I started reading the bible recently. I started at 1 Corinthians and im planning to read the rest of the new testament. Its been a good experience for me, I didnt realise how many of the over quoted passages come out of 1 and 2 Corinthians, but it does lend itself to pulling bits out of context quite well. There is a lot of general advice and its all about loving people and treating them well so I understand why people like it. There are some parts that I really didnt like or get.
I found it really interesting when there was a bit where Paul says that people are getting baptised on behalf of some people who are already dead. At least that is how it read. I still dont think I can cope with it, the black and white nature of ‘accept jesus and go to heaven’ its just not how my brain operates.
It did give me the impression that everything we do for God is responding to gods love with love. I liked the way it sounded. Im not good at the whole love thing. Its something I have to work on, not really sure how to though. I think partly its a terminology thing, there are people that I care about a lot, and if I were a different person I would use the term Love instead of care about. I dont know if there is a difference. I dont know if people that are my friends say they love me mean they care about me or mean ??? I just dont really know. There are people that I would do just about anything for, anything to help them if I knew that they needed it. Even if I dont call it love, surely some of that kind of stuff is loving?
Anyway, I have read Galatians too, so now I am up to whatever is after that 
2 Comments so far
Leave a comment
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
ephesians….
i think you’ve nailed it Meags – love is much greater than a romantacised notion of that which we relate to our family, life partner, or friends… for me its an orientation – does a word, action, motivation give life? if we hold to faith in god through this person called jesus being that which is life giving, well how is love anything but that which you have described.
its time to shed the layers on love that is simply puppy dogs and sunshine, or even that which we would reserve for those who we trust enough not to hurt us – for these are the myths so much of the world seeks to uphold.
Comment by dw August 18, 2007 7:24 am @ 7:24 amYeah, I think our confusion comes from the fact that in our society the word love is commonly
Comment by Luke August 27, 2007 12:13 am @ 12:13 amused to speek of a romantic interest or partner &
then for family, less so for friends or family out-
side the the immediate family. I’ve not read the
1st letter to the Corinthians in a while, I’ll have to have a look at it again to get back to you about
your comments regarding Jesus – Salvation – Heaven\Hell although I found something about that which interested me, though it may not interest you. Anyway, It’s at:
http://aggreen.net/beliefs/heaven_hell.html
I’ll have to look up the baptism thing aswell. I once used a story in the gospels to argue that you could save people from hell by praying or doing good works for them, do you remember
the story about the people who took a sick guy and came through the roof of a house where Jesus was staying and Jesus healed him in resp-
onse to their faith? Well, it was that one. Not that I’d argue about heaven and hell in the way I did then but anyway I’m just rambling now so I’ll stop and say goodnight:)