Ah, yes - Matthew 25. “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” which teaches the valuable lesson that failure to bring enough oil for your lamp might save you from being added to some asshole’s harem.
Or something like that. I’m sure that’s what Jesus meant, amirite?
I sure do, and while I am not a believer in the apotheosis, I consider this passage to be a core component of my philosophy, that also includes teachings from religions and philosophies from all over the world. It's as sound a message for society as any written. Thanks for this excellent piece, Evan (one among many excellent pieces of yours). Merry Christmas 🎄
Yeah, that's one of the reasons I harp on it so much -- and why I call on others to speak up in the ways that go with their own backgrounds, what I like to call the "architecture" of what I believe a lot of these universal ideas are. Mine happens to come from a mish-mash of conservative evangelical and mainline, mostly white church Christianity. So that's the language I'm best at speaking. And no matter what exactly I believe these days -- which I honestly think is a moving target for me and a lot of people if we're being honest from day to day! --- that's the "architecture" I'm best at using to frame it.
So I love the message when I find it in other religious and nonreligious places, but it's not my first language. But I hope to encourage others to use THEIR first language, so to speak, to help nail these motherfuckers.
I love how you articulated that, Evan. I grew up in a nominally Episcopalian family, though my parents were very keen to get my brothers and I into critical thinking from day One. Because I wasn't indoctrinated into a religion I found I could study them with interest (philosophy, how humans tried to grasp their universe before modern scientific method, etc) and find moral throughlines as well as failures across them. It puts me in the awkward position of understanding religion, theology, etc with more depth than many practitioners/believers. That is frequently very frustrating 😅.
Because of where the modern Evangelical crowd has dragged us, and because I value your perspective and your writing, I'm very thankful for your column. Wishing you and everyone at this priceless rag a very happy new year xx
If it worked like that no doubt the volume of the Epstein files might have been seriously curtailed. I wonder what kind of oil...olive oil would have been the most common variety in Palestein BC. Does it burn well? I do know it can be a good substitute for butter. When I make macaroni and cheese I no longer use butter, just olio oliva and it tastes just the same.
“ I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.” Matthew:25, 42-46
Pope Bob is proving to be pitch-perfect in his public ministry. I'm glad. He's prepared for the political moment and we benefit from his voice. We need his voice.
Ah yes, yes indeed, the old "entertaining angels unaware". Just how does one "entertain" angels? Tell them jokes? Do a little dance? Sing excerpts from The Great American Songbook? How about stupid pet tricks?
Ho ho fucking ho. Day 8 of no heat, no lights, no money. If the furnace was fried by the failure of the ground wire in the main supply, I might as well set fire to this collapsing shack and not bother to leave.
Ah, yes - Matthew 25. “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” which teaches the valuable lesson that failure to bring enough oil for your lamp might save you from being added to some asshole’s harem.
Or something like that. I’m sure that’s what Jesus meant, amirite?
Y'all KNOW I'm talking about the sheep and the goats and the "least of these" at the end of the chapter lol
I sure do, and while I am not a believer in the apotheosis, I consider this passage to be a core component of my philosophy, that also includes teachings from religions and philosophies from all over the world. It's as sound a message for society as any written. Thanks for this excellent piece, Evan (one among many excellent pieces of yours). Merry Christmas 🎄
Yeah, that's one of the reasons I harp on it so much -- and why I call on others to speak up in the ways that go with their own backgrounds, what I like to call the "architecture" of what I believe a lot of these universal ideas are. Mine happens to come from a mish-mash of conservative evangelical and mainline, mostly white church Christianity. So that's the language I'm best at speaking. And no matter what exactly I believe these days -- which I honestly think is a moving target for me and a lot of people if we're being honest from day to day! --- that's the "architecture" I'm best at using to frame it.
So I love the message when I find it in other religious and nonreligious places, but it's not my first language. But I hope to encourage others to use THEIR first language, so to speak, to help nail these motherfuckers.
Merry Christmas back!
I love how you articulated that, Evan. I grew up in a nominally Episcopalian family, though my parents were very keen to get my brothers and I into critical thinking from day One. Because I wasn't indoctrinated into a religion I found I could study them with interest (philosophy, how humans tried to grasp their universe before modern scientific method, etc) and find moral throughlines as well as failures across them. It puts me in the awkward position of understanding religion, theology, etc with more depth than many practitioners/believers. That is frequently very frustrating 😅.
Because of where the modern Evangelical crowd has dragged us, and because I value your perspective and your writing, I'm very thankful for your column. Wishing you and everyone at this priceless rag a very happy new year xx
BTW, I'm GenX, and the use of "rag," like "zine," is the highlight compliment
If it worked like that no doubt the volume of the Epstein files might have been seriously curtailed. I wonder what kind of oil...olive oil would have been the most common variety in Palestein BC. Does it burn well? I do know it can be a good substitute for butter. When I make macaroni and cheese I no longer use butter, just olio oliva and it tastes just the same.
Now that's interesting. Do you make a roux with olive oil?
Merry, Happy, Healthy, Safe holidays to all🎉🎄🤞
I'm an atheist. Doesn't mean that I don't know how to deal with these assholes.
I’m an atheist who realizes the Universe experiences itself, just trying to show it a good (and compassionate) time.
Appreciate you.
A big Amen to this piece.
“ I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.” Matthew:25, 42-46
Really not subtle at all.
Merry Christmas to all you leftist haters and loosers!
GDIAF Putin puppet. You're a traitor like your depraved boss, King Pig.
I did not think the /s was required, but evidently I was mistaken.
It is too often not /s. But I recognized your name.
Merry Christmas!
"Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."
~ Hebrews 13:2, NASB
Pope Bob is proving to be pitch-perfect in his public ministry. I'm glad. He's prepared for the political moment and we benefit from his voice. We need his voice.
Merry Christmas, Evan. God bless us, every one.
Ah yes, yes indeed, the old "entertaining angels unaware". Just how does one "entertain" angels? Tell them jokes? Do a little dance? Sing excerpts from The Great American Songbook? How about stupid pet tricks?
Ho ho fucking ho. Day 8 of no heat, no lights, no money. If the furnace was fried by the failure of the ground wire in the main supply, I might as well set fire to this collapsing shack and not bother to leave.
I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope you have some place to go now?
Thank you Evan and Merry Christmas to all!
He’s a fine fellow indeed, but what makes him the coolest is that honkingly long chrome goose-neck mic.
Matthew 25:14 gets a heavy workout from the money hustling Christians. Maybe not the best choice.
Yeah some of us have lived that for quite awhile.
EVERYTHING is too subtle for the Trump posse of pinheads and assholes!!
Merry Christmas Evan and gang!