Monthly Archives: July 2004

sshhh

When sitting in a church service, there are two options for taking out mints, cough drops, and the like. One is the long, drawn-out, gradual removing of the wrapper which makes noise for thirty seconds or so on and off, all in the hopes of not disturbing others. The second is to do the immediate unwrap of the entire candy and suffer the much shorter but potentially louder noise. I believe the shorter path is better than the longer; for though you try to avoid attention the long way, you end up being even more annoying.

shin splints

I decided to try to run this week to get in shape. So I ran twice and now I have shin splints so bad I can hardly walk. I had to call in to work today because all I can do is limp around. Does anyone know how long it takes to get over shin splints? I’ve never had them before.

Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality: I am studying Islamic eschatology and came across this commentary from their point of view:

In the Tradition (hadith) it is reported that Jesus will come down over a mountain pass in the Holy Land called Afiq, and in his hand he will carry a spear with which he will kill the Antichrist (daijal). He will then go to Jerusalem (bait al-muqaddas) just when the inhabitants are performing the morning prayer. The prayer leader (imam) will want to step back (in view of Jesus’ appearance), but Jesus will give precedence to him and perform the prayer behind him according to the rite (shari’a) of Muhammad. Then he will kill the swine, dash to pieces the crucifix, demolish the churches and synagogues, and kill the Christians who do not have (correct) belief in him.”

The Future in the Past

Reading old outlooks on what was then the future can be amusing. Check this out from “The Illustrated World History” edited by Sir John Hammerton and published in 1937:

“Now, in the second third of the twentieth century, there are grave signs that the modern world order is to be superseded by other institutions and ideals. Capitalism has all but broken down. Nationalism threatens the collective suicide of mankind. Representative government, parties and democracy are being forced to retire before the onslaughts of Fascism and the growth of dictatorships. Imperialism is curbed by the shortage of capital for export, the collapse of foreign credit, and the exhaustion of virgin areas for investment and the export of capital. Our technology for production has far outrun the mass purchasing power of man necessary to utilize this increased volume of products. City life produces new strains and stresses and leads to a great increase in mental and nervous instability…”

Kurzweil

I just picked up “The Age of Spiritual Machines” by Ray Kurzweil at the library. Has anyone ever read it? I saw it mentioned by people in the Matrix and now in I, Robot so I thought I’d check it out.

talking to ourselves

I’m tired of Christians writing books to other Christians. Warnings about this or that (Islam comes to mind recently), apologetics, etc. Look at the flood of books on the New Age that came out in the 80’s, and the countless apologetic books about how to reach some religion or the other. Does any of it do any good? Usually the people who buy these books are Christians who want to read theology all the time and probably will never witness to a Muslim or if they do wouldn’t need the help of a book to do it anyway. So it seems that most of the books being put out are for consumption by Christians and will never impact anyone outside the church at all. I have heard the same thing said of the writings of some of the church fathers—that the pagans never read them but only other Christians did. It all seems like a waste of time (I’m not knocking the church fathers mind you).