Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site uwmacc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois From: dubois@uwmacc.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Holier Than Thou Message-ID: <218@uwmacc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Aug-84 13:53:38 EDT Article-I.D.: uwmacc.218 Posted: Tue Aug 21 13:53:38 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 22-Aug-84 06:00:11 EDT Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center Lines: 38 Actually, the phrase "holier than thou" does derive from the Bible. Isaiah 65:1-5, KJV: I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick, which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swines' flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; which say, stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Hence we may say that there is some legitimacy in the typical association of this phrase with with religious people. However, those using it as a term of derogation may not always know the derogees well enough to meaningfully apply the phrase. For example: A couple of years ago a woman told me that I had a holier than thou attitude for maintaining that Christians should in fact live according to a higher standard than the rest of the world, and that in many cases, we do. Was she right? It might be surmised that she came, in time, to the conclusion that her perception of me could stand revision, as she is now my wife. And a Christian. Note: I do not submit this as a pat on the back to myself. But neither am I going to claim to be completely fault-ridden. -- Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois And he is before all things, and by him all things consist... Colossians 1:17