28 Feb '07 14:48>
What's your favourite historical or fictitious holy war, and why?
Originally posted by ChronicLeakyThe one that's going on around us right now. Because I'm in it.
What's your favourite historical or fictitious holy war, and why?
Originally posted by josephwWhich holy war are you involved in? This is so cool; I just stumbled on this forum and it contains a modern Crusader!
The one that's going on around us right now. Because I'm in it.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Originally posted by josephwWho is the enemy? If specifying the enemy requires too much explanation, we can always name certain groups and you can respond with confirmation or denial of their "enemy" status. This could be almost as fun as fighting a holy war. Let's begin: Christians.
The enemy.
Originally posted by ChronicLeakyDidn't you read my first post?
Who is the enemy? If specifying the enemy requires too much explanation, we can always name certain groups and you can respond with confirmation or denial of their "enemy" status. This could be almost as fun as fighting a holy war. Let's begin: Christians.
Originally posted by josephwWhen you come back, will you be ready to be more specific about who your enemies are?
Didn't you read my first post?
I gotta go, won't be back till later.
Originally posted by ChronicLeakyThe one I’m currently fighting.
What's your favourite historical or fictitious holy war, and why?
Originally posted by vistesdGreat post. I found my personal solution in my own brand of skepticism.
In shorthand: the opposite of idolatry is the mystery, which can be recognized but not “dogmatized.”
Originally posted by PalynkaThank you. It’s not just limited to religion, but to metaphysics generally, as Wittgenstein pointed out.
Great post. I found my personal solution in my own brand of skepticism.
Questions are not answered until they can be answered meaningfully. The corollary is that if they're not answerable (i.e. ineffable) then they will not be answered.
Originally posted by vistesdActually, I think you were clear about idolatry but not really about mystery.
EDIT: In case I wasn't clear about this, it is only idolatry (as I think of it) that I object to, not religious practice and expression, or religious discourse language, symbolism, etc. It is not religious conceptualization (e.g., theology) that I oppose, but an idolizing of the concept, and the error (again, in myself as well as others) of not recognizing the limits of our conceptual "grammar."
Originally posted by Palynka[/b]Well put. “Confronted” is not a good word—but then, a lot of the terms we try to use when talking about this stuff ought to be prefaced by “as if”—as is, “It seemed as if...” or “The experience was kind of like...” To use one of my favorite metaphors, the wave cannot really be said to be “confronted by” the ocean.
Actually, I think you were clear about idolatry but not really about mystery.
[b]When one reaches the end of our conceptual grammar, one faces the mystery which is ineffable. Even this language I’m using here is necessarily faulty. Confronted by the ineffable, one can:
(1) remain silent;
(2) attempt to use language in paradoxical and poetical ways ...[text shortened]... rereading this I stumble into what seems to me a paradox. Can the ineffable even be confronted?