that's not the best reading of Job.
Define "best." (And no, "most likely to make the reader want to worship God by the end of the book" doesn't count.)
This is so nice. Having everyone together for my birthday. Of course, you could smash in all my toes with a hammer and it will still be the bestest Buffy Birthday Bash in a big long while.
Buffy ,'Potential'
Natter 46: The FIGHTIN' 46
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.
Jessica - Aug 02, 2006 10:04:40 am PDT #33 of 10001
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?
Volans - Aug 02, 2006 10:05:51 am PDT #34 of 10001
move out and draw fire
The Stoats and the Redshirts should be friends.
Somebody here reads Dork Tower
It was considered more on the level of a fratboy prank back then?
Life was just that fucking hard back then. The Asshole!God interpretation is also fairly American, or maybe First World.
::really leaving now::
JZ - Aug 02, 2006 10:07:05 am PDT #35 of 10001
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.
Not Hec, but I think by "best" he means "most in line with what, from what little historical and cultural context we can gather, the author(s) likely intended in writing it."
Kathy A - Aug 02, 2006 10:07:16 am PDT #36 of 10001
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
In non-God news (unless you're like me, and believe that candy is a gift from the deity(ies)), I'm sucking on a piece of root beer barrel hard candy, AIFG! I'd forgotten how good these are, and am very glad that the receptionist at my office has expanded her bowl of mints to include these.
DavidS - Aug 02, 2006 10:08:21 am PDT #37 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Define "best." (And no, "most likely to make the reader want to worship God by the end of the book" doesn't count.)
Best = Extracting the intended meaning in its metaphor instead of viewing it as a narrative where God is a character.
DavidS - Aug 02, 2006 10:09:31 am PDT #38 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I just didn't know which side of the crack line you'd fall on WRT God/Abraham=V/Evey.
No, I thought that was an excellent reading. Profound even.
JZ - Aug 02, 2006 10:11:15 am PDT #39 of 10001
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.
::preens::
::internally joggled by excessive preening, belches horrifically::
Laura - Aug 02, 2006 10:14:00 am PDT #40 of 10001
Our wings are not tired.
NOTE TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH COLBERT
Thank you! I watch Colbert from time to time but leave with the feeling I'm being yelled at.
erikaj - Aug 02, 2006 10:17:25 am PDT #41 of 10001
I'm a fucking amazing catch!--Fiona Gallagher, Shameless(US)
The Word is my favorite. Or when he debates himself. I used to identify with Job Way Too Much, ftr. I doubt I could ever be that faithful in actual fact, but as an Arizona Democrat, you'd see where I'd get confused.
Nutty - Aug 02, 2006 10:18:50 am PDT #42 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
I just don't have an investment in reading Job (or, really, most of the Biblical stories) with authorial intent aforethought. For one thing, I don't share the author's presumable faith. For another, narrative is all the power I need out of a story (thus reading God as a character is exactly the speed I'm at). Putting God-the-character in the therapist role, or the sadist role, or the prankster role, or the dad-who-needs-Valium role even, is as close as I can get to relating to a story that involves religious figures.
Besides, even God needs a Secret Pain, don't you think? Okay, possibly that is blasphemy, but I like to think it is empathetic blasphemy!