A good friend (who is an ardent athiest) was arguing with me about the difference between fact and dogma the other day. He said he major nitpick with the Bible is that whenever it doesn’t say EXACTLY what someone wants it to say, they bring in a ‘theologian’ to ‘interpret’ it to mean whatever the fuck they want.
Lo and behold, PETA is using a theologian to interpret the Bible for them.
I also like their cop out “Well, it USED to only apply to humans, but in this day of enlightenment…” The fuckin’ psychos don’t have a case and they know it.
I think the Biblical Fisherman’s occupation is not about what you eat, or how ya get it, but a spiritual analogy of an enlightened individual who pulls others up from the normal swimming depths and into a state of clarity. Hook, line, and sinker, usually gasping for breath. Though, I s’pose, in the days of Back on Yond Galilee, it was thought of in terms of nets cast…
And animal sacrifice might have been a more effective spectacle before our jaded & removed era. Springtime, lala, we’ve made it through winter; let’s have a ceremony to appreciate new blooming life. So ya cut the little lamb’s throat and throw up some incantation of appreciation. Well, I wish McDonald’s did the same. At least ya’d know it was fresh meat.
The most troubling quote of that link to me is the statement of the spokesman of the Catholic Archdioceses of NY: “I am very uncomfortable with the idea of any individual or group taking Jesus, in particular an image that is sacred to us as Catholics, and as Christians, and using it and exploiting it.” Gimme a break; can you say Crusades?
PETA is trying to get a worthwhile message across, but I think they’ve got a bunch of yahoos handling their advertising these days. If you’re in a position likely to be easily hooted down in the modern climate of tolerant debate, you’d better have all yer ducks in a row. I nominate pldennison, both of 'em, for the job.