tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post7250686048741141007..comments2023-11-05T06:57:26.677-05:00Comments on The Weather in the Streets: Angry God, Rueful God: A HomilyLeahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-24840351229258031332009-04-05T03:58:00.000-04:002009-04-05T03:58:00.000-04:00i didnt see or read "the last temptation of Christ...i didnt see or read "the last temptation of Christ"<BR/>maybe i should check it out.it's a shame i cant comment there,....<BR/><BR/>as for whether Christ is fallible, it is fundamental to Christianity that He wasn't. personally, i dont think it would upset me if i suddenly found out that He got stuff wrong, just as the thought that He might not have been born of a virgin doesnt bother me.<BR/><BR/>only recently my minister asserted that if we can believe in a Jesus who was born of a normal pregnancy our God is too small.<BR/>as far as i am concerned, my God is big enough to create a virginal pregnancy but if He didnt He is not diminished.<BR/>i'm way off track now and probably being blasphemous or something terrible.........<BR/><BR/>wish my theology was better :)kyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964475783207438103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-31124709867159987982009-04-04T18:05:00.000-04:002009-04-04T18:05:00.000-04:00Leah, very powerful and personal description of th...Leah, very powerful and personal description of the Seder. I can understand it a bit better now. ithank you for that :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-50617708778000132592009-04-04T09:47:00.000-04:002009-04-04T09:47:00.000-04:00Gabby--you raise an interesting question actually....<B>Gabby</B>--you raise an interesting question actually. Is the Hebrew God the same as the Christian God? I have a lot of thinking to do on this topic. The short answer is that He is and He isn't. Of course, Christians have the belief in Jesus as the Christ, which adds a whole other dimension. But ostensibly Christians and Jews are monotheistic and we all believe in the same God, but it really isn't exactly the same. The Hebrew Bible is just the Old Testament; the Christian Bible is comprised of the Old and New. God seems very different in these two sets of scriptures actually. So maybe it's the same God, but we have two differing ideas of Him, each through the lens of our differing faiths. I'll have to revisit this. It's fascinating. Thanks for commenting!Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-71856844269029779262009-04-04T09:43:00.000-04:002009-04-04T09:43:00.000-04:00Kris--the Hebrew God sure is cranky isn't he. The...<B>Kris</B>--the Hebrew God sure is cranky isn't he. The Christian God is kinder and gentler I think.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-29943948919320069312009-04-04T09:42:00.000-04:002009-04-04T09:42:00.000-04:00Kylie--It's interesting, I don't feel guilty, more...<B>Kylie</B>--It's interesting, I don't feel guilty, more just very worried when I do so...God in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) comes across as possessing strong human characteristics and is in that way fallible. The Christian Scriptures add another dimension. And another question: is Jesus fallible? Did you read the book or see the movie of "The Last Temptation of Christ"? I thought it was profound. I know some church groups were extremely uncomfortable with it though.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-81529401232189788882009-04-04T01:25:00.000-04:002009-04-04T01:25:00.000-04:00Beautiful post about the Seder Leah. I've never at...Beautiful post about the Seder Leah. I've never attended one because I don't know any Jews. It sounds like an incredible ceremony to participate in.<BR/>I am Catholic and I was taught that the God of the Jews is the same God of the Christians. I was also taught that God is righteous and remorseful, is slow to anger and slow to respond but does what needs to be done. We are all his children and like most parents He tries his best to care for us, wants the best for all of us and allows us to live our lives. The perfect/imperfect parent.<BR/>I was also taught that we can question Him and be angry at him and it's not considered a sin. Anger is one of the seven deadly sins, yes, but it's what you do with that anger that makes it a sin, I believe. It's also Ok to pray and ask for answers and help but you must be willing to accept the answer and help He gives you. It may not be what you want but He gives you what you need. You just need to be open to receive.Gabbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17623480502022468657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-41140313327048890352009-04-04T01:03:00.000-04:002009-04-04T01:03:00.000-04:00Old Testament God really did have a chip on his sh...Old Testament God really did have a chip on his shoulder...Kris McCrackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789355638389350528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-38644774289395625102009-04-03T18:32:00.000-04:002009-04-03T18:32:00.000-04:00i do a lot of questioning God, sometimes bitterly ...i do a lot of questioning God, sometimes bitterly but i always feel guilty. i'm not sure what the theology is. haven't thought about this much.....<BR/>but i suspect that the unquestioning thing is a construct of the church rather than a biblical imperativekyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964475783207438103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-66983490842576031812009-04-03T16:30:00.000-04:002009-04-03T16:30:00.000-04:00Kylie--I think you've hit on a big difference betw...<B>Kylie</B>--I think you've hit on a big difference between Judaism and Christianity. Jews question God, constantly and sometimes bitterly. I don't think Christians are really supposed to do that, are they? Maybe I'm wrong. It can be very uncomfortable to have to do all that questioning, though.<BR/><BR/><B>savannah</B>--can't wait for the cuppa. We'd have a time of it, we would!<BR/><BR/><B>Old Knudsen</B>--I'm not so much into the God of Love idea, and it certainly isn't a Jewish notion (well, obviously not). It's hard to relate to that God, to live up to the expectations. I mean love, sure, but not only love. And yeah, God gave us hemorrhoids and childbirth pangs (usually both together), so it is quite hard to imagine he is rueful, as I hopefully suggested...Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-36744646691198910162009-04-03T16:26:00.000-04:002009-04-03T16:26:00.000-04:00Candie--I'm glad you found it interesting!Tristan ...<B>Candie</B>--I'm glad you found it interesting!<BR/><BR/><B>Tristan and Crikey</B>--You are very generous kitties for sharing your delicious treats.<BR/><BR/><B>Cinnamon</B>--you're so right; the repetition of the traditions makes them very emotional and powerful, as you say <I>the memories are awakened</I>--you really understood what I was trying to say, and for that I thank you. Yes, the idea of an angry God is terrifying. I agree. And God is furious for a great deal of the Hebrew Bible...<BR/><BR/><B>Baino</B>--I actually find aspects of Catholicism mystical, thrilling, and fascinating. Especially the Passion and Resurrection stories...<BR/><BR/><B>Idle Devil</B>--It's a rather more obscure part of the story--I'm glad you found it interesting. I think it is too--complicated, yes, but interesting to grapple with.<BR/><BR/><B>Jimmy</B>--thank you. I always worry when I put up a post about God. It's only part of who I am, but it's a big part. I'm just relieved that I didn't seem to alienate anyone. I guess as you say, it's all about layers--is it okay if I'm perfect even though God is not? ; )Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-25021183411052716872009-04-03T16:19:00.000-04:002009-04-03T16:19:00.000-04:00Suzy--I treasure this comment. I'm so glad you di...<B>Suzy</B>--I treasure this comment. I'm so glad you didn't take it down. xoLeahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-73966436042160216082009-04-03T14:45:00.000-04:002009-04-03T14:45:00.000-04:00I am an expert in God as I am older than dirt, in ...I am an expert in God as I am older than dirt, in fact I gave God some dirt to make the first human out of.<BR/><BR/>God is big, impersonal and limited by the thoughts and writings of man. <BR/><BR/>God does have managers though who are powerful beings but as human as we are. Little facets of God if you will but then again we all are.<BR/><BR/>The God of love make over has always sounded something like Cher or Madonna would do.<BR/> <BR/>I have never underestimated yer layers of deep reflection as it has always been quite evident.<BR/><BR/>God also inflicted hemorrhoids too, that with childbirth pains add sick sense of humour, bitter and not very pro-active to yer title.Old Knudsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05939476225847425724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-82161640958224677962009-04-03T06:57:00.000-04:002009-04-03T06:57:00.000-04:00very simply, sugar, i like the way you think! one ...very simply, sugar, i like the way you think! one day we'll sit down over a cuppa and chat, ok? xoxoxosavannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310843901371718758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-88813920152741698632009-04-03T04:27:00.000-04:002009-04-03T04:27:00.000-04:00i can get the dichotomies of a complex God but per...i can get the dichotomies of a complex God but perfect & imperfect is a direct contradiction of all i have learned.<BR/>can God still be God if He is imperfect?<BR/>i'll have to think on that<BR/><BR/>i wish the whole God thing was easier :)kyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964475783207438103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-48525296888459043922009-04-03T02:20:00.000-04:002009-04-03T02:20:00.000-04:00Just when I think I have finally unravelled the ma...Just when I think I have finally unravelled the many layers that is Leah, out pops this delightful piece.<BR/><BR/>The deepness of the reflection that must have gone into each carefully chosen word is very evident.<BR/><BR/>Perfection personified.Barlinniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07555629852012324360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-19648937970011633472009-04-03T01:12:00.000-04:002009-04-03T01:12:00.000-04:00I've been thinking about this post off and on all ...I've been thinking about this post off and on all day. It's quite powerful, Leah.<BR/><BR/>You continue to amaze and awe me.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387041422819664987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-85117581875573198112009-04-03T00:35:00.000-04:002009-04-03T00:35:00.000-04:00I never knew this side to the story. Thank you for...I never knew this side to the story. Thank you for enlightening me and bringing forth the complexities of God's ways.The Girl from Lokhandwalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760880595716935810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-63332963575509109422009-04-02T23:43:00.000-04:002009-04-02T23:43:00.000-04:00Leah I loved this. I find it all very mystical and...Leah I loved this. I find it all very mystical and exciting. (Not bad for an athiest) <BR/><BR/>I actually had the chance to participate in Passover celebration at a Jewish Saturday school at our Great Synagogue some years ago . . the food was .. interesting . . but the ritual quite lovely. Very different to the Catholic 'stations of the Cross' and all that "Passion" business. <BR/>Great post!Bainohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156193098088048637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-64343684600101453802009-04-02T20:27:00.000-04:002009-04-02T20:27:00.000-04:00Leah, the symbols of faith and liturgical traditio...Leah, the symbols of faith and liturgical traditions leave such a powerful imprint on us from a young age. You describe this perfectly. From what you write I imagine that celebration of Seder (and other festivals) must become quite emotional moments as the years go by and memories of previous celebrations are awakened.<BR/><BR/>As to the theology- I find the idea of an angry God very scary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-31558695026523708842009-04-02T18:59:00.000-04:002009-04-02T18:59:00.000-04:00Thank you for your beautiful post. We're just cats...Thank you for your beautiful post. We're just cats, so we didn't know about the Seder. And yes, you can have some of our fish treats:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-38677696991868332512009-04-02T18:03:00.000-04:002009-04-02T18:03:00.000-04:00Just fascinatinggreat post Leah;)Just fascinating<BR/>great post Leah<BR/>;)Candiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820349874923006162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-81275489872818391902009-04-02T17:59:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:59:00.000-04:00I haven't read another comment, but will go back. ...I haven't read another comment, but will go back. I haven't because I didn't want anyone to influence this comment. <BR/><BR/>I love you very, very much. You would have been an amazing Rabi. I believe that with all my heart. I have come to know and love you over almost two years and I'm grateful. I am darling. You have shown mercy when you shouldn't and you've blessed my life. I don't know why this post is making me cry, but it is. I know you. I know the love that pours from your veins. I know how funny you can be. How twisted! I know what you love. What you hate. I know who you are to the best of my ability. I am so grateful you're my friend. You know me, I want to delete the crap out of this thing, but I won't because I want you to know that I adore you and that you being in my life matters a whole hell of a lot. <BR/><BR/>With so much love,<BR/>MeSuzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13111045716713716292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-79537560295182047132009-04-02T17:31:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:31:00.000-04:00Ronda--thank you very much for your comment! It me...<B>Ronda</B>--thank you very much for your comment! It means a lot to me.<BR/><BR/><B>Mrsupole</B>--as I said to Bob, you should at least once sit through a seder if you can! It's a great experience. And might I add, since Judaism is matrilineal, and your maternal grandmother was Jewish, you my dear are officially considered a Jew! lol<BR/><BR/><B>Marianna</B>--thanks so much for the compliment! And hope you have a good night's sleep!<BR/><BR/><B>EM</B>--in fact, I needn't go as far afield as Portsmouth--some parts of Brooklyn seem infested!!!<BR/><BR/><B>Lettuce</B>--thank you very much.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-48705332312335081422009-04-02T17:25:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:25:00.000-04:00Michael--and grated while wearing a gas mask!!!Dak...<B>Michael</B>--and grated while wearing a gas mask!!!<BR/><BR/><B>Dakota Bear</B>--you're welcome and glad you stopped in!<BR/><BR/><B>Willow</B>--thank you! And I love that plate too--but it's hell and a handbasket to shine with the silver polish, all those nooks and crannies!<BR/><BR/><B>Auntie</B>--I adore horseradish bbq sauce. <BR/><BR/><B>Brian</B>--thanks, and I'm glad you got to sit through a seder! They really are an experience worth having, regardless of one's background.<BR/><BR/><B>MJ</B>--it's the frogs, darkness, and boils that worry me more.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14061893047279652658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545649522016852351.post-30621846260707008522009-04-02T17:24:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:24:00.000-04:00I like what you say about godand the way you write...I like what you say about god<BR/>and the way you write toolettucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13872380339261609060noreply@blogger.com