TheInvisibleDan

The earlier, so-called "heretical" Christian movements exhibit a quite different, more equitable and democratic perspective in regard to women than the old patriarchal attitudes which ultimately re-asserted themselves and prevailed, affecting the re-writing of scriptures (encompassing the Pauline material) to reflect this sexism. Prior to the ascendancy of orthodoxy, the Marcionites and other so-called "gnostic" movements were continually criticized by opponents for the key, active roles women played in their churches. It's quite feasible that Christianity might have never gotten off the ground without the particular appeal that it held for women back then, and their contribution toward its circulation. The statement attributed to Paul, of wives to "submit" themselves to their husbands, I think may be authentic only in those contexts where the idea of a mutual submission is expressed (i.e., Eph. 5), where a husband is also told to submit to his wife. Outside of the contexts of a equal and mutual submission between a husband and wife (e.g., the later, most flagrant fictional material of the Pseudo-Pauline "pastoral" epistles), it doesn't fly. The command in 1 Cor.14 for women to be silent in the church is most likely a later, most deliberate interpolation - I think it was the French writer Joseph Turmel in his commentary on 1 Corinthians who pointed out that the early church writer Iraenus never mentions this particular "weapon" when railing against the Montanists (a movement in which prophetesses played a major role). The command for a woman not to pray and prophesy with her head uncovered (1 Cor.11), by itself outright contradicts the interpolation in 1 Cor.14 - how could a woman "prophesy" in the church yet be commanded to be silent in a later chapter? As far as the material in 1 Cor.11 is concerned, we're also dealing with some peculiar cultural and cosmological ideas here, perhaps some for reasons we'll never be able to fully recover or explain. Even today in the middle east, and in other religions, women wear veils. The reason indicated in 1 Cor 11 - "on account of the angels". Apparently, it was believed that angels were present in congregations. Though even among the material of the Dead Sea scrolls, women, and those blind, infirm, feeble and diseased, were forbidden from participation in that congregation because of "the sons of God" (= angels). Jesus, in his parable on the banquet in Luke, goes against this grain of this thinking, and embraces all those which the Qumran "Manual of Discipline" forbade. Danny

Thank you for your enthusiastic review Jason P -this album is going at the top of my "want" list. I think it's fantastic that Brian Wilson went back into the studio and finally completed this vision some 30 years later. I can't wait to hear it. Danny

The girl near the bottom of the picture (to the left of the "Gorton fisherman" -lol!) is carrying what appears to be a basket of unidentifiable, generic fruit or vegetables of some kind...yet there are no fruit-bearing trees or plants in sight - just what the hell are they growing there? To the left of the red-shirt basket girl - a guy apparently groping a blonde-haired girl's breast. To the right of basket-girl - a black, mall security guard? Above the Gorton fisherman - two peasants exchanging a basket...strange that this garden is apparently planted in so narrow of a strip between a man-made river (or irrigation ditch?) and the path...or are they fishing produce out of the river? Would make better sense if they were growing rice paddies. Further upstream, what I thought was initially a shadow cast upon the water by the bridge looks more like letters - a cryptic message of some kind, containing the word "DAM"? To the left of the guy digging a hole for no apparent reason, a guy on his knees using hedge clippers? What are they doing, burying tall grass clippings? Talk about anal retentive... And then of course, all those background folks loitering in the middle of the path, talking to each other. One of the people (above the pile of dirt) has an unnaturally long arm, holding a stick or a rod...are these the "overseers"? The people in the foreground (aside from the guy groping the blonde, and black security guard gazing over his shoulder at happy Basket girl) don't exhibit much actual interaction or eye contact with one another. What a cold, dispassionate, and indeed muddled scene...and yes, those clam-like, phallic clouds are very weird... Jeash. If this illustration was intended as a metaphor for a "prevailing Word", they failed miserably. I think Highway hit the nail on the head - it's as pointless as twi today.

Yeah, Satorii - to heck with that Kenny the "anti-Copeland"- Aaron is the true Copland. I never tire of the thundering timpanii filled opening to "Billy the Kid", or the original chamber orchestral version of "Appalachian Spring"...

The illustration resembled something of an unnatural mating between a "Watchtower" magazine and "The Grapes of Wrath". The folks look like pathetic, downtrodden serfs, working the land...no doubt, the grounds of twi...isn't that the "Jordan Bridge" in the background? Jeesh, what a vision...

Ah, how to celebrate the occassion? How about...curling up in a fetal position inside a large, enclosed cardboard box?

How many other people here - those fortunate enough to own a decent stereo system - always found themselves being hit upon to run classes? I think that was one of the reasons that made my decision to leave the Way all that much easier - besides the fact that cds were just hitting the market at the time- I got so sick of tearing apart of my beloved home stereo system and lugging it miles away to some freakin' schmuck co-ordinator's house for the duration of every class that came up. And of course, I ended up having to "cue up" all the lousy audio tapes, and write down the cue numbers ahead of time, as well as the treble/bass and volume adjustments for each tape side. They would have done just as well if not better with a cheap handheld cassette player, giving the atrocious, varying audio quality of those old PFAL tapes, which should have been cosigned to the trash heap long ago. Oh yeah, we can't forget - we had to pick out the "appropriate" music between sessions. I recall the coordinator almost having a coronary when I played the "wrong" piece of music (lol). Danny

I may just have to go the "homeschool" route if I continue to encounter the bullying and arrogance of certain middle school administrators concerning my daughter, as I did last year. I'm being kind when I call them "Nazis"...thankfully, my daughter is out of that school and and attending trade school this year, with which she's very happy so far. However, my son has 2 more years at Adolf Hitler Jr. High. SO far no problems, but I want to arm myself better this time around should they try to pull the same crap on us with our son. QUESTION: any recommendations on how one might get certain school officials fired? Does a parent have any kind of recourse or power at all -petitions, town hall, whatever? (any suggestions would be vastly appreciated) Or are these people who supposedly work for us (!) untouchable? Danny

Don't know who the two actors were, but the one who depicted Kerry did a lot of flip-flopping ( "I'm not flip-flopping - I'm pandering!") while the one who played Bush just whined repeatedly throughout the debate, "It's...so...haaard...."

Please don't tell me I was the only one who caught the opening to "Saturday Night Live" last night? :D-->

So true, Abigail. I imagine there are also a number of beginners' Hebrew grammars and flash cards designed for children, if learning the language is an objective. I picked up a used copy of "A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew" by J. Weingreen a couple years ago (I think I paid about $10 for it), which has proven very helpful for familiarizing myself with the language, though kids would most likely find it a bit on the dry side. Danny

okay, now we're missing a reply....

Ah, so it turns out that the "tree of knowledge" requires more the cost of "tuition" than "intuition"? :)--> Danny

...that someone had posted earlier today, questioning why they were suffering so much in their life (which included a stroke)? I had intended to reply to it when I could sit at my computer again. Well whoever you are and whatever your situation, there's perhaps nothing worse than suffering alone. There's no need for that. Please don't hesitate to email me - dmahar@snet.net - or anyone else here if you need to talk to someone. with warmest regards, Danny

Omigish, that's hilarious. I also recall one class coordinator telling me about the time one of the class helpers being unable to contain a certain, silent-but-deadly toxic gas, apparently from indulging in a generous portion of pepperoni pizza the previous day. I guess the expressions on peoples' faces were priceless... Danny

I dunno, perhaps the Way fears that the disembodied spirit of Saint Victor, after hovering about his corpse for 3 days, migrated into the tombstone where he now resides, imparting mystical revelation and wisdom to any sojourner who cares to visit and touch the cold headstone (as was believed in many ancient, primitive cultures, of which category New Knoxville may easily fall).... --> When my 17 year old mutt passed away, two score and three years ago, I buried him in a wild field in the back of my house, between two scrawny pine trees. Little did I realize at the time, that that part of the field consisting of these pine trees actually belonged to my neighbor, Mr.Smith, who later started mowing and taming that part of his land. But Mr. Smith has never had an issue with me about walking out to those two pine trees in his yard to smoke a cigarette and pay my respects to my deceased mutt, or with chasing his cats shortly thereafter. For goodness sakes, the Way ought to follow the Godly example of my neighbor, Mr. Smith! Danny

Soylent Green are PEO-PLE!!!

The vein in your head would most certainly pop if you did (lol). Actually, my children are a mix - my son is generally more helpful in doing chores when I ask him, while my daughter hides (lol). Danny

(cracks whip) "O Donna poo, fetch me a box of chocolates, my little wench!" ("crack!")

My initial reaction to this methodology was, "Omig_d, wouldn't such a method be at times, distracting?" Not always being quick on my feet, I still greatly cherish my personal, quiet time to a reflection of ideas. Yet, I do fondly recall my family being gathered around the dinner table into the late evenings, discussing and speculating the mysteries of life. Which wasn't so much a "disturbance" but a joy. Yes, I agree with this approach wholeheartedly. For any study, in a closet or around a table. Danny

Seems I recall hearing a rumor many years ago that they lost a bit playing the stock market, somehow relative to the building of the auditorium (I can't recall the details now, and it was, after all, a rumor so many years ago circ. '87). If there is anything at all to this, I imagine that they would have not so easily surrendered the habit of playing the market. Perhaps they haven't done so well lately, considering their act of re-opening their bookstore to the public. We can be sure such an action on their part wasn't out of love. I find it interesting that they reopened their bookstore around the same time that "The Passion" was released, perhaps hoping to catch a few Aramaic waves of interest to sell those works. Shoot, if they had any depth of vision , they could have improved their advertisement (outside of that awful infomercial) and might have even promoted "Jesus Christ our Passover" to their advantage at the same time. Danny

dmiller: Me: No, I think what Matilda posted was the modern epistle of Col. 15:19. And I thought it was as fine as anything I've seen attributed to St. Paul's spirit, followed by the mystical Protoevangel of Roy. :)--> Danny

And those "disposable Adams" are beginning to take up quite a bit of our landfill. Onto the second stage! - Soylent Green

:o--> Here's very red, but it should be smiling. You're very nice. Thank you. Danny

I think he's going to be "accountable" for his actions - or his karma - just as all of us. I'm guessing he's probably due for a few more trips to the earth, until he gets the hang of washing feet....oh wait. This message just in - he just got washed away in Cuba with the last hurricane, and he's being re-assigned right now...fret not, I'm sure his new assignment and location will be divinely determined by "revelation". :P--> Danny