For centuries, religion gave us perfectly awful science.
Lately, science has begun to return the favor.
Bad science and bad religion have this in common: they offer ideas I can't really believe with both eyes open.
The real test of our belief is whether we act as if it were true.
And if the mythologies of science and religion seem flawed, I return to the source of all myth: mystery. Mystery always provides new myths where they are needed. When the old myths are used up, they turn into magic.
Magic is mystery gone stale. When I find courage, I throw away the old stale bread of life.
Manna taken literally does not feed me.
But manna as magic does help me deny my hunger for a while.
Many times, I have almost starved before swallowing my pride to make room for bread.
To deny mystery is to reject fresh bread when I am hungry.
Jesus would have offered some neat stories about Mastercard and Visa. "Take ye no scrip for the journey."
p. 35
Justification always seems to involve the invocation of some principle isolated from the total context of the situation.
In this world, everything we do is somehow justified. This must be the reward of a good education.
I hate justification, but damn am I good at it. (Education lets us create some great excuses.)
But I am not, if the world is truly a pious place, in the business of justifying.
An annoying sound—justice crying out—keeps interrupting my concentration on other matters.
It would be in my best interest to begin crying out for real justice and real compassion before my trial begins.
It just occurred to me that there is a world of difference between justify and justice.
p. 39
My tasks will be complete when I'm gone. I don't want to die.
But I believe I must face death to live.
If I really want to know what is true, death is too much a part of life to ignore.
p. 46
"No amount of 'justified' equals justice."
p. 55
I prefer eternal life to immortality. Immortality takes too long. Immortality takes forever.
Eternity is the infinite depth of every moment. Eternity is a different kind of forever.
Touch me.
p. 64
Science discovers parts.
Philosophy discovers wholes.
And religion. What is it religion does?
Philosophy discovers existential ailments.
Science promises to cure them.
And religion. What is it religion does?
Now I remember. It's when you are with me, and we're both scared and lost, but we take care of each other.
We welcome each other home.
p. 66
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