Posted on 01/28/2010 9:47:54 PM PST by Lancey Howard
(snip)
In the spring of 1942, a few months after America had been drawn into the war by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Salinger was drafted into the US Army, where he was to serve until demobilisation in 1946. After training he was posted to the 12th Infantry Regiment in the Fourth Infantry Division of the US Army — most of the time as a staff sergeant — through five campaigns. As the build-up of American forces in Britain developed apace with the preparations for the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, he was stationed in England, at Tiverton, Devon, and he was among those who landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
He saw service throughout the Allied advance through North West Europe, notably during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. He was assigned to a counter-intelligence unit in which he interrogated German prisoners. His wartime experiences, which included witnessing the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp, affected him deeply. He later told his daughter: “You never really get the smell of burning flesh out of your nostrils — no matter how long you live.”
One of the personal benefits of the war was that Salinger met Ernest Hemingway, a writer he much admired, who was working as a war correspondent in Paris. He found Hemingway to be utterly unlike the rough, tough, brusque, outdoors, literary lion he was expecting and shyly mentioned to him a story Slight Rebellion in Manhattan, which he had written in 1941 and offered to The New Yorker.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
The loss of God’s image is implied when Adam and Eve sinned. Do you think they would KEEP the image of a pure and holy God after they sinned and disobeyed Him? No way.
That is why the world needs a Savior. We are sinners who need to be saved (reborn Spiritually) so that we can be re-united with Him in heaven and regain the image of God we lost in the garden. Those who do not become born again, but who think they will go to heaven because they are “good people” will end up in hell instead. It comes down to whose righteousness you are trusting in: your own, or Jesus Christ’s.
But I won't change your opinion, and you won't change mine, so live your life according to your understanding. Please notice that my concept of Salvation goes far beyond what you require. 'The road is narrow that leadest to Salvation..." You 'born again' believers make it all too easy.
Read J.D. Salinger's short story 'Teddy'. It might open your mind a bit.
Is that your idea of an argument?
No, just a judgment of your ridiculous statement.
You miss the point by going to tangents. Of COURSE God still loves us though we are sinners, that was the whole point of the cross. He sacrificed for us and became a propitiation for our sins.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” So if you are denigrating born again believers YOU are the one denigrating Jesus Christ, not me.
Am I supposed to feel sorry for you because you have to endure criticism of your religious beliefs? Religious thought is a very big world, even when confined to different sects of Christianity. All belief systems have to take constructive criticism in stride wherever free speech is allowed.
Christ is not Jesus' last name. It's a title bestowed upon one whose will is in complete accord with God's. Jesus is not the only Christ to have appeared on this planet. He is just the only one you know about. If you consider that denigrating, you are believing more in your doctrine than in Christ. God loves all peoples and has appeared in many forms for the salvation of humankind.
Here is an interesting link. I cannot say I agree with everything it says, but it will give you some perspective. http://reluctant-messenger.com/origen1.html
Also, read Teddy by J.D. Salinger.
Scripture is of no private interpretation. You compare scripture with other scripture to come to an understanding of a biblical subject. For instance, to learn what the Bible has to say about the antichrist you gather together all passages in both Testaments having to do with the man of sin and compare scripture with scripture to understand what God through the Holy Spirit in His Word is trying to teach you.
You made fun of the term “born again Christian” as I recall. I simply quoted the verse where Jesus told Nicodemus “Ye must be born again.” I’m sorry if that ruffles your feathers so you have to go on silly tangents again. Jesus said “MUST” be born again. Not “should” or “it would be a good idea.” Rather, MUST. If you are NOT a born again Christian then in His eyes you are not a Christian. It’s really as simple as that. People get into all kinds of difficulties by trying to make the simple things of the Bible complex, or saying trite phrases like “that’s just your interpretation.” Scripture is of no private interpretaion.
The Bible says what it says, its words are written in heaven. Heaven and earth shall pass away but His words shall never pass away.
Ok, why don't you give me the simple interpretation of the following Biblical passages? (King James Version)
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." (Matthew 6:22)
"Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." (Matthew 18:8-9)
If these passages are simple to understand, why don't I see Christians with one Cyclopsean eye? Or, why haven't I noticed any Christians who have cut off their hands, feet, or plucked out an eye or two?
If you take the Bible literally (without any attempt to interpret it), that is exactly what you ought to do. Unless, of course, you have never sinned with your hand, eye, or feet.
I don't think many Christians who say the Bible 'means exactly what it says' whould take that advice of The Master so literally! Do you know of any who do?
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