A sharp new voice in the Mythicism conversation

A new blog takes up the cause of mythicism. And here's the thing - it's actually well written. The anonymous blogmeister is obviously well grounded in the field of biblical studies and, hallelujah, doesn't come across with the earnest pretentiousness of so many of those "bah, humbug!" types in the 'historicist' camp.

My one initial reservation concerns the anonymous thing. I understand that "coming out" as mythicist-friendly can be akin to committing professional harakiri (just ask Bob Price!), but it would be helpful to know - for example - if the writer is a graduate student.

The Mythicism Files is likely to become a frequent port of call for those curious to explore the concept. It doesn't seem to have gained much profile yet... but I suspect that will change quite quickly. I'll be bookmarking this one.

Hamilton's crowning glory

Nothing makes me prouder of my natal city than Hamilton Gardens. A leisurely Summer stroll there, set alongside the Waikato River and only a few minutes from the city centre, is capable of transporting one from China to Italy, from pre-European New Zealand to Japan, England to India, all in the space of a half-hour.

Not that I'm a garden connoisseur. My dear sister picked up all the gardening genes leaving me with a total disinterest in grubbing around in the soil. I even avoid mowing the lawn. But even I, poor benighted soul that I am, can recognise beauty in a place like this.

My favourite sections, based on today's long overdue wander, include the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Japanese Garden of Contemplation and the Chinoiserie Garden (which wasn't there when I last visited a year ago). Special mention also goes to another new feature, Te Parapara Maori Garden. No surprise that Hamilton took out the International Garden of the Year Award in 2014.

At the end of January a Tudor Garden is being unveiled, so I don't want to leave it for another year before I return.

For fellow Kiwis who monitor my rantings - and especially all those who live in the Waikato (all three or so of you!) - do yourself a favour next time you're in "The Tron" and set aside an hour or two to enjoy this amazing asset. Take a friend. Entry is, as it should be, free to all. I'll post a couple of further photos later.

In the meantime check out the website!

LCG - bull-roaring midget

Is anyone listening?

It's funny how you tend to credit today's micro-sects of COGdom with the attributes of the original body. "Back in the day" the Worldwide Church of God boasted large congregations in cities throughout the English-speaking world.

Even Auckland, where we filled up Epsom Girls Grammar School Hall to capacity each Sabbath to belt out Dwight Armstrong's hymns and listen to hour long sermons by worthies like Bob Morton and Jack Croucher.

But the years have gone by brethren, yea, even the decades and the WCG that we knew is no more. Papa Joe's Grace Communion International is a shadow of the original body, an insipid version of evangelicalism fed on the rat poison of Karl Barth and 'interpenetrated' by the trinitarian Torrances.

Putting aside the United Church of God for the moment we come to the LCG, Rod Meredith's remnant group. Depending on who you believe, its the third largest derivative group from ye olde WCG.

So how big are those LCG congregations? Gary Leonard has these stats up on his blog.

LCG publishes list of ten largest congregations.  

1. Charlotte North Carolina 258
2. Kansas City Missouri 195
3. Chaguanas Trinidad 128
4. Ft. Lauderdale Florida 116
5. Houston Texas 115
6. Dallas Texas 113
7. Phoenix Arizona 107
8. Quezon City Metro Manila, Philippines 99
9. Kingston Jamaica 96
10. Christ Church Barbados 94

Assuming we're talking about attendance, which seems probable, these figures are a joke.

And it's clear big-talking Spanky and his 'evangelists' are a joke too.

Minimalism mon amour

Uri Avnery's comments, quoted in the previous post, seem to have created a bow wave ranging from herniated shock to guarded reservation among readers of this blog. So, what the heck, let's stir things up further with this short article on the Bible and Interpretation site by Jim West: A (Very, Very) Short History of Minimalism.

Enjoy!

Archaeology and the State of Israel

Israeli peace activist and former Knesset member Uri Avnery has a transcript of a speech entitled The Connection Between Archaeology and Ideology in the Middle East up on the CounterPunch site. It's a brilliant introduction to the politically inspired deceit that surrounds much popular rhetoric on this subject.

 An excerpt:

"[W]ith the coming of the Zionists to Palestine, a frantic archeological search started. The country was combed for real, scientific proof that the Biblical story was not just a bunch of myths, but real honest-to-God history. (Pun intended.) Christian Zionists came even earlier.

There started a veritable attack on archeological sites. The upper layers of Ottoman and Mamelukes, Arabs and Crusaders, Byzantines and Romans and Greeks and Persians were uncovered and removed in order to lay bare the ancient layer of the Children of Israel and to prove the Bible right.

Huge efforts were made. David Ben-Gurion, a self-appointed Biblical scholar, led the effort. The Chief of Staff of the army, Yigael Yadin, the son of an archeologist, and himself a professional archeologist, searched ancient sites to prove that the Conquest of Canaan really happened. Alas, no proof.

When remnants of the bones of Bar Kochba’s fighters were discovered in Judean desert caves, they were buried on Ben-Gurion’s orders in a big military ceremony. The uncontested fact that Bar Kochba had caused perhaps the greatest catastrophe in Jewish history was glossed over.

And the result?

Incredible as it sounds, four generations of devoted archeologists, with a burning conviction and huge resources, did produce exactly:

Nothing.

From the beginning of the effort to this very day, not a single piece of evidence of the ancient history was found. Not a single indication that the exodus from Egypt, the basis of Jewish history, ever happened. Nor of the 40 years of wandering in the desert. No evidence of the conquest of Canaan, as described at length in the Book of Joshua. The mighty King David, whose kingdom extended – according to the Bible – from the Sinai peninsula to the north of Syria, did not leave a trace. (Lately an inscription with the name David was discovered, but with no indication that this David was a king.)

Israel appears for the first time in sound archeological findings in Assyrian inscriptions, which describe a coalition of local kingdoms which tried to stop the Assyrian advance into Syria. Among others, King Ahab of Israel is mentioned as the chief of a considerable military contingent. Ahab, who ruled today’s Samaria (in the north of the occupied West Bank) from 871 BC until 852 BC was not beloved by God, though the Bible describes him as a war hero. He marks the beginning of the entry of Israel into proven history.

(Tip of the fez to Jim West who drew attention to Avnery's article a couple of days ago.)

"Fool Me Once..."

Oh the irony; Roderick "Spanky" Meredith quoting the "highly regarded modern philosopher Søren Kierkegaard."

Kierkegaard died in 1855. You can be sure however, if he were alive today, he'd take a rather dim view of Spanky.

Yes folks, the first 2015 edition of Tomorrow's World - flagship magazine of the Living Church of God - is now available for your edification and entertainment. And if it wasn't for the slick layout and graphics you could be reading a 1955 copy of The Plain Truth.

As for Kierkegaard, Spanky found a nice wee quote somewhere, then proceeded to incorporate it in his editorial - he's rewritten it many times before - this time with a title worthy of The Watchtower: "Study to Avoid Deception!"

Too bad he doesn't take his own advice.

Then there's the cover article by the this spiritual giant entitled "Will God Bless You and Your Finances?" Anyone want to guess what that one's about?

"[W]e would be remiss if we did not remind you, occasionally, of God’s direct instruction on tithing and the blessings you will receive if you are willing to obey your Creator and “seek first” the Kingdom of God above all else—even in financial ways!"

And

"God has certain basic commandments and statutes that last forever for human beings. Tithing is certainly one of these."

Richard Ames is also up to the bat with an article that alerts us to "Prophetic Trends for 2015."

"Dear readers, we are living in the exciting prophesied “end-times.” End-time prophecies that have been in place for thousands of years are “speeding up” toward fulfillment as never before. We look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who will soon return to establish the Kingdom of God on planet Earth. So we must be prepared. Even if Christ does not return for a few more years, we cannot let our guard down individually, as any one of us might die tonight. We must draw close to God in 2015, and we must stay close to Him. As we do, we can be informed and encouraged by the fulfillment of prophesied events as we obey Christ’s command to “watch” in 2015 and beyond!"

Talk about mixed messages. Speeding up as never before brethren, living here in the end-times, but don't hold your breath.

John Meakin has the real oil on what's happening in Her Britannic Majesty's domains: "What Does Scotland's 'No!' Mean for the United Kingdom and Bible Prophecy?"

(Nothing John, absolutely nothing.)

Dougie Winnail beats the same old drum with "Prophecy Comes Alive: The Demise of the West."

Yup, we've read it all before. It gets no better with the passing of time.

Quotable

"The ideologue has a singular cast of mind, one that needs bold rules and eschews nuances. Abundant examples exist of those who, devout in proselytising for one belief system, undergo an epiphany, and then reach in sudden disillusionment for a diametrically opposed but equally rigid creed."

Gordon McLaughlan (emphasis supplied)