tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post113013103312800431..comments2023-10-30T07:45:43.656-04:00Comments on Thoughts and Ideas: HereticsA Wiser Man Than Ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1130287451769371072005-10-25T20:44:00.000-04:002005-10-25T20:44:00.000-04:00Oh, don't call me out on my ignorance of world aff...Oh, don't call me out on my ignorance of world affairs. =)<BR/><BR/>I'm looking it up as I write this...<BR/><BR/>At first glance, I'd say he sounds like a pretty good guy. The Guardian calls him a "strongly conservative" Catholic which means he might be. <BR/><BR/>As for the opposition to gay rights and support of the death penalty, one out of two is okay I suppose. The thing I really like is that he might just shake up that confounded EU. We'll see if he keeps his spine. <BR/><BR/>If you know anything else about him, I would appreciate it if you'd send some information my way. Thanks.A Wiser Man Than Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1130253782195914462005-10-25T11:23:00.000-04:002005-10-25T11:23:00.000-04:00Writing definitely counts as "good works". And you...Writing definitely counts as "good works". And yours is inspiring me to read more about Chestertson.By the way, what do you think of this new Polish Catholic President?troutskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020298501632120830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1130219403012616812005-10-25T01:50:00.000-04:002005-10-25T01:50:00.000-04:00Thank you Jeff.I will keep this in mind Troutsky, ...Thank you Jeff.<BR/><BR/>I will keep this in mind Troutsky, and I would expect you to instruct me if I become abusive in any sort of way with my set of beliefs. <BR/><BR/>"Did Chesterson work to relieve the suffering of the poor?"<BR/><BR/>Your question about Chesterton is a good one, and must be answered in two parts. First, yes, he did.<BR/><BR/>According to the website devoted to him--linked on my page--"this was the man who wrote a book called The Everlasting Man, which led a young atheist named C.S. Lewis to become a Christian. This was the man who wrote a novel called The Napoleon of Notting Hill, which inspired Michael Collins to lead a movement for Irish Independence. This was the man who wrote an essay in the Illustrated London News that inspired Mohandas Gandhi to lead a movement to end British colonial rule in India. <BR/><BR/>A very grand record to be sure. I cannot comment on the validity of the accounts, but an email to the site should help.<BR/><BR/>The bigger point though, is a man is not only judged on how he helps his fellow man materially, but also spiritually. I cannot comment on the number of materially poor Chesterton helped during his lifetime.<BR/><BR/>I can say that converting Lewis was no small feat and the echoes of that very large rock thrown into this big sea.<BR/><BR/>And, to a Christian, that counts for a great deal.A Wiser Man Than Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1130163932287847902005-10-24T10:25:00.000-04:002005-10-24T10:25:00.000-04:00"When particular understandings become rigidly fix..."When particular understandings become rigidly fixed and uncritically appropriated as absolute truths,well meaning people can and often do paint themselves into a corner from which they must assume a defensive or even offensive posture.With potentially destructive consequences people presume to know God, abuse sacred texts, and propogate their particular versions of absolute truth.<BR/>When adherants lose sight of the symbolic nature of language about God, religion is easily corrupted." Charles Kimball from his book When Religion Becomes Evil. My problem with religious attitudes about God is their tendency to divide people and divert their attention from real -world oppressors.Those same oppressors actively promote religion for this reason.On the other hand if we think of religion as "4: a cause ,principle,or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith" Websters, we see the bloody 20th century as one of religious wars between fascism, socialism and capitalism.This also explains Humanism or other non-deistic world views, such as Buddhism, Taoism etc.. <BR/><BR/>Did Chesterson work to relieve the suffering of the poor?troutskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020298501632120830noreply@blogger.com