The saying is instantly recognisable as religious. Even if few people know where it comes from, most will assume it’s biblical. And they’ll assume that they know what it means. It’s about cause and effect right? It’s saying: ‘What goes around, comes around.’ ‘If you play with fire, you’re going to get burned.’ ‘Everyone gets […]
Some people have only two uses for the name of God. Either to carelessly curse, or to carelessly bless. In either case the speaker knows not what they do! In its biblical setting, “God bless” was never said lightly. In fact it was a distinct privilege of the priests. In particular, the High Priest, Aaron. […]
A previously hostile nation offering terms of peace. A business competitor bringing a promising deal. A chastened husband presenting a bunch of flowers. Any of these cases might be called “bearing an olive branch.” There are different views about how the olive branch became associated with peace. But its importance in the flood story should […]
