Comments for is what i do http://iswhatido.org like it says Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:33:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Generosity and orthodoxy by John http://iswhatido.org/2005/05/07/generosity-and-orthodoxy/comment-page-1/#comment-126939 John Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:33:21 +0000 http://richard.blumberg.org/2005/05/07/generosity-and-orthodoxy/#comment-126939 Richard, perhaps you have missed the essential point of McLaren / Franke / Frei. What McLaren (et al) have done in "Generous Orthodoxy" is attempt to move the definition of orthodoxy as "zero deviation from a straight line" (as you say) to an orthodoxy that "keeps listening; keeps the conversation open-ended, acknowledges mystery..." A few paragraphs before the Frei quote, Franke says this about the idea of an exclusive orthodoxy (paraphrasing Newbingin): "…exclusive in the sense of affirming the unique truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ, but not in the sense of denying the possibility of salvation to those outside the Christian faith; inclusive in the sense of refusing to limit the saving grace of God to Christians, but not in the sense of viewing other religions as salvific; pluralist in the sense of acknowledging the gracious work of God in the lives of all human beings, but not in the sense of denying the unique and decisive nature of what God has done in Jesus Christ." Richard, perhaps you have missed the essential point of McLaren / Franke / Frei. What McLaren (et al) have done in “Generous Orthodoxy” is attempt to move the definition of orthodoxy as “zero deviation from a straight line” (as you say) to an orthodoxy that “keeps listening; keeps the conversation open-ended, acknowledges mystery…”

A few paragraphs before the Frei quote, Franke says this about the idea of an exclusive orthodoxy (paraphrasing Newbingin):

“…exclusive in the sense of affirming the unique truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ, but not in the sense of denying the possibility of salvation to those outside the Christian faith; inclusive in the sense of refusing to limit the saving grace of God to Christians, but not in the sense of viewing other religions as salvific; pluralist in the sense of acknowledging the gracious work of God in the lives of all human beings, but not in the sense of denying the unique and decisive nature of what God has done in Jesus Christ.”

]]> Comment on Yeh Hum Naheem by Jennifer http://iswhatido.org/2009/02/06/yeh-hum-naheem/comment-page-1/#comment-120153 Jennifer Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:24:01 +0000 http://iswhatido.org/?p=245#comment-120153 I'm not a Buddhist, just an atheist, and I WANT to believe that Islam is not a religion that calls on its followers to murder me because I am godless. I WANT to believe that a 'good' Muslim is a person who does not desire the world to be under the power of Islamic law, but I don't see it... I have read the Quran several times, I have befriended Muslim women and I have had dinner with non-Muslims who 'escaped' -- and I mean literally -- from Muslim countries where they were born. If Islam is a religion of peace and respect, why do the non-Muslims I know who are from Kuwait, Iran, Egypt, and Jordan completely despise it? There are Muslims who believe that music is haram so the singers should be jailed and whipped. The woman in the video is not covered and is singing with men who are haram to her. Under Islamic law she is a criminal. I believe that Muslims who are NOT calling for the destruciton of western civilization and the institution of sharia are Muslims who are better than their religion and not true Muslims at heart. They take from the Quran what they like and leave the rest, just like Christians and Jews with their holy books. Great blog, by the way. I’m not a Buddhist, just an atheist, and I WANT to believe that Islam is not a religion that calls on its followers to murder me because I am godless. I WANT to believe that a ‘good’ Muslim is a person who does not desire the world to be under the power of Islamic law, but I don’t see it… I have read the Quran several times, I have befriended Muslim women and I have had dinner with non-Muslims who ‘escaped’ — and I mean literally — from Muslim countries where they were born. If Islam is a religion of peace and respect, why do the non-Muslims I know who are from Kuwait, Iran, Egypt, and Jordan completely despise it?

There are Muslims who believe that music is haram so the singers should be jailed and whipped. The woman in the video is not covered and is singing with men who are haram to her. Under Islamic law she is a criminal. I believe that Muslims who are NOT calling for the destruciton of western civilization and the institution of sharia are Muslims who are better than their religion and not true Muslims at heart. They take from the Quran what they like and leave the rest, just like Christians and Jews with their holy books.

Great blog, by the way.

]]> Comment on Yeh Hum Naheem by richard http://iswhatido.org/2009/02/06/yeh-hum-naheem/comment-page-1/#comment-90215 richard Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:32:40 +0000 http://iswhatido.org/?p=245#comment-90215 First, David, you are right; I should temper my arrogance. But it is not, I think, entirely arrogance, but also a measure of mindfulness to be wary of those who follow God. The capital 'G' is deliberate and important; this is not some vacuous principle of divinity, and this is not one of many; this is the One True God, Who demands of His followers that they set no others before Him. Frankly, those followers scare me, and I think (without, I think, being arrogant) that they are the fount of much and maybe most of the terror in our current world. As for those who believe in souls, they are, again I <em>think</em>, delusional, and their belief in such eternal entities is, as the Buddha pointed out, a hindrance to developing an understanding of how things are that is necessary to liberation. But if it's just a matter of souls, I'm not as wary of the people who believe in them as I am of those who believe in Him. (The gender is also deliberate and important.) Pity is tricky, and may have been an unfortunate choice of words. But good Lord, what more generous response can I muster for those who cower before and commit great cruelties in the name of a Being whose Word is inerrant and inconsistent, whose justice is inescapable and incomprehensible, and whose very existence is highly improbable? If I pissed semi-dualistic Vedanta down the drain, I'm sorry; I didn't know it was there. But I'm clear about the purpose. It's to hold those believers who claim to be different from those other believers to some measure of accountability. It's one thing to say "I am not this"; but when "this" is Christian, or Jewish, or Muslim, and those others whom I am not are saying that this - this fatwa, this defensive war, this oppressive legislation, this racist doggerel - is of the essence or even just OK, then I think those sweet singers have to clarify and focus their denial. It's not just me and my fellow Westerners; it's those others also, those mullahs and rabbis and preachers and popes, who are telling the singers what they are. And I want to see some outrage at that. First, David, you are right; I should temper my arrogance. But it is not, I think, entirely arrogance, but also a measure of mindfulness to be wary of those who follow God. The capital ‘G’ is deliberate and important; this is not some vacuous principle of divinity, and this is not one of many; this is the One True God, Who demands of His followers that they set no others before Him. Frankly, those followers scare me, and I think (without, I think, being arrogant) that they are the fount of much and maybe most of the terror in our current world. As for those who believe in souls, they are, again I think, delusional, and their belief in such eternal entities is, as the Buddha pointed out, a hindrance to developing an understanding of how things are that is necessary to liberation. But if it’s just a matter of souls, I’m not as wary of the people who believe in them as I am of those who believe in Him. (The gender is also deliberate and important.)

Pity is tricky, and may have been an unfortunate choice of words. But good Lord, what more generous response can I muster for those who cower before and commit great cruelties in the name of a Being whose Word is inerrant and inconsistent, whose justice is inescapable and incomprehensible, and whose very existence is highly improbable?

If I pissed semi-dualistic Vedanta down the drain, I’m sorry; I didn’t know it was there. But I’m clear about the purpose. It’s to hold those believers who claim to be different from those other believers to some measure of accountability. It’s one thing to say “I am not this”; but when “this” is Christian, or Jewish, or Muslim, and those others whom I am not are saying that this – this fatwa, this defensive war, this oppressive legislation, this racist doggerel – is of the essence or even just OK, then I think those sweet singers have to clarify and focus their denial. It’s not just me and my fellow Westerners; it’s those others also, those mullahs and rabbis and preachers and popes, who are telling the singers what they are. And I want to see some outrage at that.

]]> Comment on Yeh Hum Naheem by David Gilner http://iswhatido.org/2009/02/06/yeh-hum-naheem/comment-page-1/#comment-90129 David Gilner Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:10:48 +0000 http://iswhatido.org/?p=245#comment-90129 Richard- You really should temper your religious arrogance! Tsk, tsk ;^) Those who believe that God to be real and who try to live their lives according to His will are to be pitied. You just pissed semi-dualistic Vedanta right down the drain--and for what purpose? You might write hose who believe in souls are to be pitied. Then, as Buddhists, we could both pity their ignorance, without engaging the question of God's reality and nature. Richard- You really should temper your religious arrogance! Tsk, tsk ;^) Those who believe that God to be real and who try to live their lives according to His will are to be pitied. You just pissed semi-dualistic Vedanta right down the drain–and for what purpose? You might write hose who believe in souls are to be pitied. Then, as Buddhists, we could both pity their ignorance, without engaging the question of God’s reality and nature.

]]> Comment on Lagomorphic karma by paul http://iswhatido.org/2009/01/24/lagomorphic-karma/comment-page-1/#comment-82432 paul Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:55:11 +0000 http://iswhatido.org/?p=213#comment-82432 Thanks for this eulogy Richard. Ace ate a few of our electric cords too, so we have our own fond memories. Jo and I are contemplating what to do now that our older cat has lost control of her bladder. For the moment we are recleaning the rug, restricting her to kitchen and basement, and contemplating our own karma. What does it mean about us if we have her put to sleep? Like you, it's what I would want for myself if I found I was urinating in chairs (perhaps after I tired of Depends), but I feel queasy imposing that wish on a cat who remains steadfastly silent on the matter. paul Thanks for this eulogy Richard. Ace ate a few of our electric cords too, so we have our own fond memories.

Jo and I are contemplating what to do now that our older cat has lost control of her bladder. For the moment we are recleaning the rug, restricting her to kitchen and basement, and contemplating our own karma.
What does it mean about us if we have her put to sleep? Like you, it’s what I would want for myself if I found I was urinating in chairs (perhaps after I tired of Depends), but I feel queasy imposing that wish on a cat who remains steadfastly silent on the matter.

paul

]]> Comment on Lagomorphic karma by Janie http://iswhatido.org/2009/01/24/lagomorphic-karma/comment-page-1/#comment-82044 Janie Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:11:51 +0000 http://iswhatido.org/?p=213#comment-82044 Beautiful. Ace is dead - long live Ace! Love, Janie Beautiful. Ace is dead – long live Ace!
Love,
Janie

]]> Comment on The First Nazi City in America by richard http://iswhatido.org/2006/10/25/the-first-nazi-city-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-75275 richard Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:18:28 +0000 http://richard.blumberg.org/2006/10/25/the-first-nazi-city-in-america/#comment-75275 spirit, you go where you are moved to go. Perhaps you are needed there. Travel safely. spirit, you go where you are moved to go. Perhaps you are needed there.

Travel safely.

]]> Comment on The First Nazi City in America by spirit http://iswhatido.org/2006/10/25/the-first-nazi-city-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-75270 spirit Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:07:53 +0000 http://richard.blumberg.org/2006/10/25/the-first-nazi-city-in-america/#comment-75270 gee, where is this city so i can move to it? gee, where is this city so i can move to it?

]]> Comment on My 72nd Year: Pictures, and a Story to Begin by Bob Plourde http://iswhatido.org/2007/12/29/small-world/comment-page-1/#comment-51155 Bob Plourde Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:57:38 +0000 http://richard.blumberg.org/2007/12/29/my-72nd-year-pictures-and-a-story-to-begin/#comment-51155 Rich... are you still there?... Am a kindred spirit I think... and wanna hear more.. lghbob@gmail.com Maine and long retirement and love of life... Turned into my 73rd year on Nov. 3, 2008 Rich… are you still there?…
Am a kindred spirit I think… and wanna hear more..
lghbob@gmail.com

Maine and long retirement and love of life…
Turned into my 73rd year on Nov. 3, 2008

]]> Comment on Chapter Two by Jin http://iswhatido.org/2005/05/04/chapter-two/comment-page-1/#comment-31900 Jin Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:47:44 +0000 http://richard.blumberg.org/?p=17#comment-31900 I thought you may be interested in my blog that's dedicated on TTC and web design. I started a personal project of translating TTC into modern English. www.8164.org p.s. sorry was going to send this via email, but I couldn't find your email on this site. take care, Jin I thought you may be interested in my blog that’s dedicated on TTC and web design. I started a personal project of translating TTC into modern English.

http://www.8164.org

p.s. sorry was going to send this via email, but I couldn’t find your email on this site.

take care,

Jin

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