For the Smack Upside the Forehead File

CT says to me yesterday re a book I was cataloging (Why I Am A Muslim): "Those people are weird."

My response? "So are Christians."

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Then, this morning, I go to "my" thinking site and the Word on the Street and get this...

One of the religious law profs tries to catch Jesus out: "What've I got to do to get this limitless life?"

"You're a lawyer. What's the law say?" asks Jesus

He rolls off the pat answer: "Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbours as you love yourself."

"Good answer," says Jesus. "Do it and you'll get this limitless life!"

But he couldn't resist posing: "But who qualifies as, quote, 'neighbour'?"

Jesus says, " There's a guy leaving Jerusalem on Jericho Rd., OK? He gets mugged, left in the gutter half-naked and two-thirds dead. One of the God-reps is passing, sees him and crosses the road ... to avoid him!" (He waits for the gasps to die down.) "Then an HQ worker goes past, sees him and does the same." (Slightly smaller gasps.) "Next up a Samaritan goes past. Sees him and, what d'you reckon? Tell you what -- multiple choice: (a) walks on past, (b) goes over and sees if they've left any money so he can steal it, or (c) starts kicking him in to finish off the job. No idea? Well, the answer is ... (d) cleans his injuries, lifts the guy onto his donkey, walks him to the next country pub, pays for bed and full board, promising to cover the excess if the bill tots up to more." (Major rumbles of shocked voices.) "So who's down in the characters list as 'neighbour' then?"

The slick lawyer mumbles, "The Sama-- ... uh ... the guy who looked after him."

"So, go do the same," Jesus says.

(the trad version)

--SMACK--!