EXTRA-MURAL
Sport and stuff
Running, cycling, touch rugby and a bit of swimming. These are stock week
activities. Other "stuff" things include hiking, camping, kloofing, SCUBA
diving, mountain biking and the occasional can opening contest using a Swiss
army knife....I am as yet unbeaten. Adventure racing, basically a combination
of all the above (except SCUBA), is fantastic. A year long convert, I think
this is the sport of the utterly insane...I love it!!
Philosophy and stuff
Most of my extra-mural readings have to do with philosophies, religion and worldviews and general hooliganism. These are inextricably linked. Those ideas that got us to where we are today, and where these will take us to in the future, both short and long term are of particular interest.
I am not that impressed at where we have come from in the last 200 years in terms of intellectual and philosophical "progress" and am equally un-awed at where the western world as a whole may be headed if its thought life is not reformed. If at the beginning of the 1900's there was an infectious enthusiasm about the coming century, the opposite is true for Y2K. The evolution of early modern liberalism into today's post-modern, more radical liberalism over the last 150 years, and the current and long-term fruit of the ideals of radical liberalism is the underlying cause of my criticism.
Modern radical liberalism holds radical egalitarianism and radical individualism as sacrosanct, and it is becoming (if it is not already) the pervasive worldview of the western world.
Radical egalitarianism assumes the right to effect and not the right to opportunity. Give two people the same opportunities in, say, education. The one (say, you) uses their education and eventually starts a small business which grows and the family become wealthy. The other (say, me) gets a 9-to-5 job and I get by ok. However, I also want to drive a BMW like you instead of an UNO, live in an upmarket and safe neighbourhood and have a nice quiet holiday home like you. But I don't because I can't afford it. It's just not fair that you have so much and I'm struggling to pay the mortgage . Either I must get some of what you have or you should be brought to where my level is, after all, that's only fair? So either legislate to get some of your wealth to me (graded taxation) or make us all equal (old Soviet socialism). I get the right to your effect without using opportunity(ies) presented to me. How to discourage entrepreneureal endeavour and encourage intellectual and practical sloth in one quick and easy step.
Radical individualism is basically the idea that I can remove all restrictions from my private and social life such that I can do just about anything I want to. Another phrase to describe this thinking would be moral relativism. I can determine for myself what is right and wrong, and if you disagree, tough, just don't dare infringe on this right of mine. Presently judicial law places restrictions on certain acts (such as theft, certain modes of murder, public behaviour etc) but as morals and ethical standards change with time, need these be the same in the next 20-30 years?
(This is where the under construction part begins...more
to come sometime)
Some books that I can recommend (that I remember- more to come):
- All of Francis Chaeffer's writing. One of the greatest philosophical minds the previous two centuries saw. I think history will record him with the great thinkers in all time. Teaches one to, and takes ideas to their logical conclusions, a very powerful weapon in the world of ideas.
- All of C.S. Lewis writings, philosophical as well as fictional. To my mind the greatest contemporary christian writer.
- "The Universe Next Door" by James W. Sire. A text book for anyone who takes thinking seriously. He describes the major worldviews that have dominated through time but more than that, traces how they have flowed through history and their subsequent impacts on society.
- "Darwin's Black Box" by Micheal Behe. Tackles evolution on a biochemical basis (being a professor of microbiology) highlighting what he calls "irreducibly complex systems". Provides the strongest argument for intelligent design that I have come across. If you have my copy, please return it.
- "Slouching towards Gomorrah" by Robert Bork. If you're liberal in your thinking, stand by to get upset. Describing the phenoma of radical egalitarianism and radical individualism he paints a poignant picture of where society may be headed to if these ideas continue to flourish.
- "The Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon series by Bill Watterson. Essential reading for everyone.
- "The Science of God" by Gerald Schroeder. A professor of physics, he deals with creation, evolution and quantum physics. He uses Einstein's theory of Relativity to reconcile the six creation days of Genesis with a 15 billion-or-so-year-old universe. (A better book than Genisis and the Big Bang).
- "The New Tolerance" by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. The authors examine the phenomenon that will allow someone to suspend a crucifix in a jar of his own urine and call it art (AND receive state funding for his "work") but have a nativity scene display banned in state schools. Excellent book, even with the silly cover.
- Harry Potter series. Great entertainment with good triumphing over evil, which, in today's post-modern world, is quite unusual. Gotta learn to play Quiddich.
- "Atheism: A shattered visage" by Ravi Zeccharias. I think he is the greatest contemporary christian apologist for the last few centuries. His books should be compulsory reading for all christians, unfortunately most of us are either too lazy or brain-dead to bother.
- Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien. What a rush!! The movies, imppressive
as they are, don't even come close to the books. I'm not sure how all the
Tolkien societies of witches and warlocks came about because I found it to
be one of the most Christian books I have ever read, they miss the point completely.
- .
If this falls within your zone of interest, feel free to contactme.