Is the physical body a 'prison' for the soul? - Page 3

LegoGE1947 · #31 Jul 8, '12, 4:04 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qoeleth

Did Jesus, the "man of sorrows", really stress that? No, not in the Gospel. I suggest that is the impression of the "health and wealth" (so-called) "Gospel", so popular among some people. Not that I am suggesting that is your orientation. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, but alas for those who laugh." He said "whoever hates his life in this world will inherit eternal life."

And, if you read the story of Lazarus carefully, Jesus says "Our friend is sleeping, but I must now go and wake him." He is reluctant to bring him back to life. In the next chapter, it seems Lazarus is killed again. I assume that is why Jesus was so reluctant to wake his sleeping friend- to wake him to a second death. That is one interpretation, anyway.

I don't mean to be dogmatic- since the realities we are talking about are only symbolized in language. Throughout much of the history of Christianity, the popular image was of the soul escaping from the prison of the body, after find its way home from this exile in a valley of tears. This is an image which still offers a lot to many people. It captures the idea of liberation, freedom from suffering and 'ascent'.

Perhaps it is not a complete image, but none of our words about such realities are complete or entirely satisfactory. I think many theologians have been too quick to throw it out.

The world has this saying "Life's a b****h and then we die!" What about this saying?

Qoeleth · #32 Jul 8, '12, 10:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LegoGE1947

The world has this saying "Life's a b****h and then we die!" What about this saying?

That's is a valid saying for a lot of people, for lot's of the time. And it is possible to obtain a kind of Stoic courage from it.

Whenever we talk about 'life', I suggest, we are inventing a kind of mythology- since any saying about 'life' as such (e.g. 'life is like a box of choclates', 'life is a passing shadow', etc.) has a only a metaphorical relationship to reality (since 'life', in fact, is a concept refering not to reality, but rather a fiction. There are many 'lives' but there is no 'life' about which generalisations can be made).

In the same category, I put the image of the body as a prison. Sometimes it speaks a truth, sometimes not. Our theological discourse needs to be broad enough to accept that BOTH "life is a box of chocolates", AND that "life is a prison sentence". Both express authentically the human condition.

**GEddie** · #33 Jul 9, '12, 6:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qoeleth

That's is a valid saying for a lot of people, for lot's of the time. And it is possible to obtain a kind of Stoic courage from it.

Whenever we talk about 'life', I suggest, we are inventing a kind of mythology- since any saying about 'life' as such (e.g. 'life is like a box of choclates', 'life is a passing shadow', etc.) has a only a metaphorical relationship to reality (since 'life', in fact, is a concept refering not to reality, but rather a fiction. There are many 'lives' but there is no 'life' about which generalisations can be made).

In the same category, I put the image of the body as a prison. Sometimes it speaks a truth, sometimes not. Our theological discourse needs to be broad enough to accept that BOTH "life is a box of chocolates", AND that "life is a prison sentence". Both express authentically the human condition.

It is death not life that is the prison.

The grave is the most secure prison imaginable.

LegoGE1947 · #34 Jul 9, '12, 6:06 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by GEddie

It is death not life that is the prison.

The grave is the most secure prison imaginable.

Actually I couldn't take either "life is a prison'OR "life is a box of chocolates".I can't take being locked up and I can't eat chocolate because it makes me violently ill.