Danae: Um... isn't imagining a monster under the bed just a tired cliche? Lucy: Well... doesn't something become a cliche by being based in truth? Danae: ... OK... we'll stick with blind, irrational fear for now. Lucy: Hey, you can't go wrong with the classics.
@Spamgaard – I’m not sure which one is the most pathetic: the list of words not to use online or the fact that I had to read about an American civil rights issue in a British newspaper. Nevertheless, a tip of the hat to the Brits.
Danae again cites the “Great American Paradigm”. My mother was quite upset with me because I DID have snakes under my bed, and I put them there, much to HER chagrin!!
I don’t think “fear the Lord” means exactly what we think it means today. Regardless to how you feel about religion, there are often phrases or words in the Bible that can’t be interpreted literally as we understand them today. With all the different translations and shifts in meaning of words, the Bible isn’t an easy read.
How anyone can call Sharuniboy a troll just boggles my mind!!! Blue Pumpkin, agreed, much in the King James translation is obsolete (and some was aleady obsolete when it was published), and much was and is translated just plain wrong. I was brought up to understand “fear” in the verse in question to signify “respect,” and I am far from young. But there it is, and it has been used to browbeat.
You are very correct: it is a matter of translating the original tongues of the Bible into modern English. On the subject of FEAR vs LOVE, here is a scripture to chew on (according to a modern-day translation): 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.” What is noteworthy is that Hebrew and Greek both have different words for different kinds of fear and love. As for fear, there is one that means “morbid dread”. This is the fear in the verse cited above. It is not a fear that God wishes us to have for him. However, the “fear of God” that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) means “wholesome fear of displeasing” or “wholesome desire to please.” It is like a child that loves their parent but wants to be pleasing, or marriage mates that love each other but fear to displease. “Respect” is good, but “obey” is also good. In this sense, one can FEAR God and LOVE God. I will make the observation that many of your comments reflect a disdain for religion and its adherents. While true that many religions start wars and atrocities, and most simply don’t try to stop them, that is not to say their positions are supported in their own holy writings. If we are indeed to “love our neighbor”, we must actively seek to stop killing him. Thanks, and I hope you read this.
Do you recall that wonderful song from South Pacific which really set the cat among the pigeons even then? It was entitled: You’ve Got To Be Taught To Hate. So apropos, even after all these years.
Varnes over 12 years ago
Saying that that kind of logic is also true of stereotypes isn’t a cliche’ is it?
Linguist over 12 years ago
Sounds like some of our political conspiracy wing-nuts. They live by the classics. We have nothing to fear but those who fear.
revisages over 12 years ago
that would be terror vs angst as any bad vs good
Linguist over 12 years ago
It’s not good to be #2. Now Number 3 or Number 6, well that’s totally different.
Packratjohn Premium Member over 12 years ago
Yep, always go with the tried ’n true
elbeck over 12 years ago
@Spamgaard – I’m not sure which one is the most pathetic: the list of words not to use online or the fact that I had to read about an American civil rights issue in a British newspaper. Nevertheless, a tip of the hat to the Brits.
Spamgaard over 12 years ago
Fear of things that go bump in the night was a useful trait that kept you alive long enough to breed.
dabugger over 12 years ago
now isn’t all that just too logical?
Spyderred over 12 years ago
Generating fear in an electorate is a staple of governments everywhere, but particularly among the right-centered ones.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Danae again cites the “Great American Paradigm”. My mother was quite upset with me because I DID have snakes under my bed, and I put them there, much to HER chagrin!!
BluePumpkin over 12 years ago
I don’t think “fear the Lord” means exactly what we think it means today. Regardless to how you feel about religion, there are often phrases or words in the Bible that can’t be interpreted literally as we understand them today. With all the different translations and shifts in meaning of words, the Bible isn’t an easy read.
Fan o’ Lio. over 12 years ago
Speaking of #2, check out my avatar.
treered over 12 years ago
The Classics… Spock questioning the profanity in The Voyage Home… :) (heart)
underwriter over 12 years ago
How anyone can call Sharuniboy a troll just boggles my mind!!! Blue Pumpkin, agreed, much in the King James translation is obsolete (and some was aleady obsolete when it was published), and much was and is translated just plain wrong. I was brought up to understand “fear” in the verse in question to signify “respect,” and I am far from young. But there it is, and it has been used to browbeat.
Ernest Lemmingway over 12 years ago
Human beings were, are, and always will be subject to “blind, irrational fear.” In other news, water is wet. Film at eleven.
Vonne Anton over 12 years ago
You are very correct: it is a matter of translating the original tongues of the Bible into modern English. On the subject of FEAR vs LOVE, here is a scripture to chew on (according to a modern-day translation): 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.” What is noteworthy is that Hebrew and Greek both have different words for different kinds of fear and love. As for fear, there is one that means “morbid dread”. This is the fear in the verse cited above. It is not a fear that God wishes us to have for him. However, the “fear of God” that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) means “wholesome fear of displeasing” or “wholesome desire to please.” It is like a child that loves their parent but wants to be pleasing, or marriage mates that love each other but fear to displease. “Respect” is good, but “obey” is also good. In this sense, one can FEAR God and LOVE God. I will make the observation that many of your comments reflect a disdain for religion and its adherents. While true that many religions start wars and atrocities, and most simply don’t try to stop them, that is not to say their positions are supported in their own holy writings. If we are indeed to “love our neighbor”, we must actively seek to stop killing him. Thanks, and I hope you read this.
tjj300 over 12 years ago
No. 6 is not a number, he is a free man.No. 2 accepted his number willingly, he is not free.The question is, is No. 6 actually No. 1?
tigre1 over 12 years ago
Kid’s gonna be a right-winger for sure…
Linguist over 12 years ago
Do you recall that wonderful song from South Pacific which really set the cat among the pigeons even then? It was entitled: You’ve Got To Be Taught To Hate. So apropos, even after all these years.