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1. I remember reading Herodotus and histories of the Byzantine Empire and thinking that whatever the manifold horrors of the modern world, there really are some barbarities we've left behind--like, you know, cutting off noses and ears.
2. It puzzles me how people who believe in a God more petty and vindictive than we would find admirable or even tolerable in a mere mortal can insist so strenuously on the loving goodness of that deity. Similarly, how come the people who say,"God is so good," whenever you tell them about something swell that's happened to you, don't also say, "God is so nasty." when you tell them about something not so swell? Been reading too much Aquinas, maybe.
3. I guess that building a Muslim community center two blocks from the site of the twin towers is offensive in the sense that a lot of people are offended by it. And perhaps that's enough--at some point going ahead with something one has the right to do isn't worth it if you get too many people foaming-at-the-mouth-angry about it. And I suppose that on the odd chance that it really is a secret plan to plop a mosque down on the site of a glorious triumph of Islam over the infidels, I'm offended too. But you know, this plan was public for months without anyone being very much exercised about it until we began to be told that we should be up in arms about a "Ground Zero mosque."
2. It puzzles me how people who believe in a God more petty and vindictive than we would find admirable or even tolerable in a mere mortal can insist so strenuously on the loving goodness of that deity. Similarly, how come the people who say,"God is so good," whenever you tell them about something swell that's happened to you, don't also say, "God is so nasty." when you tell them about something not so swell? Been reading too much Aquinas, maybe.
3. I guess that building a Muslim community center two blocks from the site of the twin towers is offensive in the sense that a lot of people are offended by it. And perhaps that's enough--at some point going ahead with something one has the right to do isn't worth it if you get too many people foaming-at-the-mouth-angry about it. And I suppose that on the odd chance that it really is a secret plan to plop a mosque down on the site of a glorious triumph of Islam over the infidels, I'm offended too. But you know, this plan was public for months without anyone being very much exercised about it until we began to be told that we should be up in arms about a "Ground Zero mosque."
1. Yeesh...wholeheartedly agree.
ReplyDelete2. Whatcha gonna do? It's completely human nature to selectively imply God's hand in events.
3. I can't help but question the wisdom of placing this place of worship in a location where it has met such strenuous resistance. I fear for the safety of those who would attend.
It makes me think of a four-way stop. It may, indeed, be your turn and your right to go next...but if you see an 18 wheeler hurtling toward the intersection, it might be prudent to rethink your options. I'm just saying...
2. Btw, in my experience, most of these people are particularly nice. Perhaps they model themselves on their nice God. And I guess you're inclined to be nastier when your God does a lot of retributive smiting.
ReplyDelete3. Yeah, since it's at least plausible that offense is taken because of the peculiar circumstances of this site, it may not be the best place to make a religious freedom stand.
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