Sacred Text

I am fascinated with how humans relate to sacred text.

I love sacred text as I think they reveal a lot about the people who follow it. I call a wide variety of things sacred text... the definition would include the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and things like the Principia Mathematica (to name but just a few).

I suppose this is a relatively new interest I have in some ways. I have tended to think of sacred writings as products of humans, inspired by something, though the extent of what that may be was not for me to know. But, that there was something vitally important in the words to the culture the text meant to serve.

I like thinking about the texts I am familiar with and digging in to the message the ancestors that wrote those words were trying to convey (remember, I do not presume to understand or know the divinity of the texts... just that I accept that there were humans that wrote AND interpreted them per their cultural norms).

So, I had never even considered the notion of forged text until read this article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bart-d-ehrman/the-bible-telling-lies-to_b_840301.html

I am slightly in awe of this article. Perhaps, it is because of the implications of the "divinity" ascribed to the Bible by the common culture who follows it... and the arguments it must cause in the variations of interpretation of message.

I do not have the heart (or soul for that matter) to dig into the validity of the divinity of works, though in that very assumption of mine I know I am making some sweeping statements that may cause many of my friends (on both sides of the belief aisle) to cringe. I will proclaim that I am deeply intrigued by the humanity behind the works... and I am looking forward to how I perceive sacred texts with this new piece of information closer to the front of my mind.

Japan

Go read this!

As an Apple user I am very deeply touched by the company philosophy and how it worked out during that horrible Tsunami. I can't help but think, however, that this was much more widespread and wasn't just Apple.

Geez, reading that again I feel compelled to add that I don't mean to diminish the story, I think it is very powerful and I was so glad to know that everyone bounded together and worked to help each other.

I am thinking, I suppose, on how humans can indeed put differences aside when this kind of devastation occurs.

Because of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, I feel like there is a birthright connection... for Squink and I.

Aurora Borealis

I had a friend, though it is more accurate to say she was a friend of
my mothers, who told me that seeing this while on the ocean was
amazing, that the lights seemed to bounce off the water.

Looking at this video below, it is very easy for me to understand the
people of the past who sought to explain this... either through
science or through religion.

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

And my favourite line is...

"I will fold this memory in my heart"

  To a Young Son
   ~by June Beisch

As read here: 
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2011/03/19

SQOTD

Upon slurping the end of his slush:

Squink: "The melt taste is bad."

SQOTD

Squink: "infinity never ends... until you get to the dark side.

I'm just kidding!

It goes on forever."

SQOTD

A new scientific way to measure time, distance, heat and sauce. The squinky pizza unit.
I think Einstein would be proud.

My favourite line is...

...But it sways me
nevertheless and stands in for certain losses
and gains and for even that much I'm grateful.

"Personal"
~Irene McKinney

As seen on: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2011/03/09

(because gratitude is my theme this year)

Dear worlds copy editor,

Could you please fire the person that keeps replacing words like; "won the lottery", "begun traveling around the world", "found a Picasso in their attic" and "awoke to find they can play a new instrument by ear" with the word "cancer" or some derivative thereof.  It is just not cool.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter,

Sincerely,

Blair

SQOTD

Squink: In Greece opa means like hooray. In Germanland and Austria opa means grandpa.

SQOTD

He has just leaned the pledge of allegiance:

Squink: What is under God?

Me: Well, it means that God is the boss, like a dad for everyone

Squink: He's everyone's dad and we'll never break in half

(This is his interpretation of "one nation, under God,
indivisible...." I think I like his version better in some respects)

My favourite line is...

You are a warm front
that moved in from the north,

(I am intrigued by the line: "a golden filament -  inscribed with the name of God's hunting dog,)

"You and I"
~Jonathan Potter

As seen on: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2011/02/28