reading...
Reading....
I've been taking serious,my reading. We have an exquisite library and I've been stuck in a age that no longer exhists, but, in my opinion, is highly relevant. This is how it happened...I found this book, I think it was from a collection entitled, everyman's library, who's author, I think, was the infamous profesor VanDorn (from Quiz Show fame). The book it written in dialogue between four various scholars that discuss the major contributions in literature they find to be most relevant. Out of that book the topics a broadly covered and debated what I find interesting I investigate....
On to Macciavelli and the Book of Job..
.I had a hard time with Niccolo...and it wasn't so much the message or ideas he conveyed, but more, my lack of knowledge on history, and the books translation into English; it seemed like too many sentences in The Prince ended where the should of kept going. It was a two hour read that I just wasn't ready to finish. My historical knowledge and retention was always good, I excelled in college in Early American history, but never took serious the time to study European...So I began researching and fell into French history, which was a great place to land because it really rounded the Euro bases., From the Bourbon's to the Borgia's, I've been filling my time with such fascinating stuff that I now feel compelled to learn everything I find interesting. (I'm not sure if I ever even heard the term Hapsburg up untill recently!). A great book that I'm finishing today is about the Society of Jesus and the historical truths and legends of the Jesuit Order. Fantastic book...it takes you through history in a vehicle that stops at every major event along the way. For better or worse, the Order had it's hands on every important shoulder and it's voice in every king ear! Throughout history...there are accusations of assasinations, an utopian society in the Americas, Galileo's heresy trial, Boroque architecture, but what is most fascinating is the level of education and the colleges the founded all over the world. They conjur up the Jedi image, but in Black Robes, and, at times, with a Machiavellian dispense, but with a piercing intellect rather than light sabres.... (I've become convinced that I want a better/broader education for myself and especially for Aidan).
"Philosophy is the handmaiden of theology"....(The book of Job). I told a friend I was reading it and he's like "Yeah, why would a benevolent God do that to such a devoted man?" He said it before I ever had a chance to think about it, so my entire introduction was bias, but, in fact he did hit the nail right on the proverbial head...Why would a benevolent God allow for this, and why should we worship such a God ? Is it better to be feared than loved? So we fear, we worship, we give alms...and yet still and..."In all this misfortune Job committed no sin, and he did not reproach God". Man, the Old Testament is scary!
So...I carry these questions, this thought, and being baptized unto the Church of Rome, I contemplate life's complexities then, made my confession after twenty five years. I made an appointment and went in to see my pastor. I dumped off the guilt and was granted absolution from my reproach, from fear, and took on a new freedom and responsibility...(perhaps the act of confession is simply symbolic...But what I found amazing was the insight the priest had into my life..."You live on the inside too much, you need to come forward and live more outwardly". That was it, in a nutshell. "God moves his people", but you have to be moving for things to happen.
But for now, i'm going to commit myself to building my knowledge...(yeah, I read some shakespeare over the winter too..."Tis the mind that makes the body rich")...because what I'm discovering is that by having knowledge life becomes interesting on levels that are unimaginable without it..
I've been taking serious,my reading. We have an exquisite library and I've been stuck in a age that no longer exhists, but, in my opinion, is highly relevant. This is how it happened...I found this book, I think it was from a collection entitled, everyman's library, who's author, I think, was the infamous profesor VanDorn (from Quiz Show fame). The book it written in dialogue between four various scholars that discuss the major contributions in literature they find to be most relevant. Out of that book the topics a broadly covered and debated what I find interesting I investigate....
On to Macciavelli and the Book of Job..
.I had a hard time with Niccolo...and it wasn't so much the message or ideas he conveyed, but more, my lack of knowledge on history, and the books translation into English; it seemed like too many sentences in The Prince ended where the should of kept going. It was a two hour read that I just wasn't ready to finish. My historical knowledge and retention was always good, I excelled in college in Early American history, but never took serious the time to study European...So I began researching and fell into French history, which was a great place to land because it really rounded the Euro bases., From the Bourbon's to the Borgia's, I've been filling my time with such fascinating stuff that I now feel compelled to learn everything I find interesting. (I'm not sure if I ever even heard the term Hapsburg up untill recently!). A great book that I'm finishing today is about the Society of Jesus and the historical truths and legends of the Jesuit Order. Fantastic book...it takes you through history in a vehicle that stops at every major event along the way. For better or worse, the Order had it's hands on every important shoulder and it's voice in every king ear! Throughout history...there are accusations of assasinations, an utopian society in the Americas, Galileo's heresy trial, Boroque architecture, but what is most fascinating is the level of education and the colleges the founded all over the world. They conjur up the Jedi image, but in Black Robes, and, at times, with a Machiavellian dispense, but with a piercing intellect rather than light sabres.... (I've become convinced that I want a better/broader education for myself and especially for Aidan).
"Philosophy is the handmaiden of theology"....(The book of Job). I told a friend I was reading it and he's like "Yeah, why would a benevolent God do that to such a devoted man?" He said it before I ever had a chance to think about it, so my entire introduction was bias, but, in fact he did hit the nail right on the proverbial head...Why would a benevolent God allow for this, and why should we worship such a God ? Is it better to be feared than loved? So we fear, we worship, we give alms...and yet still and..."In all this misfortune Job committed no sin, and he did not reproach God". Man, the Old Testament is scary!
So...I carry these questions, this thought, and being baptized unto the Church of Rome, I contemplate life's complexities then, made my confession after twenty five years. I made an appointment and went in to see my pastor. I dumped off the guilt and was granted absolution from my reproach, from fear, and took on a new freedom and responsibility...(perhaps the act of confession is simply symbolic...But what I found amazing was the insight the priest had into my life..."You live on the inside too much, you need to come forward and live more outwardly". That was it, in a nutshell. "God moves his people", but you have to be moving for things to happen.
But for now, i'm going to commit myself to building my knowledge...(yeah, I read some shakespeare over the winter too..."Tis the mind that makes the body rich")...because what I'm discovering is that by having knowledge life becomes interesting on levels that are unimaginable without it..