Yep, a bit of a hiatus there — lots of stuff going on, but I’m finally caught up. So this time I reflect on, of all things, religeon. And marketing… And what Descartes had to say about that. Yep, he was way ahead of his time. May make you religeous types grouchy. Sorry about that.
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Mike,
I like the marketing analogy. It’s right on the money.
I think you might be a little off base with the Descartes attribution though. What you describe with the four alternatives is actually a version of what is widely known as “Pascal’s Wager.” Pascal, another French rationalist ans mathmetician, described a rationalist reason for belief in God if faith alone wasn’t working. Bottom line: It’s only rational to choose to believe in God, because it provides the only escape from God’s wrath (hell) and the only avenue to God’s grace (Heaven). If you’re wrong, and there is no God (of the jealous and wrathful sort), it cost very little (and after you die, you probably won’t even find out that you were in error).
Hi Mikel,
Your geezercast reminds me that you were a radio guy once! I enjoyed listening to it. Did you say that it was Pascal rather than Descartes? I’m going to forward this to my friend Allan Brockway, who was ordained Methodist clergy in his youth, then a journalist, got his doctorate in England, etc. where he taught comparative religion, and now has evolved into what he calls being an archaeology tourist, whom I met in Syria during my last trip. He would support your usings, and would agree.
If you want to see the report on the Syria trip that he helped me with and posted on his web site you might go to
http://www.abrock.com
where you might find “Marian in the Levant”
I love the way the birds kicked into your sound track, let alone the music.
Are there other Geezer musings?
Pat must have been delighted by your independence of mind. I certainly am.
I’m writing this the day after the big O’Conner Christmas Party at the Campus Club, where the only one missing was Pat. I loved the way everyone in your
outfit kept a light touch going, deftly done. That O’Connor gene!
Fondly, Marian Dec. 16, 2007 Beethoven’s birthday
Fondly – Marian