There is a book "Philosophers without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life" edited by Louise M. Anthony and published by Oxford University Press (2007). It is a compilation of essays by atheist philosophers.
The first essay 'Faith and Reason, the Perpetual War: Ruminations of a Fool' is by Stewart Shapiro. He starts by quoting Ps 14.1: The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God".
I have borrowed the title of my blog from his essay and acknowledge the same.
My previous blog 'Maani's musings' was a collection of thoughts ranging from my life in Africa to the Knanaya community, to religion, to psychology and to sundry other topics. They were published as articles by my good friend and country-cousin Alex Kaniamparambil in his monthly e-publication Snehasandhesam for about three years. After he stopped the publication, I have been idle, and not done any writing.
More than 'an idle mind becoming a devil's workshop', I am worried about my dying and depleting brain cells since, once dead, they do not regrow. The only way to prevent further depletion is to exercise one's brain cells through intellectual activities. Solving puzzles, working out math problems, reflecting on what you read and critically examining and commenting on them are some such exercises.
There is a difference between 'musing' and 'rumination'. When you 'muse', your thoughts wander like a bee from topic to topic. 'Ruminations' are deep and considered thoughts about a topic or issue. They are more philosophical and involve in-depth critical reflection and analysis.
I was born and raised in a conservative Catholic family. After retirement, I began to read about and reflect on the religious beliefs and value systems ingrained ('brainwashed' would be a more apt term) in me from childhood. In this process, many of them have fallen by the wayside. In my blog, I would like to share with the reader facts that have been hidden or twisted or lied about which were discovered while reading up on the history of religion in general and the Catholic church in particular.
I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for some time. But the push to action came with the news of the incarceration of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, for the alleged rape of a nun. Those who have studied the history of the Catholic church will not be surprised since they know that Franco is a 'sardine' in the criminal sea of ecclesiastical 'sharks'.
Wish you happy reading.
James Joseph
Kottayam.
The first essay 'Faith and Reason, the Perpetual War: Ruminations of a Fool' is by Stewart Shapiro. He starts by quoting Ps 14.1: The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God".
I have borrowed the title of my blog from his essay and acknowledge the same.
My previous blog 'Maani's musings' was a collection of thoughts ranging from my life in Africa to the Knanaya community, to religion, to psychology and to sundry other topics. They were published as articles by my good friend and country-cousin Alex Kaniamparambil in his monthly e-publication Snehasandhesam for about three years. After he stopped the publication, I have been idle, and not done any writing.
More than 'an idle mind becoming a devil's workshop', I am worried about my dying and depleting brain cells since, once dead, they do not regrow. The only way to prevent further depletion is to exercise one's brain cells through intellectual activities. Solving puzzles, working out math problems, reflecting on what you read and critically examining and commenting on them are some such exercises.
There is a difference between 'musing' and 'rumination'. When you 'muse', your thoughts wander like a bee from topic to topic. 'Ruminations' are deep and considered thoughts about a topic or issue. They are more philosophical and involve in-depth critical reflection and analysis.
I was born and raised in a conservative Catholic family. After retirement, I began to read about and reflect on the religious beliefs and value systems ingrained ('brainwashed' would be a more apt term) in me from childhood. In this process, many of them have fallen by the wayside. In my blog, I would like to share with the reader facts that have been hidden or twisted or lied about which were discovered while reading up on the history of religion in general and the Catholic church in particular.
I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for some time. But the push to action came with the news of the incarceration of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, for the alleged rape of a nun. Those who have studied the history of the Catholic church will not be surprised since they know that Franco is a 'sardine' in the criminal sea of ecclesiastical 'sharks'.
Wish you happy reading.
James Joseph
Kottayam.
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