WordPlay: a sumptuous video

A friend sent me this sumptuous video this morning: 

I watched it the first time and just enjoyed the pageant of sounds, images, and evocations. I felt that there was an inner logic but it evaded me, until my astute friend suggested I pay attention to how one scene after another portrays a different dimension of the semantic range of a given word, and then the lights went on. Still, the blurb on the web page seems to promise something more philosophically profound:

In this stunning video, filmmakers Will Hoffman and Daniel Mercadante bandy visual wordplay into a moving exploration of how language connects our inner thoughts to the outside world.

How does the video help us see this? I suppose it highlights the logic involved in expanding a basic meaning of a word (e.g. "fall" as a type of movement) to more metaphorical extensions ("fall" means "autumn" because that's when leaves fall).* But is that the criteria for their connections? In what sense are "light" as "luminescent" and "light" as "not heavy" connected? As far as I now their homophony is coincidental, as the two meanings seem to have two different roots. Is the idea rather that regardless of the etymology of a word, the fact that we now use a "word" (whatever that is: are "light" and "light" the same word?) to refer to a range of referents leads us to subconsciously see some kind of inner connection between the various referents? But that is bad linguistics, something that James Barr called "illegitimate totality transfer." As an Englishman I don't call Autumn "Fall," but that fact alone doesn't mean that I therefore perceive Autumn differently to an American.

Or maybe I'm missing the deeper point altogether, so please feel free to enlighten me. Yet even if the video doesn't have a deeper philosophical point, it's still beautiful to watch.

Check out their other awesome videos here.

* I'm aware that some debate the existence of "basic meanings." See, e.g., Clines' introduction to the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. I side, however, with the views expressed by Michael Fox in his article on the semantic field of folly.

An intoxicating song

I hope to get back to more theological/Biblical posting in due course. In the meantime here is the most intoxicating song I've heard in a long time. I can't get enough of it:

Speak with Conviction

This is so true!

What makes Rancid an awesome punk band

This shines through their music and makes it beautiful.

Interview excerpts with the Son of Hamas

Probably the most fascinating figure I have ever come across is Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of one of the founders of Hamas. After disillusion with Hamas' hypocrisy, Joseph (Yousef) went on a search for the truth ("who is my real enemy?" was his guiding question), and it led him to Christianity. The revolutionary moment for him was hearing from the lips of Jesus words he considered unthinkable: "Love your enemies as yourself." The story is long and I can't go into detail here (read his biography, which made it to the NY Times top 10; I've yet to get round to it). In short: he ended up spying for ten years for Israel's security body, Shin Bet, with the express intention of fulfilling Jesus' words: i.e. to save lives on both sides of the fence. He even negotiated with Shin Bet to have suicide bombers arrested rather than executed, risking his own life in the process. For me, one of the most fascinating and beautiful things about Joseph is the way he constantly emphasises the humanity of terrorists. In contrast to the simplistic and self-righteous attempt to explain them away by calling them "mad men," Joseph talks of them with love in his heart and a yearning for "their salvation," most of all salvation from their own ideology. In light of all this, the latest twist in his inspiring story is so perverse it could almost be in a comedy book rather than a tragedy: the US Inland Security wants him deported to the West Bank as a security threat. The reason: in his biography he describes how working for Shin Bet meant working within Hamas itself (seems obvious to me). Returning to Palestine would mean his execution of course, as conversion from Islam is a capital offence. The hearing, by the way, takes place to day. Pray for him.

For more info, John Hobbins has a round up of relevant sites and videos here. "Joseph's" Facebook page is constantly being updated with the latest news (for example, Inland Security in the States want him deported as a threat) and his website has various videos and information. He even personally authors a blog here.

Today I just want to share some of the latest video excerpts that I've come across in Youtube. They're taken from a Christian conference (I don't know which one) and give you an insight into what really does seem to be the motivating and sustaining factor behind everything that he is doing. If you think that his "political" work can be separated from his "personal faith" (a peculiarly modern dichotomy), than which this powerful interview with CNN's Amanpour. I get the impression that even this hardened interviewer was taken aback, even moved ... . Whatever you think of his opinions, I don't think his voice can be ignored.

So here are the most recent videos:

First, an account of his relationship to his father:

Here he answers the question: "who is my real enemy?:

Here are some comments on "how God is working the the Middle East":

Here he's talking about Jewish and Palestinian converts to Christianity:

Here's an anecdote about worshipping with an Israeli soldier:

A new breed of Anglican vicar?

The author of The Biblioblog Top 150 links to this. Here is his/her transcription of by far the best line in the skit:

Aren’t you all entitled to your half-arsed musings on the Divine? You’ve thought about eternity for 25 minutes, and think you’ve come to some interesting conclusions? Well let me tell you. I stand with 2000 years of darkness and bafflement and hunger behind me. My kind have harvested the souls of a million peasants. And I couldn’t give a ha’penny jizz for your internet-assembled philosophy.

- Jim West (the Britcom character, not the eminent blogger himself)

Isn't that just diamond?

Israel's contribution to the Euro-Vision song contest

I never got round to posting this on time. I'm not a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest - the music is just cheesy. But a friend sent me the link so I thought I'd share it here. I'm not sure where they finally came - 13th I think. The melody isn't up to much, but choice of language (Hebrew and Arabic, mainly) and the content of the main refrain ("there must be another way") are reasons enough for it to have won a vote from me.

A question just occurs to me: since when was Israel part of Europe?

Here's the website.

For another music video, on the same topic in the same languages, listen to In my heart.

Free Audio and Video from Westminster Seminary Archives

Justin Taylor of Between the Two Worlds has pointed out that one can now access audio and video resources from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia for free. You need to register first, but it looks as if it may be worth it. Justin lists the following names that may be of interest.

E.J. Young
Cornelius Van Til
John Murray
Edmund Clowney
Sinclair Ferguson
Richard Gaffin
Vern Poythress
Darryl Hart
Willia Edgar
David Powlison

Two names he hasn't mentioned are the renowned Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke, who has spoken 14 times there, and a Tim Keller, who is an incredibly gifted preacher (he preached what has been for me one of the best sermon series ever, also available for free download).

Israel vilified?

Another video to add to the confusion about what is actually going on in Israel/Palestine:

I have to agree, however, that comparing Gaza to the Warsaw Ghetto is an example of extreme historical distortion that I can only describe as sick and irresponsible. Though feel free to contradict me (just use reasonable arguments!).

Is Obama the Anti-Christ?

Tim LaHaye - that's a name that will either fill your heart with apocalyptic fervour or send shudders down your spine. I've not read any of his more theological work, but I have read his book on sex for married couples. To be honest, I found it black and white and overly simplistic.

Here's what he has to say about the Anti-Christ and Obama:


[HT The Church of Jesus Christ, who summarizes the discussion with his own input]

Outrage in the West Bank

Can somebody please justify this to me.


Watch CBS Videos Online

All things are better in Koine

[Hat Tip: David Congdon]

Is this accurate? Is it fair?

I have always tended to be cynical of this kind of stuff. But then, how do I respond to this video?


Having said that, what about this video: "Hamas in their own voice"?


For another fascinating video on Hamas, made by an Arab, go to my post Who is Hamas?

[HT: Ksharif for comic; Facts of Israel for the second video]

Who is Hamas? Some videos.

I've posted a number of video clips over the past few days, trying to get a hold on the current conflict. I'm trying to be open and see both sides of the story, and I have to say, a lot of what I'm reading is making me re-evaluate my generally pro-Israel tendencies (in particular the third video from the top in this post). I'd appreciate a response from the Israeli side to this video, explaining what happens in what the video calls "the killing fields" (admittedly a totally inappropriate allusion to Cambodia).

Nevertheless, there is one dimension of this reality that needs to be kept in view, and that is the evil that is Hamas. "Evil," at least, seems to be the most appropriate word for me. An adequate description of their ideology would be "Islamofascist." I'm not anti-Palestinian at all, and this post is not "propaganda" against them. I've studied Arabic and would love to spend more time getting to know that culture. But some things need to be publicised called for what they are. I live in Germany, which has learnt the importance of this, having suffered a regime just like the one ruling Gaza right now (please tell if and how this comparison is wrong ...). Germans have learnt that there is such a thing as evil that expresses itself in the political and cultural realm and that genuinely destroys lives and cultures. The Jews weren't the only one's to suffer. German culture was polluted by fascism, and it's struggling to this day to face this past reality and somehow make good on it (something I have a lot of respect for). This is a serious issue and needs to be looked in the face for what it is. So, I'm asking whatever viewers I have to do two things: 1) watch the videos and 2) let me know how this is in anyway justifiable, or is a misrepresentation of facts on the ground. I'm open to having my views revised.

This fascinating clip is made by an Arab, and not an Israeli:

[HT: My Ober Dicta]

And another clip: Hamas in their own words:

[HT: The Facts of Israel]

The Gaza war on Youtube

According the latest news report on German TV, the current war is being played out on Youtube as well. The IDF, for example, in order to defend its claim that it is not targeting civilians, as well its claim that Hamas purposely use human shields and operate out of residential areas, is publishing videos of attacks from aircraft.

I have no idea what to make of this. Is this spin or reality?



But how do I reconcile this, which is made by the Israeli government, with the follow documentary extract, made before the current war?



Click "human shield" into Youtube and you see that the accusations go in both directions. Here's an Israeli video:

And here's one about the IDF using Palestinians:


I feel like a tennis ball being hit from court to court. Any tips anyone?

[For other videos on this issue that I've posted on this blog, go here and here.]

Hasidic hip hop

Not much time to post (it's Sunday after all), so I'll steal these two interesting videos from The Reform Shuckle on Orthodox Jewish hip-hop artist Shmoolik (what does that mean, anyway?). I have this fascination for Orthodox Judaism; it's strikes a chord ... somewhere ... If I ever figure out what that chord is I'll post on it. In the meantime, check out these groovey hasidic beats:

The interview



The music:



Update: This post has reminded me of an interesting Arab-Israeli rap group called Dam. They rap in Arabic and Hebrew and integrate traditional Palestinian music. I think Arabic is probably one of the best languages to rap in. Check out their website: http://www.dampalestine.com/main.html.

NOFX get moral

NOFX are one of my favourite groups. I'm glad their turning their music to more constructive ends, I just hope they're willing to put in the head work to explain and justify their positions and enter into dialogue with others. Saying "you're wrong" is cute, but it doesn't do much to bring about meaningful change.

Having said that, Fat Mike is getting involved in politics, as the following interview makes clear:



Hat Tip: Lubab no More.

Woody Allen interviews Billy Graham

This is cute. I've never had too much contact with Billy Graham (apart from a tract I read when I was 18, which rocked my world, as I wrote here). What impresses me most in the few Youtube clips I have seen is his mixture of firmness and conviction with gentleness and obvious love.Thanks to Steve Thorngate for the link:

Pornography and murder: an interview with Ted Bundy

Jacob Stein, of the blog Jewish Philosopher has posted the following interview with Ted Bundy, a serial rapist and killer, a few hours before his execution.



The issue of pornography has concerned me in other posts. I have linked to a video documentary analysing teenage porn addiction in Britain as well as an interview with an ex-porn producer turned trainee pastor.

Balance: a video

I'm not entirely sure what this was doing on a liturgy website, but I found it interesting nonetheless: