Playing God

I agree with the observation of Simon Singh in Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe that every technology seems to have its critics. We've all heard the old saw about "if God had meant for us to fly he'd given us wings." There are so many examples of that type of thinking. In Singh's book there is a most unlikely, to me, example of this. It had to do with the invention of photography. Seems a fellow was offended by Louis Daguerre's invention and stated that

"The wish to capture evanescent reflections is not only impossible . . . but the mere desire alone, the will to do so, is blasphemy. God created man in His own image, and no man-made machine may fix the image of God."

(from page 201 of Singh's book.)

We hear similar things today about certain emerging medical technologies. You know what I mean.

The Great Chain of Being

Just got The Great Chain of Being via Amazon today. It caught my interest because of references to it in The Marriage of Sense and Soul by Ken Wilber. So much to read. Last night I checked out Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy from church. Won't read much this weekend 'cos we're headed to Memphis for my mother-in-law's 90th birthday!

The Universe's Habit ... or Addiction?

"The Universe is in the habit of making beauty. There are flowers and songs, snowflakes and smiles, acts of great courage, laughter between freinds, a job well done, the smell of fresh-baked bread. Beauty is everywhere." Matthew Fox p64 of Spiritual Literacy.

Now off to work to mix some chemicals.

Conscious Experience

THE WORLD OUTSIDE US IS FILLED WITH SPIRIT AND MIND. IT IS IN THE WOODPECKER OUTSIDE MY WINDOW PECKING IN THE DEAD TREE.

from "The Mind in the Hand: A Meditation" by Linda Hogan in Parabola vol 30 #3, p. 61, 2006.

It seems to me that the best apologetic against a reductionist/mechanical world view is that fact that conscious experience exists.

What Have I Learned?

What have I learned in the few months since starting this blog?

1. That it is difficult to articulate what I feel. It is hard work saying what I want to say.
2. I don't have that much to say.
3. I still do not want to disclose my feelings about a number of subjects that are important to me.
4. I am terrified when I see that someone has responded.
5. Still expect to continue doing this.