Karl Sorrells
@karlsorrells.bsky.social
I was a Twitter expert on politics, elections and the history of the New Testament but that was all taken away from me (except the New Testament). Now I’m aimless and adrift, searching for purpose.
Yeah I’m a federal employee and I have no idea what’s going on or who is in charge so the Oath of Office is basically the only guidance I have right now. Been a federal employee for 15 years and it’s never been close to this bad.
January 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Yeah I’m a federal employee and I have no idea what’s going on or who is in charge so the Oath of Office is basically the only guidance I have right now. Been a federal employee for 15 years and it’s never been close to this bad.
Except to just somehow know what God wants.
I do not know if God supports Luigi’s assassination of UHC’s CEO’s.
Hope you enjoyed this. The OT isn’t my strong suit so hopefully this is mostly correct.
I do not know if God supports Luigi’s assassination of UHC’s CEO’s.
Hope you enjoyed this. The OT isn’t my strong suit so hopefully this is mostly correct.
December 11, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Except to just somehow know what God wants.
I do not know if God supports Luigi’s assassination of UHC’s CEO’s.
Hope you enjoyed this. The OT isn’t my strong suit so hopefully this is mostly correct.
I do not know if God supports Luigi’s assassination of UHC’s CEO’s.
Hope you enjoyed this. The OT isn’t my strong suit so hopefully this is mostly correct.
Except if you read 2 King 9, you’ll see that Elisha appoints Jehu to kill Joram (also the lords anointed) as divine punishment. So I dunno how consistent that is either.
To sum political violence and assassination are condoned and condemned in the Bible and there’s not real way to know 12/
To sum political violence and assassination are condoned and condemned in the Bible and there’s not real way to know 12/
December 11, 2024 at 7:29 PM
Except if you read 2 King 9, you’ll see that Elisha appoints Jehu to kill Joram (also the lords anointed) as divine punishment. So I dunno how consistent that is either.
To sum political violence and assassination are condoned and condemned in the Bible and there’s not real way to know 12/
To sum political violence and assassination are condoned and condemned in the Bible and there’s not real way to know 12/
Good luck figuring out what kind of political violence God is ok with, in none of the stories does God explicitly tell anyone what to do. If David had killed Saul would that have been ok? I dunno why not based on the stories in Judges except for the reverence for “the Lord’s anointed” 11/
December 11, 2024 at 7:27 PM
Good luck figuring out what kind of political violence God is ok with, in none of the stories does God explicitly tell anyone what to do. If David had killed Saul would that have been ok? I dunno why not based on the stories in Judges except for the reverence for “the Lord’s anointed” 11/
I think both stories show that using “do not kill” as a prohibition against all violence is false. Do not commit unlawful violence also doesn’t work because the violence in Judges was not lawful.
The real prohibition seems to be, don’t do violence that God doesn’t want. 10/
The real prohibition seems to be, don’t do violence that God doesn’t want. 10/
December 11, 2024 at 7:19 PM
I think both stories show that using “do not kill” as a prohibition against all violence is false. Do not commit unlawful violence also doesn’t work because the violence in Judges was not lawful.
The real prohibition seems to be, don’t do violence that God doesn’t want. 10/
The real prohibition seems to be, don’t do violence that God doesn’t want. 10/
Who have different views of political violence.
The author of Judges doesn’t seem to recognize the authority of a king that isn’t from the nation of Israel even if God has appointed them.
The author of Sam believes that a King’s authority is so sacred, it can’t be violated even when God will it. 9/
The author of Judges doesn’t seem to recognize the authority of a king that isn’t from the nation of Israel even if God has appointed them.
The author of Sam believes that a King’s authority is so sacred, it can’t be violated even when God will it. 9/
December 11, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Who have different views of political violence.
The author of Judges doesn’t seem to recognize the authority of a king that isn’t from the nation of Israel even if God has appointed them.
The author of Sam believes that a King’s authority is so sacred, it can’t be violated even when God will it. 9/
The author of Judges doesn’t seem to recognize the authority of a king that isn’t from the nation of Israel even if God has appointed them.
The author of Sam believes that a King’s authority is so sacred, it can’t be violated even when God will it. 9/
Again David won’t harm the Lord’s anointed.
A couple chapters later, Saul is killed in a battle with the Philistines and David doesn’t have anymore moral dilemmas.
So what’s the difference between David and Saul and the stories in Judges?
Mainly it’s that they are different authors 8/
A couple chapters later, Saul is killed in a battle with the Philistines and David doesn’t have anymore moral dilemmas.
So what’s the difference between David and Saul and the stories in Judges?
Mainly it’s that they are different authors 8/
December 11, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Again David won’t harm the Lord’s anointed.
A couple chapters later, Saul is killed in a battle with the Philistines and David doesn’t have anymore moral dilemmas.
So what’s the difference between David and Saul and the stories in Judges?
Mainly it’s that they are different authors 8/
A couple chapters later, Saul is killed in a battle with the Philistines and David doesn’t have anymore moral dilemmas.
So what’s the difference between David and Saul and the stories in Judges?
Mainly it’s that they are different authors 8/
instead he cuts off a piece of his robe secretly and later rues “that he should raise his hand against the lord’s anointed” and forbids his men from attacking Saul.
2 chapters later in 1 Sam 26, almost the exact same thing happens except David takes Saul’s spear and water jug instead of a cloth 7/
2 chapters later in 1 Sam 26, almost the exact same thing happens except David takes Saul’s spear and water jug instead of a cloth 7/
December 11, 2024 at 7:12 PM
instead he cuts off a piece of his robe secretly and later rues “that he should raise his hand against the lord’s anointed” and forbids his men from attacking Saul.
2 chapters later in 1 Sam 26, almost the exact same thing happens except David takes Saul’s spear and water jug instead of a cloth 7/
2 chapters later in 1 Sam 26, almost the exact same thing happens except David takes Saul’s spear and water jug instead of a cloth 7/
In 1 Sam 24 we have the story of David sparing the life of Saul. At this point, God through Samuel had anointed David as King in secret but Saul was still acting as King.
David had become very popular and Saul was trying to kill him for that reason.
David has an opportunity to kill Saul but 6/
David had become very popular and Saul was trying to kill him for that reason.
David has an opportunity to kill Saul but 6/
December 11, 2024 at 7:07 PM
In 1 Sam 24 we have the story of David sparing the life of Saul. At this point, God through Samuel had anointed David as King in secret but Saul was still acting as King.
David had become very popular and Saul was trying to kill him for that reason.
David has an opportunity to kill Saul but 6/
David had become very popular and Saul was trying to kill him for that reason.
David has an opportunity to kill Saul but 6/
By Jael when she stabbed him through the temple with a tentpeg.
Sisera was arguably an enemy combatant at the time but this is still a politically motivated assassination of an unarmed man.
Let’s leave Judges and look how the issue of political violence is dealt with in other books of the Bible 5/
Sisera was arguably an enemy combatant at the time but this is still a politically motivated assassination of an unarmed man.
Let’s leave Judges and look how the issue of political violence is dealt with in other books of the Bible 5/
December 11, 2024 at 7:02 PM
By Jael when she stabbed him through the temple with a tentpeg.
Sisera was arguably an enemy combatant at the time but this is still a politically motivated assassination of an unarmed man.
Let’s leave Judges and look how the issue of political violence is dealt with in other books of the Bible 5/
Sisera was arguably an enemy combatant at the time but this is still a politically motivated assassination of an unarmed man.
Let’s leave Judges and look how the issue of political violence is dealt with in other books of the Bible 5/
Ehud then leads Israel in a bloody revolt that rejects the Moabites from Israel. Peace then lasts for 80 years. The assassination of God’s appointed king was portrayed as a good thing.
This story is not unique in Judges, the very next story is the assassination of Sisera the Canaanite commander 4/
This story is not unique in Judges, the very next story is the assassination of Sisera the Canaanite commander 4/
December 11, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Ehud then leads Israel in a bloody revolt that rejects the Moabites from Israel. Peace then lasts for 80 years. The assassination of God’s appointed king was portrayed as a good thing.
This story is not unique in Judges, the very next story is the assassination of Sisera the Canaanite commander 4/
This story is not unique in Judges, the very next story is the assassination of Sisera the Canaanite commander 4/
At this point in the text, it is clear that God causes Ehud to raise up but it is not clear how this was communicated to Ehud. Was he acting with agency or not?
Either way, Ehud manages to trick Eglon and get him to send his servants away and then stabs and murders him in cold blood.
3/
Either way, Ehud manages to trick Eglon and get him to send his servants away and then stabs and murders him in cold blood.
3/
December 11, 2024 at 6:50 PM
At this point in the text, it is clear that God causes Ehud to raise up but it is not clear how this was communicated to Ehud. Was he acting with agency or not?
Either way, Ehud manages to trick Eglon and get him to send his servants away and then stabs and murders him in cold blood.
3/
Either way, Ehud manages to trick Eglon and get him to send his servants away and then stabs and murders him in cold blood.
3/
It is important to note that the text explicitly says that God made Eglon ruler over Israel. This means that Eglon is the God appointed king of Israel at this time.
After awhile, Israel cries out to God to be delivered from Eglon so God “raises up” Ehud to deliver them.
2/
After awhile, Israel cries out to God to be delivered from Eglon so God “raises up” Ehud to deliver them.
2/
December 11, 2024 at 6:48 PM
It is important to note that the text explicitly says that God made Eglon ruler over Israel. This means that Eglon is the God appointed king of Israel at this time.
After awhile, Israel cries out to God to be delivered from Eglon so God “raises up” Ehud to deliver them.
2/
After awhile, Israel cries out to God to be delivered from Eglon so God “raises up” Ehud to deliver them.
2/
I just feel like a lot of people are willfully trying to misunderstand the situation to sound more “moral”. “Oh I don’t like violence, I’m so cool”. Or acting like UHC CEO is solely responsible for our corrupt Health Care system. Yeah I’m fairly sure the CEO is not deny claims himself.
December 7, 2024 at 6:00 PM
I just feel like a lot of people are willfully trying to misunderstand the situation to sound more “moral”. “Oh I don’t like violence, I’m so cool”. Or acting like UHC CEO is solely responsible for our corrupt Health Care system. Yeah I’m fairly sure the CEO is not deny claims himself.
Like let’s say the shooter’s infant daughter died because UHC wrongly denied coverage. Does that make it right to murder the CEO? No, but it sure the hell would be understandable.
December 7, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Like let’s say the shooter’s infant daughter died because UHC wrongly denied coverage. Does that make it right to murder the CEO? No, but it sure the hell would be understandable.
…and think that violence may be the only answer to fix a broken system that ultimately led to his death and the death of countless others.
Ultimately violence is acceptable when the political system has failed. We may be at that point.
Lots of people are being hypocritical about violence.
/end
Ultimately violence is acceptable when the political system has failed. We may be at that point.
Lots of people are being hypocritical about violence.
/end
December 7, 2024 at 2:44 PM
…and think that violence may be the only answer to fix a broken system that ultimately led to his death and the death of countless others.
Ultimately violence is acceptable when the political system has failed. We may be at that point.
Lots of people are being hypocritical about violence.
/end
Ultimately violence is acceptable when the political system has failed. We may be at that point.
Lots of people are being hypocritical about violence.
/end
…even more polarized and angry.
Quickly I want to point out that I have no idea if the United Health CEO “deserved” to die or not. I don’t really think anyone “deserves” to die but I don’t really know if that’s relevant in this case.
You can mourn the murder of an “innocent” man…5/
Quickly I want to point out that I have no idea if the United Health CEO “deserved” to die or not. I don’t really think anyone “deserves” to die but I don’t really know if that’s relevant in this case.
You can mourn the murder of an “innocent” man…5/
December 7, 2024 at 2:42 PM
…even more polarized and angry.
Quickly I want to point out that I have no idea if the United Health CEO “deserved” to die or not. I don’t really think anyone “deserves” to die but I don’t really know if that’s relevant in this case.
You can mourn the murder of an “innocent” man…5/
Quickly I want to point out that I have no idea if the United Health CEO “deserved” to die or not. I don’t really think anyone “deserves” to die but I don’t really know if that’s relevant in this case.
You can mourn the murder of an “innocent” man…5/
…so the murder of the United Health CEO is pointing to the people of the US barreling towards society breaking down due to the inability of the government to provide a reasonable healthcare system.
Maybe this will become an impetus for positive changes but more likely our society will become… 4/
Maybe this will become an impetus for positive changes but more likely our society will become… 4/
December 7, 2024 at 2:39 PM
…so the murder of the United Health CEO is pointing to the people of the US barreling towards society breaking down due to the inability of the government to provide a reasonable healthcare system.
Maybe this will become an impetus for positive changes but more likely our society will become… 4/
Maybe this will become an impetus for positive changes but more likely our society will become… 4/
…but I think when you see people praising it, they are acting out of frustration and helplessness with or political process ever solving the issue and that’s very understandable.
People that are horrified at the violence have a point too because society cannot function with vigilante justice…3/
People that are horrified at the violence have a point too because society cannot function with vigilante justice…3/
December 7, 2024 at 2:37 PM
…but I think when you see people praising it, they are acting out of frustration and helplessness with or political process ever solving the issue and that’s very understandable.
People that are horrified at the violence have a point too because society cannot function with vigilante justice…3/
People that are horrified at the violence have a point too because society cannot function with vigilante justice…3/
…viewed as necessary violence. So when we say “violence is never the answer” we are tacitly saying to trust the political process to make changes but when that is impossible violence can sometimes be acceptable.
Now was violence acceptable in the murder of the United Health CEO? I don’t know…2/
Now was violence acceptable in the murder of the United Health CEO? I don’t know…2/
December 7, 2024 at 2:35 PM
…viewed as necessary violence. So when we say “violence is never the answer” we are tacitly saying to trust the political process to make changes but when that is impossible violence can sometimes be acceptable.
Now was violence acceptable in the murder of the United Health CEO? I don’t know…2/
Now was violence acceptable in the murder of the United Health CEO? I don’t know…2/