The Issue is Not that God WANTS Us to Suffer...

by AGuest 404 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  AGuest

  a more serious danger than regular hygiene would have been how to keep the foreskin cut from becoming unclean and infected if in an area where there was shortage of water for bathing?

  Assuming that water was the only source of antiseptic, dear CD (peace to you!), you might be right. But I don't that was the case. Indeed, I don't believe it even the best source, actually, even boiled. There may have been several other options. Many, actually. Spit, even.

  No sign of God in my garden, just foxes, squirrels and birds.

  Hmmm... and see, I would consider such fox, squirrels, birds... you know... "life"... and the privilege I have of seeing them... technically and literally... as that "sign," dear Glad (peace to you, as well!). Because I would rather give the glory to God than to myself. But that's me...

  Peace, truly, to you both!

  A slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  SweetBabyCheezits

  I know. God demanding all the foreskins and what not. What was he doing with them?

  Making a new form of jewelry: pubic zirconium.
• 

  leavingwt

  I am reading a book entitled "The Help", right now, which is fascinating.

  The movie is being filmed a few blocks from my office, this week. (Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard are in it.)

  Here's a video that someone Tweeted:

  http://www.twitvid.com/JLPLC
• 

  watersprout

  CD

  book I'm reading called "The Red Tent".

  I have been out and bought this today, really looking forward to reading it...

  Peace and light
• 

  notverylikely

  Assuming that water was the only source of antiseptic, dear CD (peace to you!), you might be right. But I don't that was the case. Indeed, I don't believe it even the best source, actually, even boiled. There may have been several other options. Many, actually. Spit, even.

  Oh! I like it! Start with a flawed understanding of human biology (foreskins are dirty! (even though god created them)), throw in a complete ignorance of basic microbiology and medicine (water is NOT an antiseptic) and then from the error proceed to pure unfounded speculation and the give them the option of boiling their recently mutilated penises or sitting around spitting on them.

  Because I would rather give the glory to God than to myself. But that's me...

  All hail God! Let's cut up our penises, the sit around and spit on them for each other for him!
• 

  tec

  I don't know how this became a talk on circumcision, but I'll throw my two cents out there... even though I'm just speculating.

  If the phallus was thought to be a symbol of power and authority and such, then cutting off the tip of it might mean something along the lines of being in subjection to something or someone greater. It being a symbol and reminder to both the people themselves, and a sign to those around them. Might not have anything to do with God caring about foreskins, but what the people themselves could understand.

  Paul spoke of circumcision of the heart - and that being more important than the flesh - so the word and the act had more meaning than just a physical mark showing separation of Israel and the surrounding nations.

  Tammy
• 

  notverylikely

  I don't know how this became a talk on circumcision, but I'll throw my two cents out there... even though I'm just speculating.

  Don't sell yourself short, your speculations are worth at least a nickel ;)
• 

  tec

  Don't sell yourself short, your speculations are worth at least a nickel ;)

  Well in that case, I should quit my job and speculate more often.

  Tammy
• 

  AGuest

  Oh! I like it! Start with a flawed understanding of human biology (foreskins are dirty! (even though god created them)),

  I don't believe anyone made that assumption that foreskins are dirty, dear NVL (as always, peace to you!). Dear CD commented on the potential infection that would result at the cut site. To wit:

  a more serious danger than regular hygiene would have been how to keep the foreskin cut from becoming unclean and infected if in an area where there was shortage of water for bathing?

  My comment was only to say that water is not the only means by which something can be cleansed. Fire, for example, cleanses.

  throw in a complete ignorance of basic microbiology and medicine (water is NOT an antiseptic)

  Wow, you really are straining out the gnat to gulp down the camel, aren't you? True, water may not fulfill the classical definition of an antiseptic; however, anything that prevents a suture/cut/wound from become "septic"... including sterilized water... could indeed be considered an "anti" septic. In theory.

  and then from the error proceed to pure unfounded speculation and the give them the option of boiling their recently mutilated penises

  Okay, now I know you're joking (and sorry for taking so long to see that - )... 'cause boiling water (which is what I wrote of)... and boiling penises (which is what you're stating and, again, while you may BE joking, it again appears that you are trying to make it look like I stated it - which is deceitful and so, you really should get a handle on that, dear one - it's almost habitual with you)... is not the same thing. And while I don't believe circumcision is necessary for all men, I will say that I knew a man some years ago who had to have his foreskin removed while in his later forties, due to a cyst of some kind or something like that... and to hear HIM tell it, it was one of THE most painful things he ever experienced and so he said to ME that he WISHED it had been done when he was a babe.

  So... I mean, I dunno. Maybe for some men it's not a matter of if... but when. Sooner... or later. But I totally get your chagrin. And I can almost "feel" your "pain." 'Cause pain is pain, afterall, isn't it?

  or sitting around spitting on them.

  No, I think the Israelites were a little more advanced than that... but I do believe that there are people yet today who use spit. If I recall my Discovery Channel/National Geographic shows accurately. Somewhere in the Amazon, I think... or perhaps Africa. I can't recall exactly but if I ever run into the information again I will be sure to share it with you...

  All hail God! Let's cut up our penises, the sit around and spit on them for each other for him!

  Well, whatever floats your boat, dear one. I mean, if that's what gets you there. But my Lord's fulfillment of the Old Covenant did away with that so you don't really gotta. I'm sure you all would get your usual "related to the body and its private parts" kick out of doing something like that, though (and I'm not putting down men here; I've just observed that such subjects... and activities... are usually pretty "normal" for some of you...).

  Again, peace to you!

  YOUR servant (still) and a slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  notverylikely

  I don't believe anyone made that assumption that foreskins are dirty, dear NVL (as always, peace to you!).

  Sure you did when you wrote " had little water to expend on bathing and/or other water-dependent hygienic activities, (b) lived in [often very] close proximity to their livestock... many of which were sheep ... and (c) often had multiple wives and/or sex partners (the latter of which sometimes included the livestock)... from serious and potentially epidemic STDs." You didn't just make the assumption, you strongly implied that they were unhygenic.

  And peace to you.

  Wow, you really are straining out the gnat to gulp down the camel, aren't you? True, water may not fulfill the classical definition of an antiseptic; however, anything that prevents a suture/cut/wound from become "septic"... including sterilized water... could indeed be considered an "anti" septic. In theory.

  Not really. I just pointed out your error in basic microbiology. I am not sure how I strained anything. After all, I am not the one that said water was an antiseptic, that was you. And no, not in theory. Water, in no form, is an antiseptic, not in a classical, neo or alternative definition.

  Okay, now I know you're joking (and sorry for taking so long to see that -

  OK, THAT part a was a joke.

  But I totally get your chagrin. And I can almost "feel" your "pain." 'Cause pain is pain, afterall, isn't it?

  I know, taking the time to educate myself on basic words and their meanings is so embarassing. Oh wait, no it's not. That's jusy you making up stuff again.

  Well, whatever floats your boat, dear one. I mean, if that's what gets you there.

  Apparently it floated your boat, you are the one that thought water was an antisceptic and suggested spit.