Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: TTAERUM@ualtavm.bitnet Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Alchohol: Good or Evil? Message-ID: Date: 12 Feb 90 09:23:29 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 41 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , TTAERUM@ualtavm.bitnet >The notion of Jesus being a wine-bibber probably stems from >questions about his parentage (most notably whether Joseph was his >real father - which even Joseph would agree was not the case). There >is the notion within 'generation theology' (ravens give birth to ravens, >good people give birth to good people, ...) that the product of an >adulterous relationship will be adulterous (loose living, imbibing ...). >There are other quasi-slanderous comments made about Jesus in the >Gospels which are couched in phrases related to questions about who >his father is. Jesus responds, of course, that G-d is his father. > >Terry Taerum I received a number of inquiries concerning my interpretation of Jesus as a wine-bibber. Interestingly enough, everyone seemed to know what 'generation theology' was and what I meant by 'quasi-slanderous'. In case someone didn't know, 'generation theology' comes from the Biblical expression "these are the generation of ...". What I meant by 'quasi-slanderous' will soon become apparent. These best example of this 'quasi-slanderous' comment can be found in John 8:48 where some ask Jesus, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" The question about whether Jesus is a Samaritan is loaded. The Samaritans were the people left behind during the exile who married non-Jews. We know Mary is a direct descendant of David from Matthew and we know Joseph is a direct descendant of David from Luke (some will argue it is the other way around - it has no bearing on the argument) but what about Jesus. He is accused (in questioning) of being a Samaritan which can only be by intermarriage with a non-Jew or a Samaritan. Nothing much in this example is left to the imagination. Jesus response is ultimately, "before Abraham was, I am". Again Jesus claims to be of the same 'kind' as G-d and the people attempt to stone him. Again, nothing much is left to the imagination. Other examples are more subtle but this should be sufficient, I think, to demonstrate what I meant. Terry Taerum