Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.
God as a magic helper is of dubious value unless we are speaking after the fact or with reference to Providence in the abstract. We cannot know or be sure how or if God does or will specifically or personally aid us in this life. But that does not mean that He doesn't, only and simply that it won't do us any good to know or assume this to be the case -- again, unless we are thinking in reference to good generally.
Well, if I'm not permitted to see my judge, can I at least see a picture of him (and possibly get his name too?)
["Devo - "Freedom Of Choice" -- official video]
From the Wikipedia article on Meister Eckhart (1260-1327).
"The central theme of Eckhart's German sermons is the presence of God in the individual soul,
and the dignity of the soul of the just man. Although he elaborated on this theme, he rarely
departed from it. In one sermon, Eckhart gives the following summary of his message:
"'When I preach, I usually speak of detachment and say that a man should be empty of self and all
things; and secondly, that he should be reconstructed in the simple good that God is; and
thirdly, that he should consider the great aristocracy which God has set up in the soul, such
that by means of it man may wonderfully attain to God; and fourthly, of the purity of the
divine nature.'"
In the "how dumb can you be?" dept. -- They cheat, steal, and take from you what they want; while then making arrangement (including perhaps pretending to be or represent "God" or "Heaven") to compensate you for their thefts in a way and manner they see fit and which they decide is being generous toward you. Sound familiar?
This is what is known as incongruity.
*----*
["Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life" -- Uma linda cancao que fala de amor] and ["The Highwaymen - Highwayman" -- Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson perform the Jimmy Webb song "Highwayman" live. Filmed in March 1990 at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum.]
Science can and does give you the facts. Yet only religion can tell you what and how best to do with those facts on a long term and ongoing basis. For, as a practical matter, mere facts do not determine our higher or most prominent values, choices, goals, and desires. People then who say they have no religion are either deceived, not being truthful, or not even thinking. For how else can one fully or even adequately explain why they wish and desire as they do but that they have arrived at some fundamental direction and orientation for their lives; with the act of choosing such direction, etc. being one of the primary and essential functions of religion?
Now here we have an exemplary case of a song so well known (and which will surprise nobody) that I have to seriously hestitate and consider before posting it to our thus-far collection. In this instance, I decided it was "ok" since the version was a bit and somewhat different from the one we already are well familiar with.
["THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS { CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' } 1998 LIVE VIDEO"]
It has been a common canard of modern thought, not unpopular, say, in the literature, e.g., in the humor of Paulding, and thought, Jefferson as well as some New England brand Unitarians (or latter-day Socinians) of the early Republic, that the idea of the holy Trinity is somehow or obviously absurd. Is it any more absurd to say a triangle or the harmony produced by a common musical chord is one? True, the "points" or "notes," as it were, of the holy Trinity are marks of reference to some inevitably and to some degree mysterious someone or something that requires wisdom to properly know or understand, intellectually speaking. Yet as such this paradigm serve as a prudent and (when viewed correctly) grace-full (or aesthetic) reminder that One in the sense of Godhead is not like one in the merely practical or mathematical sense -- which last perspective a number of our founding fathers, as heirs of the Enlightenment, were famous for holding themselves dear to.
Here's another one of those "bottom lines" that I would remind thinking people not to overlook.
The difference between his Jesus and mine is that mine is honest. His is not, and indeed is some kind of trickster, and who keeps house or makes his home in the entertainment and movie business.
["The Byrds - This Wheels on Fire (1969)" -- from the LP "Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde"]
They don't make hair like that anymore (or do they?)
["CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS" -- CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS 1958 AND MOVE IT.]