Probably the most profound example of 16-year-old writing I’ve seen in a while. So sensible!
Religion
3
Mar 06
Questions about John 11
I was reading John 11 today (read it in The Message, NLT, NASB) and came across a few things that made me go “hmmm”:
- What is Jesus talking about in verses 9 and 10? And how does it answer the question in verse 8? I have no idea.
- I love Thomas’s respons in verse 16. Poor guy really got the short end of the stick in that we only remember him for doubting.
- Why did Mary stay in the house when Martha went out (verse 20)? Especially given that she “ran out to” Jesus when Martha whispered to her. Maybe she didn’t know Jesus was there? I don’t know, but I do find it interesting that Martha specifies (verse 28) that Jesus particularly wants to see Mary. That would feel like a tremendous compliment, I think.
- This was brought out in the latest issue of Discipleship Journal: Martha and Mary both make the same comment to Jesus. He responds to each of them in a completely different way: with Martha, he brings up the theological truth; with Mary, he weeps.
- What is Jesus deeply angry/troubled in spirit/moved with indignation (depending on the translation) about? I’m not sure if I understand this reaction, and I’d like to know what you all think.
These aren’t rhetorical questions. Post your comments. 
20
Feb 06
Understanding the Danish cartoons
Udland Jyllands-Posten’s culture editor, Flemming Rose, has penned an article called “Why I Published Those Cartoons“. This is a very good read and I highly recommend it. It is, of course, referring to the cartoons that have sparked such insanity in the Middle East. I learned a lot from the article that I didn’t know, like that there were actually 12 different cartoons, most of which have gone unnoticed, and that the outcome in Denmark has been significantly different (and infinitely more positive).
Frankly, I haven’t addressed the cartoons because I simply can’t wrap my mind around the madness. I read one article where a Muslim was quoted saying something like, “Can you imagine the outrage if this was done to Christians?” and my mind just boggled. Apparently he doesn’t know that Christians, Christianity, and Jesus are routinely mocked all over the world. I also can’t get over the irony of the response: people don’t like that they feel they are being called terrorists, so they react by acting like terrorists.
Understand, I do not try to offend people of other faiths, and would never do so for the sake of offending. I have read and respect other perspectives on this. But I find myself agreeing fully with Mr. Rose.
Has Jyllands-Posten insulted and disrespected Islam? It certainly didn’t intend to. But what does respect mean? When I visit a mosque, I show my respect by taking off my shoes. I follow the customs, just as I do in a church, synagogue or other holy place. But if a believer demands that I, as a nonbeliever, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy.
Whether or not you agree with Mr. Rose, it is useful to understand where he’s coming from. Now if only I could find a Muslim perspective that actually makes sense. (That’s not quite accurate; the moderate Muslims are perfectly sensible—I just can’t figure out the extremists.)
