What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet

I think Shakespeare may be missing something.

Many years ago when I was a schoolboy studying chemistry, we made some phenyl isocyanide, the worst smelling concoction I have ever encountered, and, at an opportune moment secreted an open beaker full of it in the masters’ common room. I cannot honestly declare “that which we call phenyl isocyanide by any other word would smell as foul” because, for me, the words themselves are so evocative of a revolting stench that they contribute an additive smell of their own to the chemical.

An onomatopoeia has a similar effect as do other words that have a sufficient emotional charge that their use provokes a reaction that is detached from or out of proportion to their meaning. “Sodomite” is such a word: although it simply describes someone who regularly – we must allow that an isolated incident could merely be accidental misplacement – engages in a particular sex act, it seems to be intrinsically offensive.

Its offensiveness is not lost on a rather strange Australian Anglican priest called Rod Bower who, although he has redefined the word to suit his and others’ contemporary liberal bias, uses it to launch an ad hominem attack against a politician with whom he disagrees. Much easier than engaging in a rational discussion.

From here:

The sin of Sodom is greatly misunderstood by those who usually choose to do so, it has nothing to do with homosexuality, it is all about hospitality, or more to the point lack there of, and particularly about the condition of the heart that leads to inhospitable behaviour.

Peter Dutton’s comments today are an astonishingly vivid example of this most grievous of sins. The lies, misinformation and blatant untruths are worthy of noting [sic] less than condemnation and ridicule.

[….]

Dutton is a true Sodomite.

Here is the church sign that proves it:

Peter Dutton is a sodomite because he is inhospitable. Insofar as most of us have exhibited some degree of inhospitality at some time or other, I suppose that makes most of us sodomites. Some are petty sodomites while the unrepentant misanthropes among us would be hardened sodomites.

Bower does not, as far as I know, house any refugees personally in his own house so he has to be, at the very least, a moderate sodomite.

We are all sodomites now.

5 thoughts on “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet

  1. It is not “liberal” thinking but clear apostasy and this is just another example why the Anglican Communion is not only in disarray but has become the worshiper of the “god of political expediency” and this trend will only get worse unless the ABC is prepared to take a firm stand against these apostates and demand they make a public confession and repentance OR resign their positions.

  2. Yet another old chestnut. The man needs to look at Ez. 16:28 in the Masoretic text, and note what happens to it in the Old Greek alias the Septuagint. The OG version was made somewhere between 150 and 50 BC, as I established in my Oxford doctoral dissertation.

  3. In the interests of chemical accuracy, David meant isocyanide (R-NC) not isocyanate (R-NCO). The former has the legendary horrible smell; the latter sweet and pleasant; both are nasty to biology.
    ( My doctorate is in chemistry, but from Redbrick. I dabble in theological philology, and second Priscilla Turner’s “old chestnut” comment. To dispute the sexual immorality component, possibly homosexual rape, of the Genesis Sodom narrative, and to insist that it refers only to lack of hospitality is specious. )

  4. Gen 19:4-8
    4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
    5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
    6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
    7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
    8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
    Pretty darn clear the sin of Sodom is homosexual sex. Guess only the blind cannot see this.

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