Rousseau

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. One man thinks himself the master of others, but remains more of a slave than they are."
- Jean Jacques Rousseau

Let me first say that Rousseau was not a nice man. Anytime I've ever heard anyone cite him, they always prefaced whatever they were going to say with the fact that he was not a nice man. I figure that, since I know so little, I had better follow the lead of my betters. He even looks like one of those slick-types one comes across in the political world. That said, I think this is an interesting citation. I believe it comes from his Social Contract.

I'm not quite sure what he means by the first phrase of the first sentence but the rest of the citation is pretty powerful. I say this, at least, from the context from which I view it. Certainly, he has a higher anthropology for the "noble savage" than "man enlightened by reason" but there is a real veracity in what he is saying. If we see the Fall of Man as a mortal attempt to place himself in the position of God and bend others to his will, we can work with Rousseau here.

Anyway, I would love to hear thoughts from others who know a little more about him. - DOB

Knights Who Say "Ni!"

The Integration of the Individual, Chronic Anxiety, and Mayberry

Notice how Andy tries to train the two into being nice to each other. He even uses the word "habit." Straight out of Aristotle and straight out of evangelicalism as we know it. If you have seen the episode, you know the experiment fails and Andy lets them be. Nice observation by the best show ever. - DOB

Caesaropapism Rampant

"Americans are said to be cynical about politics. Actually, they are presidential romantics. Which is why they suffer serial disappointments."

- George Will

Read the whole article here. I could not agree more with Mr. Will. I can tell you this as a former presidential and otherwise political romantic. - DOB

John Locke, Tolerance, The Glorious Revolution, and the Orange Order

"We should do well to commiserate our mutual ignorance, and endeavour to remove it in all the gentle and fair ways of information, and not instantly treat others ill as obstinate and perverse because they will not renounce their own and receive our opinions, or at least those we would force upon them, when it is more than probable that we are no less obstinate in not embracing some of theirs. For where is the man that has uncontestable evidence of the truth of all that he holds, or for the falsehood of all he condemns; or can say that he has examined to the bottom all his own or other men's opinions? The necessity of believing without knowledge, nay, often upon very slight grounds, in this fleeting state of action and blindness we are in, should make us more busy and careful to inform ourselves than to restrain others... There is reason to think, that if men were better instructed themselves, they would be less imposing on others [emphasis mine]."

- John Locke Essay Concerning Human Understanding Book IV, Ch. XVI, Sec. 4

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 does not get the credit it deserves for introducing religious tolerance to England. The tone and substance of Locke's thought is self-explanatory. In fact, these ideas were those which the American Founding Fathers piggy-backed on to create our Constitution. In England, this religious tolerance brought about by William of Orange and John Locke resulted in the following observation by Bertrand Russell. - DOB

"The Act of Toleration, while leaving Catholics and Nonconformists subject to various disabilities, put an end to actual persecution."

- Bertrand Russell A History of Western Philosophy Ch. XII

This is why I and many like-minded friends associate ourselves with the Orange Order. It is the last remaining vestige of faith that consciously carries on the remarkable and (relative to previous wars) bloodless revolution that put Western Civilization on a new course of tolerance. The ideals and spirit behind the Order's mantra, Civil and Religious Liberty, are something I wish to be associated with. - DOB

What Does It Matter?

Nothing matters. - DOB






Except that. - DOB

I Graduated

Existential Wrestlemania

Very Funny

Diary of a Country Priest

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. In this scene, the young priest is talking with a woman who lost her young son. Her husband is also having affairs.

You know (and I'm being very frank, here) there are just very few church services, events, films, or musical pieces that really take me back to when I first understood what the Gospel means. Lately, Black Snake Moan and this film have been the only two in a long time. - DOB

Profound Johnny Cougar

When my pride is bruised and broken
She slips her hand into my empty hands.
Without hope, without love, you have nothing but pain
Makes a man not give a damn.
It's no way for us to live.
We've got to fill these empty hands.

- John Cougar Mellencamp Empty Hands