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A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

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Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#31
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But not God === Jesus. :-)

So then there's a concept of "godiness" to match "truthiness." Is there a man page for this stuff?

You're looking for the ecumenical creeds, the first list on this page: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html

The Athanasian Creed and the Definition of Chalcedon are probably the most relevant, as they deal specifically with Christological questions. The Apostles' and Nicene are valuable, but are too early to have the specifics nailed down just yet. (In historical terms, an Arian or Sabellian would be able to agree with their content without too much equivocation or mental reservation.)

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Tarantino put mysteries into Pulp Fiction for the same reason Scott wrote this post -- the mind likes to make connections where there are none. Scott did this quite deliberately, to entertain us both on the meta-level and on the level. I suspect Tarantino added inexplicable elements so that we as the audience would be entertained by speculation. There's nothing underneath. If you want to see what happens when…

On the other hand there is X files. There really needs to be an "engineer plot" genre where plot stays consistent to a small set of made up axioms. "The Strain" made an attempt. It boggles the mind why not in a single one of the zombie stories out there nobody bothered to wonder where the zombies get the energy? The way most of them work it's like cold fusion landing in one's lap.

Kind of like Mobile Suit Gundam in that sense? Everything matches the rules established and follows logically from it?

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#33
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wondered how Christians were able to square the existence of Santa with the 2nd commandment. Then again, how they can reconcile Jesus with the 2nd commandment is bit dodgy to me too so what do I know.

In Christianity, Jesus is God. There is a concept called Trinity which you can read about. Some Christians won’t make images of Jesus and some will. Santa Claus is a folk tale version of a Christian who lived about 1500 years ago. I suppose you could argue that letting children “believe in Santa Claus” violates the first commandment. Not sure about the second.

While this is true, it's a point of view taken up well after Christianity was established as a way to get around the various conflicts on who Jesus was and how the three different "beings" in the Bible interrelate. Even one of the first teachers of the "They are just all the same thing." was excommunicated by the Church. It took a few hundred years for things to settle into what we have today - which I feel like should cast some doubt for believers on what was actually being taught in the Bible.

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Tarantino put mysteries into Pulp Fiction for the same reason Scott wrote this post -- the mind likes to make connections where there are none. Scott did this quite deliberately, to entertain us both on the meta-level and on the level. I suspect Tarantino added inexplicable elements so that we as the audience would be entertained by speculation. There's nothing underneath. If you want to see what happens when…

On the other hand there is X files. There really needs to be an "engineer plot" genre where plot stays consistent to a small set of made up axioms. "The Strain" made an attempt. It boggles the mind why not in a single one of the zombie stories out there nobody bothered to wonder where the zombies get the energy? The way most of them work it's like cold fusion landing in one's lap.

>It boggles the mind why not in a single one of the zombie stories out there nobody bothered to wonder where the zombies get the energy? The way most of them work it's like cold fusion landing in one's lap.

Zombies, like vampires in the pre-industrial age, are meant to represent the horrors that lurk beyond the limits of human understanding and control. Although I'm sure some author has attempted to "harden" zombies like that, to me the more you try to explain them, the less effective they are as monsters. Because they don't work rationally, they're demons of the Id.

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Christianity, Jesus is God. There is a concept called Trinity which you can read about. Some Christians won’t make images of Jesus and some will. Santa Claus is a folk tale version of a Christian who lived about 1500 years ago. I suppose you could argue that letting children “believe in Santa Claus” violates the first commandment. Not sure about the second.

While this is true, it's a point of view taken up well after Christianity was established as a way to get around the various conflicts on who Jesus was and how the three different "beings" in the Bible interrelate. Even one of the first teachers of the "They are just all the same thing." was excommunicated by the Church. It took a few hundred years for things to settle into what we have today - which I feel like shou…

Yes, it’s interesting reading, but it is unlikely that the GP is a devoted Arian.

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#38
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think any adult Christian thinks that Santa is actually real, so there's nothing to reconciliate

Sure, but they're teaching sacrilege to their kids.

Are there any statistics on what portion of parents actually tell their children that Santa is real? I was raised in the Midwest US in the 90s, in a conservative Christian family, and as far as I can remember I never thought Santa was real. My parents confirm that they talked about Santa and wrote “from Santa” on some Christmas gifts, but they never intended us to believe Santa was real.

I also don’t remember belief in Santa to be common among my friends. I remember one friend who expressed belief in Santa as a supernatural being, and everyone poked fun at him for it.

Re: A History of the Silmarils in the Fifth Age

#40
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think any adult Christian thinks that Santa is actually real, so there's nothing to reconciliate

Sure, but they're teaching sacrilege to their kids.

And that's why I will never tell my kids he is real.
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