Comments on: The Bible’s no FUN! http://www.holyblasphemy.net/2008/10/the-bibles-no-fun/culture/ Throw your god a bone Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:26:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.holyblasphemy.net/2008/10/the-bibles-no-fun/culture//comment-page-1#comment-31 admin Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:21:29 +0000 http://www.holyblasphemy.net/?p=407#comment-31 Yes, it's all true, especially the jibe about my rampant plagiarism. Of course I know that the point of Christianity isn't having fun, I just thought it was funny (as a non-Christian I enjoy things that make me laugh) to see a breakdown of the word 'fun' in the Bible. And the Bible doesn't say 'Don't have fun' or 'Don't live for fun'...it hardly talks about fun at all. It talks a great deal about (in the NT) how to suffer like Christ, be poor, meek, and humble. The proverbs takes a more economic view: "Pleasure-lovers stay poor, no one will grow rich who lives wine and good living." (21:17) Ecclesiastes (my favorite book), says "There is no happiness except in eating and drinking, and in enjoying one's achievements; and I see that this too comes from God's hand." (2:24) Ecclesiastes is both fatalistic, optimistic and nihilistic at the same time. It is a gem of brilliance worth more than the rest of the bible combined. "So, eat your bread in joy, drink your wine with a glad heart, since God has already approved your actions." (9:7) Life is chaos and mystery, and all we can do is give thanks for what we have and try to be good to one another. A better philosophy may never be conceived. As for having fun? I'm all for it - I'm an epicurean through and through (as long as it doesn't hurt other people, and with full awareness of facing the consequences). However I don't, at the same time, harbor a conflicting ethical system which tells me I need to strive to be meek, humble, and sorrowful. Christians cannot have fun without at the same time reminding themselves that Christ died for them, that he is watching them right now, and that they are forever standing on the edge of the pit of hell and a mis-step may make them suffer for all eternity. As for worship - I worship many things in my way, both gods and manifestations of the divine like trees, sunsets and beautiful girls. I do none of this in church, but fill myself with a spirit of awe and thanksgiving wherever I can. Yes, it’s all true, especially the jibe about my rampant plagiarism. Of course I know that the point of Christianity isn’t having fun, I just thought it was funny (as a non-Christian I enjoy things that make me laugh) to see a breakdown of the word ‘fun’ in the Bible. And the Bible doesn’t say ‘Don’t have fun’ or ‘Don’t live for fun’…it hardly talks about fun at all. It talks a great deal about (in the NT) how to suffer like Christ, be poor, meek, and humble. The proverbs takes a more economic view: “Pleasure-lovers stay poor, no one will grow rich who lives wine and good living.” (21:17)

Ecclesiastes (my favorite book), says “There is no happiness except in eating and drinking, and in enjoying one’s achievements; and I see that this too comes from God’s hand.” (2:24) Ecclesiastes is both fatalistic, optimistic and nihilistic at the same time. It is a gem of brilliance worth more than the rest of the bible combined. “So, eat your bread in joy, drink your wine with a glad heart, since God has already approved your actions.” (9:7) Life is chaos and mystery, and all we can do is give thanks for what we have and try to be good to one another. A better philosophy may never be conceived.

As for having fun? I’m all for it – I’m an epicurean through and through (as long as it doesn’t hurt other people, and with full awareness of facing the consequences). However I don’t, at the same time, harbor a conflicting ethical system which tells me I need to strive to be meek, humble, and sorrowful. Christians cannot have fun without at the same time reminding themselves that Christ died for them, that he is watching them right now, and that they are forever standing on the edge of the pit of hell and a mis-step may make them suffer for all eternity.

As for worship – I worship many things in my way, both gods and manifestations of the divine like trees, sunsets and beautiful girls. I do none of this in church, but fill myself with a spirit of awe and thanksgiving wherever I can.

]]> By: True Rune http://www.holyblasphemy.net/2008/10/the-bibles-no-fun/culture//comment-page-1#comment-26 True Rune Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:35:04 +0000 http://www.holyblasphemy.net/?p=407#comment-26 "Epically flawed" is an interesting term. It doesn't say "Don't have fun." It says "Don't live for fun." As there are more important things to the Christian than having fun, and one does not live their life for fun. Worship can also be "fun". (Do you know what that word means? If you think it means to go to church than you're mistaken.) Your "take" on it doesn't differ all that much from the part of the article you didn't quote. “Epically flawed” is an interesting term. It doesn’t say “Don’t have fun.” It says “Don’t live for fun.” As there are more important things to the Christian than having fun, and one does not live their life for fun. Worship can also be “fun”. (Do you know what that word means? If you think it means to go to church than you’re mistaken.)

Your “take” on it doesn’t differ all that much from the part of the article you didn’t quote.

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