The Religious Agnostic

Nice quote I had occasion to look back at today:
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Since, however, I regard God's existence as a real possibility, I whole-heartedly agree with Price that it is reasonable--indeed, I would say rationally required--for me to behave differently than I would if I were an atheist. For example, I ought to pray--unlike the atheist, I believe there just might be a God listening. More generally, I ought to do what I can to cultivate or at least prepare for a relationship with God.



Paul Draper, "Seeking But Not Believing," in Divine Hiddenness: New Essays

Of Laughter and Logic

Just ran across an old article in Philosophy Now about the connection between humor and reasoning.

Saint Thomas Aquinas already knew this of course, indeed it was a staple of medieval anthropology that the ability to get jokes was right of the essence of mankind under Aristotle's definition as "rational animal".

The "Common" Cold

Just a day and a half ago I wished I could take my boy's sickness upon myself so that his little bodymind could be spared the uncomprehending suffering. Well, I got half my wish. Now we bear this burden together. I can't tell whether knowing this is temporary makes up for not being able to get my mind off my suffering. I had thought that my knowledge that this will pass in a few days, a week or so at most would provide comfort he lacks, but then again maybe higher-level though is more of a burden. I am very conscious of my pain, maybe his living in the moment is a kind of grace. I don't know about that, but I know I'll be glad when the household is whole again.

Remember "Remember the Titans"

Had a sick baby yesterday so I was pinned under a big baby boy for about three hours yesterday having finally rocked him to sleep in our bedroom. We don't have cable, but I managed to watch a rather fuzzy version of Remember the Titans. I had forgotten what a good movie that is. It has its flaws, but it was both inspiring and a good way to help my girls understand the plight of black people in the south.

Too many depictions of racism are too brutal for kids. The racism in Remember the Titans was appalling without being inappropriate for six and nine-year-olds.

The Eternal Now

Aslan: "I'll do it soon."
Lucy: "But when do you call soon."
Aslan: "I call all times soon."

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Linkage: eBooks galore

Just across this site which has lots of nice ebooks nicely arranged.

Snowshoe Race

More here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Trent.Dougherty

He did!

So for once I did not look like I had just come back from a hike in the woods! The dream-job interview was actually a lot of fun, so that's a load off. Now it's wait and hope!