Treppenwitz der Weltgeschichte

“I can resist anything except temptation“—Oscar Wilde

Some languages just have the right word to explain a host of thoughts that require full sentences. “Treppenwitz is German referring to events or facts that seem to contradict their own background or context. “Treppenwitz der Weltgeschichte” refers to a staircase joke of world history—or the paradox of history. Being an irreligious writer, the next logical step is “Treppenwitz Christentum” or the paradox of Christianity—

While I’ve struggled deciding to use paradox or oxymoron in analyzing religious doctrine, why not use both?

Paradox is just so well laced with religious synonyms. Absurdity, ambiguity, contradiction, enigma, I thought I had enough adjectives to delve into any scripture, including context. But, oxymoron says a lot too. Malapropism, hyperbole, all with the adequate adumbration. Here is my question. I have struggled to find a single biblical verse or religious fact that doesn’t break into pools of irony or sophistic contradiction the moment they are scrutinized—It must be by design. Can you name one or two? “Lord, help my unbelief”—Mark 9:24—Or should I just say, help my unbelief?

The Treppenwitz Christentum is a multifaceted wonder, that is no wonder through the gift of unbelief.

Agua Buena, Tonosi—Panama, en mi casa

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S.O.A.P. For Atheists

Developing observation skills are of key importance when working as a paramedic. About 25,000 times I had responded to assess, treat, and transport patients in various stages of life and death. In our state we use the SOAP format to document patient contact.

S: Subjective is what you are told by patients, bystanders, witnesses, police, other personel. Also patient history, meds, allergies, and so forth. Clues like medications and last time they went to the doctor for the current problem can tell you a lot about you patients underlying conditions, and if this ever happened to them before, and so forth.

O: Objective is what you find during a detailed exam from head to toe, ECG, blood draw, labs, vital signs or other modalities as needed.

A: Assessment/Diagnosis

P: Plan is what you have done to treat the patient. Airway, splints, procedures, medication IV’s, shocks, etc. Preferably all documented in order.

The first two, the S and the O, are the focus of today’s topic.

In Christianity we are told many things of Gods love and his eternal goodness, perfection, wisdom, protection and so forth. God is love, and god answers prayer and cares for your needs. What we actually see is a completely different story. Our examination does not match the nature of the call.

What we find in scripture, the physical world, and from the pulpits is another story altogether. And if the followers of god are trying to be like him, we are in for a world of vanity, jealousy, incoherence, miscommunication, arrogance, ambiguity, murder, slavery, genocide, contradiction, oppression, eternal torment, shifting morality, lying preachers, pious racism, land grabbing, famine, fear, guilt, and diplomatic tension. But this will be good. “Very good”

What I found when comparing what I was told in the church, to what I actually saw as obvious evidence of how things really were, nothing was as advertised. Short Video of Chief Dan George and a salesman.