tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post6100144511739248344..comments2024-03-29T12:03:37.344+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Death before and after Jesus (and the possibility of resurrection) Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-53899458631283538452019-09-27T08:58:08.425+01:002019-09-27T08:58:08.425+01:00@David - It might be supposed 'wishful thinkin...@David - It might be supposed 'wishful thinking' - but I do not believe so. It seems to me that Christians purport to believe that we are children of a loving God; yet quite often impute to God behaviour that would disgrace even an average Father - then rationalise this on the basis that God is so much'other' and infinite that we cannot have any valid opinion on what counts as Good behaviour. To my mind, such a view - common as it is and has been among Christians - is actually describing the God of Islam (who then behave much more rationally in context of the assumption that God is indeed of that nature); rather than the God made known to us by Jesus. I am personally much more confident of God's love and my relation to God, and of being able to understand him by that love and relatedness - than I am confident of theological reasoning or scriptural translation and interpretation. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-23963805089784719422019-09-26T21:52:21.051+01:002019-09-26T21:52:21.051+01:00I think this makes sense...in essence, people get ...I think this makes sense...in essence, people get what they most wanted in their mortal lives. Your perspective is very unorthodox but it feels intuitively in keeping with the core assumption that a loving God would allow the free will to choose a spiritual path, even if that path is contrary to the wisdom of what can bring a human soul its most fulfilling Joy in eternity. This is offered of course, but not forced. Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-6188100487634002582019-09-22T14:52:33.016+01:002019-09-22T14:52:33.016+01:00@Wm - I have read summaries of course, but it didn...@Wm - I have read summaries of course, but it didn't stick. The problem is that I haven't really enjoyed any poetry in translation, and I haven't really enjoyed much very long epic poetry. So, my enthusiasm is limited. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-27430648454741197352019-09-22T10:55:43.000+01:002019-09-22T10:55:43.000+01:00OK, unlike most of the semi-conscious shades, Achi...OK, unlike most of the semi-conscious shades, Achilles knows he is dead, knows he is in Hades, knows how different it is from being really alive -- but can do nothing about it.<br /><br />I know you don't take book recommendations, but -- Homer! No one else is like him. I would rank him alongside Moses himself.Wm Jas Tychonievichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446790072877463982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-25728852924378179402019-09-22T07:33:17.626+01:002019-09-22T07:33:17.626+01:00@Wm - You would need to ask somebody who had read ...@Wm - You would need to ask somebody who had read Homer...Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-78836697927035434832019-09-22T04:33:17.234+01:002019-09-22T04:33:17.234+01:00The sleep connection is interesting. So are people...The sleep connection is interesting. So are people like Achilles the lucid dreamers of Hades?Wm Jas Tychonievichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446790072877463982noreply@blogger.com