THE NOTES:
In my Blitzkriegs I address random items from my two lists of 140 dumb things people believe (episodes #2 and #3). Today I’m going to dispatch five items from episode #3. We’ll start with the pesky question of where Cain got his wife, and finish with the Episcopalian preacher creature who grabbed her 15 minutes of fame when she delivered that inaugural. . .sermon.
If you’re not sure what to think about what she said, but it sounds like she could be right, lemme help you out.
Photo: Midwestern Snow at Night—compliments of Carl
GLOSSARY for Episode #19
[n] = noun; [v] = verb; [a] = adjective
agnostic—[n or a] a = not or no or without, + gnos = to know. As relates to God, agnostics neither accept nor deny the existence of God because they believe the truth cannot be known.
antediluvian—[a] before The Flood
Blitzkrieg—[n] German for lightning war
cursory—[a] inattentive, half-hearted, unthinking, superficial, careless, hurried, perfunctory
debauchery—[n] excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
effeminate—[a] In a moral context, it refers to moral softness, often implying a lack of self-discipline or moral fortitude; morally weak or indulgent; lacking in traditional masculine virtues. It was used to criticize those who were seen as lacking the strength of character expected in a patriarchal society. It is also used to describe young men who are involved in homosexuality (who would be likely victims of the above).
feign—[v] to fake, simulate, or presumptuously pretend. “He really didn’t like her, but he put on a good show of feigning grief at her funeral.”
infidel—[n or a] an unbeliever; a person who does not believe in religion, or someone who adheres to a religion other than one’s own. Among Christians, the Buddhist would be the infidel. Among Buddhists, the Christian would be the infidel.
jettison—[v] discard, eject, get rid of, throw overboard
lingua franca—[n] a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native language is different
macro-evolution—[n] Macro-evolution insists that not only can species morph into other species, but they can jump across phyla, kingdoms and domains: a mosquito can become a trout, a turtle can become a parakeet, a radish can become a hippo, and if you throw enough years at it, primordial soup will cough up the human race. And dead somehow became alive…and developed the ability to speak, reason and love. Macro-evolution has never been observed, repeated or verified because it cannot, does not, did not, will not, ever happen. Whereas micro-evolution refers to the small changes that occur within species as when a creature adapts to its environment. Or when a poodle dog mates with a Labrador dog and produces a Labradoodle dog. Micro-evolution is observable, repeatable and easily verifiable. No one disputes micro-evolution.
maleficent—[a] deliberately causing harm or destruction; harmful or malicious in intent or effect; doing evil to others
milquetoast—[n] a timid or feeble person
modicum—[n] small amount, fragment, crumb, shred, particle, snippet, iota, whit, smattering, morsel, dash, scintilla, scrap, trifle, smidge, speck, mite, atom, jot. That was fun.
Mosaic—[a] having to do with Moses; the word you use when you must turn Moses into an adjective. The Law of Moses is Mosaic Law.
objective—[a or n, but here I am interested only in the adjective] not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. It is the opposite of subjective which means: based on or influenced by personal feelings, opinions or taste. The fact that it is snowing is objective. Whether or not snow is nice, is subjective.
opine—[v] the verb form of opinion; to express an opinion. “I opine that the sauce was too spicy.”
POTUS—[n] President Of The United States
progeny—[n] children, offspring, descendants
proscribe—[v] forbid, prohibit, disallow, outlaw
rife—[a] widespread, universal, ubiquitous, abundant, numerous, abounding
sojourn—[n] a protracted visit [v] to stay somewhere temporarily; be housed, lodge
temerity—[n] audacity, impertinence, impudence, brazenness, boldness, gall
vestige—[n] remnant, residue, remainder, leftovers
whit—[n] see modicum
BIBLE REFERENCES
Genesis 1&2, 3:20, 4:17, 5:4,15, 21
Exodus 12:48
Leviticus 17:12; 18:22, 26; 19:33-34; 24:16
Numbers 15
Deuteronomy 14:21, 23:3; 24:19, 29
Joshua 6:23
Ruth 1:16-17
Chronicles 2:17
Psalms 19:14; 121
Matthew 18:6
John 10:1
Romans 6:23
1 Corinthians 6:9-11,18
Colossians 1:16-17
2 Thessalonians 3:10
1 Timothy 1:8-11
2 Timothy 4:2-4
1 Peter 5:8
1 John 1:9, 1:5
(some of the) QUOTES
“An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid.” Carl Sagan (d.1996) astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and professed infidel with occasional bouts of astuteness
“...You think if I haven't had your religious experience I can't appreciate the magnificence of your god. But it's just the opposite. I listen to you, and I think, his god is too small! One paltry planet, a few thousand years—hardly worth the attention of a minor deity, much less the Creator of the universe.”
Carl Sagan—from his book Contact
“Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.”
Charles Spurgeon (d.1892) British Particular (Reformed) Baptist preacher
LINKS
In his own characteristically articulate words, here is an excerpt from Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot. It’s only 3 minutes. You really should take the time:
Here’s something Mariann failed to mention as she criticized Donald Trump’s policy concerning the poor illegals. “The federal contracting arm of the church, Episcopal Migration Ministry (EMM), is paid to bring in people on resettlement programs that Trump has temporarily paused and targeted for re-evaluation. Unlike everyday immigrants, these new arrivals receive government assistance and, most importantly, are immediately eligible for all forms of welfare, such as Medicaid and cash assistance, on the same basis as a US citizen. EMM budget figures for 2024 are not available yet, but in 2023 [the Episcopal “ministry”] earned $53 million from various taxpayer-funded government programs to resettle 3,600 individuals.”
I think “earned” is the wrong verb there, but that’s $14,722 for each illegal alien thanks to your donations. Sorta makes Mariann look not so pious.
Episcopal Bishop Lectures Trump While Earning Taxpayer Millions to Bring Migrants into US.
Listen to her sermon here.
Episode #3~70 Dumb Things Churchgoers Believe
“In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” A poignant commentary on the desperation of agnosticism.
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