The Secret Wireless

On January 9 Rupert Murdoch tweeted this: “Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible”  To this author JK Rowling responded: “I was born Christian.  If that makes Rupert Murdoch my responsibility, I’ll auto-excommunicate.” Whatever you think of Rupert Murdoch, and whatever you think of JK Rowling, this does make an interesting exchange.  My concern, however, is not with Murdoch’s view of Muslims, nor Rowling’s.  I am far more interested in her statement about Christianity. Now, I am not an expert on Rupert Murdoch and I will not comment on his faith, but I will take JK Rowling at her word and assume that she is indeed a Christian.  And that makes her tweet problematic. First, Christians are not born, they are made.  Most Christians hold to the doctrine of Original Sin which confesses that human beings are conceived in a state of unrighteousness.  You...

From earth below up to the cross Christ bore our burdens and our loss, And there a full atonement made; gained glory that shall never fade. He enters Zion as her king. The people all his praises sing. "Give honor now to David's son, Hosanna to the holy one." Forth from the temple courts he drove The money changers, lamb, and dove. "My house shall be a house of prayer For all who come and worship there." With schemes and questions did they come To test the right of David's son. He answered all their queries told And showed himself now David's Lord. He prophesied the coming night When none shall work, so filled with fright. No man can know that day or hour. The king will judge in righteous power. In humble dress he washed their feet; Portrayed a love for all to meet. Then gave his body and his blood; A sacrifice of holy food. Betrayed by all he called by name He carried cross and sin and shame. The punishment of man came...

In the miniseries "Hatfields and McCoys" we are presented with two starkly different views of God.  The story is a dramatic retelling of the post-Civil War feud between two rival families.  [I know nothing of the actual historical account.  My knowledge of this feud comes entirely from the TV miniseries.] On one side of the feud is Randall McCoy and his clan.  Randall feels that he has been cheated by the Hatfield family.  In fact he seems incapable of perceiving anything but slights from them.  Even gracious peace offerings are turned upside down and seen as insults. Randall attends church weekly with his family, and he begins the story with a firm confidence that God, who is just, will pour out his wrath on the Hatfields for their wicked ways. "Devil" Anse Hatfield, on the other hand, begins the story as an atheist.  He cares nothing for God or religion, and only attends Sunday services to please his wife.  After his initial attempt...

If you have only seen the movie you are missing a big piece of the picture. The Princess Bride by William Goldman was famously transformed into a film directed by Rob Reiner in 1987.  The movie is a favorite of many for its delightful combination of romance, chivalry, adventure, fantasy, and humor.  What many do not know is that the book is even better. Goldman's book claims to be an abridged "good parts version" of an earlier work of fictional author S. Morgenstern.  Goldman states, over the course of a 27 page prologue, that his retelling is what his father used to read to him as a boy, leaving out all the boring stuff about politics, economics, and history, while delighting him with the story of true love and high adventure.  One cannot help but smile when you realize that this is precisely the part of the book you are going to skip over the next time you read it. The actual story is, obviously, far more detailed than the movie version....

To make a final conquest of all me, Love did compose so sweet an Enemy, In whom both Beauties to my death agree, Joyning themselves in fatal Harmony; That while she with her Eyes my Heart does bind, She with her Voice might captivate my Mind. I could have fled from One but singly fair: My dis-intangled Soul it self might save, Breaking the curled trammels of her hair. But how should I avoid to be her Slave, Whose subtle Art invisible can wreath My fetters of the very Air I breath? It had been easie fighting in some plain, Where Victory might hang in equal choice, But all resistance against her is vain, Who has th'advantage both of Eyes and Voice, And all my Forces needs must be undone, She having gained both the Wind and Sun.         --Andrew Marvell