Job doesn't bother me so much, but Abraham getting ready to sacrifice his son really gets up my nose.

Also, it is now 85 degrees and work, and it is getting hard to do boring work in semi business-like attire, while being sticky and cranky.

Like Gud said above, if you think of it as an object lesson, not a true story, that helps a lot.

I just spent way too long talking and thinking about the Baha'i. They just seem so sensible and nice!

Job doesn't bother me so much, but Abraham getting ready to sacrifice his son really gets up my nose.

Well, he was probably pretty scared after God said, "You can do what you want Abe, but the next time you see me comin' you better run."

I'm afraid if I were being hit with a variety of calamities that seemed like directed divine acts rather than simple misfortune, I'd be looking into working for the competition and seeing if they needed an extra hand for scrubbing down Dagon's altar or somesuch.

I haven't read it in a while, but iirc, part of the story is that Job is the most faithful guy EVAH. His being picked is something of a compliment.

but iirc, part of the story is that Job is the most faithful guy EVAH. His being picked is something of a compliment.

Yeah, wasn't God bragging, "Job's my bestest fan!" or somesuch?

"Dude, check how much Job looooves me! I can shit all over him and he'll still be into me!"

Some excellent cat stacking.

Also, too damn cute! Sproing!

Camus's Sysyphus was ultimately happy with his burden, right?

Yes, and I love that essay. I just can't fit Job into that particular world view. I think it's the physical ailments and suffering, on top of the loss of loved ones, that won't let me go there. Job's more like the poor guy (Prometheus? Narcissus?) who has to get eaten by the bird every day (or, heh, Lindsay/Gunn's fate for a time in the last season of ANGEL).

I always felt sorry for Job - he had to put up with all this crap just so God could prove a point to Satan. Like, God should totally not give a fuck what Satan thinks and just not be so mean to Job....

This whole conversation is going to end up in bibledom_wank.

I couldn't really eat yesterday, and felt mild vertigo throughout, and now am home sick, stuffy nose, scratchy throat. I feel like a total jackhole because I couldn't really sleep last night and then fell asleep with the phone in my hand, so I didn't call in til 9:30.

Prometheus.

Narcissus is the one who stared into his own reflection, rapt, till he withered and died. Which is where the term "narcissism" comes from.