I hope I didn't rag on your book too hard...I'm sleep-deprived. I'm sure there's something in my "Books Read" list that you can poke fun at if you like. :)
Yes, Scott Peck is very good, very 70s-cool...I picture some woman named Bambi reading him on a shag rug in her keyhole blouse, patchouli burning away, thinking, Hey, this Bible stuff I’ve been sold is way too uptight! And there’s not nearly enough about relationships! This stuff gives me a gooooood vibe! And then she’ll start subscribing to Ms. and maybe try to read some Buddhism…no, probably not...but maybe the lifestyle/philosophy of tantra...
I’ve grown to like the 70s - I finally bought some bell-bottom jeans and I’m an admirer of Bowie’s glam period and also his drugged-out Berlin phase - but I like better what can only be called your staunch trust in reason (which has the added bonus of making one a good conversationalist).
I also agree that reason is a good tool to use with the hypothetical 15 year old. But what I would tell this kid is that premarital sex does indeed hurt people, and that’s part of the point; it’s the way romance works. It’ll also leave you burnt out and bitter before your time and make your future relationships that much more difficult. And if you have sex without emotional entanglements, you’re only training yourself to treat affairs casually. Neither way is good prep for either marriage or a meaningful life.
The only thing that works is to find something that captivates you, mind and heart, and religion has the capacity to do that. A redirected life, dedicated to God, passionately using your gifts to serve him is the only way to become a mature adult.
Appealing to my intellectual exhibitionism always works, Merlin! Although I suspect you've got a better response up your sleeve...anyhow, here goes:
I disagree that the forbidden is always attractive. In any case, reason doesn't always destroy the allure of the forbidden either. Now if you add love to reason, you've got a fighting chance. Add the threat of punishment--which you hope you don't ever have to use--and you have an even better system.
I'm intrigued by your vision of a world filled with people who share the same premises and never let their reason be eclipsed by emotion, imagination, their senses, or their souls. I just don't think it's the world I actually live in.
I mean, what do you do when the authorities are Nazis? Or racists? Or they're just a little logically challenged and they can't follow your arguments? What if you know you're right, but they're smarter than you?
Beef Wellington is an elegant 1960s holiday or dinner party dish (although I’m fairly sure it originated in the 19th century). I’d love to make it some Christmas, although the recipe looks utterly exhausting. On New Years my family always has shrimp for some nutty reason, so it’s funny that you mentioned that, too.
Meaning that one of his friends needs to convince him to get reconstructive plastic surgery or stay home? Johnny Depp just needs to stop acting like a little girl. I don't care what the reason is.
My ultimate problem with this film is that it's an ugly descent into hell. I'd like to say to Tim Burton, "Yes, brilliant, Americans are shits. Now go back to school. Make your point, but make it beautiful."
Am in complete agreement about science and religion not being exclusive...I have more to say about that here .
I hope I didn't rag on your book too hard...I'm sleep-deprived. I'm sure there's something in my "Books Read" list that you can poke fun at if you like. :)
Yes, Scott Peck is very good, very 70s-cool...I picture some woman named Bambi reading him on a shag rug in her keyhole blouse, patchouli burning away, thinking, Hey, this Bible stuff I’ve been sold is way too uptight! And there’s not nearly enough about relationships! This stuff gives me a gooooood vibe! And then she’ll start subscribing to Ms. and maybe try to read some Buddhism…no, probably not...but maybe the lifestyle/philosophy of tantra...
I’ve grown to like the 70s - I finally bought some bell-bottom jeans and I’m an admirer of Bowie’s glam period and also his drugged-out Berlin phase - but I like better what can only be called your staunch trust in reason (which has the added bonus of making one a good conversationalist).
I also agree that reason is a good tool to use with the hypothetical 15 year old. But what I would tell this kid is that premarital sex does indeed hurt people, and that’s part of the point; it’s the way romance works. It’ll also leave you burnt out and bitter before your time and make your future relationships that much more difficult. And if you have sex without emotional entanglements, you’re only training yourself to treat affairs casually. Neither way is good prep for either marriage or a meaningful life.
The only thing that works is to find something that captivates you, mind and heart, and religion has the capacity to do that. A redirected life, dedicated to God, passionately using your gifts to serve him is the only way to become a mature adult.
I’ve come to believe that this is the only way.
Appealing to my intellectual exhibitionism always works, Merlin! Although I suspect you've got a better response up your sleeve...anyhow, here goes:
I disagree that the forbidden is always attractive. In any case, reason doesn't always destroy the allure of the forbidden either. Now if you add love to reason, you've got a fighting chance. Add the threat of punishment--which you hope you don't ever have to use--and you have an even better system.
I'm intrigued by your vision of a world filled with people who share the same premises and never let their reason be eclipsed by emotion, imagination, their senses, or their souls. I just don't think it's the world I actually live in.
I mean, what do you do when the authorities are Nazis? Or racists? Or they're just a little logically challenged and they can't follow your arguments? What if you know you're right, but they're smarter than you?
I'd prefer to continue this discussion through email, if that's all right with you.
Beef Wellington is an elegant 1960s holiday or dinner party dish (although I’m fairly sure it originated in the 19th century). I’d love to make it some Christmas, although the recipe looks utterly exhausting. On New Years my family always has shrimp for some nutty reason, so it’s funny that you mentioned that, too.
No, you aren't living in la la land, grandpa chum. You're livin' in a bottle.
There has to be payment for sin, or the whole concept of "sin" becomes virtually meaningless.
Here's a long-winded explanation I just finished a few days ago on my dislike of Von Trier:
http://boycotttroaches.blogspot.com/
Allow me to recommend a book (you'll love it, it's printed on nice paper so you know it's not a dumb story): Am I a Snob? by Sean Latham.
Meaning that one of his friends needs to convince him to get reconstructive plastic surgery or stay home? Johnny Depp just needs to stop acting like a little girl. I don't care what the reason is.
My ultimate problem with this film is that it's an ugly descent into hell. I'd like to say to Tim Burton, "Yes, brilliant, Americans are shits. Now go back to school. Make your point, but make it beautiful."
The truth is, some women can play that trump card, and some can't--and shouldn't try.
Well, take the dust speck out then, and email me. I don't bite. At least, not in cyberspace.
"Christians love the wrong way, equating love with unqualified acceptance and being nice."
Take the board out of your own eye, man.
There is no aesthetics apart from morality, because every aesthetic quality is a moral one.
Send me an email.