"A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell." – George Bernard Shaw
I have to say that I don't get it! To me, a holiday means more social time, more time to be with loved ones, which quite literally sounds like heaven to me. Is this just Shaw demonstrating that he is a misanthropist?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Nicolas de Chamfort, writer (1741-1794)
A wonderful metaphor, and isn't it a great thing that the dog barks! It keeps us out of a lot of trouble.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Herbert Weisinger, theologian
"It takes faith to believe, and it takes courage not to, and who is to say which is the deeper and more truthful?" – Herbert Weisinger, theologian
This seems like an odd assertion, though perhaps the original context would make it less so. Whether it makes sense or not, it seems to me, depends on what is the object of the believing. For example, I believe that my wife is faithful. Does it take faith to believe in this? Does it make any sense to say that it would take courage for me not to believe?
Given Weisinger's profession, however, one would suspect that the object of the belief in this case is God. I think everyone would agree that it takes faith to believe in God. Certainly Christians believe that it does, and, further, that God has to supply the faith as a gift. But does it take courage not to believe in God? I would say that in general it doesn't. I think that most people who don't believe found it easier to go that way than to go the way of faith. For an action to require courage means that there is some kind of opposition to overcome, either internal or external. In our modern society there is very little opposition to the atheist or agnostic viewpoint. But on the other hand, if one is wrestling internally with the question of belief in God, refusing the path of belief is a sad choice. And I think a rare one.
This seems like an odd assertion, though perhaps the original context would make it less so. Whether it makes sense or not, it seems to me, depends on what is the object of the believing. For example, I believe that my wife is faithful. Does it take faith to believe in this? Does it make any sense to say that it would take courage for me not to believe?
Given Weisinger's profession, however, one would suspect that the object of the belief in this case is God. I think everyone would agree that it takes faith to believe in God. Certainly Christians believe that it does, and, further, that God has to supply the faith as a gift. But does it take courage not to believe in God? I would say that in general it doesn't. I think that most people who don't believe found it easier to go that way than to go the way of faith. For an action to require courage means that there is some kind of opposition to overcome, either internal or external. In our modern society there is very little opposition to the atheist or agnostic viewpoint. But on the other hand, if one is wrestling internally with the question of belief in God, refusing the path of belief is a sad choice. And I think a rare one.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Benjamin Franklin
Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so. It is not so. It is so. It is not so. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790)
And not just among divines. Politicians debate in the same manner very often, as do children of all ages. When my children were growing up I often had to intervene in an argument, to save my sanity if for no other reason, and point out that they were disputing about a simple matter of fact. If it was possible to check on the fact, they should do so. If it wasn't, they should realize that further argument was a waste of energy. Yelling louder or pushing harder was not the way to prove that you were right.
And not just among divines. Politicians debate in the same manner very often, as do children of all ages. When my children were growing up I often had to intervene in an argument, to save my sanity if for no other reason, and point out that they were disputing about a simple matter of fact. If it was possible to check on the fact, they should do so. If it wasn't, they should realize that further argument was a waste of energy. Yelling louder or pushing harder was not the way to prove that you were right.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador
Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it. -Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador (b. 1932)
I think this is a slander against our society. It simply isn't true.
Taking a cue from Mr. Young, I propose this aphorism, which he wouldn't like, and also isn't true: Anything is racism if two activists say so.
I think this is a slander against our society. It simply isn't true.
Taking a cue from Mr. Young, I propose this aphorism, which he wouldn't like, and also isn't true: Anything is racism if two activists say so.
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