Hitchens on inspiration

“Look through the Hubble Telescope if you want to see something that’s awe-inspiring; don’t look to blood-stained old myths,” Mr. Hitchens said.

Hm. Large nuclear reactions and lots of potential parking space wasted by the lack of gravity. Plus rocks.

Viewed another way: "The heavens proclaim the greatness of God..."

Speaking of myths: I'm impressed by stories of Baldur the Norse god, tales on Hercules, and the stories of Job and Jonah (the first two for their quality as tall tales, the last two as parables); but if it weren't for the newer mythology of science fiction, I wouldn't give squat about space.

As I said, you can't park there.

More importantly, I would say things are only impressive in nature insofar as they impress us. And our deeds are more impressive, since we get to decide what to do - making them uniquely difficult to do correctly.*

Just for kicks - here's something we decided to do ever so long ago.

*Two points: some things are meant to be impressive (like Saturn's rings, for instance), and not being impressed by them shows a lack of sensitivity (although that's not a sin); and supernature (i.e. angels, God) are impressive by being superior in nature, whether we are impressed or not.

Impartiality, Atheism, and the Intellect

Nick Milne asks: why are religious debates always "Pinky Vs. The Brain" - like matchups?

Note one key line in his post:

"The trend in question is that of media institutions sponsoring "debates" on religious matters..."

Note the "media." It is pretty well-known that newsmen tend to be leftist, as do atheists. It is also well-known that human nature makes us slant the field - as far as possible - in favor of our side. And if only one group is sponsoring a debate, they can easily invite only those whom they expect will work well. Not very virtuous, but it happens.

Then again, most influential religious personages in America just aren't all that smart to begin with. Primarily because they usually are 'better living through theological fast food' types. Not to say that all American religious leaders are dumb, or that all the dumb ones are Protestants. But American Protestantism isn't known for encouraging heavy reliance on reason. Catholicism, I would say, is a better choice for the born sophist (me!) to protect him from himself.

This is where I'm glad of our current Pope - theology is not an easy intellectual pursuit, even if you don't believe it, and his ponderings are definitely high-grade. Closer to home, I'm not so confident. I can't name a bishop with the rhetorical smarts to out-talk Hitchens.

But I hope those bishops use the excuse: "Oh, I'd happily debate, but I'm too busy doing God's work and keeping my diocese from going belly-up."

As to the existence of God.........well, Voltaire was right when he said we'd have to invent a God if He didn't exist. Our nature is to believe in God - at least some overarching authority to which all men (theoretically) must yield, which dominates the universe - and the universality of religion proves it (almost the whole world's population believes in a God, and intellectuals are generally split on this). The only real question is to find what sort of God exists, and what He wants. That, at least, is my theory.

As an aside, if I thought God didn't exist, life would be hell within my neighborhood (until I got shot, that is). Hitchens is probably a more virtuous man than I, seeing as he's not been shot yet.

...but I thought Sandra Miesel was, like, a nice lady...

I've read one of her books (The Da Vinci Hoax, to be exact) and I didn't notice anything that remotely suggested she'd be like Jadis the Witch of Narnia...

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...I NOW KNOW THE TRUTH! NOT ONLY IS SHE AN EVIL KID-ATTACKING LADY FROM CHARN, SHE USED TO LIKE SCIENCE FICTION! UTTER, PURE EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She looks reeal nice, though! "A dem fine woman," as it says in The Magician's Nephew.



Speaking of Science Fiction: I'm reading the book version of "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Tomorrow...

I will be seeing "Into Great Silence" or whatever it's called. I thought it was "Into the Silence" but maybe that sounded too like a horror film.

Here's something for y'all to try: take 3 fathoms of rope (18 feet for those gentle readers who DON'T KNOW A DADGUM THING ABOUT ROPE!), tie them toether at one end, then braid them together. When done, seize the loose end together with a string of floss.

Now you have a braided rope! Some three times stronger than your old one, plus it's more easily gripped by the hand.

The Dallas Mavs have won 65 games. Only one team out of 12 that have done so lost the championship after that. So...I'm EXCITED! Especially after they goofed against the Heat last year...

Here's an article from Apologodzilla - I mean Mr. Mark Shea. It's about the classic inability of this age (maybe all ages) to realize that 2000 years ago, people were not as dumb as we are. Hat Tip to Cathy of Alex.

Well, that's all for tonight. Three books coming in by the 18th - reviews as necessary.