Interfaith Dialogue?

I know my past couple of posts have been links to articles on the Pope's recent comments about Islam and the relationship between faith and reason, but this is an incredibly important conversation that is being held on an international level. This morning there is another insightful article in the Wall Street Journal on this topic. It is a little longer that the previous two, but it is well worth the time.

Pope Provocateur

Here is another very interesting article about the substance of the Pope's message that sparked the recent flurry of Muslim rage.

I must confess that it absolutely BAFFLES me that many in the West can be labeled "intolerant" for critiquing the teachings or actions of radical Muslims when, comparitively, they riot, destroy things and kill people (without condemnation from most other Muslims) when they are offended. Those two courses of action - argument versus violence - seem very different to me. If either should be labeled "intolerant" it should be the latter.

To me it seems very similar to two little school boys on the playground. The first boy tries to point out that the other boy is being rude or not sharing or something similar. Maybe the first boy even goes so far as to call the second boy a "jerk". The second boy, however, tears up the playground and beats up other kids because his feelings were hurt by what the first boy said.

As an adult, to get angry and punish the first boy seems irrational, doesn't it? Maybe you tell the first boy to keep his opinions, however valid they might be, to himself, but you don't spank him. You spank the second kid because that is what he deserves. What he did was wrong and he is responsible for his actions regardless of what the other kid said.

Didn't we all learn this in school? I think everyone else must have forgotten.

Benedict the Brave

Here is a good piece in the Wall Street Journal's online Opinion Journal on the controversy over the Pope's recent comments and the violent reaction by many Muslims around the world. A brief article, but worth the time.

What If... by James Lileks

James Lileks is one of my favorite people to read. This is why. Enjoy.

A couple of Good Articles

I had seen these articles last week, but forgotten to post about them until I saw Melinda Penner's post at STR's Blog about them and was reminded.

First is Peggy Noonan's piece about the sounds of 9/11. Not just the explosions and crashing, but the phone calls from those who knew they were about to die to those they loved. Incredibly powerful and moving. It is difficult to read without tears in your eyes. Who would you call and what would you say?

Second is Lilek's blog from last Friday. The important part, which Melinda points out, is when he talks about the clocks being reset on 9/11. I really do agree. I don't care much about pointing the finger and placing blame on any individual or administration. There is enough fault to go around to everyone. What matters more to me is what people are doing since that time.

Well, enjoy the articles!

Situational Ethics vs. Moral Relativism

I am building up to a bigger post in the next few days concerning the morality of war in principle, in purpose and in strategy. It's an issue (issues) that in many aspects I find simple and clear and in other apsects find incredibly complex. I also recognize that I have some inconsistencies in my thoughts with which I am still wrestling, but we will get to those later...

Today I want to discuss the difference between situational ethics and moral relativism. The two are often confused or, if not confused, thought to be essentially the same thing. But there is a difference between the two and one is good and the other is not. Situational ethics says that the moral thing to do is determined within the context of the circumstances. Moral relativism says that the moral thing to do is determined by the individual.

Continue reading "Situational Ethics vs. Moral Relativism"

Question: Is it morally wrong for one person to trip someone else?

Answer: It depends. Why would they trip the other person? Is it to be mean and hurt them? If so, then, Yes, it is wrong to trip them. However, if it is to keep them from being hit by traffic or perhaps in order to stop a fleeing theif, then, No, it isn't wrong to trip them. In that case the ethical thing to do would be to trip the other person.

This is a good example of situational ethics. Whether an action is moral is often dependent on the circumstances. NOTE: This is not to say that all morality is situational. There are obviously some things that are wrong regardless of the circumstances (another post). It is simply to say that knowing the best way to apply general moral principles is sometimes dependent on the details of the situation.

In contrast, moral relativism would take the exact same set of circumstances (tripping someone simply to humiliate them) and say that the morality is dependent on the individual. In other words, it could be wrong for you but right for me for no other reason than you think it is wrong and I think it is right.

Situational ethics does not free individuals from moral responsibility. Man is still obligated to obey the universal, God-given moral laws. Rather, it is moral relativism that seeks to make man a God unto himself by destroying obligation to any morality outside of the individual's desires. That is why situational ethics is a good thing when properly understood, whereas moral relativism is not.

I guess what I hope to have established with this post is the recognition that there are situations where the context of the situation, the details of the circumstances, will determine whether the actions taken or being considered are moral or not.

In my next post I will try and make the case that there is a moral hierarchy and that sometimes the right thing to do is something wrong. If that sounds like I have fallen off my rocker, just be patient and stick with me.

So much for predictions...

So much for my prediction that the Longhorns would beat Ohio State by a field goal. Ohio State was a much better team and won convincingly (24-7).

I don't think this is the end of the season for the Longhorns. They lost to the #1 team in the country, so they shouldn't drop that far in the polls. Plus, maybe the loss will remove some of the pressure from a team trying to live up to, in my opinion, unrealistic National Championship expectations.

We had an amazing team last year and a large part of that was due to an amazing athlete/Quarterback by the name of Vince Young. Without Vince, we still have a very good team, but not an amazing team.

I hope we will finish out the season strong, beating our rivals like Texas A&M and OU and then end up in a decent bowl game. That would be a very good year.

Ohio State vs. Texas

The Ohio State Buckeyes will face-off against my beloved Texas Longhorns this Saturday night in Austin. #1 versus #2. Both great programs. They have a veteran quarterback, but we have a better defense and we are playing at home. I think it is going to be a very close game. My prediction: The Longhorns win by a field goal.

Playing Like My Dad

One of the things I appreciate now more than ever before is how much my dad played with my brother and me as we grew up. He was great. Whether it was playing with Hot Wheels or playing Hide-and-Go-Seek, he always seemed ready and willing to play.

What makes this more amazing to me is that for the majority of my "childhood" years my dad built homes. In the summer heat or winter cold he worked long, hard days. To come home physically exhausted and then find the strength and energy (not to mention patience) to play with two little boys is impressive.

I think of this when I come home from my office job. The highlight of my day is walking in through the door and, as the alarm system chimes that the door has opened, having my oldest son come running from wherever he is in the house yelling, "DADDY'S HOME!" He runs to me and immediately asks, "Daddy, do you want to play cars?" (or trains, etc...) There are many days that I live for that moment, and yet, there are some days that I am so stinking worn out that all I want to do is lay down on the floor and sleep. But then I think of my dad...

I want my sons to grow up and have memories of me playing with them - often - not memories of me putting them off. Memories like I have of my dad.

One other nagging thought that sometimes eats at the back of my mind is the realization that they won't always want to play with me. There is coming a time, at some indefinite point in the future, when they will be more interested in playing with their friends than playing with me. It is a natural part of growing up, I know, but it will still be a sad day for me. Therefore, I want to remind myself to soak up as much of this as I can now. To play with them while they still want to play with me.

WSJ on John Bogle

Here is a Wall Street Journal article on John Bogle, founder of Vanguard funds and inventer of the index mutual fund. Good reading. You can also check out John Bogle's blog, which I have as a link on the right, for articles and speeches written by him.

Blisters On My Heart

Although I have no real musical skills of my own, I love music. I love how the rhythm, melody and lyrics can work together to move your soul. I stand in awe of people who can create music.

One of my favorite artists is the late Rich Mullins. His songs make me think and they stick with me long after I have listened to them. He had such an amazing way with words.

Continue reading "Blisters On My Heart"

In his song Hold Me Jesus he sings about wrestling with grief and pain and fear. There is this verse where he says, "And I wake up in the night and feel the dark..." Feeling the dark. A fear or grief so intense that it seems more like a physical substance than an emotion. He continues, "It's so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart." Again, a few simple words that express, in a way that most people don't know how, the pain that many people carry around with them. And somehow, in hearing it expressed by someone else, people find comfort; comfort that someone else understands; that they are not alone in their suffering.

In many ways, this is what the Psalms do for us; they remind us that we are not alone in our suffering. And like the Psalms, Rich Mullins song acts as a prayer. It is a cry to Jesus to hold on to us when we can't hold on to Him. And praise God that He is faithful to do just that.

Here are the lyrics to the entire song:

Hold Me Jesus

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace