This morning's sermon from the attic: After this I promise not raise the subject of religion about which I know even less than any of the other topics on which I 'Bore for Britain'! However, Mr. Rob Dreher's book, to which I referred a couple of posts below, which advocated a return to a St. Benedict tradition of Christian withdrawal from an irreligious society, is the subject of a long essay at the NRO which is worth reading. I will also add, of course, that where 'The Speccie' leads others do follow so take out your subscription now!
A warning! We have a friend coming to lunch today so I may be called up for domestic duties and 'Sunday rumbling' may be intermittent. (And of course, it's the Bahrein Grand Prix at 4.00pm - jes' sayin'!)
Kelvin takes on the 'Scousers' - again! What is it with Liverpool these days? The 'Scousers' I knew back in my army days were tough, resilient and humorous. Today they come across as a bunch 'snowflakes'. So that naughty Mr. Kelvin MacKenzie did what he is famous for doing, being rude and funny about everything and anyone - but especially 'Scousers'. So what? Having compared an Everton footie-player, Ross Barclay, to a gorilla it turns out that the lad concerned has a Nigerian grandfather - who knew? - and the London 'liberatti' have succumbed to mass hysteria screeching racism.
Mr. Barclay is the, er, 'gorilla' on the right, so would you have known that his Grandfather was black? No, nor me and certainly not Mr. MacKenzie. Of course, the 'Scousers' will never forgive MacKenzie for stating in The Sun in the plainest terms possible that it was Liverpool fans who crushed to death nearly a hundred other Liverpool fans at Hillsborough. It doesn't do to tell the truth these days.
Giggle time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
May be gone, maybe not! Dan Hodges at The Mail raises the possibility, in his view more of a probability, that once Brexit is achieved, Mrs. May will jack it in and go off to spend more time with her beloved Phillip. She was 59 when she took office and according to sources she really is not enjoying it. Let us hope that over the next 2-3 years she clears the Tory decks of some of the deadbeats.
No more rumbles today
I read the Benedictine Option a week or so ago and can understand the temptation to fall back to that way. However I am nowhere near prepared to concede things to the darkness of "Progressive Christianity" and its parasite ally Islamic expansionism. Not by a long shot.
Posted by: Whitewall | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 12:11
A friend coming for lunch? At least your patio is weed free and ship shape!
Posted by: Whitewall | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 12:14
'Not quite, Lord Copper', ooops, sorry, I mean, 'Whiters', given recent April showers and sunshine my patio is featuring better grass than the lawn!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 12:17
David?
"How do y'all consider my artistry in getting all this grass to grow amongst my pavers (ie 'cobblestones' 'rocks embedded in the soil on which to tread) ... Took me some time to figure out a way to fill the otherwise ugly empty seams amongst the pavers, waddaya think?"
Works for me everytime when I have guests over to my barbeques David, I'd suggest you try it.
You're welcome!
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 14:45
This is in reply to some on the last thread. It works just as well here:
There are a few good ideas in the Bible, but if you read it and found Jesus a Prince of Peace you missed these passages:
Matthew 15:3-4 – Jesus demands putting disrespectful children to death
Luke 12:5 – Jesus insists people should fear God because he can send them to Hell
Luke 19:27 – Jesus says anyone who doesn’t believe in him should be dragged in front of him and slaughtered
Luke 14:26 – Jesus says any man that comes to him and doesn't hate his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters can't be his disciple
There are many more like these; enough to fill a book:
https://www.amazon.com/No-Meek-Messiah-Christianitys-Legacy/dp/0988216116
Admittedly, the Old Testament is worse. It's full of murder and perversion of every kind. It also contains a barbaric set of laws that Jesus stands up for in Matthew 5:18.
It's true that adherents to Islam are currently the most numerous bad actors. Also, the Quran is impossible to read without being put off by the obsession with killing infidels. However, all religion is a bad idea. In general it's a first order approximation of science with no real explanatory power. Basing a world view on superstition, folklore and mythology can only lead to problems. More people see that every day.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 16:46
Happy Easter Bob.
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 17:01
Same to you, JK. Bless your BBQ.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 17:13
Bob, "Jesus insists people should fear God because he can send them to Hell"
"Not quite, Lord Copper!"
Matthew XV.
3: But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4: For God commanded, saying Honour thy father and mother: and he that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Which is not demanding that they be put to death but that they will die. Sorry, can't be bothered to parse all your other examples.
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 18:32
Ummmm, David, you mixed up the lines old boy. You've correctly quoted Matthew 15:3-4, but the admonition about Hell is the next one listed:
Luke 12:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 16 April 2017 at 21:43