"What is man, that thou art mindful of him-?" (The Man-Kzin Wars, p. 77)
This verse gave Asimov an appropriate robot story title.
"'You win, you Judas...'" (p. 137)
Markham, here accused of treachery, had called Christianity "'A religion for slaves.'" (p. 44) Nevertheless, the Bible is part of us: no one wants to be called Judas or Pontius Pilate although we might identify with Doubting Thomas or Barabbas?
More on Markham later. Lunch and a walk now. Brevity is the soul of wit (I hope).
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Thanks for the flattering linking of your blog piece to my own article "A Note On Anderson's Use Of The Bible." And the Biblical allusions you found in Anderson's contributions to Larry Niven's Man/Kzin Wars series shows how incomplete was my listing of Anderson's citations from the Bible! (Smiles)
Poul Anderson "officially" called himself an agnostic, but certain texts in his later works makes me wonder if he was finally convinced God is real. And he certainly treated honest religious believers with respect. Plus, he SEEMS to have leaned most to Catholic Christianity, as novels and stories like THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS and "Kyrie" indicates.
Anderson's use of the Bible seems almost unique among SF and F writers. I simply can't recall many, if any, other writers (aside from Anthony Boucher) using the Bible so easily and naturally. And that includes even SF/F authors who believe in God (such as Jerry Pournelle).
And, yes, Biblical images, metaphors, analogies, similes, etc., continues to be naturally known and understood in Western nations. Almost everyone understands what a "doubting Thomas" is, for example.
Sean
"no one wants to be called Judas or Pontius Pilate"
But their decisions were needed for Christ's sacrifice to save humanity, at least as I understand Christian doctrine. So should they be regarded as villains?
Comments from Christians?
Kaor, Jim!
According to the Gospels Judas committed suicide, self murder. In Catholic teaching anyone who knowingly and deliberately kills himself, by that very act rejects repentance and God. But, that said, if Judas had not killed himself, one of the first things the risen Christ would have done would be to appear to Judas, offering pardon and mercy.
As for Pontius Pilate, there were legends that in later years he became a Christian himself. I have no idea how true these stories were, but they indicate to me that God will not reject anyone who turns to Him.
A favorite example from the Old Testament of the wicked man repenting is the report given of the apostate King Manasseh of Judah in 2 Chronicles 33.1-20. My point being that even the wickedest man will not be rejected by God if he repents.
Ad astra! Sean
Thank you Sean for your reply.
Kaor, Jim!
Anytime!
Sean
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