Ecclesiastes Part III

Ecclesiastes Part III

     This is the third and final posting for the questions for the Book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a mournful and depressing book, much like many in the Bible, but the difference I find with Ecclesiastes is its depth of depression that very obviously originates with the horribly hopeless idea that EVERYTHING is meaningless. Remember, this absurd and deeply melancholy notion of meaninglessness is in text that is supposed to be inspired by God. You might think that a God of everlasting love and immutable beauty would be more adept to something more along the lines of shining inspiration, truly happy words that uplift and encourage. I guess not.

1. Ecclesiastes 10:4

     4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

Questions

     1. If calmness can lay great offenses to rest why doesn't it work when it comes to the anger of God when He thinks people have really offended Him? 

     2. People pray and plead and put on sackcloth and all kinds of shit, and does God reign in His anger? Sure, after He promotes a new pestilence, kills a couple of really innocent people, ravages the crops, and causes a mighty flood that kills a b-zillion people, right?

     3. Do not leave your post. Does this infer that people should not forsake their belief in God, even when really screwy things happen because God is supposedly angry? If they stay at their POST and maintain their belief is that supposed to bring the calmness that gives rest to their supposed offenses?

2. Ecclesiastes 10:11

     11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.

Questions

     1. What about the greatest snake charmer of them all, God? What about Him? Why should God receive His fee of glory when He fucks up everything He does from the very start? 

     2. God creates this innocent man and woman in the Garden of Eden and they make a huge mistake, yet they don't know any better because they don't know about good and evil and disobedience because God didn't create them with such knowledge. So, God's planning and creation fails from the very freaking beginning and He punishes man for God's bullshit mistake and STILL tries to collect on his fee of glory?

3. Ecclesiastes 10:20

     20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Questions

     1. Sooo, God/the Lord is the ultimate Big Brother, isn't He? Be careful of what you say because a little bird might go back and report what you said to someone who just might put your ass in a sling? So much for being born free.

4. Ecclesiastes 11:3

     3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Questions

     1. Sure, in the place where the tree falls it will lie, but when it falls and there is no one around to hear it fall does it still make a sound?

5. Ecclesiastes 11:5

     5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Questions

     1. Isn't it true that we now know the patterns of the wind on the earth and what causes the wind?

     2. Isn't it true that we now know how a fetus develops within a woman's body?

     3. If we now know these things then wouldn't it stand to reason we CAN understand the work of God?

6. Ecclesiastes 11:8-10

     8 However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

     9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

     10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Questions

     1. What do the days of darkness matter if everything to come is meaningless?

     2. If everything to come is meaningless and if the judgment is part of what is to come, doesn't it also make sense that the judgment would be meaningless as well?

     3. Verse ten says to cast off troubles and banish anxiety, but what do these things matter if everything is meaningless?

     4. Why banish anxiety and cast off troubles when Ecclesiastes 7:3 says that frustration is better than laughter and a sad face is good for the heart?

7. Ecclesiastes 12:14

     14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Questions

     1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 says that everything is meaningless. This is not the only verse that states such. In fact, much of Ecclesiastes is about everything being meaningless. If everything is meaningless, why in the world would God judge anything?

     2. If something is meaningless is it still worthy to be judged? If so WHY?

     3. Would judging the meaningless be considered pointless? If God is judging the meaningless wouldn't He be behaving in a pointless manner? Why would a perfect divine being behave in a pointless manner?

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Job Part IV: Just a Few Questions

This is the second to last posting for the questions for the Book of Job in the Holy Bible. I hope you have been considering the answers to the questions as you have been reading them. I also hope that you will take the time to type in some of your answers in the comments section at the end of each posting.

1. Job 9:17

17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

Questions

1. Shouldn't this verse tell you there is something very wrong with this God?

2. Job 10:8

8 "'Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me.

Questions

1. This says a lot about God, doesn't it? A God Who creates with the specific intent to destroy? Now...why would an all-powerful being do that? To play games with the helpless? To bring Himself glory through the forced worship of those He creates? For WHAT?

3. Job 11:6-8

6 that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

Questions

1. Isn't that just like religion to imply that there really isn't anything man can really know, seek, or do?

4. Job 11:11

11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

Questions

1. If God does indeed know falsehood and see iniquity without considering it then the first and last thing He must see in regard to such IS Himself, right?

5. Job 11:13

13 "If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

Questions

1. How can you set your heart right when God has taken it from your chest? How can you stretch out your hands when God has cut off your arms?

6. Job 12:23-25

23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

25 They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Questions

1. Aren't these verses the bitter truth about this God of the Bible? Why is this God of Love concerned with destroying, leading astray, and causing to become lost without hope and help?

7. Job 14:1

1 "Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

Questions

1. Is this also a clue as to why God never speaks of His mother, why He harbors such great disdain for women?

8. Job 15:12

12 Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,

Questions

1. Could it be because God is a diabolical bastard Who apparently lives to feed off the fear emitted by man?

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Job Part I: Just a Few Questions

With ALL of these questions posed in regards to the Bible wouldn't it be nice to be able to access the questions in one place instead of flipping between blog postings? Now you can! The questions for the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch are now in one compilation, and there is no need whatsoever to flip-flop between various posts! Go here for your copy:
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One of the Most Battered Men of the Bible

Sooo...we have made it to the book of Job. Yes! I have been looking forward to this one, especially with all of the amazingly jacked-up things that God allows to happen to Job...on purpose. Yes. Isn't God just the best pal ever?

1. Job 1:1

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless--a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.

Questions

     1) So, right off the bat we can say this Job fellow is a really good guy?

2. Job 1:5

5 When these celebrations ended--sometimes after several days--Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice.

Questions

     1) Is this the old theme of paying for the sin of another?

     2) Does God/the LORD like this theme because it gives Him clearance to punish the innocent?

3. Job 1:6-7

6 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.

7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Questions

     1) Really? As if God/the LORD didn't know that Satan would show up at the party? Seriously? From where have you come? Why does God/the LORD play stupid? Does He think it is cute or endearing?

4. Job 1:8

8 Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless--a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil."

Questions

     1) Don't you think that God/the LORD totally baits Satan here?

     2) Would you say God is being a bit of a braggart here? Wouldn't that be a sin? If it is not considered a sin is that because it is God doing it?

5. Job 1:11-12

11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

12 "All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

Questions

     1) Was God/the LORD looking for a reason to hurt someone?

     2) Sooo...it was okay to hurt Job's family but not Job? Is that supposed to make anything better, or God less guilty?

     3) Here God is more or less giving Satan permission to fuck Job up, right?

6. Job 1:21

21 He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!"

Questions

     1) Is the reason that Job doesn't complain because in reality he knows, he knows that God/the LORD could make it oh so much worse?

7. Job 1:22

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Questions

     1) Job does not do this out of love, does he? He does it out of FEAR, doesn't he?

8. Job 2:1-3

1 One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.

2 "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."

3 Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless--a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause."

Questions

     1) Oh wow. Same story, different verses? What the hell is up with this cheapie version of religious story-telling?

9. Job 2:6

6 "All right, do with him as you please," the LORD said to Satan. "But spare his life."

Questions

     1) Sooo...would this qualify as conspiracy to inflict great bodily harm?

     2) Isn't this verse saying the LORD is giving Satan permission to beat Job within an inch of his life?

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II Kings Part I: Just a Few Questions

We have made it to II Kings!!

We have made it all the way to II Kings! Hasn't it been a real ordeal so far? Yes, it has been. Especially for me, right? I mean, I am actually reading through all of this stuff to find interesting verses and made comments and ask questions. I tell you...sometimes I just have to push the book, the Bible that is, AWAY and go for a walk or take a couple of days off. It is some of the screwiest stuff ever. EVER. And I read a LOT of Stephen King...sooo...yeah. Anyways, let's get this show on the road.

1. II Kings 1:9-13

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”

10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’”

12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight.

Questions

     1) Sooo...the lives of the previously roasted soldiers were not precious?

     2) What was the point of killing the men?

     3) Is this God's sadistic humor?

2. II Kings 2:11

11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Questions

     1) Is this a freaking UFO story?

3. II Kings 2:15

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Questions

     1) Is this why so many people listen to so many others who claim to be prophets...the power and the mystery?

4. II Kings 2:23-24

23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

Questions

     1) Really? Are you fucking serious? A man of God couldn't take the jibes of little kids, huh?

     2) More of God's suffering the little children unto Him?

     3) Isn't this an abuse of God's power right along with a good sprinkling of intolerance, unjustifiable judgment and punishment?

     4) Cursing in the name of Jehovah? Is this like the inverse of blasphemy?

5. II Kings 3:26-27

26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom, but they could not.

27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

Questions

     1) Oh, look! No different from the pagans and the heathens, are they? Wait...they ARE the pagans and heathens, right? But...didn't GOD try to get people to sacrifice their kids? What the hell is going on?

6. II Kings 4:33-35

33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.

34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.

35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

Questions

     1) Well now, HERE is a recycled story, right?

     2) Doesn't this STILL sound all wrong?

7. II Kings 6:4-7

4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.”

6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.

7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

Questions

     1) How deep was the water?

     2) What purpose was served by this story?

     3) Wow...an AX floats. So fucking what, right? I mean, aren't the people freaking starving? Float a freaking banquet to the surface, right?

8. II Kings 6:28-30

28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’

29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.”

30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body—

Questions

     1) Holy shit! Yikes. Doesn't this sink the idea of suffer the little children to an all new low?

9. II Kings 9:34-36

34 Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.”

35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.

36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel,

Questions

     1) Oh bullshit! All that was left were the hands, feet, and skull? What did the dogs do? Walk away with the fucking pelvis? Femurs? REALLY? Were these dogs Great Danes? Mastiffs?

10. II Kings 9:37

37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’”

Questions

     1) Corpse desecration?

     2) Does God approve of corpse desecration so long as it is done to the enemy?

11. II Kings 13:21

21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Questions

     1) Sooo...the dead guy doesn't have the power to keep himself alive, but his bones have the power to make another dead man come to life?

12. II Kings 14:6

6 But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”

Questions

     1) Where in the Old Testament does it REALLY work out like this?

     2) Maybe a better question would be how many times in the Old Testament do children end up paying for the sins of their fathers?

     3) This is a crock of crap, ISN'T it?

13. II Kings 17:9

9 And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.

Questions

     1) Secretly? Secretly? If these people knew anything about their bipolar God SURELY they knew you can't fucking HIDE anything from Him, right?

14. II Kings 17:25

25 And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

Questions

     1) Tell me, and be completely honest...is this or is this not seriously, SERIOUSLY disturbing?

     2) Is this your God that you worship? Do you approve of this or do you shrink away from that question by claiming you have no right to approve or disapprove of anything that your God does?

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