Play on Words

Amusement comes from the word “amuse.” “Muse” means “to think.” By placing the “a” in front of it and making it “amuse,” it now means “not to think.”

Babylon is where God confounded the language of the people so they were incoherent. This is why we "babble-on" today.

Corporation is from the word "corpse," which means a dead body. A corporation has no soul, and those without a soul are dead.

Exegesis, means “an interpretation of a word, especially in the Bible.”. 2 Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." So, 'Exegesis' can be pronounced 'Exit Jesus'.

Euphonious means “having a pleasant sound.” 2 Timothy 4, "...they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." In other words, they will listen to 'feel good' gospels instead of the Truth. So, 'Euphonious' can be pronounced 'You Phony Us”.

Idolatry: is based upon self-will. It begins with "Id," which is the self.

Insinuate: Adam and Eve's least favorite word (in-sin-u-ate).

Jew is defined today as someone whose religion is Judaism. But scripture defines a Jew as anyone who follows Christ Jesus; Romans 2:28-29, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Our brother Paul called himself a Jew (Acts 21:39; 22:3), and this was after he accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour and after he received the Holy Spirit.

Liability: The ability to lie is a lie-ability.

Politics: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' means 'bloodsucking creatures." Therefore, politics means "many bloodsucking creatures."

Politics: the process of turning energy into solid waste.

Pulpit is really a “pull pit”, where they grab you and pull you into the pit (hell). What you hear from modern pulpits is nothing more than what's called a sophist, which means “one who preaches ethics for payment.”

Recreation means you're joining yourself to the things of the flesh, because all recreation appeals to the flesh. When you engage in recreation, you're being re-created. So, 'Recreation' can be pronounced 'Re-creation.'

Scholasticism (in Elwells Evangelical Dictionary of Theology) means “a period where they attempted to merge reason with faith.” Well, the two are at odds with each other, so they came out with that 'Sin Thesis', where if you buy into theology, you're buying into sin, because theology is not of faith, theology is of reason. “The science of God.” And man's reason has become more and more depraved, therefore theology has become more and more depraved. And you see what the Christian religion is today.

Synthesis means “the putting together of parts or elements so as to form a whole.” In other words, you get two people to argue over lies (the Thesis and anti-thesis) and then they conjure up a synthesis. So you get two people to talk about a lie and you end up with a lie! This turns out to be a compromise. So, 'Synthesis' can be pronounced 'Sin Thesis'.

Television is to tell-a-vision.

Theology means “the science of God.” But God says, "so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). Who can study God? How can you put Him under a microscope? How do you study One who is greater than you and One who cannot be fathomed by the limited capacity of a man's finite brain? So any conclusions one comes to would have to be faulty. The Word of God testifies against it.

1 Corinthians 2:11, "...the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

Psalms 145:3, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."

Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out."

Ephesians 3:8, "...the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Job 11:7-9, "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea."

Therefore, the natural man looks to create “a god” in his own image and likeness using philosophy, hermeneutics, and theology to give the image of truth.

Exerpts from "The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce

Accomplice: One associated with another in a crime, having guilty knowledge and complicity, as an attorney who defends a criminal, knowing him guilty. This view of the attorney's position in the matter has not hitherto commanded the assent of attorneys, no one having offered them a fee for assenting.

Arrest: Formally to detain one accused of unusualness.

Barrack: A house in which soldiers enjoy a portion of that of which it is their business to deprive others.

Boundary: In political geography, an imaginary line between two nations, separating the imaginary rights of one from the imaginary rights of the other.

Christian: One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.

Commerce: A kind of transaction in which A plunders from B the goods of C, and for compensation B picks the pocket of D of money belonging to E.

Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.

Debt: An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave-driver.

Deluge: A notable first experiment in baptism which washed away the sins (and sinners) of the world.

Egotist: A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me.

Friendless: Having no favors to bestow. Destitute of fortune. Addicted to utterance of truth and common sense.

History: An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.

Land: A part of the earth's surface, considered as property. The theory that land is property subject to private ownership and control is the foundation of modern society, and is eminently worthy of the superstructure. Carried to its logical conclusion, it means that some have the right to prevent others from living; for the right to own implies the right exclusively to occupy; and in fact laws of trespass are enacted wherever property in land is recognized. It follows that if the whole area of terra firma is owned by A, B and C, there will be no place for D, E, F and G to be born, or, born as trespassers, to exist.

Misfortune: The kind of fortune that never misses.

Peace: In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

Politics: Literally, the Place of All the Demons. Most of them have escaped into politics and finance, and the place is now used as a lecture hall by the Audible Reformer. When disturbed by his voice the ancient echoes clamor appropriate responses most gratifying to his pride of distinction.

Pray: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.

Precedent: In Law, a previous decision, rule or practice which, in the absence of a definite statute, has whatever force and authority a Judge may choose to give it, thereby greatly simplifying his task of doing as he pleases. As there are precedents for everything, he has only to ignore those that make against his interest and accentuate those in the line of his desire. Invention of the precedent elevates the trial-at-law from the low estate of a fortuitous ordeal to the noble attitude of a dirigible arbitrament.

Preference: A sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the erroneous belief that one thing is better than another. An ancient philosopher, expounding his conviction that life is no better than death, was asked by a disciple why, then, he did not die. "Because," he replied, "death is no better than life." It is longer.

Prehistoric: Belonging to an early period and a museum. Antedating the art and practice of perpetuating falsehood.

Perogative: A sovereign's right to do wrong.

Prescription: A physician's guess at what will best prolong the situation with least harm to the patient.

Present: That part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope.

Price: Value, plus a reasonable sum for the wear and tear of conscience in demanding it.

Redemption: Deliverance of sinners from the penalty of their sin, through their murder of the deity against whom they sinned. The doctrine of Redemption is the fundamental mystery of our holy religion, and whoso believeth in it shall not perish, but have everlasting life in which to try to understand it.

Selfish: Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others.

Morals and Ethics

[Note the lack of standard of God's Righteousness and emphasis on man's natural philosophy in the following definitions. The words “morals” and “morality” (such as "moral law") do not exist in the Word of God].

Moralism: Belief in or practice of a system of ethics apart from religion. Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, 1988, page 882.

Moralism: An egotistic pose of concern for goodness adopted in general by nature's evil at heart. Dictionary of Business and Scientific Terms (1968), page 270.

Moral Actions: Those only in which men have knowledge to guide them, and a will to choose for themselves. Rutherford's Institutes of Natural Law, lib. 1, c, i. Black's Law Dictionary, third edition, 1933, page 1204. Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1914), page 2246.

Moral: 1. Of or pertaining to morals or that with which morals deal, as questions right and wrong; discriminating right and wrong; as, the moral sense;–distinguished from nonmoral or unmoral, and often contrasted with intellectual. 2. Conformed to accepted rules of right, conduct; righteous; virtuous; just;–distinguished from immoral; as a moral life or conduct. 3. Capable of being governed by or of influencing the sense of right. 4. Acting, or suited to act, uipon or through one's moral nature or sense of right; as, moral consideration. 5. Supported by reason or probability; as, moral evidence. 6. Equal in moral effects; virtual; tantamount to; as, a moral victory or defeat. 7. Serving to teach a moral. 8. Moralizing.

“Syn. Moral, ethical. Moral may refer to the science or the practice of right conduct; ethical commonly suggests the science; as, moral (not echical) man. See BODILY.

“Moral certainty, a high degree of probability, although not demonstrable as a certainty; a probability so great that it can be confidently acted upon in the affairs of life. “–n. 1. Moral conduct or teachings;–usually in pl. 2. The inner meaning, or practical lesson, of a fable, an experience, etc.” Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (3d edition, 1927), p. 634.

(Those who say "the moral law of God" may really mean "the fabled law of God." This is why we shoud not use the words of the world to describe the things of God).

Morality: 1. Knowledge of moral science. Late M.E. only. 2. pl. Moral qualities or endownments. Late M.E. 3. Moral discourse or [*1281] instruction; a moral exhortation. Now chiefly in disparaging sense, moralizing. Late M.E. b. Moral sense or interpretation (see MORAL a.); also, the moral (of a fable, etc.) -1623. 4. A literary or artistic production inculcating a moral lesson; a moralizing commentary; a moral allegory -1649. b. Hist. Name for the species of drama (popular in the 16th c.) In which some moral or spiritual lesson was inclcated, and in which the chief characters were personifications of abstract qualities 1765. 5. Moral science 1449. b. pl. Points of ethics, moral principles or rules 1605. c. A particular system of morals 1680. d. Ethical aspect (of a question) 1869. 6. The quality or fact of being moral 1592. 7. Moral conduct usu. good moral conduct 1609. b. A mock title or one who assumes airs of virtue 1672.” Oxford's Universal Dictionary (1955), pp. 1280-1281.

Morality: 1. Moral quality ; virtue. 2. That which conveys or instills moral lesons or sentiments; as: a. Moral inference, meanin, or lesson; moralization. b. A kind of allegorical play in which actors personify charity, faith, death, vice, etc. 3. Moral practice or action; rectitude of life. 4. Morals; ethics. 5. The relation of conformity or nonconformity to moral righteousness [*not God's righteousness]; quality of an intention [*whether good or evil], a character [*Christian or anti-Christian], an action, a principle, or a sentiment, when tried by the standard of right.” Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (3d edition, 1927), p. 634.

Moral Turpitude: Considerable difficulty has been experienced in application of the term “moral turpitude” to the facts of each case. One of the reasons for this is that the term does not refer to legal standards, but rather has reference largely to moral character and state of mind; to those changing moral standards of conduct which society has set up for itself through the centuries. Since standards of morals differ from time to time and at different places, and the concept of moral turpitude depends to some extent on the state of public morals, and is to be determined by the state of public morals and the common sense of the community, and since “moral turpitude” is a term which conforms to, and is consonant with, the state of public morals, it never can remain stationary, but it may vary according to the community or the times. It follows therefore that moral turpitude is adaptive, and is a somewhat loose expression, the meaning of which must be left to the judicial inclusion and exclusion as the cases are reached and as the standards of society change. Corpus Juris Secundum, Volume 54, Page 1202 (1948). U.S. – Berlandi v. Reimer, D.C.N.Y., 30 F.Supp. 534, 537. U.S. – Skrmetta v. Coykendall, D.C.G.A. 16 F.2d. 783, 784.

Ethical: From ethos, character, custom, a man's normal state. 1. Having to do with ethics or morality; of or conforming to moral standards. 2. Conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession; as, it is not ethical for a judge to hear a case involving his own interests.” Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary, Unabridged (1969), p. 627.

Ethics: (Gk. ethos, character) The study of the concepts involved in practical reasoning: good, right, duty, obligation, virtue, freedom, rationality, choice. Also the second-order study of the objectivity, subjectivity, relativism, or scepticism that may attend claims made in these terms. For the kinds of problems encountered, see under the special terms. For a possible distinction between ethics and morality, see morality.” Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1994), p. 126.

Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is a deception at worst and theory at best. In the Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy (1998), pp. 248-249, it says: Hermeneutics. (Gr. hermeneuin, to translate, interpret, make intelligible) n. sing. 1. Interpretation. 2. Inquiry into, or theory of, the nature or methods of interpretation.

        “There has been reflection on the art of interpreting texts since ancient times, but the word 'hermeneutics' was first used by J. C. Dannhauer in the mid-seventeenth century [*in other words, it was not in the beginning in and with Christ]. He noted that texts for which a theory of interpretation was needed fell into three classes: Holy Scripture, legal texts (statutes, precedents, treaties, etc.), and the literature of classical antiquity.

        “One important problem for traditional hermeneutics was that it had two radically different aims in its main areas: theology and jurisprudence [*confusion]. One aim was to provide a correct interpretation, the other to establish an authoritative statement of dogma [*creeds, confessions, articles of faith] or of law. It can at times be difficult to satisfy both requirements, and this is why it has been said that hermeneutics is the art of finding something in a text that is not there.

        “The first major thinker to propose a general theory of interpretation was Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834). He went beyond the traditional view, in his proposal that interpretation requires not only a proper grasp of the relevant linguistic and historical facts, but also a mental retracing, an imaginative reconstruction [*conjuration], of the way in which a text came into being [*sans the Spirit of God.] An interpreter of a text may be in a position to see the author's life [*who has seen the shape of God or known His Life outside of Christ?] and work as a whole, and to place it in a historical setting. [*Is God limited by history?] Such knowledge, unattainable to the author [*how is this possible with God?], can enable the interpreter to understand the text better than the author. [*The theologician is now greater than God!?!?!?!?–In other words, Schleiermacher denies the Spirit of God is the Author of Scripture].

        “From Schleiermacher and on, the field of hermeneutics was extended to include texts generally [*criticism], and not only those of Scripture, law and ancient classics. The historian J. G. Droysen (1808-1884) stressed that knowledge gained by interpretation–he had historical knowledge especially in mind–is entirely different from scientific knowledge [*ruse–hermeneutics itself is a science.] This contrast became well-established through Wilhelm Dilthey (1833-1911). He explained it as a contrast between understanding (Verstehen) and explanation (Erklaren). Our knowledge of historical, social and cultural facts–the realm of the Geisteswissenschaften (the human, or cultural sciences)–essentially involves interpretation. This is why it is radically different from the knowledge gained by application of the scientific method in the Naturwissenschaften (the natural sciences). Hermeneutics has since been regarded as a theory of interpretation of all bearers of meaning:: not only texts but also human action and the various features of human culture and society [*social sciences and engineering].

        “Hermeneutics can be seen as a part of a theory of knowledge [*Van Til and other moderns–but it is not knowledge or Truth] since it is a study of the principles by which certain kinds of knowledge are obtained [*not a true statement–man's conjurations are not knowledge but give a prima facie appearance of knowledge]. But the claim that interpretation provides knowledge seems incompatible with three fundamental tenets in positivist (POSITIVISM) thought which have enjoyed wide acceptance: (1) that in principle, scientific method can and must be applied in all fields of inquiry in order to gain knowledge; (2) that the method of the physical sciences is the ideal paradigm; (3) that facts are to be explained casually, and that such an explanation consists in subsuming individual cases under general laws.

        “Paul Ricoeur has distinguished between a hermeneutics of tradition and a hermeneutics of suspicion. The former aims to listen to what is communicated in order to gain insight from, or become aware of, a message hidden under the surface. A representative of this tendency is Gadamer. The latter is 'subversive', attempting to show that, properly understood, texts and human action are not as innocuous as they may seem to be, but may be reflections of hidden drives [*lusts, etc.] class interests, etc. Representative of this tendency are Nietzsche, Freud, Foucault. There are affinities between these and the so-called critical hermeneutics represented by Apel and Habermas, which continue a tradition of critique of ideologies that goes back, via Marx, to the eighteenth century. The aim of this approach is to criticize existing social, political, and cultural conditions by interpretations that are at the same time demystifications.

        “The so-called HERMENEUTIC CIRCLE presents a problem for interpretation. Hermeneutics' has also been used to denote an ontological inquiry, or theory, which explores the kind of existence had by beings who are able to understand meanings, and to whom the world is primarily an object of understanding (rather than, say, of sense-perception). Heidegger's philosophy can be described as hermeneutical in this sense.”
        
“Hermeneutics. (Greek, to interpret). The art and science, or body of rules, of truthful interpretation. It has been used chiefly by theologians; but Zacharie, in “An Essay on General Legal Hermeneutics” (Versuch elner allg. Hermeneitik des Rechts), and Dr. Lieber, in his work on Legal and Political Hermeneutics, also make use of it. See INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.” Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1914), p. 205.
        
“Hermeneutics. Science of interpretation. XVIII (Waterland).—mod.L. hermeneutica—Gr. hermeneutike, sb. use (sc. tekhne art) of fem. sg. of adj. (see -IC, -ICS), f. hermeneutes, agent noun f. hermeneuein interpret, f. hermeneus interpreter.” Oxford's Dictionary of Etymology (1966), p. 438.
        
“Hermes. A deity, the son of Zeus and Maia, the messenger of the gods, the god of science, commerce, eloquence, and many of the arts of life; commonly figured as a youth, with the caducius or rod, petasus or brimmed hat, and the telaria or winged shoes. Identified with MERCURY.” Oxford's Universal English Dictionary (1955), p. 894.
        
“Hermetic. A. Adj. 1. Pertaining to Hermes Trismegistus, and the writings ascribed to him 1676. 2. Hence, relating to or dealing with occult science [*philosophy], esp. alchemy; magical; alchemical 1637. 3. Pertaining to the god Hermes, or to a HERMA.” Oxford's Universal English Dictionary (1955), p. 894.
        
“Hermetic. pert. to (the supposed writings of) Hermes Trismegistus; (hence) pert. to occult science esp. alchemy; h. seal airtight closure (as used by alchemists). XVII—mod.L. hermeticus, f. (prob. after magnes, magneticus) Hermes Trismegistus (Gr. Ermhj trij megistoj, late L. Hermes termaximus) 'thrice-greatest Hermes,' name given by Neoplatonists, mystics, and alchemists to the Egyptian god Thoth, who was identified with the Grecian Hermes (god of science, etc.) as the author of occult science and esp. alchemy; see -IC, -ICS, -ICAL. The adv. is earlier in XVII; after mod.L. hermitice.” Oxford's Dictionary of Etymology (1966), p. 438.

Eptymology

Religion: Webster's Collegiate Dictionary traces the word back to an old Latin word religio meaning "taboo, restraint." A deeper study discovers the word comes from the two words re and ligare. Re is a prefix meaning "return," and ligare means "to bind;" in other words, "return to bondage." Do you still want some of that "old-time religion"?

Steeple: According to the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto, the origin of the English word "steeple" comes from a German word "staup" meaning a high place or high tower. I am often amazed when tracing English word origins that the roots of many modern church words seem to bring back remembrances of Scriptures in the Bible like the following: "Woe, woe to you! says the Lord God-that you also built for yourself a shrine, and made a high place for yourself in every street. You built your high places at the head of every road, and made your beauty to be abhorred. You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry!" (Ezekiel 16:24-25).