Satan was the most celebrated of Alpine guides, when he took Jesus to the top of an exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth. But the joy of Satan in standing on a peak is not a joy of largeness, but a joy in beholding smallness, in the fact that all men look like insects at his feet. It is from the valley that things look large; it is from the level that things look high; I am a child of the level and have no need of that celebrated Alpine guide. I will life up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help; but I will not life up my carcass to the hills, unless it is absolutely necessary. Everything is in an attitude of mind; and at this moment I am in a comfortable attitude. I will sit still and let the marvels and the adventures settle on my like flies. T...here are plenty of them, I assure you. The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.
~Tremendous Trifles, G.K.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Fraternal Correction
fraternal correction: what it is and what it is not.
All good Christians have an obligation to Christian charity, to "love one another as Christ has loved us." The most important fact of this love is that we do whatever is beneficial to the salvation of the one who is loved. If I love someone and he is blindfolded walking towards a fire pit, am I not guilty of murder if I simply let him just walk into the fire and be burnt? If I did not correct him from his deathly path, he would have been lost, or at least quite badly injured. Christian charity therefore charges us to admonish the sinner, that is to guide one's brother in charity out of dire straights.
However, this virtue like others can be abused and become a vice. There are many folks who go around correcting everyone because they see it as their duty. These misguided but (hopefully) well intentioned individuals purport to be doing an act of charity, acting out of concern for another's spiritual well being, or "instructing the ignorant" when they are really judging, nagging, or simply picking on others. Fraternal charity is a virtue only when it is exactly that: charity. At times it is compulsory, that is we must say something or risk sinning. However, there are criteria to be met in order to make it compulsory, and if any particular criterion is not met correction is not compulsory and may even be inadavisable.
1) The delinquency to be corrected is a serious matter
That is, it must be something dealing with grievous sin or harm
2) There is no reason to believe that the sinner will adequately correct himself.
That is, if he doesn't know it is wrong and he will not figure it out for himself, then we bring it to his attention. If he realizes that it is wrong and is sorry, we don't rub their face in it and lecture them on it.
3) There is a well founded expectation that the advice/correction will be headed.
If we will be ignored there is no reason to offer correction that we know will not be headed. Furthermore, if the correction will cause scandal or increased or just make things worse for them we don't do it.
-we don't have coercive power
4) there is no one else present who can do it (i.e. the preist or someone in authority) I have to do it or it won't be done. Also, make sure that you protect the person's reputation and keep it private. Also, you must be qualified
5) there is no special trouble or disadvantage to the correction. we do not need to inconvenience ourselves greatly in order to get the correction around.
Makes sense to me, huh?
All good Christians have an obligation to Christian charity, to "love one another as Christ has loved us." The most important fact of this love is that we do whatever is beneficial to the salvation of the one who is loved. If I love someone and he is blindfolded walking towards a fire pit, am I not guilty of murder if I simply let him just walk into the fire and be burnt? If I did not correct him from his deathly path, he would have been lost, or at least quite badly injured. Christian charity therefore charges us to admonish the sinner, that is to guide one's brother in charity out of dire straights.
However, this virtue like others can be abused and become a vice. There are many folks who go around correcting everyone because they see it as their duty. These misguided but (hopefully) well intentioned individuals purport to be doing an act of charity, acting out of concern for another's spiritual well being, or "instructing the ignorant" when they are really judging, nagging, or simply picking on others. Fraternal charity is a virtue only when it is exactly that: charity. At times it is compulsory, that is we must say something or risk sinning. However, there are criteria to be met in order to make it compulsory, and if any particular criterion is not met correction is not compulsory and may even be inadavisable.
1) The delinquency to be corrected is a serious matter
That is, it must be something dealing with grievous sin or harm
2) There is no reason to believe that the sinner will adequately correct himself.
That is, if he doesn't know it is wrong and he will not figure it out for himself, then we bring it to his attention. If he realizes that it is wrong and is sorry, we don't rub their face in it and lecture them on it.
3) There is a well founded expectation that the advice/correction will be headed.
If we will be ignored there is no reason to offer correction that we know will not be headed. Furthermore, if the correction will cause scandal or increased or just make things worse for them we don't do it.
-we don't have coercive power
4) there is no one else present who can do it (i.e. the preist or someone in authority) I have to do it or it won't be done. Also, make sure that you protect the person's reputation and keep it private. Also, you must be qualified
5) there is no special trouble or disadvantage to the correction. we do not need to inconvenience ourselves greatly in order to get the correction around.
Makes sense to me, huh?
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
The delight of a child
These inventive sibs put hollow ice cubes on a stick and thereby invented a happy little snack for themselves.
Friday, July 02, 2010
"Til the Last Shot's Fired"
(One of the most touching songs I've ever heard)
I was there in the winter of '64
When we camped in the ice at Nashville's doors
Three hundred miles our trail had led
We barely had time to bury our dead
When the Yankees charged and the colors fell
Overton hill was a living hell
When we called retreat it was almost dark
I died with a grapeshot in my heart
Say a prayer for peace
For every fallen son
Set my spirit free
Let me lay down my gun
Sweet mother Mary I'm so tired
But I can't come home 'til
the last shot's fired
In June of 1944
I waited in the blood of Omaha's shores
Twenty-one and scared to death
My heart poundin' in my chest
I almost made the first seawall
When my friends turned and saw me fall
I still smell the smoke, I can taste the mud
As I lay there dying from a loss of blood
I'm in the fields of Vietnam,
The mountains of Afghanistan
And I'm still hopin', waitin', prayin'
I did not die in vain
Say a prayer for peace (for peace)
For our daughters and our sons
Set our spirits free (set us free)
Let us lay down our guns
Sweet mother Mary, we're so tired
But we can't come home (No
we can't come home)
I was there in the winter of '64
When we camped in the ice at Nashville's doors
Three hundred miles our trail had led
We barely had time to bury our dead
When the Yankees charged and the colors fell
Overton hill was a living hell
When we called retreat it was almost dark
I died with a grapeshot in my heart
Say a prayer for peace
For every fallen son
Set my spirit free
Let me lay down my gun
Sweet mother Mary I'm so tired
But I can't come home 'til
the last shot's fired
In June of 1944
I waited in the blood of Omaha's shores
Twenty-one and scared to death
My heart poundin' in my chest
I almost made the first seawall
When my friends turned and saw me fall
I still smell the smoke, I can taste the mud
As I lay there dying from a loss of blood
I'm in the fields of Vietnam,
The mountains of Afghanistan
And I'm still hopin', waitin', prayin'
I did not die in vain
Say a prayer for peace (for peace)
For our daughters and our sons
Set our spirits free (set us free)
Let us lay down our guns
Sweet mother Mary, we're so tired
But we can't come home (No
we can't come home)
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Transportation Medium 2010!!!
I finally got a car!!! a Hyundai Sonata 2010....took forever to find something I like, but it will do.
Wow...no posts in nearly 2 months...that's pretty long. Sorry folks. I've been alive though struck with a rather severe case of inertia and lack of motivation. As I haven't found the curative recipe yet, it may be yet alittle while until I get around to posting more after this.
Two weeks ago, I was privilege to be able to spend large amounts of time exclusively with my littlest brother who is only 9. The rest of my siblings have grown so much and are becoming grouchy adolescents and teens, which often leads me to forget that even though he has such older companions and influences, he's still only 9. In anycase, I was test driving a jeep around town with him in the back seat, and asking him car questions, if he liked it, and so on. I was saying something along the lines of "you should check out the new subarus" to which he sighed and replied, "and you should check out the new cherios...they've got tons of new flavors including chocolate." I had to laugh outloud...cars to chocolate cherios in 5 seconds flat. But really, why would I try to have an adult conversation with a kid? he's a child, not a small adult. Still simple minded and innocent.
I've noticed lots of folks speaking to their offspring in elementary school as if they were adults. "why would you do that???" one exasperated mother yelled at her 4 year old. The kid just stood and blinked at her, hands at his side, tears in his eyes, as if to say, "why what? what do you mean?" I want to say "he would because he's a kid, and he thinks like a kid, and he rides his tricycle as if there is no other person or object on the road. how was he supposed to know that he didn't move over far enough and smashed the headlight. Ah life.
where would we be without children.
Two weeks ago, I was privilege to be able to spend large amounts of time exclusively with my littlest brother who is only 9. The rest of my siblings have grown so much and are becoming grouchy adolescents and teens, which often leads me to forget that even though he has such older companions and influences, he's still only 9. In anycase, I was test driving a jeep around town with him in the back seat, and asking him car questions, if he liked it, and so on. I was saying something along the lines of "you should check out the new subarus" to which he sighed and replied, "and you should check out the new cherios...they've got tons of new flavors including chocolate." I had to laugh outloud...cars to chocolate cherios in 5 seconds flat. But really, why would I try to have an adult conversation with a kid? he's a child, not a small adult. Still simple minded and innocent.
I've noticed lots of folks speaking to their offspring in elementary school as if they were adults. "why would you do that???" one exasperated mother yelled at her 4 year old. The kid just stood and blinked at her, hands at his side, tears in his eyes, as if to say, "why what? what do you mean?" I want to say "he would because he's a kid, and he thinks like a kid, and he rides his tricycle as if there is no other person or object on the road. how was he supposed to know that he didn't move over far enough and smashed the headlight. Ah life.
where would we be without children.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Leisure
Lying in bed this morning, I was thinking how wonderful it is to live in the way of leisure. It was the first time I could just lay there this week, didn't have to get up afore 6am. (hehehe...makes me happy I don't have kids) Leisure, as opposed to laziness (and it is very different) is not only beneficial to the health of a person as it helps to nip stress and anger in the bud, but also healthful since a person isn't pressed to do anything. Prayer is more effective if one isn't thinking "O my gosh, I need to get this from the store, then I have to write out the bills, taxes need to be done, Jenny's baby is due this week so I should call her, I need to pick up so and so's perscription, the laundrey should be done before this evening," etc.
yes we have many things to do in our everyday lives, but there really is plenty of time to do them, and the things that we stress out about need not be stressed out. Just take a step back and put it into perspective. As my mother's favorite music artists, Marie Bellet, sings, "it's the little things that get you a little at a time." If one lived in a leisurely fashion, they wouldn't get so hung up on the little things. Errands actually become very enjoyable when you've simply got plenty of time to get them done, when you can stop an extra place at some point. I think folks would be much happier too.
Some good reading on the subject (if you've time enough to digest it) is Josef Pieper's Leisure: the Basis of Culture. Absolutely fantabulous publication by a most excellent Catholic philospher of the 20th century. The 20th century has yeilded many excellent Catholic philosphers: Von Hildebrands, Chesterton, Pieper, C.S. Lewis (who was almost Cahtolic), JPII, and others.
yes we have many things to do in our everyday lives, but there really is plenty of time to do them, and the things that we stress out about need not be stressed out. Just take a step back and put it into perspective. As my mother's favorite music artists, Marie Bellet, sings, "it's the little things that get you a little at a time." If one lived in a leisurely fashion, they wouldn't get so hung up on the little things. Errands actually become very enjoyable when you've simply got plenty of time to get them done, when you can stop an extra place at some point. I think folks would be much happier too.
Some good reading on the subject (if you've time enough to digest it) is Josef Pieper's Leisure: the Basis of Culture. Absolutely fantabulous publication by a most excellent Catholic philospher of the 20th century. The 20th century has yeilded many excellent Catholic philosphers: Von Hildebrands, Chesterton, Pieper, C.S. Lewis (who was almost Cahtolic), JPII, and others.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
ideas on life
Having been out in the workforce for only a wee bit thus far, I can easily see why so many folks are jaded and tired of life. There are many screwy things in this world, and there always have been and probably always will be, but one of the screwiest is people's ideas of life and it's value.
Just reflect for a moment on the history of the world. For thousands of years since the beginning of the world, almost without exception, people have longed for a time when they could see all of their children grow to adulthood, or perhaps they have wished to live long enough to see their children have children. Up until the last century, the average life expectancy was approximately 40 years (give or take) for a few hundred years, and in the middle ages was somewhere in the 30s. The most obvious reason for this was that nearly half of all children under the age of 5 would die from one cause or another...no one bothered with birth control or abortion because they simply went against the instinct of preserving the race, which seemed to be in danger of extinction. I speak here of the natural reasons against it, not the moral implications. Now, I have met so many people who don't want kids, or who have one but don't want another, or who meet me and find out I have 7 sibs and ask "is your mom on crack?" why would they think that? It has simply become unpopular to have children. The popularity of life is obsolete. Overall, I think most of my peers and coworkers would not act or be like that if it didn't seem to be the "thing to think." Amazing how strong peer pressure is. It is downright foolishness to put such a cheep value on life... we are horrified at slavery, that one person could own or put a price on another, but we do it all the time, in our thoughts, in our heads, we classify them as far as their worth or value. I don't think this is natural at all...despite the fact that everyone does it. I think it is depraved.
Just reflect for a moment on the history of the world. For thousands of years since the beginning of the world, almost without exception, people have longed for a time when they could see all of their children grow to adulthood, or perhaps they have wished to live long enough to see their children have children. Up until the last century, the average life expectancy was approximately 40 years (give or take) for a few hundred years, and in the middle ages was somewhere in the 30s. The most obvious reason for this was that nearly half of all children under the age of 5 would die from one cause or another...no one bothered with birth control or abortion because they simply went against the instinct of preserving the race, which seemed to be in danger of extinction. I speak here of the natural reasons against it, not the moral implications. Now, I have met so many people who don't want kids, or who have one but don't want another, or who meet me and find out I have 7 sibs and ask "is your mom on crack?" why would they think that? It has simply become unpopular to have children. The popularity of life is obsolete. Overall, I think most of my peers and coworkers would not act or be like that if it didn't seem to be the "thing to think." Amazing how strong peer pressure is. It is downright foolishness to put such a cheep value on life... we are horrified at slavery, that one person could own or put a price on another, but we do it all the time, in our thoughts, in our heads, we classify them as far as their worth or value. I don't think this is natural at all...despite the fact that everyone does it. I think it is depraved.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Braveheart
Having finally seen this epic film, the film which has been praised to the skies and supposedly represents the pinnacle of manliness. While I found it engaging and a lovely story...I was a little disappointed. Such a "great Catholic movie" full of adultery, vulgarity, and crude jokes just kinda numbed me up a bit. Yes, here is a man willing to give his life for freedom. He is an educated man, fluently speaking the language and the mind of the church, and also well versed in the manly arts of farming, fighting, and loving, which are certainly good things. Also, even though I am a little melancholy, I was a bit upset with all the sorrow in the movie, that his wife dies the very next day, etc. Strong story, but almost overwhelmingly sad. Fight scenes are excellent and exhibit the spirit as well as the ingenuity of Wallace.This is s a man who is strong, honorable, witty, and very intelligent. And then, he shoots all of that from the skies by sleeping with the queen! Sure he's a manly man, and she is the neglected wife of a fruitcake...but none of this excuses their breech of Christian virtue.
So therefore, I have been slightly disappointed in this movie. I liked it overall, but the fact remains.
So therefore, I have been slightly disappointed in this movie. I liked it overall, but the fact remains.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Honoring Mothers
Women have been historically abused and put down by the power of men. Men often believe themselves superior to women, especially if they are mediocre themselves, and claim that they are great because they are men and they have a right to use women for their pleasure. For thousands of years this has been the attitude of the world at large, that women are defective, weak, and can be enjoyed as objects. Even to this day the great atrocity of selling little girls to men as play things to be used, abused, raped, and then killed goes on everywhere, even in this country. However, I cannot continue on that subject or I'll be sick. Great thinkers have long thought women deficient. Aristotle viewed women as deficient males, lacking the essentials of a human being. Thomas Aquinas and Augustine too took this view as well as other intelligent people, but this just goes to show that even the most intelligent folks can be very wrong at times.
What was woman's reaction to all of this? Eventually she rebelled. Every rebellion has in it at least an ounce of truth, but always tends to excess. Woman wanted to be recognized as a human being having rights and a soul, but she eventually pursued the idea of equality meaning no difference, no variation. Simone de Beauvoir is revered as a champion of woman's rights and she certainly had good cause, but she went on to claim that there is no difference between men and women, that they should do the same things, and to be freed from the indignity that lies in being feminine. The only thing which stood between woman and man was the fact that woman was charged with the continuation of the race, so then we must rid woman of that responsibility; it is wrong to think of her in the context of the home where she has been unjustly confined for so many years. According to Miss de Beauvoir housework is pointless and torturous, and pregnancy unfortunate. Therefore, we welcome birth control that woman no longer be tied to her sexuality and be as free as men can be, send women to higher education to get degrees, dress them in pants and suits, cut off their hair, etc. Now she is free to be a man!
When our Lord was ascending Calvary he met several women beating their breasts and crying out in sorrow for the evils done to him. He did not thank them for their sorrow for he told them "do not weep for me but for your children, for the day is coming when people will say 'blessed are those wombs which never bore and breasts which never nursed'." That day has certainly come. While the rest of the world allows itself to be complacent with radical shifts in society, it is the woman who embraces her femininity and stands barefoot in her kitchen with a baby on each hip who will affect the redemption of the world.
In the midst of all such stupidity around us, many Catholic women are still standing against the tyranny of secularism by embracing life. Our church holds a baby shower for every expectant mother, whether it is her first or her seventh child, and in this way seeks to honor every mother for her choice to follow such a sacred vocation.
Lena's baby arrived and was baptized before the shower could take place.
Mallory was quite overwhelmed by everyone's generosity, and the fact that she received notes from both her mother and her mother-in-law who live out of state.
Emily is a new arrival to the church and quite happy to receive so much for her second baby.
Rowanne is expecting her 4th girl and this was the very first baby shower she had ever had. The poor dear was quite overcome.
What was woman's reaction to all of this? Eventually she rebelled. Every rebellion has in it at least an ounce of truth, but always tends to excess. Woman wanted to be recognized as a human being having rights and a soul, but she eventually pursued the idea of equality meaning no difference, no variation. Simone de Beauvoir is revered as a champion of woman's rights and she certainly had good cause, but she went on to claim that there is no difference between men and women, that they should do the same things, and to be freed from the indignity that lies in being feminine. The only thing which stood between woman and man was the fact that woman was charged with the continuation of the race, so then we must rid woman of that responsibility; it is wrong to think of her in the context of the home where she has been unjustly confined for so many years. According to Miss de Beauvoir housework is pointless and torturous, and pregnancy unfortunate. Therefore, we welcome birth control that woman no longer be tied to her sexuality and be as free as men can be, send women to higher education to get degrees, dress them in pants and suits, cut off their hair, etc. Now she is free to be a man!
When our Lord was ascending Calvary he met several women beating their breasts and crying out in sorrow for the evils done to him. He did not thank them for their sorrow for he told them "do not weep for me but for your children, for the day is coming when people will say 'blessed are those wombs which never bore and breasts which never nursed'." That day has certainly come. While the rest of the world allows itself to be complacent with radical shifts in society, it is the woman who embraces her femininity and stands barefoot in her kitchen with a baby on each hip who will affect the redemption of the world.
In the midst of all such stupidity around us, many Catholic women are still standing against the tyranny of secularism by embracing life. Our church holds a baby shower for every expectant mother, whether it is her first or her seventh child, and in this way seeks to honor every mother for her choice to follow such a sacred vocation.
Lena's baby arrived and was baptized before the shower could take place.
Mallory was quite overwhelmed by everyone's generosity, and the fact that she received notes from both her mother and her mother-in-law who live out of state.
Emily is a new arrival to the church and quite happy to receive so much for her second baby.
Rowanne is expecting her 4th girl and this was the very first baby shower she had ever had. The poor dear was quite overcome.
Monday, November 16, 2009
November Nor'easter
Just about every decade we have a fairly severe storm down here in Southern Virginia, and this was it for us. We had tides 7.8 feet above normal, which spells trouble for certain parts of Hampton Roads, especially Norfolk and Portsmouth which have large sections either at or lower than city level. Since I did not take my camera with me, I can't show you all the submerged cars I saw on my way to work. It proved to be an excellent decision of Dad's to take the 12 passenger van through Norfolk, and we made it through several tight spots despite having to make numerous u-turns and drive through parking lots. We accidentally found the Opera house on the way, so if I ever make it out, I'll know where it is. =) Sadly, our beloved chinaberry tree was split in half during the storm. My brothers and Dad and I spent almost an entire day chopping it up and carting it off. Nothing like common work to bring a family together.
Daniel's a sturdy young helper, though the saw was a bit too big for him.
We threw the branches over the back fence where they will decompose and be gone in a few years.
Unfortunately, one of the wind turbans was damaged so my father and brother climbed on up there to have a look.
Daniel's a sturdy young helper, though the saw was a bit too big for him.
We threw the branches over the back fence where they will decompose and be gone in a few years.
Unfortunately, one of the wind turbans was damaged so my father and brother climbed on up there to have a look.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Living Simply
As one attempts to grow in virtue, he finds that there are certain virtues which are more difficult to come by than others. One of these for me is simplicity. I have taken on a great deal of the materialism surrounding me in this world, and every time I leave the house I am always searching for lovely Catholic music, modest skirts and tops, and chocolate. I'm very frugal about it all, for I can get three skirts for $10 at the thrift store...but the amount of clothing which I possess is astounding and enough to clothe 3 or 4 or me without having to share clothes from day to day!
Simplicity is not necessarily a moral virtue, but is definitely a virtue which aids one in developing moral virtue. If one lives in a detached manner, with few and simpler possessions, there would have to be fewer occasions of sin simply because there isn't enough material about to promote vanity and anger towards family members who mess up your stuff. It is shameful how much "extra" stuff people own which is never used but only pushed around and dusted. I often think thoughts on this line as I angrily step over the clutter around my room.
These people take this teaching to a whole new level. Actually, it is a very old level, but they take it to the extreme. Plain Catholics live their lives in as simple as possible a way in something. I think it may be linked to the "back to the land" movement as well. I'm not advocating this whole thing, because we must still live in this world, but it is an interesting idea.
Simplicity is not necessarily a moral virtue, but is definitely a virtue which aids one in developing moral virtue. If one lives in a detached manner, with few and simpler possessions, there would have to be fewer occasions of sin simply because there isn't enough material about to promote vanity and anger towards family members who mess up your stuff. It is shameful how much "extra" stuff people own which is never used but only pushed around and dusted. I often think thoughts on this line as I angrily step over the clutter around my room.
These people take this teaching to a whole new level. Actually, it is a very old level, but they take it to the extreme. Plain Catholics live their lives in as simple as possible a way in something. I think it may be linked to the "back to the land" movement as well. I'm not advocating this whole thing, because we must still live in this world, but it is an interesting idea.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
New Job, New Period in Life
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new period in my life: I finally have a full-time, legitimate position. I have a registered nurse position in a pediatric emergency room. Since the program begins with class time and clinical, it should be an easy transition for newly graduated nursing students. It is nice to find a place that welcomes new nurses.
All through school our teachers and the general public were always telling us how we would have no trouble getting a job. However, supposedly due to the economy, no one would take a new nurse. Why? well, we are a liability since we have so little experience, and then the other thing is that they want experienced nurses, ones they don't have to watch out for, people who already know their way around. It kinda goes to show that while book knowledge is great, there is nothing that can really take the place of lived experience, experiential knowledge. However, one would like to wonder that if no one will allow me experience how the heck am I gonna get any!?!? These things go in cycles, however, and any good economist would probably have something to say about all the various causes of such cycles. I am certainly happy though to have such a position and thank ful that it did come exactly 6 months after graduation. Now to pay off my loans. =)
All through school our teachers and the general public were always telling us how we would have no trouble getting a job. However, supposedly due to the economy, no one would take a new nurse. Why? well, we are a liability since we have so little experience, and then the other thing is that they want experienced nurses, ones they don't have to watch out for, people who already know their way around. It kinda goes to show that while book knowledge is great, there is nothing that can really take the place of lived experience, experiential knowledge. However, one would like to wonder that if no one will allow me experience how the heck am I gonna get any!?!? These things go in cycles, however, and any good economist would probably have something to say about all the various causes of such cycles. I am certainly happy though to have such a position and thank ful that it did come exactly 6 months after graduation. Now to pay off my loans. =)
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Downfall of the Free Thinker.
A good reflection from The Ball and the Cross by GK, the apostle of common sense. Eerie how right he was on most things
"No, the great Freethinker, with his genuine ability and honesty, does not in practice destroy Christianity. What he does destroy is the Freethinker who went before. Free-thought may be suggestive, it may be inspiring, it may have as much as you please of the merits that come from vivacity and variety. But there is one thing Free-though can never be by any possibility: Free-thought can never be progressive. It can never be progressive because it will accept nothing from the past; it begins every time again from the beginning; and it goes every time in a different direction. all the rational philosophers have gone along different roads, so it is impossible to say which has gone furthest. Who can discuss whether Emerson was a better optimist than Schopenhauer was pessimist?"
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