It is indeed ironic that Perry should post a picture of "religious dildos." Isn't the term applicable to people as well as objects? For example, speaking in the vernacular, couldn't a person say: "Oh, don't listen to him/her!!! [S]he's just a..."
Rapunzel
JoinedPosts by Rapunzel
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33
Modern Bibles - Atonement - Part VI
by Perry inatonement over the years since leaving the wt, i have found the doctrine of the atonement to be one of the major litmus tests for determining christianity and apostate christianity.
the roman catholic church has transsubstantiation and the sacraments for salvation (among other things) and the wt simply rejects christ each year formally at the memorial.
the wt spin on the ransom negates the need for an actual exchange to take place with our savior.
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5
Status of Women In The Pentateuch
by Rapunzel ini have a few questions in regard to a couple of bible passages that i have recently read.
i was hoping that someone may kindly elucidate a few issues.. in romans7:7, paul quotes the decalogue, specifically exodus 20:17, which reads - "you shall not covet your's neighbor's house.
in fact, how is a woman rendered unclean at all simply for having given birth?
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Rapunzel
I have a few questions in regard to a couple of bible passages that I have recently read. I was hoping that someone may kindly elucidate a few issues.
In Romans7:7, Paul quotes the Decalogue, specifically Exodus 20:17, which reads - "You shall not covet your's neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him."
There is a parallel passage in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, verse 21 - "You should not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not desire your neighbor's house or field, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything that belongs to him."
Isn't it sad to see that a woman is considered merely as chattel? In these verses, a man's wife is "lumped in" with a man's slaves, property, and livestock. It is patently obvious from reading these scriptures that a woman is viewed simply as another piece of a man's property. And these are purportedly the "words of God." It reminds me of a quote by the French philosopher, Voltaire - "If God has created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.
Another question that I have concerns a passage in Leviticus, chapter 12, regarding the "uncleaness" of childbirth. In Leviticus 12:1-5, it reads - "The Lord said unto Moses, 'Tell the Isrealites: When a woman has conceived and gives birth to a boy, she shall be unclean for seven days, with the same uncleaness as her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy's foreskin shall be circumcised, and then she shall spend thirty-three days more in becoming purified of her blood...If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as at her menstruation, after which she shall spend sixty-six days in becoming purified of her blood.'"
In this passage of Leviticus, the math is quite simple. According to this passage, a woman is made doubly, and precisely double, "unclean" in giving birth to girl as she is in giving birth to a boy. Fourteen is exactly the double of seven; and sixty-six is exactly the double of thirty-three.
My question is: Exactly how [or why] is this so? Why, exactly, would a woman be considered doubly unclean simply for having given birth to a female baby? In fact, how is a woman rendered unclean at all simply for having given birth? After all, this is simply a totally natural process. If women did not give birth, there would be no humanity.
I ask you again, in terms of biology or physiology, or whatever, how is giving birth to a girl any different than giving birth to a boy? How is a woman rendered any more "unclean" [not to speak of doubly unclean] by giving birth to a female as opposed to a male?
I wonder how the so-called "Master of the Universe" could pronounce such inanities, such nonsense. After all, God is supposed to be the omniscient [all knowing] Creator of everything. How could God be so ignorant of such a basic biological fact as this: Giving birth to a baby girl in no way defiles a woman more than her giving birth to a baby boy. I could possibly imagine how bronze-age nomadic people could be so ignorant as to believe such nonsense. But, if one is to believe the scriptures, this idea is coming from God himself. In pronouncing a woman as being doubly "unclean" simply for having given birth to a girl, doesn't God appear...well...ignorant? How could God announce such a ridiculous notion? Surely God knows his own creation. Surely God knows that a woman is rendered no more "unclean" by giving birth to a girl than in giving birth to a boy.
While in no way condoning such a blatantly and abhorantly oppresive idea, I am able to put myself in the position of these biblical "patriarchs." I am able [while in no way condoning] to imagine their saying: "Women shall be second, or even third, class in society; they shall be subjugated to males." What I don't understand is their couching their oppression in the words of God. They should at least be honest about it. These "patriarchs" are portraying God as a fool.
That is why I posted this thread. My question is simple: Just how does a woman's giving birth to a baby girl make her doubly unclean than if she gives birth to a boy? What is it about a baby girl that doubly "defiles" the mother in the process of giving birth?
Could it be that these bronze-age nomads intuitively knew something that escapes, or has escaped, us? Did they have some "special knowlege" in regard to the birth process, some knowledge that we have since lost?
As a more general question, I would like to ask how menstruation makes a woman "unclean"? I never could figure that one out. Doesn't it kind of make you think it was males - who had not the slightest idea of what they were talking about - who "wrote" the Bible? Which brings up a point - If it truly was a question of ignorant men - ignorant men lacking the slightest modicum of knowledge in the domain of biology or the other physical sciences - writing and editing the Bible, maybe,,,just maybe...we modern people should not be "biblio-slaves." Perhaps an unquestioning, naive, and intellectually servile attitude toward the Bible would constitute nothing more than immoral form of self-enslaving idolatry.
By the way, I just happened to read Exodus, chapter 22, verses 1 and 2 that mention if a thief is caught and beaten to death during the night, there is no "bloodguilt." However, if a homeowner catches a thief in the daylight and kills the thief, then the householder does indeed face bloodguilt. Why is this so? Doesn't it send a message to thieves that if they intend to burgle, they had better do it in daylight, when there is effectively a "ban" on killing them in place?
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Any Odetta Fans Here?
by Rapunzel inodetta is an african-american singer, guitarist, and songwriter who was a great influence on such artists as joan baez, janis joplin, and bob dylan.
her musical repetoire consists mainly of anglo-american folk and traditional music, blues, and negro spirituals.
in addition to being greatly entertained, a person is also educated when listening to her music because oftimes, she will gloss or explain the origin of the song that she is singing.
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Rapunzel
Thank you, Shawn and Hortensia, for your thoughtful replies.
Hortensia - Odetta does incredibly beautiful versions of so many songs [including "Motherless Child'] that it's impossible to list them all. Often on her various c.d.'s, she does different versions of the same song. Of course, many folk and traditional songs/ballads have many variants - just think of "Barbara Allen" or "John Barleycorn", Odetta does several versions of "Midnight Special." I particularly like her rendition of "Gallows Pole."
Shawn - Whereas I agree that Odetta may be under-rated, I still have to say that I am still really into Clapton also. I especially like his blues c.d.'s. I still think that he is a virtuoso when it comes to the blues guitar. Perhaps you and I can agree to disagree, as they say? Sometimes I am in the mood to play Clapton, sometimes I am in the moo to hear Odetta. My notion is that it is not a "zero sum'" game, as they say. A person does not have to give up one in order to have the other. But I do agree that Odetta is sorely under-rated. For me, she is a magnificant figure in American music. No question about it. Her career is awe-inspiring. She was even an actress. But it is in the domain of music that she is such a towering figure. She was the defining influence on others are more well known, such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. American culture has been incalcuably enriched by Odetta.
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Any Odetta Fans Here?
by Rapunzel inodetta is an african-american singer, guitarist, and songwriter who was a great influence on such artists as joan baez, janis joplin, and bob dylan.
her musical repetoire consists mainly of anglo-american folk and traditional music, blues, and negro spirituals.
in addition to being greatly entertained, a person is also educated when listening to her music because oftimes, she will gloss or explain the origin of the song that she is singing.
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Rapunzel
There really no Odetta fans here? That's a pity.
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Would you die for your beliefs?
by purplesofa indo you feel so strongly about a particular belief that you would make a stand for it through death?.
what belief is it?.
purps.
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Rapunzel
"I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom." - Voltaire, eighteenth-century French philosopher
"It is very hard to free fools from the chains that they revere." - Voltaire
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33
Modern Bibles - Atonement - Part VI
by Perry inatonement over the years since leaving the wt, i have found the doctrine of the atonement to be one of the major litmus tests for determining christianity and apostate christianity.
the roman catholic church has transsubstantiation and the sacraments for salvation (among other things) and the wt simply rejects christ each year formally at the memorial.
the wt spin on the ransom negates the need for an actual exchange to take place with our savior.
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Rapunzel
It should be noted that in Romans7:7, Paul is of course quoting the Decalogue, specifically the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, verse 21 - "You should not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not desire your neighbor's house or field, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything that belongs to him." Isn't it sad to see that a man's wife is considered merely as chattel? In this verse, a man's wife is "lumped in" with a man's slaves, property, and livestock. She's simply another piece of his property. And these are purportedly the "words of God." It reminds me of a quote by the French philosopher, Voltaire - "If God has created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated."
"God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire
"I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it." - Voltaire
"Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers." - Voltaire.
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5
Any Odetta Fans Here?
by Rapunzel inodetta is an african-american singer, guitarist, and songwriter who was a great influence on such artists as joan baez, janis joplin, and bob dylan.
her musical repetoire consists mainly of anglo-american folk and traditional music, blues, and negro spirituals.
in addition to being greatly entertained, a person is also educated when listening to her music because oftimes, she will gloss or explain the origin of the song that she is singing.
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Rapunzel
Odetta is an African-American singer, guitarist, and songwriter who was a great influence on such artists as Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and Bob Dylan. Her musical repetoire consists mainly of Anglo-American folk and traditional music, blues, and Negro spirituals. In addition to being greatly entertained, a person is also educated when listening to her music because oftimes, she will gloss or explain the origin of the song that she is singing. For example, I first learned of the Gullah people by listening to an Odetta c.d. And what a beautiful voice she has!!!! If anyone likes traditional/folk or blues music at all, then I would highly recommend buying an Odetta c.d. I'm not sure that her c.d.'s are still readily available in stores now; it seems that, with all the music that is available on line in "mp3" format, "brick and mortar" stores are carrying less and less c.d.'s nowadays. However, in my view, it is well worth it to buy one of her c.d.'s on line.
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The Douchiest Phone Message In History
by Elsewhere ini'm giving you until a 3:00 pm deadline to listen to this phone recording and post your thoughts on it.. http://www.holytaco.com/2008/06/27/the-douchiest-phone-message-in-history/.
in all my years of studying douchebaggery, never have i encountered anything like this.
its such pure and unadulterated douche that i wish i could bottle it and use just a drop of it at a time.. the back story on this is that a girl named olga was out with her friends in the marina district of san francisco (known for being a popular hang out for douches), and she talked to this guy named dmitri for all of two minutes.
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Rapunzel
Am I totally alone and incorrect in entertaining the notion that this "phone message" could possibly be a sort of joke? Could it possibly be that "Olga" and "Dmitri" are friends and that they colluded together to fabricate this joke? Perhaps "Olga" and "Dmitri" are two friends who came up with the idea that it would be a fun thing to imagine a "script" for the ultimate "loser" or idiot. I mean, it's hard for me to take this at "face value." I find it virtually impossible to accept this "phone message" as real. Is there any way of verifying any of it? Personally, I believe in the adage of only believing half of what I see and nothing of what I hear. There is so much stuff out there on the Internet that is patently untrue. I think this "phone message" is probably a hoax.
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My lunch for tomorrow convention
by Iwonder17 inso my good wife is packing lunch for tomorrow.
i see her putting in bottles of lemonade, so i wonder, should i spike mine with some vodka to make the day pass by a little easier?.
hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm.
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Rapunzel
Does any restaurant in the U.S. really serve cho do-fu ["stinky tofu']? That stuff is a true paradox. It tastes absolutely delicious, yet it smells just like a baby's soiled diaper. When I first arrived in Taiwan, I remember walking down the street and passing by the numerous chodo-fu stalls selling their product on the street. I remember thinking to myself - "What is that smell!!!" I also remember, after having returned to the U.S. for a visit, jokingly asking a Taiwanese lady who owned a Chinese restaurant if she served "stinky tofu" in her restaurant. She laughed and said that if she served it, she would lose all of her American customers and her restaurant would go out of business.
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"This system just cannot get any worse"
by JimmyPage inthat's what my dad has said at various times over many years.
i think it helps encourage him that the end must be very near and the paradise will be here soon.
my thought has always been "oh yes it can get a lot worse.
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Rapunzel
Jimmy - Kindly excuse me while I go "boogie with Stu."