tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119638836985106294.post6270728163676435170..comments2023-06-06T06:05:19.811-07:00Comments on James Maxey - The Prophet and the Dragon: ProgressJames Maxeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927848864775293278noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119638836985106294.post-29078212227637549652008-08-27T06:18:00.000-07:002008-08-27T06:18:00.000-07:00I completely agree with you on the vengeful God of...I completely agree with you on the vengeful God of the Old Testament. There are passages about war, murder, rape, sex, alcohol, and pretty much anything else you can think of in the Bible. I should have clarified better that I was speaking more of the New Testament's teachings of forgiveness and compassion. <BR/>It is interesting how much the Bible contradicts itself. Just as you mentioned, the Isrealites were told to go destroy many different people, as well as the bloody story of Samuel and Saul. It is after Jesus enters the picture, that God changes his mind. In that after the flood, he vows never to do such a thing again. He brings into the picture an ideal of forgiveness, and instead of bringing down upon us plague and death, he allows people to make a choice. Whether to accept him as their Lord and Savior, and being saved, or not, and being condemned to Hell. <BR/>Now that I think about it, what ever happened to that vengeful God?<BR/>Perhaps when he sent Jesus to live as one of his creations(humans), God realized just how much harder it was to live a life without sin(impossible), and all the temptations that surround us daily? Who knows? Then you can ask, when did Satan begin to work his evil magic throughout the realm of man? <BR/>So much to think about. What a story! What a book!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10707922347277798797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119638836985106294.post-82385573182890862112008-08-26T18:10:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:10:00.000-07:00Thanks, Matt. Now that I've been through the book...Thanks, Matt. Now that I've been through the book a third time, I feel a bit better about the balance of the book in regards to its religion bashing than I did after the second draft. Ragnar may be unlikable, but I've given a larger roll to one of his body guards, a 7 foot tall hulk named Stonewall who I think winds up walking the fine line I was looking for of having faith, even fanatical faith, while still being sympathetic and likable. <BR/><BR/>As for your point that "the will of God" would never be to destroy a fellow human being... I have to assume you aren't talking about the God of Abraham, Issaac, and Jacob. The big YHWH was very much pro-man destruction. He was forever telling the Isrealites to go off and smite some people or another. Ragnar is loosely based on the Biblical prophet Samuel, who selected the first king of Isreal, Saul. God told Samuel to go fight the Amelkites or some other equally forgetable desert rabble and Saul put together an army and went and smote them good, but rather than killing their king Saul kidnapped him to hold him for ransom. Samuel flipped when he heard this, went to the captive king and hacked him into tiny pieces. God didn't say nothing about kidnapping and ransom, he said to kill the freaking Amelwhatzits, and kill means kill. You kill the men, you kill the women, you kill the children and the oxen and salt the earth so nothing else would grow. So, most definitely, any God based on Biblical texts is a God who sometimes wants people faithful to him to put a hurting on their neighbors. <BR/><BR/>By the way, I kind of like this version of God. He's mean, but he's really not wishy-washy in telling people what the rules are. He writes them down in stone, for heaven's sake. You know where you stand with him, and he chooses prophets to talk to personally so that they can help explain his will to the rest of flock. I can seriously see myself writing a novel about Samuel and Saul one day. Now if only I could work in a dragon somehow...James Maxeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927848864775293278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8119638836985106294.post-14390820678423862422008-08-26T12:57:00.000-07:002008-08-26T12:57:00.000-07:00James,I agree with you about the lack of a solidly...James,<BR/><BR/>I agree with you about the lack of a solidly religious hero, but honestly, I don't feel that it is necessary. In the real world, there are fanatics of all color, creed, and religious belief, many of which are not heroes. It makes the story more real, in my opinion. Honestly, I find the more deeply "religous" a people, the "crazier" their ideals and behaviors. "The Will of God" would never be to destroy a fellow human being. Yet, all over the world, we see these fantastical views of "Gods Will" and the destruction of people for someones OPINION of their personal religion. Isn't all of that quite interesting? <BR/>Don't get me wrong, the battle between good and evil, angels, and demons, and the unknown is more than appealing to myself, and though I may not attend church on Sundays, I have my faith, my word, and the choices I make each day decide whether or not I'm a "good" man. If you haven't seen KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, you should go rent it RIGHT NOW!<BR/>Keep up the good work!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10707922347277798797noreply@blogger.com