Heilsgeschichte this

12.22.14

Salvation History (in German Heilsgeschichte) seeks to understand the personal redemptive activity of God within human history to effect his eternal saving intentions. This approach to history is found in parts of the Old Testament written around the sixth century BC, such as Deutero-Isaiah and some of the Psalms. (Wikipedia, with apologies)

Understanding salvation history in a broader sense one appreciates the transmission of divine external (Christianity, Judaism, Islam), internal (Hinduism, Buddhism), and middle (Shamanism) revelation.  One need not make claim for inerrancy  (sola scriptura), only the events in which they happened because the spirit of humanity, the divine in each living human, interprets justly according to the times in which he or she lives.  Context divinely attributes holy scriptures for living righteously and the single universal chord found in all faiths for living is simply, The Golden Rule.

I suppose ‘justly interpreting’ still results in the polemic but it reduces the tendency to legalize scripture and thus one can rely on the spirit of the times:  ^“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Cor 3:17.

Of all the grief I give Paul he knocks this one out of the ballpark and takes contemporary Islam to the mattress.  The moderate Muslim cannot sit on the sidelines and allow others in the name of Islam to commit atrocities because their rendering of the Qur’an permits it.  Taking such liberties not only defiles the history of Islam it mocks all Muslims. 

And on that note, a break.  Yesterday was the winter solstice and it was so short I didn’t have time to write about it.  Which is good.  Two years ago I expected something ridiculously wonderful to happen and nothing happened. 

One day I hope to understand ‘super positioning’ a little better.  How can a cat in a box be dead and alive at the same time?  Well if you believe in parallel universes then it is easier to imagine and that is as far as I am with it. 

And tomorrow I will take possession of a car.  A car!  First we will change the insurance to my name adding the emirates to it, then we will go to the police and change the registration.  Just like that.  Ya.  And in July I won’t have trouble selling it, shoot, if I get half of what I’m paying for it tomorrow I’ll be ok.  It does seem strange, doesn’t it, that you managed without one for 15 months and then, well, the time is right. I’m lining up all the places to go while the weather is cool and the light is ideal for photo taking.

8.35pm

Christmas is relatively easy to deal with here.  Aside from the Armenian ladies passing out chocolates and cards in the offices, there isn’t much to remind me of the season.  Unless I listen to Charlie Brown.  Eleven years ago at this time I was in Sri Lanka, enjoying everything.  A year later a tsunami wiped out the beach I walked on and everyone and thing with it.   

If the transaction goes without hitch tomorrow I’ll drive to Dubai Friday morning for books and the year end issue of the Economist and a few books.  And on Saturday I’ll drive to the six pm mass.  I cannot have any quality of life here unless I spend money.  The exception of course is taking photos in the mountains and desert.  Should I take a drive this Wednesday for a cold sunrise photo op?  Christmas eve sunrise.  Sounds nice, and since I get up an hour before sunrise it’s not too hard to just get up and go.  Right?