Wisom and Knowledge

"Much learning does not teach understaing." - Heraclitus

Without the supernatural intervention of God into the understanding of men, all wisdom would come to nothing. For who would judge between Aristotle and Plato, between Nietzsche and Kant, or between Buddah and Muhammad? Who would say when science has erred and when the current philosophy of the day falls short of reason? It would be but man against man in an endless and fruitless quest to understand the world around and beyond us. Yet God reveals. I don't know exactly how this works out practically (for surely God does not despise logic and knowledge), but I am coming to the understanding that human reason alone will never come to truth.

These are the thoughts from my devotions today (studying I Cor. 2:4,5) and certainly need some further thought. I admit my hesitancy to post such things since I don't know who will be reading them and don't want someone to latch onto a thought that is still in formation (and reformation) in my own mind. So take it with a grain of salt.

The Heart of the Debate

The dangerous and highly flammable topic of abortion was raised again at yesterday’s GOP debate. There was conviction, posturing, and probably some pandering, and so it will continue throughout the campaign to come.
Yet for all the complications of this explosive issue, it seems that the central question is quite simple: at what point does one become a human being? If a fetus is not a human being then the arguments of the anti-abortion crowd lose their weight. If, on the other hand, that life is a human being then the arguments of those wishing to “end the pregnancy” become rather a stretch.
Many of the other questions just cloud the issue. What if the child is a result of incest? Or rape? Or what if the mother can’t afford to take care of the baby? The reason for the pregnancy makes no difference; whether or not the abortion takes a human life is the key.
For who would argue that a child born of rape should legitimately be killed at age 5? Or age 1? Or even five minutes after birth? No one. Who would argue that a single mother struggling to support her five children should be allowed to end the life of the youngest for the benefit of the others? Would it matter if the youngest were 10 years or 10 months? Of course not. Then why would it matter if the child were eight months along in a pregnancy? Or four months? If it is a human being then it is a human being.
So there is where the debate must focus. There is no question that life begins at conception and has the genetic make-up of you or I. But is it’s status that of human life? I believe so. For if you wish to differentiate “human” life from that of the embryo you must make what I feel is a rather arbitrary distinction. To say that human life begins at birth but that five minutes before, when the child is still in the womb, it is not a human being is absurd. So what will be the line of demarcation then? A heartbeat? Brainwaves? Fingers and toes? The most logical point seems to me to be at conception. And if that is true, upon what grounds can anyone argue the “right” of a mother over the life of her human child?

Published in the Enquirer this week. Note: The Enquirer shortened the piece to make it fit their new space requirements and the flow was definetly effected. Keeping an editorial to 300 words while still conveying meaningful content is very difficult.

The Cheapening of Intimacy

There is an interesting cultural paradox apparent in the media over the last several weeks. As a society, we generally condemn prostitution, pornography, and promiscuity. If not overtly castigated as evil, these illicit behaviors are at least quietly denounced or ignored. And yet we have raised to celebrity status a playboy model who participates in pornography, becomes famous and wealthy for doing so, and has so many sexual partners that numerous men can realistically claim to be her five month old daughter’s father. She is famous not for talent, ability or leadership but only because of her association with sex.
And our society feeds upon her story like a pack of starving wolves.
The contradiction is apparent and leads one naturally to wonder “why?” Why does the death of a sex symbol occupy headlines above wars and economics and international intrigue? There are so many different facets begging to be explored in response to this cultural conundrum that the editorial of a newspaper could never contain them. But for a moment consider this….
Sex has been cheapened in our culture.
Sex is everywhere and forced into every part of our lives. Commercials hint at it, sitcoms blatantly (and lightly) discuss it, advertisements in the mall or shopping center beg to bring it into our minds. Humor inevitably falls upon the innuendo as its easy laugh and students in high school are led to assume that physical intimacy is a normal part of every adolescent’s life. Yet in the process of being made the icon of satisfying pleasure, sex has lost its true significance and become one more empty attempt at true gratification.
May I be frank? I am no prude. Sexual intimacy is truly one of the high points of human experience. Yet as the world around us generates all manner of lust and desire we forget that it is a relational act, not merely a physical one. It is the mingling not only of bodies but of minds, spirits and hearts as well. Its truest meaning and deepest pleasures come not between casual lovers but within the connection developed through commitment and selfless love. Intimacy is no longer intimate when shared openly and frequently; sex then becomes simply selfish physical satisfaction. In the rush for sexual “freedom,” so apparent in a certain deceased model’s life, true pleasure has been lost.
Perhaps there is something to “traditional morality” after all.

Published in the Enquirer and the Post several months ago.

Here's a good start...

Since my last post, I have had several more editorials printed in the Cincinnati Enquirer or the Cincinnati Post so I will go ahead and post those now.

Ok...

Ok, so I didn't do a very good job keeping up with this. But here's the deal for try #2. I am going to try and do lots of my writing directly on this site and post things as I complete them. We'll see how it goes.

Lifechoes