I like the topic and title a lot. It is an intriguing topic that I would love to explore myself...so I will be glad for you to do the work and me to sit back and learn from it. I am a little confused about your position. Are you saying you struggle with a belief that we should not give to the poor because of a conflicting belief you hold about free will? Is the tension between giving to my brother because he is a child of God vs.not giving to my brother because, as a child of God, he also has the gift of free will which I am called to respect as God respects it? I was just reading about the flood in the Birch, Bruegemann etc. Old TEstament book and your topic reminds me of the discussion there about the meaning of free will as it is described and illustrated in Genesis. (an aside) Reading the authors assertions that although we can count on God to keep his promise not to destroy creation we cannot count on the actions and lifestyle of humankind not to do us all in...made me think of global warming. Talk about a parent allowing his children to learn from the natural consequences of their actions.... Your topic sounds exciting and much more likely to lead you to stimulating and provocative reading and discussion than your former topic. Go for it. Love you.
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precis/proposal
Date: 2006-09-23 05:13 am (UTC)I was just reading about the flood in the Birch, Bruegemann etc. Old TEstament book and your topic reminds me of the discussion there about the meaning of free will as it is described and illustrated in Genesis.
(an aside)
Reading the authors assertions that although we can count on God to keep his promise not to destroy creation we cannot count on the actions and lifestyle of humankind not to do us all in...made me think of global warming. Talk about a parent allowing his children to learn from the natural consequences of their actions....
Your topic sounds exciting and much more likely to lead you to stimulating and provocative reading and discussion than your former topic. Go for it. Love you.