Comments on What's This Marriage Thing All About, Then?

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I have a comment about some of these comments.

First of all, God says he will take the foolish things to confound the wise...In other words, no matter how many degrees you have behind your name, no matter how educated you may be, God can send a sweet little farm girl from Idaho to refute everything you think you know with one sentence. And he does do this at times.

Secondly, the entire text and teachings of the Bible hinge on two things: Love and Faith. If you aren't willing to open up your heart to others and love them in spite of whatever differences you may have, then you can't be a Christian. And if you refuse to "Just Believe" what God's word says simply because he said and he's our Creator, then you can't be pleasing to God.

Sorry about the length of my comment as well.

posted by Passionflower on August 8, 2005 at 11:53 AM | link to this | reply

Sorry this was so long, didn't stop to think of it. I should have e mailed.

You may prefer to delete it.

posted by Justi on August 8, 2005 at 11:37 AM | link to this | reply

Damon Leigh, such a wonderful comment. You have brought up the

questions that have caused many to walk away from the faith. I too believed just as you did, I still have so much to learn. I agree that the Hebrew text has the key to the texts of Scriptures. But nothing has been lost in translation. This was one of my strongest tools against the Word of God. I finally was simply given the truth.

I watched uneducated people who had never heard of the Greek Philosophers, The French or the Russian writers and they claimed to know it all. I spent thirty years kicking and screaming about all this stuff. I studied every religion with materials available to me. I worked with astrology, numerology and this in addition to a degree in psychology. Nothing worked my life became a mess. The more I knew the less I less value I saw in any of it.

I was born again. I began to read with the help of the Holy Spirit. I refused to accept doctrine such as Catholicism, Denominational or anything based upon what scholar said this or that but the Holy Spirit. I do go to church in a denominational church so I can fellowship, study and work in many ministries for those who need whatever we can give. This is a super natural work. Nobody can destroy its meaning. The prophecy's have been fulfilled to such a high probability that they can't be guess work. The Scriptures peel away like skins of an onion and all the things that have ever happened that were significant have already been told in the Bible. Some read it looking for what it can do for them the feel good, many read for many reasons but there is no limit when you are not reading to disprove it. It will make a fool of us all.

Jewish and Christian Scientist's have used computers and done a very sophisticated research on the hidden text. One Messianic Jew worked on this by hand meticulously working on just the all ten letters right and then left. The are doing an incredible relation of what the Bible says in encoded work.

Thank you so much for questioning. It is the most awesome thing ever created. No other God is alive. No other Scripture is live. Now I would not have said that for the fear of the whole world laughing at me. Now I am more sure of that than I am of anything I see, taste, hear, smell or touch.

I hope I have answered a little. Thank you so much for asking and I understand your doubt. It is too simple and too old to be true~~~~~The concept of cloning, anesthesia, first surrogate mother and the workings of DNA are all in the first book of the Bible if you know what you have seen and how to accept it.

posted by Justi on August 8, 2005 at 8:50 AM | link to this | reply

Justsouno...

...oh, I know I'm way out of my depth here!

That's why my title is a question, most of my comments back to you are in the form of questions and, as I said below, I'm operating from genuine curiosity.

If it sounds like I'm putting Christians down (I'm not) then it's because I don't buy the simplistic tales that Christianity tells about itself and the world. Yes, there's a lot of value in the Bible, as there is in every holy book (and many non-holy books, too). But there's a lot of waffle and spin, too. How could it be otherwise when the true meanings are all but lost over the centuries and masses of translations. (As I'm sre you know, there's far more meaning in Hebrew and Aramaic texts than can ever be conveyed in English or Spanish or Chinese, and the meanings differ in different languages, too).

As for your question - about average, I'd say.

Thanks for the comment, and the compliments - much appreciated!

D

posted by DamonLeigh on August 8, 2005 at 4:49 AM | link to this | reply

Damon what do you know about the writing of both these religions?

There was not only 3,000 years more experience; but the whole process of the second one was foretold in the first. This is too detailed to get into here. I am not just taking sides here, as I am doing that, but if one studied both carefully then it would conclude the difference and how the first had foretold the second and the second copied with re-writing situations to fit into their or his need. This is far too complex for a comments page. But I hate to see otherwise smart individuals put down Christians across the board as if a dog was a dog was a dog; there are hunters, workers and little cute worth for nothing dogs we feed and love. You are out of your knowledge zone on this subject, yet I think you are a very smart man and an excellent writer.

posted by Justi on August 6, 2005 at 11:47 AM | link to this | reply

Good Point...

...ariel!

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on August 6, 2005 at 1:55 AM | link to this | reply

Damon

He who knows not his history is doomed to re-enact it. Although not necessarily in the exact same form. Some things in history are constant, and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future

posted by ariel70 on August 6, 2005 at 1:47 AM | link to this | reply

Justsouno...

...so, if Islam started 3,000 years after Christianity, are you suggesting that, since it was written with 3,000 years more human experience and knowledge, it's a more advanced religion?

Actually, I'm not at all sure about your 'facts' here.

Cheers!

D

posted by DamonLeigh on August 6, 2005 at 1:42 AM | link to this | reply

I Don't...

...understand how history can be said to be predicted. If it happened hundreds of years ago, how can it be predicted?

D

posted by DamonLeigh on August 6, 2005 at 1:40 AM | link to this | reply

Yes all civilization began between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers

That is where the Garden of Eden was. One major difference is the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) of the Christian (New Testament) was written 3,000 years before the beginner of Islam went into a cave and began writing his version.

posted by Justi on August 5, 2005 at 4:06 PM | link to this | reply

No it isn't funny it is predicted. Are you Muslim?

posted by Justi on August 5, 2005 at 1:28 PM | link to this | reply

Justsouno...

...in answer to your last question, no, there's no hidden agenda in my post and questions - just observation and true curiosity.

What's interesting about your history / theology lesson is the similarity, at least geographical, between Chritianity and our new "ach-enemy", Islam.

Funny old world.

Thanks for your input.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on August 5, 2005 at 5:07 AM | link to this | reply

You said you were questioning marriage according to Christians.

We believe five thousand years before Jesus was born we were given instruction on marriage. Man was to leave his parents and cleave to his wife and they were to become one.  Then there was Abraham who had no children and his wife gave her handmaiden for him to marry too and bear his first wife a child. He, Ishmael that child of the worlds first surrogate mother, became the father of the Arabic peoples. Then at age 99 God promised Abraham he would make his wife who was far past bearing children, pregnant with the heir of promise and he did. Abraham was 100 when the wife of his youth Sarah gave birth to Isaac the son of promise, who was the father of Jacob who was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob married and was tricked by a veil and married the wrong girl whom he had worked 7 years for and he worked another 7 years for the second one. Also Abraham was from Mesopotamian area, this was considered the cradle of civilization and people read and had libraries. Is your post talking about the oppression of the Catholic Church and as it began to break apart and the English people began to read and steal Bibles?

posted by Justi on August 4, 2005 at 6:16 PM | link to this | reply

Mark...

...that should fund an early retirement from your work with the sexually depraved and the naked women, huh?

or not...

Good to see you here.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 18, 2005 at 6:53 AM | link to this | reply

My great-granparents, on my father's side, were married for 76 years ~

~  Yep, that's not a typo.....76 years.  Which was a real bonus for me..on their 75th anniversary they received a letter of congratulations from the President...none other than Richard Millhouse Nixon.  I still have that letter.  Oh, yes....

posted by mark2556 on March 18, 2005 at 6:50 AM | link to this | reply

Sassy...

...well said, that lady!

Nineteen years and still going strong - nice one!!

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 18, 2005 at 6:44 AM | link to this | reply

MissAlgernon...

...good to meet you, too!

There used to be talk of ditching 'Comments' from this site all together. I fought hard to keep it, as I find the discussions that blossom here (and sometimes the arguements that break out!) incredibly stimulating and useful.

Thanks for stopping by!

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 18, 2005 at 6:42 AM | link to this | reply

YLF...

...thank you!

Second time around for both of us, and it sure does feel good1

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 18, 2005 at 6:41 AM | link to this | reply

Its not as scary as it sounds

I will be married for 19 years come next month. We have a special section in our local paper that acknowledges people married for more then 25 years. I just read about one couple that just hit 60 years together. They claim that they are still best friends. My daughter worked in a convalescent home and this one couple wanted to be together so he moved into the nursing home with his wife even though he didn't need their services. The right partner and the right attitude about the marriage thing can make a big difference. You have to be able to stomach the other in the face of hardships. Forgiveness, communication and liking each other is super important.  

posted by sassyass_64 on March 16, 2005 at 11:57 AM | link to this | reply

Okay, now...I've looked over some of the reactions people have posted...and they're actually serious, which kind of surprises me...I thought that part on the Ten Commandments and killing was pretty much rhetorical but it seems people have answers even for that!

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if you are finding the comments you're getting helpful?

posted by MissAlgernon on March 16, 2005 at 10:11 AM | link to this | reply

OH MY GOSH! YOU READ ME!

Hang on let me catch my breath and then I'll start reading and commenting substantially.  I promise.

Oh and I'm putting you on my favorites.  Nice to meet ya!

posted by MissAlgernon on March 16, 2005 at 10:06 AM | link to this | reply

So, you're a newlywed, DL? Congratulations!

I'm still very pleased with my hubby in year five.

posted by TARZANA on March 16, 2005 at 9:57 AM | link to this | reply

Wow, JanesOpinion ~ that's great.

posted by TARZANA on March 16, 2005 at 9:56 AM | link to this | reply

Entrepreneur Maker...

...that's an interesting viewpoint.

I'd be interested to know where the proof lies for such a strong assertion.

Also, I'd like to be clear on one thing. If God did create it, did he just do it for Christians? Or did he extend it to Jews as well? How about Hindus? Muslims? Gays? Buddhists? Atheists?

See, if he created this one thing for everyone, and it has the potential to unite us across all borders and boundaries, why are we arguing so much about different belief systems and lifestyles?

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 16, 2005 at 9:54 AM | link to this | reply

YLF...

...at its best, that's true.

Hopefully, that's what T and I got into last year.

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 16, 2005 at 9:51 AM | link to this | reply

JanesOpinion...

...I once knew a similar couple of similar age - well, they'd been married well over fifty years, anyway. He once told me they'd never once talked of divorce in all that time. Murder - about once a month. But never divorce.

;-)

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 16, 2005 at 9:50 AM | link to this | reply

Dylan...

...it was always a tool for social control.

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on March 16, 2005 at 9:49 AM | link to this | reply

Marriage is actually a covenent

God instituted. Saying its human invented is well, ignorant and misleading.

posted by Entrepreneur_Maker on March 13, 2005 at 5:11 PM | link to this | reply

On this side of the pond. . . .

I recently read of a couple who'd been married 80 years.  He died last year at age 102 (or so), and she just died at age 101 (I think).  Anyway, they were truly committed to each other until death parted them.  They had nine kids, and then a bazillion grand kids, great grand kids, great-great grand kids and I think even a few great-great-great grand kids.  What a wonderful heritage for their children.

posted by JanesOpinion on March 13, 2005 at 3:44 PM | link to this | reply

Getting married is what people do when they love each other.  Imagine a best friend who promised to always be there.  That's the idea.

posted by TARZANA on March 12, 2005 at 1:53 PM | link to this | reply

I didn't see this post until now, but I'm glad I read it belatedly.  I don't see anything inherently necessary about monogamous relationships given special legal recognition, but I think monogamy when truly respected (that is, marry someone you really care about; don't cheat; don't divorce just because it gets tough) brings benefits to society.  It reduces the burden on the state and society by obliging two people to take special care of one another -- in sickness and health, etc. -- under circumstances in which two people engaged in an ordinary contract would not be obliged to take such care.  Marriage at its best is to be a covenant of unconditional love.  I know married people who really seem to feel that way toward each other.  It's not for me, but God bless 'em! 

posted by Dylan24 on January 29, 2005 at 9:36 PM | link to this | reply

I Detect...

...the voice of experience in your comment, DEVILINME! You're the lovely lady with the dead deer, aren't you? You're right - there are people out there who will not change, marriage or no. My first one went pear-shaped because we botyh thought it would change the other. It didn't. This time around (!) we're older and wiser (??) and have our eyes wide open. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for stopping by.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on January 11, 2005 at 3:12 AM | link to this | reply

It's for some, it's not for others..some want the wedding.. some want the

settlement after the obvious divorce that will come.. some are so committed (and some are so delusional to think)_ that their love will withstand the test of time and need that bond confirmed in the "eyes of God".. and some want to shut their fuckin parents up because they had a kid "in sin".  Whatever floats their boat.  I think some women actually think thier husbands (or vice versa) will settle down because it's said so on paper.  Either way, paper or not, if your a peice of shit and treat your significant other like so, it isn't going to change.  Your just held more liable for it.  Pay up.

posted by Kiddo75 on January 10, 2005 at 1:57 PM | link to this | reply

Tweedhead...

...as the literary frog said - readit!

It is older than Christianity, but not in it's current Christian form. It's the current form I'm writing about, which is a relatively modern invention.

Thanks for reading.

D

posted by DamonLeigh on January 10, 2005 at 8:56 AM | link to this | reply

you're welcome

 

posted by cantey_1975 on January 5, 2005 at 5:02 PM | link to this | reply

Food for thought on the the Sacred Marriage. Read The Golden Bough written by Sir James Frazer circa 1922. Marriage is older than Christianity. Back to Babylon.

posted by tweedhead on January 5, 2005 at 12:44 PM | link to this | reply