Please respond to any or all of the following questions concerning the first 70 pages. Just click on the Comment link below this post and tell us your thoughts. Check back throughout the week to see what others have said.
Jacobs goal is to follow the Bible as literally as possible. Can this be done? Can we live the ultimate Biblical life?
Why do you think Jacobs makes the point that he will not pick and choose the rules?
Jacobs maintains that people pick the parts of the Bible that fit their own agenda. Do you agree or disagree?
“Miracles only occur when you jump in” (p.13) Do you agree or disagree?
Jacobs explains that he was so busy obsessing over the rules, he didn’t have time to think. Explain the danger of this especially in regard to religion.
Jacobs maintains that there is always some level of interpretation concerning rules. Is that true?
Jacobs does not believe that he can be debated into believing in God. If this is true, why do so many people do just that?
“Some say its more crucial to follow the inexplicable ones (rules), because it shows you’re committed, that you have great faith.” (p.25) Do you agree or disagree?
Jacob struggles with his jealousy of others, relentlessly comparing himself to others. Why is this a struggle given our culture?
What struck you most about the Amish community Jacobs visited?
Jacobs says, “a lot of religion is about surrendering control and being open to radial change. Has that been your experience?
Avoiding women who are unclean is actually out of respect for life. How can this be so? (p. 50)
One of Jacob’s big lessons is: Moderation is a relative term. Why does he say this?
I'm going to pick a few questions to answer...not picking and choosing the rules: in deciding which rule to follow or that we think is less important is interpreting. The problem with words on paper is that it's hard to know how important each rule is! It all seems equally intense! As Christinas I feel a lot of comfort when I get overwhelemed by all the things I'm not doing well when i remember jesus saying that all the law and the prohets boil down to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself."
ReplyDeleteFolowing the little to show dedication- per page 25- I don't know...the Pharasees took care of every 'jot and tittle' but sucked wind on the spirit of the law, according to Jesus. So, I feel a great deal of earnestness to follow everything, to give my LIFE to God in every small thing, but he wants me to LOVE more than anything. he said david was a man after His own heart because he was so wholeheartedly committed to God...
On the same wholehearted theme, or surrender, being 'open to radical change' HAS been my experience- the radical change, i mean. But at first I had no expectation of such a wonderful thing. I still don't see changes. I am open really to being USED every day. I don't know if you need to understand or conciously be opened to change to EXPERIENCE that change. We just need a mustard seed of faith to let God wiggle His awesome way in...
I am LOVING the book so far. Thank youO
Why do you think Jacobs makes the point that he will not pick and choose the rules?
ReplyDeleteThis was great. Side from being a killer IDEA for a book, it's the kind of thing which is bound to shed light on just how difficult (more likely impossible) a task this would be. I imagine even attempting something like this for a finite time period would be frustrating, and hilarious, and humbling all at once.
Jacobs maintains that people pick the parts of the Bible that fit their own agenda. Do you agree or disagree?
I think this is one of the absolute biggest problems we have in the world today. People pick and choose Bible verses without any regard to context, and use them to justify whatever behavior they want.
“Miracles only occur when you jump in” (p.13) Do you agree or disagree?
Yeah. I agree in a big way.
“Some say its more crucial to follow the inexplicable ones (rules), because it shows you’re committed, that you have great faith.” (p.25) Do you agree or disagree?
I sort of understand this. I think the whole idea of faith is that you believe in something beyond the rational.... transubstantiation being the most obvious Catholic example. I do think that allowing yourself to be open to the idea that you do not understand everything, and that just because something is inexplicable to us doesn't mean it is not real and important. At the same time, I think one could get pretty carried away with this type of thing, and end up down the rabbit hole and living in Wonderland.
Why do you think Jacobs makes the point that he will not pick and choose the rules?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jimmy that this does make a great idea for a book, but also that really following the rules, to the letter, is a most difficult task. People tend to want to follow only the rules that are easy to follow. Ones that are more difficult often get re-worded or adapted to make them easier for individuals to follow. Some rules are just ignored. Being Catholic is hard. It takes work and rules. Heaven is not free, but oh what a reward for those who work for it and live by the "rules."
“Miracles only occur when you jump in” (p.13) Do you agree or disagree?
I agree! When you jump into something, you don't think it through, make a plan, or strategize. Miracles are surprising, welcome events that wouldn't have the element of surprise if you had thought it all out. Then again, sometimes I laugh at myself when I try to plan it all out. After all, I really have no control over some things do I? So one can say, every day in this world could be considered some sort of miracle.
Avoiding women who are unclean is actually out of respect for life. How can this be so? (p. 50)
I laughed out loud when I read his wife's reaction to this "rule" in the book. How when Jacobs was gone from the house, she went and sat in every chair in the house so it was now considered "unclean." (Totally something I would have done if my husband had sprung that on me). However, I like the idea of it being out of a respect for life even if the "unclean" event would seem to mean there was no procreation of life. I am reminded of the women we read about in The Red Tent last summer. How they would be relieved of their "duties" for the 5-7 days that they were menstruating. It was their time to rest. I think I would see it as out of respect for the women's lives. To allow them time to rejuvenate themselves in the event they were able to conceive; an awesome responsibility that was given to us by God. A miracle in itself.
Jacobs maintains that people pick the parts of the Bible that fit their own agenda. Do you agree or disagree?
ReplyDeleteThe author is a perfect example. His writing the book about his journey is contrary to parts of the Bible. How many references to "checking [his] sales ranking on Amazon" does he make? The spiritual side to his experiment is second to his primary desire to write a book that will impress people (his editors, publishers, wife, infant son, etc.) and make money. Otherwise why write the book and not simply take the journey himself? I might have missed it but I don't recall the part of the Bible written by Jesus himself in which he describes his own "journey" or the itchy-ness of his beard.
In short everyone treats the Bible like an Epic Buffet - pick the items you like, keep going back for those same items, convince others to try the items we like and lecture people to avoid the items we don't like. Simple human nature.
Can we live the ultimate Biblical life?
ReplyDeleteWell, my short answer is "yes". We can live the ultimate Biblical life. However, what does that look like? I think Jacobs is somewhat jaded as he is coming to the Bible for, essentially, monetary profit as opposed to a way to salvation. He says that he is open-minded, but can he really be? Isn't he really just searching for a unique book to write? To live the ultimate Biblical life requires more than simply reading the Bible and trying to abide by all of the rules.
Jacobs says, “a lot of religion is about surrendering control and being open to radial change. Has that been your experience?
I'm not sure about the radical change part, for me, but as far as my faith goes, surrendering control to God (and to my religion) is comforting to me. It doesn't mean that I don't think for myself. It means that I am willing to seek answers to things I don't understand and all the while know that God will guide me.
Marion,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say it wouldn't be AGOG Book Club without you. I agree with your observation of love as a necessary component to leading a biblical life. In fact, it is my biggest problem with the author's approach. He is too academic and his heart isn't really in it. Jesus was big on the love thing. I feel like the story falls short on this..esp when we get to his take on Christianity. I couldn't put my finger on what I thought was missing until you pointed out that in order to be authentic, it has to come from the heart.
Jimmy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about people using Bible verses to back up any choice or argument they want to make. It is frustrating when people disregard the context and manipulate the verses to fit their own agenda. For Catholics, it is essential to read the Bible in light of the context and unity as a whole. We focus less on each individual verse and more on the big picture.