Wow, what can I say... I have studied many of his works for years... But, he is so inspired, just when I think I am in the zone... pow, right between the eye's he hits me with another insight that changes everything. So then I have start all over with a new understanding.
His words are eternal, inspired and enlightened. He knew something we have all long since lost.
So come, read, post and learn. Hope you enjoy!
Kahlil Gibran
Moderators: Orlion, Dragonlily
I've found Gibran to be a little tough. Nothing that a meat tenderizer and little salt wouldn't take care of but tough nonetheless. 
Just joking Biff...You might want to move this topic to "General Discussion" as "The Galley' is typically reserved for posts regarding food and beverages.
Just joking Biff...You might want to move this topic to "General Discussion" as "The Galley' is typically reserved for posts regarding food and beverages.
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. John Stuart Mill
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Biff
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Ummm I am newBrinn wrote:I've found Gibran to be a little tough. Nothing that a meat tenderizer and little salt wouldn't take care of but tough nonetheless.
Just joking Biff...You might want to move this topic to "General Discussion" as "The Galley' is typically reserved for posts regarding food and beverages.
... How do I move it?!?!*Biff* - Doing the Wiggles dance.
<cups hands around mouth>
Oh VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIN! Little help over here!
Vain is our ultra-helpful resident computer guru. I'm sure he could help you out on this one. Send him a private message and he'll take care of it for you.
Cheers!
Oh VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIN! Little help over here!
Vain is our ultra-helpful resident computer guru. I'm sure he could help you out on this one. Send him a private message and he'll take care of it for you.
Cheers!
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. John Stuart Mill
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[Syl]
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Yep. Just give it some time (or PM Vain in case he doesn't see this thread).
I'd love to hear about Gibran, though.
I'd love to hear about Gibran, though.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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birdandbear
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umm....Lebanon?....the only thing I've read by Gibran is The Prophet......but it blew me away! It was so beautiful.......full of uncanny insights into every issue imaginable. And so beautifully written! One of those rare souls who seem capable of seeing all the beauty of being human, somehow without being jaded in the slightest by the nastiness on the flip side. And then putting it into poetry that feels like singing. 
Definitely great stuff.
Definitely great stuff. "If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do."
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Linna Heartbooger
- Are you not a sine qua non for a redemption?
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Above is... "what has gone before."
Below is... "what has gone before... but much later... in Dor. Corishev."
I used the "code" tag, not because I believe that we are engaging in a collaborative programming project, but because it allowed formatting stuff I wanted. 
Edit 1: Formatting, rearranging content.
Below is... "what has gone before... but much later... in Dor. Corishev."
Code: Select all
Avatar:
Hey, if you want crazy and in love with God, try Khalil Gibran. Very Happy I liked him so much it was
years before I realised he was a Christian. Wink
Linah H.:
Avatar wrote:
Hey, if you want crazy and in love with God, try Khalil Gibran. Very Happy I liked him so much it was
years before I realised he was a Christian. Wink
Cool.
I totally count that as a recommendation around here.
Tell us more about him on this thread?
(Because I'm lazy and like getting info about some things through social conversations?)
peter:
We posted pretty much simultaneously Linah; You betcha! Always keen to learn something new and totally
agree - a site like this is a much more fun way of getting ino than loads of dredging through the nets!
;)
Vraith:
Avatar wrote:
Hey, if you want crazy and in love with God, try Khalil Gibran. Very Happy I liked him so much it was
years before I realised he was a Christian. Wink
--A
I've read "The Prophet" a couple times now.
[I own an old copy that I found in a used shop...got it for a buck, I think. I don't think it is
valuable...but I like old books, even worthless ones. I like opening them up and I like looking at them
on my shelves.]
Many pieces/parts I think are just spectacular. I think if you like poetry at all, you'll find at least
some things to like in him.
[I didn't like him at all the very first time I read anything---that was like 30 years ago or something,
though].
But I'd be careful calling him "Christian."
It is true in some sense---and he was religious/spiritually oriented beyond any question.
But his poetry, and more importantly he himself, was much more syncretic/idiosyncratic.
Avatar:
I love "The Prophet." I have large chunks of it by heart, because, well, I just like poetry. Very Happy
And he was a Christian. Very Happy The Maronite Church is the largest Christian denomination in Lebanon, nearly 1/4 of the population, and despite being influenced by Islam, he self-identified as a Christian.
Hell, his mother was the daughter of a priest.
Linah, so much easier just to give you a link. Wink He was very prolific, both in art and his writing,
and died in his late 40's.
My introduction to him was via my mother, one of whose students gave her a copy of The Prophet in the
early 70's. (I still have that same copy. ) My father had an LP of The Prophet read by Richard Harris,
so that's sorta always how I hear it in my head.
Written in the 20's, The Prophet was probably his best known book. Here's the Wiki entry on him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahlil_Gibran
And the full text of The PRophet is available here: http://leb.net/mira/works/prophet/prophet.html
broken into chapters. Although you should pair that with his hand drawn illustrations for it. Here are
some found via image search/
Vraith:
Avatar wrote:
And he was a Christian. Very Happy
--A
I don't want this to, in any way, devolve/twist into any kind of "true Christian" discussion...
But---in most defined Churches, he'd be severed into pieces [literarily] for the parts they like, and
dismissed/labeled misguided in the other parts. More strict Churches would just call him "heretic" or
"blasphemer" and be done with it. [old/fanatic/empowered ones would sever him literally].
But---if you read it without knowing God/Christianity is part of it, you'll obviously miss a lot.
OTOH---if you approach it from some Christian frame, you will miss, misinterpret, or [in extreme cases]
deny even more.
I'm not sure he or "TP" is a fit for this thread...except for the point you already made on loving God.
OTOH, maybe he/it are.
Pretty easy to find things on his life---and "TP" is very short, very free, and lovely.
Avatar:
There are so many differences between all the various sects of Christianity, that from an atheist
perspective it scarcely makes a difference. :biggrin: If somebody says "I'm a Christian" then I assume
they are.
Really, to my mind the only technical criteria for being Christian is believing Jesus was the son of God
and that he died for your sins. (Maybe that he was resurrected as well, but maybe not necessarily.)
Anyway, not to derail the thread too far too quickly, yes, short, free and lovely. I quite like his
brand of Christianity, whatever it is. (As expressed therein anyway. Very Happy )
--A
peter:
Sounds like a book I have to take on board at some point. Like V. I love old books and not for their
value but for their 'feel'. I'll hunt a copy down and then report back.
Avatar:
Or just follow the link in my post and read it online while you look for a print copy. Wink
--A
Damelon:
Avatar wrote:
Really, to my mind the only technical criteria for being Christian is believing Jesus was the son of God
and that he died for your sins. (Maybe that he was resurrected as well, but maybe not necessarily.)
My understanding is that the main criteria to be christian (at least to the Catholics and Orthodox) is
accepting the Nicene Creed.
To the original post, I know a little bit about Augustine and Luther. (I have a small book on Augustine
lying about the house somewhere) but not enough to discuss them, let alone the others, intelligently.
Fist and Faith:
Another atheist's view... :lol: I'd define Christian as a follower of Christ. And I've never heard
anything that makes me think anyone has the most objectively accurate or true interpretation of Christ,
giving them the authority to say others claiming to be Christians really aren't.
Avatar, on "The Prophet":
It's short. You can read each chapter in under 10 mins. :biggrin: But hey, however you read it, just
read it. :biggrin: Everybody should, at least once.
--A
Linah Heartlistener:
Just opened up the Wikipedia page Av referenced and I am totally intrigued by this character.
"Third most read poet behind Shakespeare and Laozi"?
And I couldn't remember hearing of him?
My ignorance...
<snip administrative stuff>
Avatar:
I coulda sworn there was a thread somewhere, but can't find it. Go for it. I can quote The Prophet
endlessly. Wink
Oh, wait, found these:
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) by Lord Mhoram, last posted in in 2005 and Kahlil Gibran started by Biff and
last posted in in 2003. Very Happy
--A
peter:
OK - Got my copy of "The Prophet" [well - the one I borrowed anyway], tonight I'll read what I can [I may finish it in one sitting or mabe it'll take two] and I'll report back on my thinking. For my part, I think everybody should read "The Man Who Planted Trees" at least once ;)Edit 1: Formatting, rearranging content.
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Linna Heartbooger
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I would love for it to be in Gen Lit Disc. Seems about the best place for it...Avatar wrote:You had to choose the oldest one huh?
I'm thinking the only reason it wasn't there was that it was started before there was a gen lit disc.
Would someone move it there, please?
(Orlion, Ali, or you?)