In the beginning was the Logos

[China Cat Sunflower]

I thought I posted this, but...what is God's mercy? Not Bible stories, that's all anthropomorphic. What is an example of mercy from the point of view of the architect of the universe?

Chris

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Thomas

So the Logos orders the two, but in so doing orders them according to a third, Itself, which is their Cause and Principle – so is 'in' all things and 'above' all things.

Of course, 'movement' itself signifies an imperfection, and as the whole Kosmos moves, it is imperfect, and is caught in the tension of an upward current of its own Potency (its Vocation?), and its Dissolution.

The 'battle' between Tradition and Modernity is not about change so much as movement; perfection and dissolution ... and when 'speed' is the goal and governing factor, then one can assume that the actual movement is downward, despite all appearances of 'Progress'.

Tradition insists the Principle remains constant, Progress becomes its own principle, and its values then become negotiable ... the idea of Balance and Justice is lost.

Thomas

I really love this, Thomas! It reminds me of Psalm 19 (source: sacred-texts.com).

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

and "I am the Lord, I change not".

Thanks,
Mark

[Prober]

(duplicate post)

[China Cat Sunflower]

Here's your link: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Don't be a fundie, attribute.

Chris

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

I thought I posted this, but...what is God's mercy? Not Bible stories, that's all anthropomorphic. What is an example of mercy from the point of view of the architect of the universe?

Chris

You did ask this two posts ago...are you asking me for an example, or Q?

[Prober]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Here's your link: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Don't be a fundie, attribute.

Chris

I gave credit in my post (or attempted to).

Have I blundered and committed an error?

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

You did ask this two posts ago...are you asking me for an example, or Q?

I posted the question, or I thought I did, but sometimes there's a delay. Weird stuff happens here, I don't know why. Sometimes you post and it doesn't show up, so you post again, and then there's a duplicate.

Umm...I'm looking for an example, but I'm not thinking of God in the personal sense. So maybe the question is rediculous. I just can't think of any example of when God, as a Force that governs the Universe (kinda thing), or Nature, gives anyone or anything any slack.

Chris

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by Prober

I gave credit in my post (or attempted to).

Have I blundered and committed an error?

Yes, yes you did. Now, which of God's instruments of discipline will help you learn your lesson?

Chris

[China Cat Sunflower]

Oh, maybe you did. I was looking for a link. Hmmm...O.K. I'll take it like a man....owww, ouch, ooo, shgeesh...ooompf. ohhhh...!

Chris

[Prober]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Yes, yes you did. Now, which of God's instruments of discipline will help you learn your lesson?

Chris

Emrods, please.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

I posted the question, or I thought I did, but sometimes there's a delay. Weird stuff happens here, I don't know why. Sometimes you post and it doesn't show up, so you post again, and then there's a duplicate.

I've noticed that posts at the very bottom of a page can 'disappear' until someone makes another post.

Umm...I'm looking for an example, but I'm not thinking of God in the personal sense. So maybe the question is rediculous. I just can't think of any example of when God, as a Force that governs the Universe (kinda thing), or Nature, gives anyone or anything any slack.

Chris

I have a difficult time with the idea of an interventionist God. Certainly begs the question of why some people are spared, others not. But, mercy perhaps is in the eye of the beholder.

As I said, I think it's up to us to show mercy, and that is where we see God's mercy reflected in the world. God works through our hearts and hands. Also I trust in God's unconditional love, and that is mercy, grace, but it's also a subjective thing.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Prober

Emrods, please.

So, is this a SDA thing, or an online game, or what?

[Prober]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

So, is this a SDA thing, or an online game, or what?

1st Samuel 5...

When the Philistines carried off the Ark, G-d "smote them with emerods" (I spelled it wrong) and mice.

When they couldn't handle it any more, they made golden images of the emerods and mice and put them in a little chest on a new cart (with the Ark) and sent it back to Israel.

As near as I can figure, the emrods were hemhorroids (sp) because the got them in their "secret parts".

Perhaps Thomas knows for sure.

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Mercy...I think that mercy is a solely human construct. Mercy implies a consideration of mitigating circumstances. I can't think of an instance where God or nature demonstrates mercy.

Chris

How did the animals know to move to higher ground when the big Tsunami hit?
Why do elephants know where to dig for water during a drought?
Why do some people always end up kicking themselves for not heeding an intuitive warning?
A little nudge can make a big difference.

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Yeah, but it's more a surrender to the essential paradoxes, isn't it? Like always reaching but never holding? Or trying to not try? I mean, even if the meaning is in the journey and not the destination, one must have a destination to begin the journey. You can't just sit on the couch and imagine the journey to save the effort.

Love and mercy require free-will, and cannot be forced.

Justice is balance, but balance needs an essential imbalance to presuppose its necessity.

Chris

Wouldn't that imbalance be a lack of love and mercy? Isn't that the reason why people do unjust things? Isn't that why we have the two greatest commandments, upon which "hang all the Laws and Prophets?"

Originally Posted by Matt 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

{Why does this thread remind me of the Mythos and Logos thread?}