Another member of my writing group, Leslee Clapp, pointed this out a few weeks ago. Inscribed on a wall near the Scranton Courthouse as part of a tribute to our armed forces is this quote: "Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his life for a friend." It's attributed to "Anonymous," but it sounds suspiciously like this wandering Jewish fellow I read about in a book somewhere. Specifically, it sounds like Jesus, as quoted in John 15:3. Was it too much trouble to look up the source of the quote? Or was attribution avoided for some other reason?
If we're putting up anonymous quotes around a courthouse, maybe they should consider this one: "Do what thou wilt; that is the whole of the law."
Aleister Crowley ... is not exactly the guy I'd want to base a religion on.
ReplyDeleteOn semi-related topics:
I did check out exmormons.org earlier today, to read a few posts on people making the break from Joseph's Smith's religion.
I read a book on various "gnostic gospels" and felt the texts were mostly attempts to coopt the early Christian teachings. But a few texts seemed more like legitimate variants that disappeared with time. On the whole, leading me to give a thumbs up to the current New Testament.
I am reading Good Omens for the second time. I highly recommend it. (And, of course, I'll give a gratuitous plug for the Illuminatus Trilogy, a classic even now).
If you are a few years older than me, you might remember Carlos Castaneda.
Oh well. Off on a bit of a tangent.
Heh. I was just thinking that Crowley's statement was more specifically relevant to a courthouse. Or maybe they could hang it up in a jail. No, wait; there are quite a few public officials - including judges - who adhere to Crowley's statement above all. Not all of them are in jail. Yet.
ReplyDeleteSuper G--
ReplyDeleteIf you like Good Omens, you should try Christopher Moore's Lamb.
--Aunt Sam