Comments on: Radical Amazement http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/ Religion, Philosophy, Life Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:17:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Joan http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-6675 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:07:05 +0000 http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-6675 Would like a copy of this book. Can you help? Radical Amazement Thank you, J. Baer Would like a copy of this book. Can you help?
Radical Amazement
Thank you,
J. Baer

]]> by: Amber Simmons http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-23 Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:54:19 +0000 http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-23 I understand what you're saying. It's sort of a sticky-widget. I, too, hate it when my words are misused, but then most of the time my words are about *me*. If what I'm writing, however, is supposed to reflect a personal God that many people share, and in a thousand years those words have been miconstrued and applied to a new context, I'm not sure I can be upset about that, since my words are now attributed to a living entity that *isn't* me. I do know what you're saying, though. And it makes me wonder, in the context of mythology, how important is the writer? Who owns sacred history? I understand what you’re saying. It’s sort of a sticky-widget. I, too, hate it when my words are misused, but then most of the time my words are about *me*. If what I’m writing, however, is supposed to reflect a personal God that many people share, and in a thousand years those words have been miconstrued and applied to a new context, I’m not sure I can be upset about that, since my words are now attributed to a living entity that *isn’t* me.

I do know what you’re saying, though. And it makes me wonder, in the context of mythology, how important is the writer? Who owns sacred history?

]]> by: Paul R. Redmond http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-18 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 19:34:33 +0000 http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-18 Very Interesting thoughts. You are correct in stating that it's their right, but I wasn't discrediting that right. These translations and evolutions of text and meaning are natural, but dangerous to preserving literature, and its original meaning. From a Christian perspective, original contextual meaning is vitalally important. As an author, I would despise such a natural mutation of a word that has explicit and important contextual meaning to my passage. The word "gay" comes to mind. Mis-translations (although natural) can create huge contextual gap that changes a meaning of a passage. Very Interesting thoughts. You are correct in stating that it’s their right, but I wasn’t discrediting that right. These translations and evolutions of text and meaning are natural, but dangerous to preserving literature, and its original meaning. From a Christian perspective, original contextual meaning is vitalally important.

As an author, I would despise such a natural mutation of a word that has explicit and important contextual meaning to my passage. The word “gay” comes to mind. Mis-translations (although natural) can create huge contextual gap that changes a meaning of a passage.

]]> by: Amber Simmons http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-12 Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:40:58 +0000 http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-12 I have a whole spiel about translations that I'll need to post at some point. I think there's something to be said about the natural mutations of wisdom-based religions, and about the legitimacy of even a bad translation for the people that follow it. Language is largely overlooked but overwhelmingly important in determining the flavor of any religion. And if the people who follow religion X are using a poor translation of te original source, I'm tmepted to say, "So what?" That's their right and that's their faith. Blah-blah citation might not have appeared in a certain way in the original text, but the text is alive, and this is what it says now. And that, for better or worse, is legitimate. I know that isn't where you were going with that, but I wanted to mention it anyway :) I'm glad you made it by :) I have a whole spiel about translations that I’ll need to post at some point. I think there’s something to be said about the natural mutations of wisdom-based religions, and about the legitimacy of even a bad translation for the people that follow it. Language is largely overlooked but overwhelmingly important in determining the flavor of any religion. And if the people who follow religion X are using a poor translation of te original source, I’m tmepted to say, “So what?” That’s their right and that’s their faith. Blah-blah citation might not have appeared in a certain way in the original text, but the text is alive, and this is what it says now. And that, for better or worse, is legitimate.

I know that isn’t where you were going with that, but I wanted to mention it anyway :) I’m glad you made it by :)

]]> by: Paul R. Redmond http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-8 Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:43:59 +0000 http://breathlessnoon.com/2006/08/11/radical-amazement/#comment-8 Amber, I actually stumbled upon this blog from your recent A List Apart article. I enjoyed that article! You bring up an interesting point that I myself have been questioning: Fear of the Lord. It is interesting how the meaning of words change in modern english. In this instance as you said, Fear is actually extreme awe, or, reverence. The penitent man (one who is teachable) will gain wisdom from God, not one who shows a lack of respect toward deity. Translation of the Bible into modern english can cause confusion, as it does in one use of the word <em>repent</em>. In Genesis 6:6, it reads: "and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth. Some say that this emotion or feeling is not congruent with an omniscient being; however, the translation in this instance is: being moved to compassion, sorrow, or pitty. Not repenting for a mistake. In the context of Gen. 6:6, God had pitty on the fallen state of Man, and thier natural tendancy for sin. Amber,
I actually stumbled upon this blog from your recent A List Apart article. I enjoyed that article!

You bring up an interesting point that I myself have been questioning: Fear of the Lord. It is interesting how the meaning of words change in modern english. In this instance as you said, Fear is actually extreme awe, or, reverence. The penitent man (one who is teachable) will gain wisdom from God, not one who shows a lack of respect toward deity.

Translation of the Bible into modern english can cause confusion, as it does in one use of the word repent. In Genesis 6:6, it reads: “and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth. Some say that this emotion or feeling is not congruent with an omniscient being; however, the translation in this instance is: being moved to compassion, sorrow, or pitty. Not repenting for a mistake. In the context of Gen. 6:6, God had pitty on the fallen state of Man, and thier natural tendancy for sin.

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