Job of Uz
"He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil."
Dear Fred,
Absolutism is a rigid, brittle frame of mind as our "friendship" with The Thinking Housewife reveals.
To protect this The Structure of Absolutism, adherents must armor themselves with dogma, doctrine and apodictic declarations that preempt not only compromise, but any meaningful discussion.
"God said it. I believe it. That settles it."
"God said it. I believe it. That settles it."
As a general rule, absolutists refuse to sit down with their "enemies" unless preconditions are already in place, preconditions that must be categorically favorable to "the absolutists."
Absolutists are very clear -- apodictically clear -- that Satan is to be shunned.
Absolutists are very clear -- apodictically clear -- that Satan is to be shunned.
Blessedly, the first chapter of Job models Yahweh sitting down with Satan.
Indeed, it is Satan who comes to Yahweh to begin the conversation.
And not only does Yahweh agree to talk with Beelzebub but, following an amiable conversation, He"signs off" on Satan's agenda. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201&version=NLT
What are we to make of this?
What are we to make of this?
Pax on both houses,
Alan
PS Here is an interesting "biblical" note pertinent to "Job" and Yahweh's willing -- even eager -- collaboration with Satan in Chapter 1. http://www.bible.gen.nz/amos/literary/apodictic.htm