Comments on: Teddy bears and blasphemy http://raphael.doxos.com/2007/12/04/teddy-bears-and-bleasphemy/ We are Flesh-and-Spirit on a journey to Integral Unity with God. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:24:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Huw http://raphael.doxos.com/2007/12/04/teddy-bears-and-bleasphemy/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Huw Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:07:15 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/2007/12/04/teddy-bears-and-bleasphemy/#comment-1708 I think the point of the slate article was that there are different cultural expectations. Here in the west, for example, we have some trouble telling Asian First Names from Family Names. I think, to follow the same line, *we* might refer to many of them by the M name... but do *they* in their private lives? And are they just too polite to correct us? Or have they been partially westernised in they they allow their first names to be used? I don't know the answer. I'm willing to believe someone when they tell me a given culture is different: and even more willing to believe when they point out that Westerners have it wrong. The Latino culture has a very different usage of "Hesus" than do Anglos. That was why "anglo" was noted. The same is true of many English Speaking cultures - but also of other ones: How many Orthodox baptismal names are Jesus or Christ? Semitic cultures, I notice (and Christians following) will allow a reference to God in the name: eg Raphael. But no one is named "Adonai" or "Theos". Nor our teddy bears. I think the point of the slate article was that there are different cultural expectations. Here in the west, for example, we have some trouble telling Asian First Names from Family Names. I think, to follow the same line, *we* might refer to many of them by the M name… but do *they* in their private lives? And are they just too polite to correct us? Or have they been partially westernised in they they allow their first names to be used?

I don’t know the answer. I’m willing to believe someone when they tell me a given culture is different: and even more willing to believe when they point out that Westerners have it wrong.

The Latino culture has a very different usage of “Hesus” than do Anglos. That was why “anglo” was noted. The same is true of many English Speaking cultures – but also of other ones: How many Orthodox baptismal names are Jesus or Christ?

Semitic cultures, I notice (and Christians following) will allow a reference to God in the name: eg Raphael. But no one is named “Adonai” or “Theos”. Nor our teddy bears.

]]> By: Stephen http://raphael.doxos.com/2007/12/04/teddy-bears-and-bleasphemy/comment-page-1/#comment-1706 Stephen Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:01:24 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/2007/12/04/teddy-bears-and-bleasphemy/#comment-1706 True. But how many Hispanic-Americans are named "Jesus"? Let's also not forget about people like Muhammad Ali, or Mohammed Al Fayed (father of Dodi, Princess Diana's beau), Mohamed Atta (9/11 hijacker), Omer Mohammed Ahmed Siddig (Sudanese ambassador), Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf (Saddam's famous Information Minister), etc. etc. Are we to believe that none of these ever goes by his given name (and didn't either as a child)? But anyhow, on a different aspect of the case ... I want to know how long it will take for the Sudanese court to give the bitter lady--who was dismissed from the school and caused the whole row just to get the school closed--the same sentence that was initially imposed on the British woman? After all, she has brought far more disrepute all around the world for Sudan and for Islam than the British woman could possibly have. True. But how many Hispanic-Americans are named “Jesus”? Let’s also not forget about people like Muhammad Ali, or Mohammed Al Fayed (father of Dodi, Princess Diana’s beau), Mohamed Atta (9/11 hijacker), Omer Mohammed Ahmed Siddig (Sudanese ambassador), Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf (Saddam’s famous Information Minister), etc. etc. Are we to believe that none of these ever goes by his given name (and didn’t either as a child)?

But anyhow, on a different aspect of the case … I want to know how long it will take for the Sudanese court to give the bitter lady–who was dismissed from the school and caused the whole row just to get the school closed–the same sentence that was initially imposed on the British woman? After all, she has brought far more disrepute all around the world for Sudan and for Islam than the British woman could possibly have.

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