星期五, 5月 19, 2006

那是愛


教父聖伯爾拿(St. Bernard of Clairvaux)
曾說過:

有人為了知識的緣故而求知,那是好奇;
有人想為人所知而求知,那是虛榮;
有人為了出售知識而求知,那是卑鄙。
但也有人尋求知識是為了啟迪他人,

那是愛。


小鳴按:

昨天,為工作機構寫官方文章,無意中找到了以上發人深省的好句。

一件苦差竟讓我賺了智者的千錘百鍊的洞見。人生真的莫名其妙。

.

星期三, 5月 17, 2006

Fuller神學教授談《達文西密碼》



小鳴按:

挾著勢如破竹的威力,《達文西密碼》(The Da Vinci Code)*已上映了。去年已看過中文版本,看不到一大半,已沒興趣追看下去。Dan Brown無疑極具想像力,也具備一流吹水能力,可是他販賣的,仍是好來塢公式化橋段和情節。早已風聞會小說會改編為電影,不過,早已沒定不捧場。只是,當下不得不改變初衷,因女主角是《天使愛美麗》(Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le)的Audrey Tautou。自看過《天使愛美麗》,我便情不自禁成了她的「粉絲」。

今天在看舊同事Cyrus的xanga時,竟發現一篇在美國Fuller神學院教神學的教授寫了一篇有關《達文西密碼》的文章。他鼓勵每一個愛思考的基督徒去看電影之餘,還寫下了他個人的看法。無論看過、未看過,又或不打算看,都值得讀讀這篇文章。礙於個人時間有限,不能抽出時間翻譯,我只能原文照登了。請諒!

***********************************************

Fuller Professor Reflects On
The Da Vinci Code**
Nathan Feldmeth

Every thinking Christian should read Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I plan to see the movie as well, and as soon as it is comes out. Why? Simply because this blockbuster novel is one of the most potent forces in recent years to shape popular religion. Around cozy Starbuck’s tables, in airport departure lounges, at the proverbial office water cooler, The Da Vinci Code is a hot topic. When the movie opens on May 19th, a massive new and younger demographic will be caught up in discussing the plot and passively absorbing its presuppositions.

It’s hot because it is a very “easy read.” Dan Brown has a formula that appeals to those seeking escapist reading or viewing: use provocative claims like “this book lays bare the greatest conspiracy of the past 2000 years” to tie together famous familiar names with the most marvelous array of historical settings in Western Europe. Add to that a series of vicious slams against the Roman Catholic Church, already held suspect by many for covering up sexual scandals among the clergy. “If the Church covers its dirty linen now,” so the popular logic goes, “how do we know popes, cardinals and bishops haven’t done it for centuries and about the central figure of the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth?”

If we are ready with calm rejoinders to the claims of a scandalous cover up; if Christians have sound historical and theological answers to these claims, and a quiet confidence that rises naturally from a deep security in what we believe and hold most dear, then The Da Vinci Code can be a genuine opportunity for the Church.

So what are the key issues to be ready for between sips of a caramel macchiato? My list of the five crucial points would be these:

1) The early Church, from the beginning, consistently affirmed that Jesus Christ is God, this did not begin with the Council of Nicaea in 325.

2) "Alternative gospels,” often Gnostic in origin, are not the “earliest Christian records” as the book states, but are generally much later than the four Gospels of New Testament and were rejected by the Church as unreliable after careful consideration.

3) Historical evidence supporting the book’s claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene who bore his child, is non-existent.

4) Gnostic gospels do not in fact elevate women and affirm "feminine spirituality," quite the contrary.

5) Leonardo’s depiction of the Apostle John in the “Last Supper” as young, beardless and effeminate is consistent with long standing Renaissance artistic tradition and is not a secret code. Better make that a venti caramel macchiato or white mocha frappuccino, so you’re sure to have time.

In all this it is crucial that our attitude not be defensive. Dan Brown sells books and movie rights because he scratches a real itch in our collective psyche. The book is hard to put down. Let’s admit that. Translated into film by the extraordinary talents of director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks, the movie will be entertaining and provocative.

My advice, enjoy Dan Brown for what he’s good at but be ready with an informed critique. Hey, with any luck you may get a chance to have a meaningful conversation about Jesus who is the Christ. That can’t be bad. If we can help others to encounter the real Jesus, not some Gnostic or modern caricature of him, this book could be a genuine blessing in disguise.

Nathan Feldmeth is associate dean for extended education and assistant professor of church history in Fuller's School of Theology.

*
《達文西密碼》電影官方網址:
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/
**

文章轉載自
http://www.fuller.edu/news/html/da%20vinci_feldmeth06.asp

李偉儀數臭「狗公」

小鳴按:

5月初,讀到Jo數臭「狗公」*文章,拍案叫絕之餘,簡直身心暢快。身邊曾有女性朋友遇過賤男,當中也有基督徒賤男,他們的表現,真的有如Jo所說的狗公。他們「擇肥而噬」,使出騙人伎倆,讓女性友人陷入情網,得手後,「趙完鬆」。她們卻身心皆受盡傷害,久未能痊癒,讓我作為朋友的只能心痛地聆聽她們的心底話。

若現實世界許可,我真的會替無恥狗公免費作絕育手術。可是,現實世界中,狗公屢次傷害女性,卻逍遙自在,大有人在。當下,沒計可施之餘,惟有強化一眾姊妹預防狗公意識,盡可能減少狗公虎口中的受害者。


下文中,有些字不見了,皆因我取自《成報》網頁,而網頁裡有些字是失了蹤的。我也不知那些是什麼字,還是留待讀者想像,增添閱讀的樂趣。

*
我很喜歡狗。把賤男比作狗公,是把狗貶低了,我於心不忍。奈何在一眾姊妹圈子,狗公已是公認術語,我也只好沿用了。

2006年5月5日 《成報》 李偉儀
沒性品的「狗公」


 男網友「九宮」又問﹕「3.主持眼中怎樣才不狗公呢﹖要不要做愛之前鞠個躬,講聲我開動了,做完講聲﹕『辛苦妳了,唔該﹖』」

 我希望「九宮」並非「狗公」黨羽之一,只是誤解了「狗公」的定義,淪為給「狗公」們抱不平罷﹗我絕對需要澄清「九宮」對家父的揣測﹕「沒有妳們老豆做狗公,可能沒有妳們喎﹗」家父是正人君子,不是「狗公」。

 我以為男網友只要聽了該集節目,自可區分誰是「狗公」。既然不明,也就在這裏再分析吧﹗

 「狗公」與「好色男」是有分別的,前者就是欠缺了「性品」的男人。打麻將要有「牌品」,性方面亦有「性品」﹔「性品」包羅範圍很大,牽涉到行為舉止與思維﹔「品」則只是「性品」的其中一部分。

 在那一集「狗年狗公九宗罪」節目中,狗公的普遍行徑可歸納為9項﹕

 一.望女講女——人睇人,不失人之常情,但若把人家看得尷尬不安,那便是狗公所為。狗眼看人「低」,狗公見到女性總喜歡從高向低望,偷窺女人波罅還不止,遇上各路狗公的時候,更會急不及待高談闊論周遭女性的樣貌身材。

 二.不理好醜,但求就手——女人在狗公眼中唯一的功能便是滿足其獸性欲望。一於少理對方條件,更不顧及人際關係之破壞,譬如穿插在一堆互相認識的女孩子之間,企圖全部皆「上」,這種「漁翁撒網」的做法令女人討厭。

 他的行徑算點呢﹖日後圍埋一堆食飯,全部女人都和這條狗公有過一手﹔搞到面阻阻,甚至乎爭風吃醋,狗公會覺得這是特別威風嗎﹖

 其餘罪狀,明天談﹗

2006年5月6日 《成報》 李偉儀
「狗公」扮情人

 續談「狗公」的行徑特徵﹕

 三.有錢身痕,無錢痕——抱萬花筒心態,到處送禮物哄女孩子開房留精留情,弄得自己一窮二白﹔沒錢時專挑家裏有地方的女孩子,騙人家說喜歡促膝談心,其實是想吃免費餐。等到銀根充裕則突然變臉,過門不入,請都唔來。  

 四.開房前話齋唔搞,開房後就齋搞唔——女孩子未到手,一於日日夜夜糾纏,帶她半夜劈酒遊花園,待她疲憊不堪之際,懶溫柔問句﹕「妳都好累了,不如光顧時鐘酒店(或去我家中)休息。我尊重妳的意願,我和妳只會一起睡,不會搞出那種事情。如果妳還是不放心,我最多睡在地上吧。」上到房間,或獸性大發,或借醉行兇,女孩子的最後下場,如題﹕「齋搞唔」。

 五.趙完鬆,良心當狗肺——製造假象,令女孩子以為能發展長遠關係。事實上狗公只關心怎樣把女孩子勾引上,懶得理會對方感情。初時故意扮溫柔長情,混淆嬉戲和真心,成功得手後當女孩子做Tempo紙巾(用完即棄),後果是造成感情上的欺騙和傷害。狗公更大肆宣揚是女孩子自作多情,錯愛他這種「不羈浪子」(嘔)﹗

 談到這裏,或者已有「狗公」隊員想反擊﹕「是妳們女人不夠性解放吧,玩真感情,Out啦﹗」事實上,不一定個個女孩子結交異性,都是純粹為了拍拖,某部分女孩子能夠接受到短暫的情慾關係。然而,她們最憎惡「狗公」扮情人,隱隱晦晦,故意藏起狗尾巴。女孩子真的寧願「狗公」坦白,想要上,只要仰天長吠幾聲就是了,何須整古作怪,扮作要跟女人談情說愛﹖

2006年5月7日 《成報》 李偉儀
Bye Bye「狗公」


狗口長不出象牙,以下幾點針對「狗公」把口﹕

六.自誇追女勁——篤人數,其實吃過無數檸檬,甚至根本很久沒有碰過女人。追求不遂便老羞成怒,亂傳緋聞,令所有人誤以為某位女孩子真的跟他有過一手。被誤傳與質素低的「狗公」有一手,直接影響女方的聲譽。

七.自誇性「能」——篤次數,吹噓自己能令女人快樂得梅開幾度,呻吟聲像環迴立體聲。事實是這條狗公不「派報紙」已屬奇。

八.趙完唱,無口德——把上過的名單唱通街﹔就算不講真名,亦會繪影繪聲把對方的身份透露得呼之欲出。

九.缺「床品」——狗公把口常吐歪理,話自己對愛滋病有免疫,只是為對方想才要堅持用安全套,結果卻是威逼利誘打真軍。床笫中從來不肯取悅女方,卻反過來猛地要求女方服侍他﹔若女方不肯,則被他抨擊為「懶得郁」。聽過一個例子,女子患了重感冒,辛苦得動彈不得,不幸惹來一條「狗公」慰問。在病榻中翻雲覆雨,女子以為能得到額外呵護,怎料「狗公」依然故我,不理會女方呼吸不順,仍要求她施展口技。姿勢進行不果,女子竟遭冷言嘲諷「似死魚」。

解釋過「狗年狗公九宗罪」,希望能糾正男網友「九宮」誤解,不要以為男人要在做愛之前向女人鞠個躬,或者缺乏性慾的男人才不算「狗公」。在女人心目中,有品的「好色男」受盡女人歡迎﹔沒品的「狗公」則叫人咋舌。

絕對希望女孩子一生不會遇上此等具備「狗型淫格」的男人﹔這是時候Bye Bye「狗公」,再見「狗公」,莫讓牠們埋身在妳身邊徘徊﹗