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I loved it! It was a very diverse class too, lots of mature students which i liked because i wasn't really a getting-drunk-every-night type 18-year old. It was utterly fascinating and i learned so much about so much!
Many many people who studied with me were doing joint honours with theology, the two made a very good combination. I did mine with History of Art of which the only interesting part of my 4 year degree is in the post above LOL.
B
Yes, I've learnt a lot about various religions through my Fine Art studies both in high school and at uni.
Hoobley, what an amazing and fascinating post darl! :) Totally absorbing, thankyou so much for taking the time to explain so many interesting ideas and historical information. Once again, deserves a point but I gotta spread the love!!! ;)
When the kids settle down a bit I want to ask a few more questions too!
LOL, it's midnight here Bath but ask away, i may be up a wee bit yet. :)
Bx
I studied English lit, English language and Theatre. Believe it or not, in the latter two there was plenty of coverage of old English history and in lit there was heaps about English history, so I got a fair smattering of both. Education is a wonderful thing!
Oh I forgot about the time difference Bec! head to bed when you need to, I could be a while... just feeding the baby his breakfast... I might not be able to concentrate until his lunchtime nap!
Now I'M jealous Jennifer! English language fascinates me. I'm so interested in communication, verbal, physical, written, it's so complex and so intuitive for some and so difficult for others.
I seek to be understood, but without having to compromise the complexity of my views. I believe that all information to be communicated should be readily available to everyone, which means finding away of stating the fullest truth possible that excludes the fewest people possible. I can't stand "wordy" authors who exclude with their verbosity (lmao - that's wordiness to us mere mortals!) because they're intellectual snobs, or tabloid newspapers who bend or obscure the truth to make it easier for the less literate to grasp, when really they're misleading rather than enlightening. I think a talented writer is comprehensive AND accessible. From that point of view, one of the best things about the modern versions of the Bible, for all they have been edited and mistranslated over time, is that they can be picked up and read by anyone from the smallest child to the oldest genius and there is something there for the reader to take with them into their lives.
I'm hitting the hay now, but i'll be back tomorrow morning (this evening for you lot :))
Bx
Yeah, English language was my fave subject, Bec. We did the history and everything. And I promise I'll stop hijacking this thread, but I was taught by a professor who studied at Oxford (he was very old, semi-retired) who learnt under Tolkien (who had a love of the English lang and development, as you probably know). That's my two degrees of separation - no wonder I enjoyed the subject!
Likewise, but SO well stated Hoobley... you've got no worries ;) you communicate so well darl, such an asset to BB.:
These are the reasons I love the work of C.S Lewis however unfortunately my DH (a huge Tolkien fan) finds Lewis' manner to be a little patronising :( I kinda know what he means but I see beyond that to his actual message and ideas. Also, I think C.S Lewis and J.R Tolkien studied together and used to compared notes? That's amazing about your professor Jennifer! What a wonderful experience that must have been! :)
Hi girls, interesting thread! As an aside, if anyone is interested in a really good site on religion google "religion just the facts" and it will take you to this great site started and run by a theology buff who is really passionate about information on religion without "personal views". The site's author won't even disclose his/her own religion for fear of suggesting a bias - it has all this cool stuff about judaism, jainism, branches of christianity, etc. Now I don't have a religious bone in my body but this would have to be one of my favourite websites because it is so full of unbiased information.
keep up the good work girls!
Wow. I'd just like to congratulate everybody on their wonderful perspectives and honest tolerance of each other's views.
Makes me so proud to be a part of this website.
(BTW I'm Catholic... now I'm going to have to research my background too!)
As always Religion is one thing we can all discuss harmoniously...
Yael had a brilliant thread on the Orthodox Jewish perspective on Breast feeding and Natalie added some fantastic Islamic stuff to that. Also around Easter/Good Friday we had another thread on Religious festivals.. it explained in a bit more detail the Christian dating of easter. Now if I wasn't such a techno-dumb-dumb I could out the links in here for you. There was some fantastic perspectives and knowledge shared in these threads from judaic-islamic-christian perspectives. Maybe someone else could find them and post the links???...
Religion for me is a very historic subject and something I love exploring, not only for the parallels but also to celebrate the differences.
Like Bath (see we don't always sit on the oposite sides of the fence) for me relegion is more about who I am than the celebrations that go with it. I love CS L's writings also.
Bec... have you read "How the Irish Saved Civilisation"? It explores the lost written knowledge of the dark ages and various influences on the current bible but also how the preservation of the bible by Irish monks during the dark ages retain written language. A fantastic book.
You're right, Bath, in fact there were a few around the same time that are well known names (just not on the tip of my tongue right now). It tends to happen at certain times that a group of Oxford-ites get together and all turn out to be influential writers (Gay, Milton and others from a fair while back also spring to mine). But that's a completely different topic! It was a great class and I really saw eye to eye with him on a lot of what we studied. So I might have to agree with your DH on some things!:
I'm going to look up that religious site Roryrory has mentioned. Sounds like it's worth reading!
Who knew religion would be a less controversial topic than baby-feeding?!
QUOTE: "Who knew religion would be a less controversial topic than baby-feeding?!"
LOL I know! who would have guessed??? This is first proper thread devoted (excuse the pun) to religion that I've seen in BB in all my time here... maybe people wanted to talk about it but were too scared of opening up a can of worms!
Kerry: that book sounds really interesting... might Google that too.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=26376
Hope that works... Its Yael's thread on the Jewish perspective on B/F... another great religious thread.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=34602
and here is the Easter/Good Friday one.
Both are worth a read and go into lots of little tangents.
As always Yael is a fantastic contributor and her insights and shared knowledge make addictive reading. Natalie (not sure where/how she is atm haven't seen her for a while) also gives some fantastic perspectives on the Islamic side. Surely we have some other religions out there that would be willing to share..... PLEASE :D
I believe Natalie is in the process of or has just moved, so her BB connection may not be up and running atm. I bet she's having withdrawals!
If your in touch with her Jennifer (OR anyone else for that matter) please tell her I said "hi" and miss her being around.
Wow, thanks for all the posts guys. I am so proud of us that we could talk about it in such a way!!!! Kepp it up, it just gets more interesting each time I check back!!
This is what I thought, that all the laws weren't applicable after Jesus. But then I thought...if Jesus still did them why don't we?? Then I started researching and now I believe (well I'm pretty sure I believe, lol, still researching) that the laws such as food laws, festivals, and sabbath are still applicable. If you google keith hunt bible studies he has lots of articles about it. I like his site coz most of the time it seems like he's just stating the facts from the bible rather than certain denominations interpretations iykwim and lots of interesting facts!:
With food, I believe God told St Peter that it was not a sin to eat meant for what God has made Clean, let no man call Unclean (somewhere in Acts... need to read it again!)
I haven't read that but I do know in Zechariah 14:16 it talks about when Jesus comes back everyone being made to keep the feasts::
I also thought that when Jesus comes again he will take His people to a place where the laws aren't needed; everything will begin anew.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
It's great that churches actually teach about this stuff, I didn't know they did as I'd never heard about it until I started reading myself!
Thanks for the post hoobley, that was very interesting!!!!
There are a lot of Christians who go to Israel every year to celebrate succos (Tabernacles) today.
Historically, it was basically the festival for the nations, they did sacrifices for the other nations during that time etc... Although we don't do sacrifices as we don't have a temple (haven't for over 2000 years)
Thanks Kerry for your comments :)