Just out of curiosity, in what sense are you Catholic (heritage, culture, belief)?
Well, legally, I am a Catholic in good standing (I’m baptized, and I’ve never renounced it nor been excommunicated). In my practices, I am largely lapsed, though I value the heritage, the art, the community, and the folkways a lot. As for beliefs, obviously there is a lot that doesn’t stand up to rational scrutiny, though like in any long-standing tradition, many things that may seem irrational or backward are in fact closer to reality than various modern fashionable beliefs. (Clearly, a simple blog comment can’t do justice to this topic.)
What I would point out however is that I often find the North American (presumably Protestant) attitudes in this regard quite alien and strange. What I mean is the tendency to see one’s belonging to a church as an either-or matter, and breaking with it as a grand and dramatic event. Among Catholics, the normal thing to do is simply to adjust the level of your practices and your closeness to the community to whatever you find to your liking. (ETA: Though conversion to a different religion, as opposed to merely neglecting one’s own, would be a big deal.)
As for beliefs, obviously there is a lot that doesn’t stand up to rational scrutiny, though like in any long-standing tradition, many things that may seem irrational or backward are in fact closer to reality than various modern fashionable beliefs. (Clearly, a simple blog comment can’t do justice to this topic.)
I assume you’ve read his blog as well. In that case there are several things I’d recommend. If you haven’t read all of Paul Graham’s essays, you should. There’s also Walter Mead’s essay of what he, rather anachronistically, calls the “Blue Social Model”. He also talks about these ideas in more depth on his blog (along with all kinds of other stuff ETA: mostly on current events).
Also possibly John C Wright’s blog if you’re more interested in religious stuff.
Just out of curiosity, in what sense are you Catholic (heritage, culture, belief)? (No need to answer if you prefer not to.)
Well, legally, I am a Catholic in good standing (I’m baptized, and I’ve never renounced it nor been excommunicated). In my practices, I am largely lapsed, though I value the heritage, the art, the community, and the folkways a lot. As for beliefs, obviously there is a lot that doesn’t stand up to rational scrutiny, though like in any long-standing tradition, many things that may seem irrational or backward are in fact closer to reality than various modern fashionable beliefs. (Clearly, a simple blog comment can’t do justice to this topic.)
What I would point out however is that I often find the North American (presumably Protestant) attitudes in this regard quite alien and strange. What I mean is the tendency to see one’s belonging to a church as an either-or matter, and breaking with it as a grand and dramatic event. Among Catholics, the normal thing to do is simply to adjust the level of your practices and your closeness to the community to whatever you find to your liking. (ETA: Though conversion to a different religion, as opposed to merely neglecting one’s own, would be a big deal.)
I’d recommend Nick Szabo’s essay Objective Versus Intersubjective Truth as a good first explanation of the topic.
Note: The website appears to be down at the moment, Google cache available here.
Yes, I second that recommendation. It’s a magnificently good essay.
Any other recommendations in a vaguely similar vein? (I’ve already read Szabo’s other stuff.)
I can’t think of anything of similar quality right now.
Any other recommendations in a vaguely similar vein? (I’ve already read Szabo’s other stuff.)
Szabo’s website is up as of May 4, 2012.
I assume you’ve read his blog as well. In that case there are several things I’d recommend. If you haven’t read all of Paul Graham’s essays, you should. There’s also Walter Mead’s essay of what he, rather anachronistically, calls the “Blue Social Model”. He also talks about these ideas in more depth on his blog (along with all kinds of other stuff ETA: mostly on current events).
Also possibly John C Wright’s blog if you’re more interested in religious stuff.