'The Message'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
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!"
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.
Prometheus. Liver, I think.
Being the gruesome child I could be, I once illustrated that with great glee for a book report in elementary school.
Some excellent cat stacking.
Did those cats stack themselves?
Job doesn't bother me so much, but Abraham getting ready to sacrifice his son really gets up my nose.
Well, yes.
But its more than just his son he's willing to give up, its his ONLY son. Abraham with a barren wife was promised he'd be the father of a great nation and ::boom:: God gave him a son. Then God goes and says "Give him back". Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son yet still believe that he will Father a great nation shows that he trusts God no matter what crazy-ass thing God says.
I've also heard commentary that it was an object lesson. Other neighborhood gods would have actually demanded a human sacrifice but God would not -- which he made clear in a very memorable way.