One of the recurring themes of my posts here (the most recent is Someone Is Pulling The Strings Again) is my thoughts on the applicability of the “Red Thread of Fate” – East Asian folklore that is specifically about the way in which we are “bound” to our soulmate, but which I see as a useful metaphor for the way in which we are “connected” to each other in a multitude of ways (perhaps there out to be more colours to denote the ‘nature’ of the connection! We could then have a rainbow world – in whatever dimension that thread resides!!!)
Faith
On Morality
When it comes to “right” or “wrong” it seems that, increasingly, there is a continuum from one extreme to the other and little agreement as to where in that long line any particular thing resides. Even the most heinous of acts can – from some perspectives – have some aspect of ‘good’ about them. Equally – something done with the best of intentions can be portrayed as evil – if the ‘wrong’ slant is put on it.
Memories Of The Future
Now, another facet of the mystery of memories comes from what was the kids story on Sunday Morning. Here the children were asked to imagine where they might be, or wanted to be, in ten years time. A variation on “what do you want to be when you grow up”.
Memories
I expect that if I checked back every single post in this blog has been triggered by something quite specific – even if the posts themselves are only referring obliquely to that trigger. This post is certainly no exception. Anyone who has read the other posts will realise that the way we ‘see’ the world is something that is important in my own personal weltanschauung and that is, at least partially – perhaps fully – shaped by our memories and experiences.
Is Your Life Mapped Out? Unravelling the Mystery of Destiny vs Free Will
An author (and fellow Scot) that I hadn’t come across before – seems like his mindset and worldview may well be extremely similar to mine!
Invulnerability
In the 18th Century Benjamin Franklin famously said that “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” – many of us go through much of our life paying much attention to taxes, but paying scant attention to death.
The Science Delusion
Been trying to decide which Sheldrake book to read next – saw some good videos that led me to this one. Haven’t read much of it so far, but it seems to be more to my taste than the previous book of his that I read.
Having got to the end, this is a marvellous book – it will enter my own personal Hall of Fame – that is for sure. Do I believe everything he writes? I don’t know. Do I understand everything? Almost certainly not. However, the idea that Science should be treated as fallible in, in my view, perfectly reasonable. There is no good reason why there should be special rules to protect Science.
I will, once I have digested the book, post something in the main blog.
Jonah’s Journey
Given that Terence and I once started to write an opera together, the least I could do was read his book.
Being Wrong
This book almost perfectly matches my own world view – now, perhaps that is simply an instance of one of the dangers warned against in the book – confirmation bias – but I would like to think that it is more than that.
The Great Partnership
This book by the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, is one of the most compelling on the subject of science and religion that I have read in a long time.