There’s not much I can add to this. The picture sort of says it all.
This is a real photograph from the Columbus (Georgia) Public Library.
Photo by Brian Bolton. Used with permission
The thing is, I’m not sure the folks at the library were actually wrong. Many people seem to worship their computers, whether Macs, PCs, mainframes, handhelds, or whatever. And many people read more computer books than they do Bibles.
Kind of gives a whole new meaning to “Gates of Hell,” doesn’t it?
What, no Obama biographies in that section?
Hagiographies, excuse me.
The fact that there are actually bibles allowed in your local library is somewhat of a surprise. In most libraries only the Torah, Koran and Microsoft manuals are allowed in the religion section. I bet in most college libraries you can’t find a copy of the KIng James Version of the Holy Bible at all, just the NV.
I guess there’s nothing wrong with the NV, I just feel like if we have to dumb down the bible we might as well give it up. Somehow I can’t imagine speaking with God like that, but hey I’m a member of one of those religious sects republicans don’t want to be associated with so………………
[There’s a lot to be said for the power in the language of the KJV. I’m not a fan of The Living Bible, but then, it’s a paraphrase of other translations, not a translation itself. I must admit I do like the NIV, although I prefer the NASB to the NIV.
And don’t get too bent out of shape about how some Republicans act towards certain flavors of religion. I’m a Baptist, and the only GOP Baptist president was Harding, who dropped trou more than Clinton. Speaking of which, Clinton was a Baptist, as were Carter and Truman. The only decent president in that gang of four was Truman. – B]
Those are Frank’s programming books, Basil.
And seanmahair, when I talk to God and ask him which religious language I should use, he says, “Huh?”
This has to be a fake. Here are the two mistakes I see.
1. A Library in Georgia
2. Computer books in Georgia
Two things that Georgia does not have .
[Don’t make me come down there! – B]
The book titled “Firewall” on the Bibles shelf might be a new translation.
The two “Dreamweaver” books on the religion shelf could be commentaries
on the Scriptures, given the many times He revealed Himself or His plan in dreams.
More likely the librarian was too short to reach the signs to change them when the yearly flood of computer programming tomes swamped the 100’s racks in the Dewey decimal system.
“This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.
(NIV)
This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
(KJV)
This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
(RSV)
I feel like a contestant on The Dating Game.
I didn’t mean to offend, I guess I’m just a really traditional kind of gal.
When I talk to God he never says “huh” he sometimes says “Excuse me?” or even “Oh good grief” but he’s never said “huh”. Every persons conversations with the Divine are personal and I’m very comfortable with that, I’m just personally not that comfortable with a more relaxed, casual attitude.
If that however is your relationship with the Lord, far be it from me to cast aspersions, what ever makes you both happy is Okie-dokie with me. Really. ‘Cause that’s the kind of tolerant, accepting, non-judgmental girl I am.
What if you tried to pray to the C++ god and got returned a null pointer…? Would it be time for a new religion, or do you debug your god? Both options seem like blasphemy to me…
“11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” – Exodus 33:11
For the KJV inclined: “11And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.”
Now I’m a crazy pentecostal (No, not the crazy snake handling kind, the baptized in the Holy Spirit prophesying, hands laying kind.) and I always learned it that way. God will meet you where you’re at. When I was a teenager some of the most intimate prayers I had with God I called him “Dude”. My speech and reverence have changed since then but when it’s personal it’s certainly not formal. Some times it is when I’m praying in public. Depends on the situation for what’s appropriate. Just like with a spouse. In public some things are appropriate in private other things are appropriate. Only one time has God spoken to me in words. God tends to speak to me in the way that I think which is abstract thoughts.
“9”As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:9-17
So to reiterate there’s a time and a place for formality and a time and a place for just laying it down and being personal.
The “huh?” from God means “Why worry about a religious language when you’re talking to me.” You missed the quasi-joke, seanmahair. It’s ok, though, I can chuckle for you.
Marko… I was just as surprised not to see any books on global warming, or anything authored by Michael Moore or Al Franken on that shelf either. What’s Satan’s world coming to?
“Gates of hell”…good one, Basil!
I have been to Georgia on buisiness( I had to rewire a wharehouse and add emergency lighting) That is not a library , that is kindling(fire starter). side note — durring my two and a half weeks in Atlanta I saw no less than one dozen fiberglass shower stalls smashed on the side of the road,WTF???
No sweety, I got the joke. I was lamely trying to carry it along. Seriously though this discussion just goes to show that we all CAN get along, IF and there’s the sticking point, if we all realize that every person is entitled to their own personal feelings and ideas.
The secret, it seems to me, is to find that which we agree on and focus our attention on that. Respect the differences of others and try to do that which is best for all, instead of allowing pockets of intolerance to set the tone.
Of course punching a hippy in his smelly, dirty, putrid face works too, and very satisfying at the end of the day.
So, Carpe diem.
Well, I am deeply offended by this librarian putting a MySql book in the religion section. It is a false religion, just like XML.
Noew excuse me, I must re-read BASIC before my head explodes.
Hmmm. While I am a big Atari 2600 (and 7200) fan, I don’t really consider a book about the 2600 a good choice to be in the Religion section…oh well, time to get back to defending Atlantis against Gorgon attack ships…
Basil, I’m with you on the NASB. I have one and it’s been the only translation that I’ve needed since I traded up from the KJV. Not that I don’t understand the KJV, I was did some Shakespeare in school, so I’m hip to the lingo. I just like the NASB in conjunction with the Ryrie materials bundled with it in the Ryrie Study Bible.