AnOldSapper
04-28-2011, 01:54 AM
Prophecy-the function or vocation of a prophet; specifically : the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose (Webster)
In order that this discussion take place, it is first necessary that the reader concede several points. I realize this to be poor form, yet without these concessions we may not proceed and I, alas, will be left alone to argue this point with my cats and, as usual, probably lose the debate. These points are as follows:
1. There is a God.
2. He is the God of the Old Testament.
3. He has not been cured of His borderline personality disorder.
4. Any Biblical character alluded to as a "Prophet"...was.
With those ground rules set, let's begin.
Prophets, those who claim to speak the mind of God, are often considered insane. Why this might be I am unsure, yet it seems to be an undeniable certainty. By way of example, please allow me to note the following prophets:
Noah, knowing the mind and will of God, built what by any standard would be considered the ancient world's greatest eyesore. Despite endless haranguing from the other members of community, no doubt concerned about property values, God commanded and Noah executed. His neighbors all thought Noah crazy until the very moment they realized they had allowed their flood insurance to lapse.
John the Baptist, Christ's locust-eating version of "Renfield" who came before Christ to "Prepare the Way" (Just as Renfield had assisted with Carfax Abbey) was a homeless man who subsisted on honey and locusts (No doubt more pleasant than Renfield's sugar and spiders). John the Baptist was likewise considered insane.
John of Patmos (John the Revelator), Author of Revelations, was, for some odd reason, thought to be insane. I think it the worst kind of social bias that we pronounce a hermit sequestered on an island, eating curious fungi and having vivid dreams insane. Yet considered such he was, and his writings are among the most interesting and influential works of prophecy ever produced.
If we consider that , by definition, to prophesy is to speak the mind of God we must, likewise imagine what an undertaking that might be and the effect "Knowing the Mind of God" might have upon our own limited faculties. To be a simple man and to receive direct inspiration from the infinite, the divine, the omniscient into a brain that moments before had been contemplating swatting at a fly, I'm seeing sensory overload on a massive scale. Perhaps this is why St. Paul was struck blind at his moment of inspiration on the Road to Damascus.
Whether right or wrong, divine prophets are considered, by most, to be certifiably, extraordinarily, unequivocally insane. Lets move on.
The Book of Job, (whose author's name is lost to antiquity and though he has received great acclaim for millenia, has never come forward to claim any prize for his work. Some speculate that Job was written by Sir Francis Bacon, inventor of the popular pork product, and having achieved such success with unclean animals, thought it improper to have his name associated with a book of the Old Testament) stands as the supreme window into the innermost workings of the Mind of God. God, holding council with his angels and appearing to be bored, says to Ha-Satan (God's submissive sociopath), "Hast thou taken note of my servant Job?" A wager is made between God and Ha-Satan, that the angel, free to use any means at his considerable disposal, will not be able to cause Job to curse God. "But who would bet against God?", you ask, oh ye who texteth whilst thou driveth. Ahem.
We are all aware of the trials of Job, either through our reading, church sermons or from viewing the numerous "National Lampoon's Vacation" movies, so there is no need to enumerate them here. Let it suffice to say that Job maintains his virtue and though he curses everything up to the water particles that make up the clouds at God's feet, he does not curse God himself, and is allowed to win Powerball.
Onward.
Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, best known as the Marquis de Sade has been given numerous titles throughout the years. Misunderstood artist, Libertine, Smut monger, Beast, all have been applied to this curious specimen whom we know mostly as a member of that elite circle of authors whose names have formed the roots of adjectives like Dickensian, Kafkaesque and Hefneristic. One fact of which we are certain is that he was considered by most at his time to be one hundred percent stark raving mad. Obviously, then, we have the raw material for a prophet.
And what of his work "Justine"? Beautiful Justine is a young girl, innocent and rare, who, despite encountering the greatest calamities imaginable, manages for fourteen long years of the most wretched abuse, to maintain her innermost virtue. Though her lot is among the poorest we shall ever read, Justine does not curse God. Justine maintains her virtue until the very moment of her salvation, when all is finally to be well, as, sadly, a lightening bolt passes through a window pane and enters her eye, killing her deader than a hammer. Farewell, oh thou beautiful font of virtue!
As illustrated above, both "Job" and "Justine" are virtually the same story, except, of course, that De Sade's rewrite is more realistic and certainly more graphic. If Job is considered to be the "Inspired Word of God", might not "Justine" be deserving of the same accolade? We have already agreed that De Sade was considered to be insane, just as were his ancient counterparts who had touched the celestial realm.
I, dear reader, look forward to your response with greatest anticipation.
In order that this discussion take place, it is first necessary that the reader concede several points. I realize this to be poor form, yet without these concessions we may not proceed and I, alas, will be left alone to argue this point with my cats and, as usual, probably lose the debate. These points are as follows:
1. There is a God.
2. He is the God of the Old Testament.
3. He has not been cured of His borderline personality disorder.
4. Any Biblical character alluded to as a "Prophet"...was.
With those ground rules set, let's begin.
Prophets, those who claim to speak the mind of God, are often considered insane. Why this might be I am unsure, yet it seems to be an undeniable certainty. By way of example, please allow me to note the following prophets:
Noah, knowing the mind and will of God, built what by any standard would be considered the ancient world's greatest eyesore. Despite endless haranguing from the other members of community, no doubt concerned about property values, God commanded and Noah executed. His neighbors all thought Noah crazy until the very moment they realized they had allowed their flood insurance to lapse.
John the Baptist, Christ's locust-eating version of "Renfield" who came before Christ to "Prepare the Way" (Just as Renfield had assisted with Carfax Abbey) was a homeless man who subsisted on honey and locusts (No doubt more pleasant than Renfield's sugar and spiders). John the Baptist was likewise considered insane.
John of Patmos (John the Revelator), Author of Revelations, was, for some odd reason, thought to be insane. I think it the worst kind of social bias that we pronounce a hermit sequestered on an island, eating curious fungi and having vivid dreams insane. Yet considered such he was, and his writings are among the most interesting and influential works of prophecy ever produced.
If we consider that , by definition, to prophesy is to speak the mind of God we must, likewise imagine what an undertaking that might be and the effect "Knowing the Mind of God" might have upon our own limited faculties. To be a simple man and to receive direct inspiration from the infinite, the divine, the omniscient into a brain that moments before had been contemplating swatting at a fly, I'm seeing sensory overload on a massive scale. Perhaps this is why St. Paul was struck blind at his moment of inspiration on the Road to Damascus.
Whether right or wrong, divine prophets are considered, by most, to be certifiably, extraordinarily, unequivocally insane. Lets move on.
The Book of Job, (whose author's name is lost to antiquity and though he has received great acclaim for millenia, has never come forward to claim any prize for his work. Some speculate that Job was written by Sir Francis Bacon, inventor of the popular pork product, and having achieved such success with unclean animals, thought it improper to have his name associated with a book of the Old Testament) stands as the supreme window into the innermost workings of the Mind of God. God, holding council with his angels and appearing to be bored, says to Ha-Satan (God's submissive sociopath), "Hast thou taken note of my servant Job?" A wager is made between God and Ha-Satan, that the angel, free to use any means at his considerable disposal, will not be able to cause Job to curse God. "But who would bet against God?", you ask, oh ye who texteth whilst thou driveth. Ahem.
We are all aware of the trials of Job, either through our reading, church sermons or from viewing the numerous "National Lampoon's Vacation" movies, so there is no need to enumerate them here. Let it suffice to say that Job maintains his virtue and though he curses everything up to the water particles that make up the clouds at God's feet, he does not curse God himself, and is allowed to win Powerball.
Onward.
Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, best known as the Marquis de Sade has been given numerous titles throughout the years. Misunderstood artist, Libertine, Smut monger, Beast, all have been applied to this curious specimen whom we know mostly as a member of that elite circle of authors whose names have formed the roots of adjectives like Dickensian, Kafkaesque and Hefneristic. One fact of which we are certain is that he was considered by most at his time to be one hundred percent stark raving mad. Obviously, then, we have the raw material for a prophet.
And what of his work "Justine"? Beautiful Justine is a young girl, innocent and rare, who, despite encountering the greatest calamities imaginable, manages for fourteen long years of the most wretched abuse, to maintain her innermost virtue. Though her lot is among the poorest we shall ever read, Justine does not curse God. Justine maintains her virtue until the very moment of her salvation, when all is finally to be well, as, sadly, a lightening bolt passes through a window pane and enters her eye, killing her deader than a hammer. Farewell, oh thou beautiful font of virtue!
As illustrated above, both "Job" and "Justine" are virtually the same story, except, of course, that De Sade's rewrite is more realistic and certainly more graphic. If Job is considered to be the "Inspired Word of God", might not "Justine" be deserving of the same accolade? We have already agreed that De Sade was considered to be insane, just as were his ancient counterparts who had touched the celestial realm.
I, dear reader, look forward to your response with greatest anticipation.