I promise not to kill you... yet

[urbpan]

This is a picture of a rainbow that appeared as I arrived at work earlier this week.

Although I am a well-known heathen, agnostic, and blasphemer, there are parts of the Bible that I rather like. The symbolism of the rainbow I think is quite beautiful. And while looking at various translations of Genesis 9:12-17 on biblegateway.com I was happy to learn something new. I was under the impression that the rainbow was a symbol of God's agreement not to kill all humans again (by way of flood) but in more literal translations, it's clear that God agrees not to kill ALL the animals (via flood). It would be comforting if God would give a sign that
He will not kill all the animals through other means (what symbol could it be? icicles? fireflies? Aurora Borealis?) but it's nice to get confirmation that He will restrain himself from at least one method of destruction.

"This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

Comments

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

Have you ever heard the legend about why hippos are herbivores? Hippos wanted to live in the river, because it was too hot on land. But God was afraid that with the hippo's massive size, he would eat all the fish in the river. So God made a deal with the hippo - if he promised not to eat fish, he could live in the river, and the hippo agreed.

Here's a version to explain their nasty poop habit:

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/04-06/on-hippos-st-lucia-lake-south-africa.html

Hooray, urban hippos!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

The adjacent St. Lucia township boasts the occasional wandering hippo at night in the main street

I'm waiting for someone to explain (in a charming creation myth) why red foxes urinate and defecate in their food bowls.

Re: Hooray, urban hippos!

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

A lot of male canids do that - nothing like marking your food with your own piss. That's like boogering the cupcake.

Heh.

[interfecta.livejournal.com]

The Native Americans must have explained it by now. Red Fox probably had to do it to keep Coyote (or Raven) from stealing his food.

Plunging recklessly into the jungle of religious discussion

[interfecta.livejournal.com]

You know, I was just thinking about the Great Flood story the other day (partly because my husband and I toured, and rejected, a church-run nursery school for our son) and how badly it clashes with contemporary interpretation of the Bible, even though it's one of the most popular stories to retell.

According to the story, God puts HIS bow in the clouds. Not "a rainbow," not "a sign in the shape of a bow." This is the same God who we're strongly cautioned against picturing in the form of an old bearded guy in a toga. It's a good example of how the Old Testament shows YHWH evolving from a Zeus/Sky-Father type to a less anthropomorphized Creator/Sustainer/Destroyer.

Too bad it's easier to retell the story of Noah than it is to find a nursery school that encourages wonder and reverence without singing "Jesus Loves Me."

[gigglingwizard.livejournal.com]

Woah...God is queer? Wait 'til the fundies hear this!