What if our many questions remain unanswered after we die?

How many times did we go to bed without answers, and still our mothers and fathers loved us all the same, throughout the night and the next morning? And for days and weeks and months and years, seemingly without end, until one day our parents came to an end, and we were left alone with our questions.

They took care of us at all times whether we deserved it or not, fed us and clothed us, and protected our going out and our coming in.

Isn't God something like that? Has He not loved us all similarly, but without ceasing?

And aren't we going to be always something like that, always children, whether alive or dead, because our very being is completely contingent upon our Maker?

What should change? Why should the next world mean any more, or any less, than that?

I hear you all grumbling, you sons of God, you, but it is not born of faith. It is born of presumption.

We cannot be equal with God.

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The knowing, as usual, has been highly overrated.

τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι


-- Exodus 20:12

The Depths of "D"

 

 

They damn themselves, nor will my muse descend

To clap with such who fools and knaves commend.

-- John Dryden

A Chamfer for "C"

 

Changelings and fools of heav'n, and thence shut out,

Wildly we roam in discontent about.

-- John Dryden

John's Jesus Sometimes Talks as if He Weren't a Jew Himself, Nor His Disciples

"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you."

-- John 13:33

Paul The Jew Blames The Jews For Jesus' Death

"For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they [have] of the Jews:

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men."

-- 1 Thessalonians 2:14f.

Anti-Judaism In John Extends Artlessly Even "to the Jews who had believed in him"

Jhn 8:31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Jhn 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Jhn 8:33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, 'You will be made free'?"

Jhn 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin.

Jhn 8:35 The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever.

Jhn 8:36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Jhn 8:37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

Jhn 8:38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."

Jhn 8:39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did,

Jhn 8:40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did.

Jhn 8:41 You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."

Jhn 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

Jhn 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Jhn 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jhn 8:45 But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

Jhn 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Jhn 8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

Jhn 8:48 The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

Jhn 8:49 Jesus answered, "I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

Jhn 8:50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will be the judge.

Jhn 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death."

Jhn 8:52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, 'If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.'

Jhn 8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?"

Jhn 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God.

Jhn 8:55 But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word.

Jhn 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad."

Jhn 8:57 The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"

Jhn 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

Jhn 8:59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

"B" Bawls

 

When we are born, we cry, that we are come

To this great stage of fools.

-- William Shakespeare

The Alchemy of 'A'

 

For fools are stubborn in their way,

As coins are harden'd by th' allay.

-- Samuel Butler, Hudibras

Just Foolin' Around

"[W]hosoever shall say, 'Thou fool', shall be in danger of hell fire."

-- Matthew 5:22c

"[Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?"

-- Matthew 23:17

Then he said unto them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken."

-- Luke 24:25

"We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised."

-- 1 Corinthians 4:10

The Battle of the Acolytes of Intellect

Hey! How you doin'?

"Benedict XVI ranks by my reckoning as the best mind on the planet."

-- David Goldman, alias Spengler of Asia Times, seen here

I'm wonderful.

"[T]his is a guy whose IQ is off the charts — I mean you cannot say that he is anything but a very serious and capable leader and — you know — You and I have talked about this for years … [Obama's] probably the smartest guy ever to become President."

-- Historian Michael Beschloss, transcription here

How About Abortion, For Instance, Rod Dreher?

The handwringing continues, here:

"Still, I wonder what evils I, and you, are overlooking now that our children or grandchildren will one day wonder, 'How on earth did you sit there and not do a thing?'"


A million or more die each year in America, and you wonder what you are overlooking?

On the Death Penalty in France

"The death penalty still exists in France, but only for the victims!"

-- Marine Le Pen

Who Knew? The Mormons Are Into Tithing BIG TIME.

As discussed in amusing detail, here:

Ernest D. Wilkinson . . . upon assuming the presidency of BYU in the 1950s, was outraged that some BYU professors paid only a partial tithing, and some paid none at all.