by P. Pullman
Thanks my friend LoT for always reminding me to read the books by Pullman.
I know it is quite some work to herd cats, and I wouldn’t try even if you paid me to. But for those of who like reading, this is an interesting read.
Pullman tells of the circumstance of Jesus and Christ’s birth, their growing up and their differences as children
I like the conversation at the poolside.
And the prayer of Jesus is out of this world. Part of the prayer, which most of us would agree with
‘Lord, if I thought you were listening, I’d pray for this above all: that any church set up in your name should remain poor, and powerless, and modest. That it should wield no authority except that of love. That it should never cast anyone out. That it should own no property and make no laws. That it should not condemn, but only forgive.
Go read the book. You will love it, that you can trust me.
Random thoughts 
We all don’t read as fast as you, my learned friend. ๐
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It’s a short book John. Will take you two days if you are slow ๐
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I’m still into my sci fi space opera ๐
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I am waiting for you to finish that. I will want to read it.
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How do I lend it to you? I saw that is an option, but i have no idea how
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No idea. And for the time being I will go back to reading history.
This was just a break but it was a worthwhile one
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Mak, you slay me. Based on the email exchange 13 hours ago, you hadn’t read anything by Pullman. Do you ever sleep? LOL
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Yes and soundly.
I think I should take more walks in the evening after work ๐
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LOL
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Noel my friend, this is what’s become of my hopes that ya’ll read Pullman’s Trilogy? You grabbed a shorty and lead astray the whole flockโบ
Your Holiness, I am ashamed to admit I haven’t read yet the book you just did read.
It must be the stomach sickness I get when I have to read about this jesus, which is still fresh after quite a few years, and keeps me from reading it, even if I know it’s from PP…
But it can’t replace the seismic content of the Trilogy, trust me on this oneโบ
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LOL Rom, If truth be told I mentioned to Noel in an email that you had recommended the Trilogy to me, and I was going to read them. This was the result. ๐
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Remember, we can’t touch Noel, he’s the holy multiplicity and our CEO of committees! We first need to be forgiven for questioning him, and after he has granted forgiveness, we’ll jump at him, and hope for next confessional’s absolution.
Don’t worry, your Eminence, I know you are eternally innocentโบ
Wow, pure Vatican, isn’t it?
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“Wow, pure Vatican, isn’t it?”
It is indeed. But I was thinking — if we are also infallible, as he proclaimed when we became a part of the trinity, then why do we need his Holiness’ forgiveness? ๐
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Dogma, my dear, dogma! It is so because we believe he would have said so, if he would have decided to do so, which we don’t know because he didn’t inform us about, but we believe to be so because we walk by faith not by sight! Amen?
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But, but..he did inform us:
“Quote from his Holiness:
So, basically, what you are suggesting is he is a lying son of a bishop?
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No, but he is the first amongst equals and actually father of all bishops!โบ
Boy I’m good! This is how the Vatican works, I guess…
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Jeesh, and here I thought his Holiness was cutting edge; one who wanted to see the blood and shit cleaned up. Just goes to show you some things never change. Heil Dopamine. I may have to resign from this position granted me by his Holiness, to head the committee that chooses committees. Since I recommended you to co-head, and he approved, this mean you will be going solo. I’m over this shit. ๐
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May I suggest you accept, after you resign, the position you held before resignation? We confess to each other, forgive each other even if nothing wrong was done, and start anew?
“Spice must flow!”
Deal?
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Man, you are good. I’ll sleep on it. Deal?
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Dealโบ
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๐
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All intentions present and future to resign from infallible positions have been infallibly rejected
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This holiness represents the highest holiness of holiness. And once you have an infallible position, you can’t resign to become emiritus. You hold your infallible position even in the netherworld that I will determine who joins ๐
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Hahaha, now your Holiness — if I may be so humbly honest — don’t go power tripping on us. You know where that got the last motley fools. ๐
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Those based their funny ideas on some old books.
Our positions will be flexible with changing times
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This pope does not lie except to protect his committee members from blame of high handedness in dealing with religious delusions
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“This pope does not lie except to protect his committee members…”
Why does this sound so familiar?
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Maybe it is with popes ๐
I hope the committee member are not planning on being mischievous or have a bad rap with the citizens of a rational society
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Are you projecting, your Holiness? ๐
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Hahahaha
You make my days. That will be left for the public to arbitrate
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Your Holiness, you are brave. Remember the movie Idiocracy? Remember what we are dealing with.
“The years passed, mankind became stupider at a frightening rate. Some had high hopes the genetic engineering would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on conquering hair loss and prolonging erections.”
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I didn’t watch the movie, but why does that quote sound so familiar to what we see around.
A few weeks ago a man was arrested for importing viagra ‘illegally’. He should have brought in books, but hey, people need more viagra than they need books.
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There will be question time. Any decision, infallible as they are, will be open to question.
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You guys are just the bomb! I have a good laugh this early morning
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This ‘discussion’ has been fun and dare I say, the endorphins were flowing, for me at least. Laughter is good, and so is being silly, sometimes. ๐
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You know as they say around me, you can’t take life too seriously. A good laugh is good for all of us and best if you can laugh at yourself
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Indeed. ๐
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You being the chairman of committees, you have every right to tell his holiness he made a wrong decision ๐
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My friend, his holiness has no intention to mislead the flock, especially being they are cats, this would be difficult. His intention is to challenge the other usurper to the throne who sits at the Vatican and wears pink prada shoes, to entertain his readers and where possible to educate them.
I realize that many cats were affected negatively by religion and I will be careful not to awaken such memories. For me in a way, church wasted my Sundays, I would have a bigger library by now.
I plan to read the trilogy and I will appraise you on my thoughts.
I trust you on that,
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I was just thinking of getting it but the first review I read says ” I’m a Christian and I think this is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time.” It’s put me off. The next one says “A beautifully written retelling of the story of Jesus Christ.” I’m put off further. It just doesn’t sound very original!
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Well, it is true it is a retelling of the story of Jesus with a mix of some passages from the gospel of Thomas I think and in a way that is quite original I think.
Maybe you should just try and read it and form your opinion of it.
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I’d like to, I love Pullman but for some reason reading about the Jesus character doesn’t appeal to me, even if it comes highly recommended. Must be a deconversion reflex.
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Violet, I can relate to the deconversion reflex. For what it’s worth,here’s a limited preview.
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Thanks, I was sucked in by the first fluid words but then the nauseous reflex kicked in. How odd, too many long and tedious Sunday morning memories tied up in those characters.
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Not odd, really. I can actually become physically ill, that wrenching feeling in the pit of my stomach, when reading passages from the Bible that are posted on blogs. Especially when they are posted by Christians to make their point. After reading about Religious Trauma Syndrome, I now understand why. It’s not so much about my own experience but a reminder of how people are so easily sucked into the mind control vortex.
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I can identify with this to a point. Sunday mornings for me were wasted listening to often boring sermons.
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Maybe. I think for me I read reviews once I have finished reading a book, that is if I actually read any reviews.
Part of the question in this book is about history and truth. If we embellish stories to something that could have happened is it still true.
I get your points though and agree with you somewhat
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I did read one review , and was intrigued.
“In this ingenious and spellbinding retelling of the life of Jesus, Philip Pullman revisits the most influential story ever told. He offers a radical new take on the myths and mysteries of the gospels and of the church that has shaped the course of the last two millennia.
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ throws fresh light on who Jesus was and asks the reader questions that will continue to reverberate long after the final page is turned. For above all, this book is about how stories become stories.”
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I agree — because as you mentioned to me in the email — the conversation at the poolside and the Jesus prayer, just before the arrest, is quite telling. I’m looking forward to reading it. You’ve got me intrigued now. I’ll that one first before I read the Pullman’s Trilogy. My guess is that Christians won’t see what you saw because they are viewing it through their religious filter.
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This is indeed a great book. Philip Pullman is always his own man.
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I enjoyed the book and now am reading his other works
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