you. I however, will not be a hypocrite; I will not spout words in which I do NOT believe. It would make me lukewarm, and your god would spit me out.
Illegitimus Carborundum Non Est, Brother Steve, and I thank you for your comment.
I apologize if my open letter to Steve Finnell bored y’all, Dear and Patient Readers. I cannot respond to every comment sent to me, though I promise to post as many as I can, as long as you have something to say (no more “Free Bird, dude!” type comments please, I beg of you <chortle>). All others are being sorted through. You all have something valuable to say, and I respect all of your words, though I may not agree with them. I do, I promise you, read them all.
Here are Steve’s words, unabridged:
Steve Finnell has left a new comment on your post "Why Do You Say That I Am Mad?":
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Acts 2:21'And it shall be that everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.')
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge the authority and power of the Lord, and follow in obedience by meeting the terms of pardon.
The apostle Peter did not tell those on the Day of Pentecost to say the "sinner's prayer." Saying the "sinner's prayer" is not calling on the name of the Lord.
Peter preached the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Peter declared the Jesus was Lord and Christ. (Acts 2: 22-26) They obviously believed Peter's preaching because they asked the question(Acts 2:37 ....."Brethren what shall we do?")
Peter did not tell them to say the "sinner's prayer." What was Peter's response to their question? (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
THE NARRATIVE OF CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
1. FAITH: Believe in the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. CONFESSION: Acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God.
3. REPENTANCE: Make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God.
4. WATER BAPTISM: Be immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
HOW DID THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD? (Acts 8:25-40
1. Philip preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)
2. He confessed Jesus as The Christ the Son of God. (Acts 8:37)
3. He was baptized in water. Immersed by Philip. (Acts 8:38-39)
The Ethiopian eunuch did not say the sinner's pray nor was he asked to do so by Philip.
Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge His power and authority and confess Him as Lord and Christ . (Acts 2:26,Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9-10) To call on the Name of the Lord is to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
WE ARE TOLD TO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD TO BE SAVED.
We are never told we are saved by "faith only." We are never told that saying the "sinner's prayer" is calling on the name of the Lord.
IF SAYING THE "SINNER'S PRAYER" IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION? THEN WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION.
THE REQUIREMENTS!
1. Faith: John 3:16
2. Belief and baptism: Mark 16:16
3. Confession and belief: Romans 10:9-10
4. Born of water and Spirit: John 3:5
5. Grace and faith: Ephesians 2:8
6. Buried through baptism: Roman 6:4-5
7. Water baptism: 1 Peter 3:20-21
8. Baptism: Acts 22:16
9. Baptized into Christ: Galatians 3:27
10. Believe: Acts 16:30-31
11. Repentance and baptism: Acts 2:38
12. God's mercy, water baptism, and the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5
13. Water baptism: Colossians 2:12-13
14. Repentance: Acts 3:19
IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THESE REQUIREMENTS---THEN YOU HAVE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.
Posted by Steve Finnell to THE CUNNING FENNEC FOX at December 29, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Well, there you have it, Patient Reader. Go With Your god, whatever you perceive her to be.
I, Patient Reader; I’ll keep repeating experiments, trying to get the same results every time.
Dr. --------, I hope you had a safe and wonderful holiday.
Always I remain,
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The Cunning Fennec
Fox
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