Author: john wick

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Questions on a Sunday

The God of the Old Testament is named “YHVH.” It is unpronounceable and most scholars translate this to “I AM.”
In the New Testament, Jesus calls the god he reveres “Abba.” “Father.”
Jesus also teaches the doctrine of salvation–something the Old Testament God certainly does not teach. Jesus also teaches a new prayer to “Abba” and all but says, “Forget the old ways, this is the new way.”

Therefore, it is logical to assume that Jesus is teaching his followers to revere a different god from the one in the Old Testament. 

(This is not a new idea by any stretch of the imagination, but most people have never heard of the gnostics or any of the other Christian heresies that the Catholics put down [re: “murdered”], and I was thinking about it today, so I decided to write it down.)

Likewise, Paul had his own religion going on. He talked a lot about Jesus, but take note of this: nowhere in Paul’s writings does he mention anything about Jesus’ life other than the crucifixion. Nothing. So, in other words, he doesn’t mention 

the virgin birth, 
Herod killing the firstborns, 
John the Baptist, 
40 days in the wilderness, 
the temptation of Satan, 
turning water into wine, 
walking on water
no healings,
no casting out of demons,
“… cast the first stone,”
the arrival in Jerusalem,
the last supper, 
the betrayal of Judas,
or any other of the events of Jesus’ life

With that evidence in mind, is it possible Paul was talking about a different Jesus? After all, lots of folks named Jesus at that time. A common name. And the Romans were crucifying whole metric shit tons of people. So, maybe the “scholars” of the bronze age (if you really want to call them scholars) got things mixed up and mingled the stories of two different men called “Jesus.”

It’s possible.

Or maybe the four different gospels in the Bible are written about four different men named Jesus. After all, the stories are similar, but not identical, and there are a lot of descrepencies. So, maybe there were a few men in Jerusalem calling themselves “the messiah” and more than a few of them were named Jesus.

It’s possible.

Of course, if you want to be an archeologist and print any of this in a shcolarly journal, you’ll need some proof.
But, if you make it your religion, you don’t need to prove any of it. You’ve got faith.

Just some thoughts on a Sunday.

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Out of Hand: Obama as Anti-Christ

We know the Bush Administration used “code words” to speak to Christian groups. (You can check them out here.) Looks like McCain is doing the same thing in a new internet ad.

In short, he’s calling Obama the Anti-Christ.

Fundamentalist Christians are starting to talk about the idea seriously.

Here’s the ad. Watch for the “subtle (and not so subtle) codes.” (“Self-anointed,” “carry the burden” and “the one” are what you’re looking for.)

At the very least, the ad paints Obama as comparing himself to Jesus. Another great example of how McCain is keeping this race “clean.”

Way to go, Senator.

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McCain and MLK Day; Obama and Offshore Drilling

(from Crooks and Liars)

During a press availability in Panama City, Florida, John McCain said, “I have supported hundreds of pieces of legislation, which would help Americans obtain an equal opportunity in America. I am proud of that record, from fighting for the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in my state to sponsoring specific legislation that would prevent discrimination in any shape or form in America today.” [McCain Press Availability In Panama City, Florida, 8/1/08] 

  • FACT: McCain Supported Republican AZ Governor’s Decision To Rescind MLK Holiday. ABC News reported, “In Arizona, a bill to recognize a holiday honoring MLK failed in the legislature, so then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, declared one through executive order. In January 1987, the first act of Arizona’s new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona’s stance became a national controversy. McCain backed the decision at the time.” [ABC News, 4/3/08]
  • FACT: McCain Supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s Decision In 1987 To Rescind Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “In a vote likely to haunt him for the rest of his public career, McCain voted against 1983 legislation establishing the third Monday in January as the federal holiday marking King’s birthday. Back home in Arizona, he supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s decision in 1987 to rescind an executive order creating a state holiday for King, but later reversed his position.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/16/08]
  • FACT: McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]

_____

Meanwhile, Obama states he may change his opinion on the stupid, stupid, stupid off-shore drilling thing. Of course, just saying that takes the quote out-of-context. For the full details, you have to read the prepositional phrase at the end of the sentence. You know, the phrase that begins with “if”…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that’s what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy.

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I have some advice for Obama; advice from a guy who studies game theory…

Hey dude… when you’re winning, you don’t have to compromise.

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GenCon: Fuxxord

Because of oversight on my part, I find myself a retailer without a booth.

Anybody willing to share booth space? Of course, I’m willing to buy in.

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Well crap…

Yesterday, I stick up for the Mormons and this is how they repay me.

Orson Scott Card–who wrote Ender’s Game–just said this:

The first and greatest threat from court decisions in California and Massachusetts, giving legal recognition to “gay marriage,” is that it marks the end of democracy in America.

He said it in the Mormon Times.

EDIT: 

I’d like any Mormon/Catholic/Lutheran/Baptist/Christian to show me, exactly, where Jesus condemns homosexuality.

They can’t find it. Know why? It don’t exist.

But Paul condemns it. That makes them Paulines, not Christians.

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Happy Birthday, Geddy!

And here’s Driven, one of my favorite Rush tunes, that happens to have a kickin’ little bass solo in the middle.

Go, Dirk, Go!

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Houses of the Blooded: My Game! (Part 2)

[info]mnight

 has posted her second installment of the Houses of the Blooded game she’s running (and I’m playing in!).

 Reflections
One of the first (if not the first) supplements I’ll be doing for the game is a little book called Blood & Tears. It’ll be the full PVP/LARP rules. Playing the game as someone who’s seen at least half a dozen groups abuse the system, I’ve learned a lot of tricks. I’ve even come up with a few of my own. The PVP system will have to limit the way people use Wisdom/Cunning risks as well as Style Points to add details to other PCs.

For example, when we walked into the Baronness’ home, I spend a Style Point and said, “I contact my spy in this house.” Just that easy. Now, I want my character to have spies in every house in Shanri, but imagine forty people walking into your home, spending a SP and saying the same thing. Not good for game play.

Making vetos cheap/easy encourages players to come up with cool things for your character: adding nifty details to your spouse/house/staff. I could also reverse the SP process. If you come up with a cool idea for one of my NPCs, I give you a Style Point. That may work. I’ll test it in the forthcoming playtest sessions.

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Houses of the Blooded: Forums

Website re-design goes on as I type. I’d like to know what kind of forums folks would like to see.

FAQ for each Book
Research (for discussion of ven research others have made)
House Rules (my favorite!)
IC Discussion
OOC Discussion

What else?