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Contrary to the Mormon authoritarian corporate president view of a prophet there is a Biblical notion of prophet that echos even in the Book of Mormon.

In this view a prophet is more like a gadfly poet or vocal outsider that sees the ills of his society.
He can shout his call for repentence from a city wall or stand in the city centers and shout or he can write his words and send them forth but the society will reject and curse him.

In every case, those in the society to which he preaches cannot hear his words and see cannot themselves or recognise their own sins. They fail to introspect and the prophet's words usually fall on deaf arrogant ears.

Inspiring image isn't?

But wait! I claim that we can only admire it if it is

a) way in the past

or

b) not about us

c) spoken by someone in our in group (our church)

d) spoken in the familiar dialect and language of our in group

e) the prophet is not black!

"G*d Damn America"? Sounds like a familiar call to repentance to a nation that views itself blameless and is far from it. A nation that sees itself as always justified and always favored by the gods.

Very familiar.

We read all about great nations in the past being condemned or warned by the voice of one from the wilderness and all that shiz. That's all OK since its in the past and it isn't someone we see on TV with the wrong skin color.

LOL
Stop up yer ears and say "nuh uh!"

In this view a prophet is more like a gadfly poet or vocal outsider that sees the ills of his society.
He can shout his call for repentence from a city wall or stand in the city centers and shout or he can write his words and send them forth but the society will reject and curse him.

Seems to match only when there is no organized Church. When that happens, the opposition becomes more muted or less effective for a variety of reasons.

"G*d Damn America"? Sounds like a familiar call to repentance to a nation that views itself blameless and is far from it. A nation that sees itself as always justified and always favored by the gods.

The reverend Wright is a favorite of yours? You believe in black liberation theology? You are a Marxist?

bcspace wrote:

In this view a prophet is more like a gadfly poet or vocal outsider that sees the ills of his society.
He can shout his call for repentance from a city wall or stand in the city centers and shout or he can write his words and send them forth but the society will reject and curse him.

Seems to match only when there is no organized Church. When that happens, the opposition becomes more muted or less effective for a variety of reasons.

"G*d Damn America"? Sounds like a familiar call to repentance to a nation that views itself blameless and is far from it. A nation that sees itself as always justified and always favored by the gods.

The reverend Wright is a favorite of yours? You believe in black liberation theology? You are a Marxist?

Sarah Palin a favorite of yours? You are a witch hunter? A pentecostal? A creationist?
(Two can play at that game)

Tarski wrote:(Two can play at that game)

So can three, but I'll bet I'd best you all at the contest to see who's the most puerile ;)

There was a thread on MAD not too long ago where the poster was lamenting because the rest of the US wouldn't listen to the words of God's prophet on Earth!

If only we had ears to hear, then this country would be all sunshine and rainbows. And there would be no gays.

Scottie wrote:There was a thread on MAD not too long ago where the poster was lamenting because the rest of the US wouldn't listen to the words of God's prophet on Earth!

If only we had ears to hear, then this country would be all sunshine and rainbows. And there would be no gays.

Earring manufacturers and installers would go out of business.

Right off the top of my head, I can't think of anything else that would change much, except, due to the constant lament to pay tithing prior to paying mortgage, buying food or fuel, or paying back things like student loans, churches would all of a sudden be the strongest financial institutions in the land. We would have no need of banks, since the money would be housed in churches.

Tarski wrote:
Sarah Palin a favorite of yours? You are a witch hunter? A pentecostal? A creationist?
(Two can play at that game)

Tarski,

You're the using the man as a moral example. His is a racist. He is a Marxist.

This is similar to what I said the first time I heard the un-bleeped version of the Wright speech. I was surprised that the bleeped word was "damn" instead of something stronger (starting with "f" perhaps).

Here we have a preacher condemning the US government for what he sees as its evil policies and behavior, and making a wild claim that God will punish the country for it. How is this any different, I wondered, from the right-wing preachers who condemn liberal government policies, and claim that hurricanes and terrorist killings (and even worse destruction yet to come) are the result of America's evil actions?

The only differences I see are the type of language used, the political wing the criticism is coming from, and the color of the preacher.

They're all a bit unhinged, whether it's Wright, Robertson, Dobson or Falwell.

krose wrote:This is similar to what I said the first time I heard the un-bleeped version of the Wright speech. I was surprised that the bleeped word was "damn" instead of something stronger (starting with "f" perhaps).

Here we have a preacher condemning the US government for what he sees as its evil policies and behavior, and making a wild claim that God will punish the country for it. How is this any different, I wondered, from the right-wing preachers who condemn liberal government policies, and claim that hurricanes and terrorist killings (and even worse destruction yet to come) are the result of America's evil actions?

The only differences I see are the type of language used, the political wing the criticism is coming from, and the color of the preacher.

They're all a bit unhinged, whether it's Wright, Robertson, Dobson or Falwell.

or Thomas Muthee (he's got his 15 min. of fame now).

In any event, I don't recall reading about those prophets retiring to mansions.