Madness

To be alone- that is the fate of a man. If you are not alone, then you cannot think. Alone, however, in the philosophical isolation, rather than in seperation from others. Perhaps there are beings who are of an equal mind- but is it worth the trouble? Perhaps. At least, we always have God. Perhaps that is all one needs for anything, Him who created us. But this relationship leads to a sort of insanity- Which can not be felt or touched, but is our only companion. It seems absurd, even to the Christian. Companionship with the un-being... Madness. And such a case drives a man to madness when he sees the false companionship offered up by the world around him. What then is our lot? Madness and companionship, or "sanity" and friends? Look at the implications of both, I guess, to determine which route to take. Or, you could be alone and mad- How terrible! But then, it wouldn't matter anyway. Death is the fate of us all.

Surely, though, there is an ideal Christian... Christ, right? We must try to become like him. Is that mad? Perhaps Christ was mad... Went so far as to suffer the last three years of his life. He walked and slept and ate in poverty- but He knew what He was doing. He told his followers to suffer as well, for the glory of God. I guess that this glory becomes the highest TELOS. Is Christ's call one to asceticism, then? Denial of self and all that... I know not. Should we try to attain his standard? Certainly. We are the most sane as we become more Christlike.

Matthew Five, the sermon on the mount, discusses prayer. It says that prayer ought to be carried out in secret, so that the Father, who is invisible, can see what is done in secret and reward it. Is it right, then, to pray in front of an assembly? Is it right for a group to assemble in order to pray?

Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.
Sanity, sanity, all around, but not a thought to think.
Madness. Absurdity... and still we know that we ought to live sane.

Three Months In... And Happy Birthday

I have been writing for this blog for three months now. Idon't know how many people read it. Five? Six? But, numbers don't matter. THe thoughts count. We've discovered a lot about ourselves and our fellow writers in doing this project, and we've seen a lot happen since June. So I just want to say Happy Birthday to Rhi in the best way I know how. Rhi, thanks for doing so much for this blog, for being a good friend, and for helping others see the predicament we're all in. Thanks for everything.

Confusion

Everything is confusing. The conflict that the spiritual has with the body. At the end of the day, which do we choose, and why? Our desire for individual meaning, but the necessity of giving up the self for God in order to find meaning. Our desire for power, but our inherent powerlessness and frailty. Our selfishness and our valuation of humility. Our lust, and our need to suppress our sexual instinct. Like Romans seven says, to paraphrase, I do not want to do, that which I do, and that which I do want to do, I don't do. In the end, where are these tensions resolved? There is no hegelian synthesis. Merely good and evil. How is the latter overcome? By God alone.