Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!husc6!panda!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh
From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: A Fig for 'what's his name'.
Message-ID: <1150@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Sep-86 11:32:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.1150
Posted: Wed Sep 17 11:32:31 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Sep-86 23:53:15 EDT
References: <5369@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Lines: 32
Xref: linus talk.religion.misc:116 net.religion.christian:4667

Ken Arndt launches into yet another frenzy of fuzzy thinking!

In article <5369@decwrl.DEC.COM> arndt@lymph.dec.com writes:
> Anyway, on to the figs.  The incident is related by Mark and Matthew.  Jesus
> went to the fig tree and found nothing but leaves and Mark relates that it was
> not the season for figs.  Then Jesus cursed the tree saying, "May no one ever
> eat fruit from you again", (Mark 11:14).  Next morning passing the tree again
> the disciples were amazed to find the tree dead.

As miracles go, this is pretty pitiful.  The tree might have been knocked down,
ripped up, or girdled for all the text says.

[Explanation of how JC could have seen that there were no figs developing on
that tree, even though if there were they wouldn't be ready.]
> ...  In light of this understanding it is perfectly natural,
> reasonable, and wonderful that Jesus should 'curse' the barren fig tree
> which should have provided food for them when they were very hungry!!
> The way you or I might curse the death of an infant!

Not at all.  Cursing the death of an infant doesn't cause death.

And even if the tree is barren one year, it might bear the next.  Killing
the tree is simply wanton destruction.
--

Strephon: "Have you the heart to apply the prosaic rules of evidence to a
	   case brimming with such poetical emotion?"
Chancellor: "Distinctly."
	From "Iolanthe", by Gilbert and Sullivan.
-- 

Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh