The Gospel of Mark

[Luce NDs]

Might have something to do with the swine being ritually unclean animals. Who knows that an image of thousands of pigs stampeding downhill to drown in a lake might not have brought a giggle or two to the observant Judean of the day.

Certainly would plow the land for plantings ! I once read of a theory that some people keep pigs for excavation and archaeological operations ... theory indication of that which is really not known ... disclosure of Uncertainty in theory!

 

[Luce NDs]

I feel this would still be true - it was better that animals should perish than that a man, made in God's image, should be tormented.

If one persists ... such lamb of light is consumed! Then like methuselah ... rest for what's left ... cognitively your into the transient dimension of trance ... sometimes an area of PTSD! There is a bulk that may have a bad trip of it ...

Is PTSD a torment?

 

[Luce NDs]

Maybe there is a message of justice of some sort here. The demons and the unclean animals all perish.

M'N as the last pile standing ... an ET hick ...

 

[BetteTheRed]

But is it the pig's fault that they are unclean? Does anyone wonder why a Jewish village would contain a herd of pigs?

 

[Mendalla]

But is it the pig's fault that they are unclean? Does anyone wonder why a Jewish village would contain a herd of pigs?

Then, as today, there weren't just Jews living in that region so its not totally surprising, though perhaps a bit odd. I think that's been said before in another thread. Also, as with many of these little stories in Mark, I am not sure we can take it too literally. It's more of a parable than an historical incident.

 

[paradox3]

But is it the pig's fault that they are unclean? Does anyone wonder why a Jewish village would contain a herd of pigs?

We could take this a step further and ask if it is the demons' fault they are demons.

The demons wished to enter the swine in this story so maybe they did not like being who they were.

 

[Mendalla]

We could take this a step further and ask if it is the demons' fault they are demons.

The demons wished to enter the swine in this story so maybe they did not like being who they were.

(sings) Or would you rather be a pig? A pig is an animal... (stops singing and flees the angry mob)

 

[Jaebius]

But is it the pig's fault that they are unclean? Does anyone wonder why a Jewish village would contain a herd of pigs?

Was it a Jewish village though? Perhaps it was far enough away from Jerusalem that the people didn't stick rigidly to Jewish laws and customs.

 

[Jaebius]

Then, as today, there weren't just Jews living in that region so its not totally surprising, though perhaps a bit odd. I think that's been said before in another thread. Also, as with many of these little stories in Mark, I am not sure we can take it too literally. It's more of a parable than an historical incident.

Oh, not surprisingly - I disagree. I believe this event literally happened.

 

[Mendalla]

Oh, not surprisingly - I disagree. I believe this event literally happened.

You should just put that on a macro. Save you some typing.

 

[paradox3]

Hard to believe 2000 pigs ever ran down a steep hill and drowned in the sea. Especially 2000 demon-possessed pigs.

I was trying to imagine earlier what that number of pigs would actually look like. These are the things I think about when I am out for my morning walk.

 

[Jaebius]

I was trying to imagine earlier what that many pigs would actually look like.

Very porcine.

 

[Mendalla]

Hard to believe 2000 pigs ever ran down a steep hill and drowned in the sea. Especially 2000 demon-possessed pigs.

I was trying to imagine earlier what that number of pigs would actually look like. These are the things I think about when I am out for my morning walk.

Another reason for my suspicion about the story's literal truth. To be honest, it would be an horrific sight and you'd want to be far, far out of the way. Pigs can be fairly dangerous beasts to start with and a herd of them possessed by demons? Yeah, I'll stick to buying bacon and ham at the grocery store.

 

[paradox3]

Very porcine.

Maybe. Who knows what changes the demon possession might have wrought?

 

[paradox3]

Here is something often quoted out of context:

Tell them what the Lord has done for you and what mercy He has shown you. (5:19)

Would you ever read this statement and think about 2000 demon possessed pigs? If you hadn't just been studying the gospel of Mark, I mean.

 

[Jaebius]

Here is something often quoted out of context:

Tell them what the Lord has done for you and what mercy He has shown you. (5:19)

Would you ever read this statement and think about 2000 demon possessed pigs? If you hadn't just been studying the gospel of Mark, I mean.

Maybe if I was the one who had the demons taken out of me I would.

 

[paradox3]

Oh, not surprisingly - I disagree. I believe this event literally happened.

Does the story have a different message if we don't believe it literally happened?

In other words, is it important to distinguish between historical accounts and mythology/ parable in the gospels? Some, like Marcus Borg, have argued that greater depth of meaning is possible with metaphorical understandings of Scripture.

 

[blackbelt1961]

But is it the pig's fault that they are unclean? Does anyone wonder why a Jewish village would contain a herd of pigs?

is it the pig's fault when you enjoy bacon and eggs?

 

[unsafe]

It is important to note that Jesus ask the name of the unclean spirit and it obeyed and gave the name Legion ------this name means many ---

Vine's Greek New Testment Dictionary
Result 1- Legion
Define Legion | Definition for word Legion Vine's Greek New Testment Dictionary Legion

Matt 26:53, of angels; in Mark 5:9,15, and Luke 8:30, of demons. Among the Romans a "legion" was primarily a chosen (lego, "to choose") body of soldiers divided into ten cohorts, and numbering from 4,200 to 6,000 men (Gk. speira, see BAND). In the time of our Lord it formed a complete army of infantry and cavalry, of upwards of 5,000 men. The "legions" were not brought into Judea till the outbreak of the Jewish war (A.D. 66), as they were previously employed in the frontier provinces of the Empire. Accordingly in its NT use the word has its other and more general significance "of a large number."

unsafe says
Can you imagine having that many demons in you ------Jesus had total authority over the Demons and they knew what power He had over them -----

Do we believe in demon possession today ------I for one do but that is just me -----

 

[Luce NDs]

Are demons like pigs that will swallow anything? If they ran into the Dead Sea would pickled OCHs become a delicacy for thee lesser Jude 'ns ... Heidi ho for the feastin brutes ... festy?

Then imagine a nation with symbols of a pig in their mythology ... that could wrench your innards ...

Considering the similarity in the pig snout with the elephant's trunk ... are we looking the rite way at the literate evolution?

Like a pu on an elephantine ass? Flees ... nothing will come of Ide w/o a delicate myth ... pigs in linger eering mode? Porgy & Bess! A musical for the beefiest jerks to misunderstand! No grasp of abstract presentations ... as sas in nations unheard of as they collapse ... there Precedence that demand silent followings ... no plop to the pot latching under the table moni ...

Ever meet a Juiced anthropomorphizing personality that likes pork ... despite swearing to assist the poor out of their existence?

Porp Iges ... or porpositions ... listen cautiously to how the script comes to Phoenix ... home of burning twitter ...

Accents can change everything especially is pushed by hare lips ... over sexted adole scents ... hoards don't grow out of it in downsizing ... it can impoverish humiliation?

Imagine the hubris of poor situations ... den eMS is ... allows ups and downs and racine horses ... in the veil of night ... someone may be searching out a horse trade ...