I wonder what effect Jordan Peterson's recent video "Message to Christian Churches" will have in tempting young men to back into pews. As he starkly says in anticipation of naysayers among them "what else have you got?". It's a great question.
In the midst of this fervor, Parliament passed the Poor Law, which sought to discriminate between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor, and Victorians made a useful distinction between “sympathy” and “compassion.” Sympathy is fellow feeling, moving with another person. Compassion is feeling for the sorrow of another. “In its sentimental mode,” Himmelfarb wrote, “compassion is an exercise in moral indignation, in feeling good rather than doing good; this mode recognizes no principle of proportion, because, feeling, unlike reason, knows no proportion, no limit, no respect for the constraints of policy or prudence.”
I was underwhelmed by the several articles discussing conversion to Catholicism. This sort of writing seems to pop up every few years among young urbanites wanting to be "different, just like everyone else."
It's fine if Niall Gooch wants to say that Catholicism is a "demanding way of life," thereby heroicising himself, so to speak, but I wish he had been more specific as to the "demands" he perceives. Going to church once a week and sometimes on a weekday? Not killing, stealing, or committing adultery? Loving other people, including your enemies?
The latter, I admit, can be difficult. Forgiving and continuing to love people who have really hurt you is harder than choosing a few more rules to follow and rituals to enact.
Have a wonderful time in Spain. I think it's both overrated and underrated. My favorite part would be Granada, a magical blend of Catholic Europe and Moorish North Africa. And speaking of Catholicism, the Spanish produced a peculiar form of Catholicism in the 16th and 17th century that was near horrifying, which is easily seen in their great art.
But I do understand why there may be a reviving interest in Catholicism. The sense of structure and order and history and rigid (comparatively, these days) theology is attractive in these anything goes days. Wokery has introduced a new tide of moralizing that is deeply unsatisfying. The Church, at least, promises to forgive you. The Wokes condemn you to Hell in perpetuity.
As for kindness, I'm reminded of my favorite Terry Pratchett character, Granny Weatherwax, who once bluntly said, "if it's personal, it ain't important." Something worth remembering every day, and which I do tell myself.
Haha Konstatin Kisin -- I actually watched the Triggernometry installment with you on it Ed a couple days ago. Their deadpan reactions to your blackpilling were hilarious.
I wonder what effect Jordan Peterson's recent video "Message to Christian Churches" will have in tempting young men to back into pews. As he starkly says in anticipation of naysayers among them "what else have you got?". It's a great question.
In the midst of this fervor, Parliament passed the Poor Law, which sought to discriminate between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor, and Victorians made a useful distinction between “sympathy” and “compassion.” Sympathy is fellow feeling, moving with another person. Compassion is feeling for the sorrow of another. “In its sentimental mode,” Himmelfarb wrote, “compassion is an exercise in moral indignation, in feeling good rather than doing good; this mode recognizes no principle of proportion, because, feeling, unlike reason, knows no proportion, no limit, no respect for the constraints of policy or prudence.”
Gertrude Himmelfarb
I was underwhelmed by the several articles discussing conversion to Catholicism. This sort of writing seems to pop up every few years among young urbanites wanting to be "different, just like everyone else."
It's fine if Niall Gooch wants to say that Catholicism is a "demanding way of life," thereby heroicising himself, so to speak, but I wish he had been more specific as to the "demands" he perceives. Going to church once a week and sometimes on a weekday? Not killing, stealing, or committing adultery? Loving other people, including your enemies?
The latter, I admit, can be difficult. Forgiving and continuing to love people who have really hurt you is harder than choosing a few more rules to follow and rituals to enact.
An interesting one from Richard Hanania's substack you might like to consider for the next roundup when you're back, Ed: https://richardhanania.substack.com/p/how-i-overcame-anxiety
Have a wonderful time in Spain. I think it's both overrated and underrated. My favorite part would be Granada, a magical blend of Catholic Europe and Moorish North Africa. And speaking of Catholicism, the Spanish produced a peculiar form of Catholicism in the 16th and 17th century that was near horrifying, which is easily seen in their great art.
But I do understand why there may be a reviving interest in Catholicism. The sense of structure and order and history and rigid (comparatively, these days) theology is attractive in these anything goes days. Wokery has introduced a new tide of moralizing that is deeply unsatisfying. The Church, at least, promises to forgive you. The Wokes condemn you to Hell in perpetuity.
As for kindness, I'm reminded of my favorite Terry Pratchett character, Granny Weatherwax, who once bluntly said, "if it's personal, it ain't important." Something worth remembering every day, and which I do tell myself.
Very interesting pieces in The Spectator and The Critic.
Haha Konstatin Kisin -- I actually watched the Triggernometry installment with you on it Ed a couple days ago. Their deadpan reactions to your blackpilling were hilarious.