Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: I AM DISGUSTED! Message-ID: Date: 24 May 91 04:27:33 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: State University of New York at Binghamton Lines: 34 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article jclark@sdcc6.ucsd.edu (John Clark) writes: >In article hudson@athena.cs.uga.edu (Paul Hudson Jr) writes: >Why do I consider it 'inponderable', because in the case of Lot's >wife her sin is to look back on her home as it was distroyed by the >Diety. In Lot's case, as you have mention, the remaining biblical >texts preach essentially death or excommunication as the >punishment. Why should such a 'glance' be punished more that >complete break down of you stated moral law? I really don't think that Genesis means to imply that Lot's wife sinned by looking back, and that as a result she was turned into a pillar of salt. It seems from the story that Lot, his family and even his intended son-in-laws had to hurry out of town. Lot's wife turned to look back, and in that moment of hesitation, she was lost. An analogy, (but one which I've always identified with). Lot and his wife are scrambling out of the valley before a nuclear device is detonated. They have only enough time to get out of the valley, and behind a protecting hill before detonation. As they are about to clear the top of the hill, Lot's wife looks back on her home. Unprotected from the wave of light/heat radiation, Lot's wife is struck dead. As for the pillar of salt. I guess you're well aware of the salt pillars in the area. I'm quite willing to say that someone may have embellished the account slightly. (Perhaps even misunderstood Lot's account of what happened.) No, I'm not saying that Soddom was destroyed by a nuclear blast, but go back and read the account. There's a real sense of urgency. This city is gonna get destroyed, and you had better be nowhere near when it happens. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton