A blog by Nathan Guinn
Philosophy begins with wonder, not reason:
“When we affirm that philosophy begins with wonder, we are affirming in effect that sentiment is anterior to reason. We do not undertake to reason about anything until we have been drawn to it by an affective interest.”
- Richard M. Weaver
Ideas Have Consequences
A few pictures from the Furman Rose Garden. They are pretty, but my allergies suffer.
This was an incredible evening of light in Zermatt, Switzerland. The mountain pictured is none other than the Matterhorn. In three months I saw so many places that one year ago, I said I would never see in my lifetime. Enjoy!
“Economic leveling is not economic progress.”
- Russell Kirk, The Conservative Mind
All of these galleries are new and on my “Galleries” page:
A glimpse into the nuclear program of Iran:
It is only with extreme difficulty that we are able to build a nuclear power plant in the United States. Why would Iran plow through layers of international pressure to build a nuclear plant for “peaceful means?” It is naive to believe Iran is embracing nuclear power in order to ensure clean, dependable energy for Iranians. They want more.
This is a great video produced with a digital SLR camera and a remote timer. Each video was created by taking periodic pictures in the same spot and then placing the pictures together to simulate a video. Think about it as a really complex flip-book. Enjoy!
People with some power will use their power to get more power.
I believe that we must not forget a crucial part of conservatism that is often overlooked: the “Belief in a transcendent order, or body of natural law, which rules society as well as conscience.” It seems many conservatives have given up fighting for a spiritual perspective that recognizes Providence’s place in the world. I think we should, at times, attempt to elevate debate to a higher level because “political problems, at bottom, are religious and moral problems.”
This is the same fight Edmund Burke embraced 200 years ago. Radicalism at the end of the 18th century argued that “if there is divine authority in the universe, it differs sharply in its nature from the Christian idea of God…man naturally is benevolent, generous, healthy-souled, but in this age is corrupt by institutions.” Burke “conceded his enemies not one premise. He began and ended his campaign for the conservation of society upon the grand design of piety; in his reverent eyes, the whole of earthily reality was an expression of a moral order.” Do we need to focus on “legislating morality”(whatever that means)? Probably not. However, neglecting the fight for Christian principles is an invitation, that the left will not decline, to legislate immorality. It is time for conservatives to humbly defend an eternal perspective that is increasingly unpopular in our world of radical change.
It is often overlooked and rarely understood that the God of Christianity is a relational God. He IS a relationship in and of himself; He exists as a trinity in perfect, holy, glorious relation with himself. What is even more incredible is he invites us, mere humans, to share in the joy of this relationship.
God is not like a famous, professional athlete who can only be approached by a few, close friends of the athlete. Even saying that we can place athletes on a pedestal so that they become “idols” shows how little we understand God as a relational being. God does not want to replace that athlete on a pedestal as your sole idol; God is in a completely different league altogether. God wants to be closer than a brother with His people. Understanding this should radically change the way we view our relationship with God and others.
