Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 03-21-2005, 11:33 AM

In CSS, crazyfingers provided a link to this commercial Christian product:

Couple sells the smell of Jesus

Quote:

Light up the candle called "His Essence" and its makers say you'll experience the fragrance of Christ.

Bob Tosterud and wife Karen say the formula is all spelled out in Psalm 45.

"It's a Messianic Psalm referring to when Christ returns and his garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia," says Karen Tosterud.

Wondering what that must smell like, Karen Tosterud ordered those oils, a combination that produces sort of a flowery, cinnamon aroma. Then she called on a friend who just happened to be a candle-maker.

. . .

"You can't see him and you can't touch him," says Bob Tosterud. "This is a situation where you may be able to sense him by smelling. And it provides a really new dimension to one's experience with Jesus.

So I checked Psalm 45, and it is the most sycophantic piece of propaganda I have read lately, obviously a song in praise of a middle eastern despot on some occasion (his wedding, according to some commentators.)

2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

If this Psalm is considered to be messianic, does that mean that Jesus will have a harem of royal princesses when he returns, along with the other warlike macho characteristics?

Did the Jews read this as messianic?

Lógos Sokratikós · 03-21-2005, 11:50 AM

Christians say the darndest things!

I believe most Christian sects (Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists...) would never agree with those ble$$ing-mining evangelicals. Although most of them have given in to scams like that in the past (indulgences, etc.)

I guess that when their founder Calvin decided to take over capitalism, he never foresaw that capitalism would take over Calvinism ("evangelicals", "born-again" Christians)! :rolling:

Clivedurdle · 03-22-2005, 06:16 AM

Jesus already has many wives, who are nuns married to?

But more interesting is this

Quote:

palaces adorned with ivory

World wide Fund for Nature and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species should take legal action against Jesus or his legal representatitives....

Diogenes the Cynic · 03-22-2005, 06:59 AM

Psalm 45 is a wedding song for an unnamed king of Israel. There is some tradition that the king was Solomon, or it may have been a generic wedding song for any king. It flatters the king and his bride and says they'll have a bunch of kids and that's about it. It is not Messianic and has nothing to do with Jesus.

Of course, nothing in the Hebrew Bible has anything to do with Jesus but that doesn't stop people from reading him into every nook and cranny of the Tanakh.

Notsri · 03-22-2005, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Did the Jews read this as messianic?

Yes. The Targum to Psalms applies the psalm to the Messiah.

Anat · 03-22-2005, 05:40 PM

And let's not forget the first half of verse 14 "All glorious is the king's daughter within the palace;" - this served (and still does, in some communities) as a justification for limiting women's freedom of movement.

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03-21-2005, 11:50 AM	#2
Lógos Sokratikós Contributor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Virtually right here where you are Posts: 11,138	Christians say the darndest things! I believe most Christian sects (Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists...) would never agree with those ble$$ing-mining evangelicals. Although most of them have given in to scams like that in the past (indulgences, etc.) I guess that when their founder Calvin decided to take over capitalism, he never foresaw that capitalism would take over Calvinism ("evangelicals", "born-again" Christians)! :rolling:

03-22-2005, 06:59 AM	#4
Diogenes the Cynic Moderator - Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 4,639	Psalm 45 is a wedding song for an unnamed king of Israel. There is some tradition that the king was Solomon, or it may have been a generic wedding song for any king. It flatters the king and his bride and says they'll have a bunch of kids and that's about it. It is not Messianic and has nothing to do with Jesus. Of course, nothing in the Hebrew Bible has anything to do with Jesus but that doesn't stop people from reading him into every nook and cranny of the Tanakh.

03-22-2005, 05:40 PM	#6
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	And let's not forget the first half of verse 14 "All glorious is the king's daughter within the palace;" - this served (and still does, in some communities) as a justification for limiting women's freedom of movement.

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