A disgusting parable

errancy@infidels.org errancy@infidels.org
Sat, 7 Aug 1999 21:09:57 EDT (00934092597, 88cf6e2.24de32e5@aol.com) 

In a message dated 8/7/99 12:45:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
D.flandry@worldnet.att.net writes:

Jean (snipping the parable quote)
<< > > So, the king lays waste to an entire city to avenge the murders of a 
few
 > > servants.  Then he forces people in from the street to attend his son's
 > > wedding.  When one guy isn't properly attired (he just got marshalled in 
from
 > > the street, remember?) he is tied up and thrown out into the darkness.
 > >
 > > Is there anybody out there who can tell me what sort of justice and
 > > compassion this parable represents?
 >
 > BRIDEAN
 > I heard once that it was customary when someone got married to leave 
certain
 > garments outside of the gathering that guests were expected to put on.  To 
not
 > wear one of these garments when it was expected of you was considered an
 > insult.
 >
 >
 > David Flandry:
   Oh, that answers Jean's question. Murder innocent people and throw a
   guy into hell for wearing a morning suit after 4 PM. Great topic for Sunday
   school lesson.
 
 Jean
Besides, it's pure speculation that the king had wedding garments lying out 
on the stoop for the guests he forced to attend the ceremony.  It is not 
mentioned in the bible at all.  Brian Dean added this possibility to make the 
incident look less brutal than it was.

    I believe this parable lays out the entire system of Christian thought in 
all its glory.  In a way we ought to thank Jesus for putting it so baldly-- 
that is, if he actually said it.  If he actually existed at all.  The more 
compassionate sayings of Jesus occur when he gets away from that religious 
bullshit.  It's very interesting to me that Jesus says in Matthew 10:5,6:  
"Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans 
enter ye not.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  This 
does not mesh with the Good Samaritan parable, or the scene where he takes 
water from the woman at the well.  So either 1: Jesus was conflicted about 
what his role ought to be, or 2: the writers of the bible were confused about 
what they ought to say.