μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Earthen cups replaced by golden. Emperor: "God is a thief; he threw Adam into a sleep and then stole a rib from him." Emperor's daughter: "Would you call a man a thief who stole two earthen cups from you and replaced them by golden ones?"

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever verbal retorts (repartee). · Repartee based on church or clergy. · view the constellation · filed as J1262.1

Filed across the traditions
  • Jewish Gaster Exempla 196 No. 55, *Neuman.
Within the index

Filed under Repartee based on doctrinal discussions.

Filed beside it
God in the puddle. A Jew objects to the doctrine that God could exist in the Virgin Mary. A disputant asks if he believes God is everywhere; then if God is in a mud puddle. The Jew agrees. The disputant condemns the Jew for believing that God could exist in a puddle and not in a pure virgin Acting according to the note. A Jew slaps a Christian and tells him to turn the other cheek. The Christian beats the Jew, who says, "You do not act according to your Gospel." – "I am acting in accordance with the note." – "The note is worse than the text." Levity regarding biblical passages Parishioner hears preacher say that alms are returned "100 to 1". Chops down crucifix and takes money from box. Is told that such return would take place in other world. "I won't need money then, but I can use it now." "You don't blame a toolmaker for making all manner of tools, both harmful and helpful, so why blame God for making bad beasts as well as good ones?" Repartee: "If you can't see the soul in the living man, how can you expect to see it in the dead?" retorts wise man to atheist Skeleton has all his ribs. Indian examines skeleton of man at museum, finds there is no rib missing, concludes that ministers have deceived him in telling him the story of Adam Three true faiths. Ruler trying to confiscate Jew's money asks him which is the true faith. "There are three, the one which the Lord knows is right and the two his children think are right." (Cf. H659.5.1, J462.3.1.)

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