(June 8, 2016 at 5:50 am)Brian37 Wrote: The bible has lots of fairy tale stories readers like to claim teach something. There are some pretty nasty stories in it too. And Jews quote the OT, and Muslim quote the Quran, and Hindus quote the Baghavad Gita and Vedas, and Buddhists quote Buddha. All the OP proved is that they can repeat a story in an old book.

What strikes me about it is that it's one of the popular stories, so ingrained in our culture that title of the story is an idiom alongside 'building one's house on the sand' but I have no idea why.

Next time the title of the story alone should suffice.
The majority of us here probably know the bible better than you do. :-)

(June 8, 2016 at 6:21 am)Little lunch Wrote: Next time the title of the story alone should suffice.
The majority of us here probably know the bible better than you do. :-)

I must admit that I wasn't exactly sure whether they had fattened calf BBQ.

I guess the lesson is about forgiveness and acceptance. Just because the younger brother spent his money unwisely when he tried to make a life of his own, doesn't mean you should disown him if he comes back.

Religion is a tool to keep people in their place and to make them easier to exploit by the rich and powerful ruling class. This lesson of the Prodigal son is to accept that you will get taken for granted if you keep your head down and do the right thing and that somehow this is for the greater good.

The younger son was an idiot and a louse. He wasted everything then went crawling back with false humility, knowing his dad would throw a big feast and act like nothing happened. The older son got sick of their shit and called them on it. The dad backed down and was like "I would have thrown you a feast but I didn't know you wanted one!" The younger son killed them both while they were drunk that night and stole everything, so they went to Hell for being drunk, but then the younger son repented after killing them and God was bound by his parable to forgive.

Here it is:

https://youtu.be/FKxB7vdnego

I think part of the reason I find the younger son more sympathetic, is that it's kind of an analogy for any kid that strikes out on their own in life. Most young people don't give a damn about responsibility and such. It's something life has to teach you. But when you stumble and fall, it's nice to have family to life you back up. And hopefully the kid will be able to try again, and do better next time.

It's a relatable story to many.

First off, Thank you to everyone who has responded so far!

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(June 8, 2016 at 4:48 am)Alex K Wrote: Several thoughts

- The father's reaction is understandable and justified. His one son was obviously not fit to lead the business, and while he squandered a lot of money, it was, effectively, invested in his becoming a better, responsible person through life experience, which can arguably be more important than the money lost and pay off manifold in the future

- What a sucky job where you have to tend to the swine, but don't even get food in return? That's just ridiculous. I'm sure he could have gotten a better one *somewhere*. [1]

- It is really difficult to raise several children with very different characters and keep everything fair and balanced, and envy at bay. Ideally, the brother who stayed home loves his brother so much that he, too, will be in a mood to celebrate once done with the butt-hurt. Also, it's not like he doesn't get a nice piece of the fattened calf once he joins the partey. [2]

I give the story a 7/10. Today it seems a bit trite, but I guess back in the day it was a innovative idea not to kill everyone over the dispute. [3]

Something tells me that you might be a parent! =)

1) Agreed. This is certainly a turning point. The job he found sucks pretty bad, and the way that "master" treats his employees doesn't even match the dignity of a hired worker, much less a human being. This reminds the son of how well his father treated his employees: "If I can't be his son anymore, maybe I could at least work for my dad as anyone else does." The better-job-*somewhere*, the son concludes, is his dad's place.

2) Exactly. 

3) HA!

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(June 8, 2016 at 5:42 am)madog Wrote: I think it highlights the fact that the father took his loyal son for granted ....

Discussing it first with the son that had stayed behind would of been the nice thing to do. Had he done so that son would have felt special and would have probably suggested the fattened cow himself, however the father took for granted what he had.

Dog.

You might be right there. What do you think about the father telling the loyal son, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours."? Too little too late or an affirmation that the father shares more than just a fattened calf with him?

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(June 8, 2016 at 6:21 am)Little lunch Wrote: Next time the title of the story alone should suffice.
The majority of us here probably know the bible better than you do. :-)

Now here is a strange response to the story! =) Any thoughts about the story you already knew?

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(June 8, 2016 at 7:32 am)Chad32 Wrote: I guess the lesson is about forgiveness and acceptance. Just because the younger brother spent his money unwisely when he tried to make a life of his own, doesn't mean you should disown him if he comes back.

(June 8, 2016 at 11:34 am)Chad32 Wrote: ...It's something life has to teach you. But when you stumble and fall, it's nice to have family to life you back up. And hopefully the kid will be able to try again, and do better next time.

Thanks, Chad!

(June 8, 2016 at 11:16 am)robvalue Wrote: Here it is:

https://youtu.be/FKxB7vdnego

I can understand the similarities you see there. Do you notice any differences between the two?