Christianity

[Pattern-chaser]

Must an author worthy of praise be widely known and read?

But you didn't answer my question?

[Gary Childress]

Must an author worthy of praise be widely known and read?

But you didn't answer my question?

What would be an example of an author who is worthy of praise not being widely known and/or read--at least in the long term, including posthumous fame?

[Harbal]

Yes, I have no quarrel with any of that. But isn't a judgement of an author's writing an opinion? That's what I offered: my opinion, and I did so in the conscious knowledge that it was only my opinion, and nothing more. Didn't I append "IMO, of course" to my text? I hope I did...

Yes, you were only expressing an opinion, but its expression seemed to be intended to put Austen readers in their place as belonging to a lower order than the readers of the authors you mentioned. I just thought that was uncalled for; that's why I commented on it.

Must an author worthy of praise be widely known and read?

But you didn't answer my question?

I think I did: "the best of both are worthy of praise. "

[attofishpi]

Yes, I have no quarrel with any of that. But isn't a judgement of an author's writing an opinion? That's what I offered: my opinion, and I did so in the conscious knowledge that it was only my opinion, and nothing more. Didn't I append "IMO, of course" to my text? I hope I did...

Yes, you were only expressing an opinion, but its expression seemed to be intended to put Austen readers in their place as belonging to a lower order than the readers of the authors you mentioned. I just thought that was uncalled for; that's why I commented on it.

Must an author worthy of praise be widely known and read?

But you didn't answer my question?

I think I did: "the best of both are worthy of praise. "

The reason the likes of Jane Austen are so well received today is as much as allowing us an insight into their particular time period, as to the quality of her writing. Much the same goes for the earlier bloke, Shakespeares.

[Belinda]

Yes, I have no quarrel with any of that. But isn't a judgement of an author's writing an opinion? That's what I offered: my opinion, and I did so in the conscious knowledge that it was only my opinion, and nothing more. Didn't I append "IMO, of course" to my text? I hope I did...

Yes, you were only expressing an opinion, but its expression seemed to be intended to put Austen readers in their place as belonging to a lower order than the readers of the authors you mentioned. I just thought that was uncalled for; that's why I commented on it.

But you didn't answer my question?

I think I did: "the best of both are worthy of praise. "

The reason the likes of Jane Austen are so well received today is as much as allowing us an insight into their particular time period, as to the quality of her writing. Much the same goes for the earlier bloke, Shakespeares.

Another reason is people enjoy stories. Novels are a comparatively recent way to telling stories.

[Gary Childress]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

[Belinda]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

It's best to follow your own god and leave the flocks to follow their own priests. It's also best to decide for yourself what moral principles matter to you. Paddle your own canoe sort of thing.

[Gary Childress]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

It's best to follow your own god and leave the flocks to follow their own priests. It's also best to decide for yourself what moral principles matter to you. Paddle your own canoe sort of thing.

Unfortunately, it appears to be a very lonely and desolate path for me to take. The main reason I gave Christianity a try was that there's more fellowship and community to be found in religious institutions.

[Pattern-chaser]

What would be an example of an author who is worthy of praise not being widely known and/or read--at least in the long term, including posthumous fame?

In my opinion, such an author might be Herman Hesse. But you might find his writing poor, or otherwise unimpressive. That's rather the point with literary criticism, isn't it?

[henry quirk]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

It's best to follow your own god and leave the flocks to follow their own priests. It's also best to decide for yourself what moral principles matter to you. Paddle your own canoe sort of thing.

Unfortunately, it appears to be a very lonely and desolate path for me to take. The main reason I gave Christianity a try was that there's more fellowship and community to be found in religious institutions.

Try the Unitarian Universalists, Gary. You'll have all the fellowship you can stand and very little in the way of moralizin' (the UUs are feel-good types with just enough vigor to appear like they stand for sumthin').

[Pattern-chaser]

Yes, you were only expressing an opinion, but its expression seemed to be intended to put Austen readers in their place as belonging to a lower order than the readers of the authors you mentioned. I just thought that was uncalled for; that's why I commented on it.

In that case, I apologise for my 'expression', which was not intended to communicate what you understood from it. I will try to be clearer in the future.

[Gary Childress]

What would be an example of an author who is worthy of praise not being widely known and/or read--at least in the long term, including posthumous fame?

In my opinion, such an author might be Herman Hesse. But you might find his writing poor, or otherwise unimpressive. That's rather the point with literary criticism, isn't it?

Herman Hesse already is a well-known author, at least in literary circles. And if he truly deserves more recognition, then I'm sure he will get it. I read a few of his books back in college. They were impressive but then one of my classmates in the philosophy department referred to his writing as "junk". So I don't know...

[Belinda]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

It's best to follow your own god and leave the flocks to follow their own priests. It's also best to decide for yourself what moral principles matter to you. Paddle your own canoe sort of thing.

Unfortunately, it appears to be a very lonely and desolate path for me to take. The main reason I gave Christianity a try was that there's more fellowship and community to be found in religious institutions.

Same here!

The Unitarians are worth try. They are individualistic searchers as matter of principle. Some Unitarians are Humanists while others are believers.

I just read Henry's post and he and I agree at last.

[Belinda]

I could not understand Herman Hesse. I must try again.

[attofishpi]

On the topic of Christianity:

According to Christianity, God is all powerful and all good. Yet the God of the Bible allegedly did/does things that I, personally, do not think are good (for example the flood and telling Abraham to sacrifice his son). In addition, the world itself, which God allegedly created, is full of too much that I perceive as evil. It's so difficult for me to reconcile Christianity with my reality that it causes me to feel like I ought to just give up and call myself agnostic once again. I tried to be a Christian but the shoe just doesn't fit me. I don't know if I'll go to Hell or not but I just can't follow the God of the Christian Bible. It's too difficult. The bar is set too high and I'm just not seeing any real reward or utility in being a Christian. All the fun seems to be in doing sinful things, I have yet to see where doing things pleasing to God bears any kind of enjoyable fruit for me.

Think for yourself Gary. By "Christianity" you are ..i think..referring to the 'know it all' preachers that TELL us what Christianity is. That God is ALL GOOD. When in fact the OT as you point out has the other side of God portrayed. THE TRUTH!! ...that God is not ALL GOOD, it has reasons for the other side.

Now true Christianity is understanding that above point. But also, believing the the true good man Christ and what he did to instill faith of love in us - beyond what is the universal TRUTH to God (that IT AINT ALL GOOD).

..as I can account for over 25 years of experience of both sides of God.