Twenty Years of Rescue
My conversion: a proclamation of the work of God in my life.
Brian Julian
Take Arms Against a Sea of Troubles
Bertrand Russell sees death as a bad thing, which seems right. He also proposes that, despite its inevitability, we can defy death and be free. Does his view make sense, and is it an adequate response to death?
The Undiscover’d Country
Plato views death as a good thing, because his soul will continue to live and he will finally have what he wants most. A Christian may be attracted to Plato’s belief in an afterlife and insistence that we must be virtuous in preparation for it. But is Plato’s view of death one a Christian should embrace?
The Thousand Natural Shocks
The death of a loved one is a major source of suffering, but Epictetus the stoic says we don’t have to suffer when this happens. We need, instead, to gain apathy by recognizing the true nature of the world. Is Epictetus onto something, or is he just stuffing his emotions?
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
Death is something that affects all humans, and this realization often brings fear. Epicurus, however, argues that we do not have to fear death, once we understand what death is. He bases his explanation in science, but is it a good one, and does it relieve fear the way that Epicurus wants?
“You Are Still Only a Rat!”
Ratatouille does not like arbitrary prohibitions, such as sexist rules preventing women from occupations they are suited for. It makes this point, however, by means of discussing identity and the inner voice, and in doing so it makes essence look arbitrary. It is worth asking whether this way of making the point is fair.
“You Are a Child’s Plaything!”
How could there be a morality that lies outside of my inner voice, and how would it relate to my identity? An answer to this question comes from the movie Toy Story, by recognizing that my essence determines both who I am and what I should do.
“You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For!”
In Frozen 2 Elsa hears a voice calling her to follow it. Should we understand this call as something that expands her identity by connecting her with something transcendent, or as something that points her inward and brings out what she already was? By combining both ideas, the movie’s answer is ambiguous.
“I’m Free!”
Elsa’s story in Frozen involves both the expression of what is inside her as well as the harm she brings on others. How do these two threads fit together? The song “Let It Go” encapsulates the ambiguous advice offered by Frozen regarding the question of whether we should listen to our inner voice or to something external.
Fathers and Sons
A few personal reflections on the ways that fathers shape their sons.