Air Force Morals
Last week I had to watch the Air Force’s latest attempt to stem immoral behavior through institutional education and training. I sat in an auditorium with about 50 other pilots and student pilots and learned something I learned in kindergarten…don’t...
If You're Happy but Don't Know It…
Having completed my instrument check ride, I’ve found time to comment on the topic of pessimism and optimism. Forgive the lateness of my response. Let’s say that the optimist and pessimist are those who believe the universe is all good...
Pessimism and Optimism: A Reply in Two Parts
**For Clarification** By saying that pessimism and optimism are analogous to bad and good, what do you mean? Do you mean morality? Pleasure and pain? Usefulness? Maybe I’m trying to be too precise…do you just mean “nice things” when you...
Epistemology 101
Epistemology is a subject that has always intrigued me, and to be honest, has often left me more baffled than satisfied when all is said and done. The main thing that puzzles me is how to go about finding the...
More on Pessimism and Optimism, please
Keith: In order to have a really good discussion, I think you are going to need to define pessimism and optimism. As you left it here, I think your starting points were too vague to generate a good conversation. That...
The Love of God
From Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s The Seraphim: Ador: Weep? Weep blood, All women, all men! He sweated it, He, For your pale womanhood And base manhood. Agree That these water-tears, then, Are vain, mocking like laughter: Weep blood! This Sunday I...
A New Step Towards A Palestinian Dream
A little late on my new attempt to post every weekend, but this news was worth waiting for. It’s all over the internet and conventional news sources. The Gaza pullout is complete! What does this mean? First, it shows that...
Can Justice allow for substitution?
Question: In what way is substitutionary atonement and sacrifice just? Problem: Generally, when justice is demanded, it not merely that a payment be made, but that a particular person make the payment. For example, when a woman is found raped...
The Hideous Trap of Existence
Existence is an unqualified good; it is good in and of itself. Or so goes the story and intuition of many people. After all, what is the alternative? Non-existence. And how could anyone say that not-existing is better than existing?...
Trent, Reformation, and the Spirit of Our Age
With all the news coverage of the passing of Pope John Paul II and now the election of Pope Benedict XVI, I have begun to hear more people abuzz with talk of ecumenism and the possibility of unity between Roman...