Morality, Religion & Philosophy: September 2008 Archives
I'm not sure how this recommendation will come across, but let me state it the way it popped into my head: if you want to sound smart and also discover a new way to approach every aspect of life, read everything you can by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Start with his take on black swans in the financial industry.
As you know, Jessica and I are having a baby in a few months, so we've been thinking about how we're going to invest in our kids' futures. Everyone at work is horrified when I tell them that we're not going to pay for our kids' collage. I know such a stance is evil and unAmerican, but hear me out.
1. People line up to loan money to college students; no one will loan Jessica and I money for our retirement. College loans are cheap, easy money with low interest rates and undemanding repayment schedules.
2. Our kids will probably be sick of my meddling by the time they leave the house.
3. There may be more efficient ways to invest in your kids... ways that most people don't think about but that can make an even bigger difference in their lives. For example, Jessica is planning to be a stay-at-home mom; there's an opportunity cost to that decision, and in the long run it will certainly be more expensive than paying college tuition.
When it comes to launching missiles in the Mommy Wars, Sarah Palin has nothing on Christopher Ruhm. On Thursday, the University of North Carolina, Greenboro, economist published a study showing that kids from high-socioeconomic-status families take a long-term hit when their moms work outside the home—at ages 10 and 11, they perform more poorly on cognitive tests and are also more likely to be overweight than those whose high-status mothers leave the workforce. ... "This comes down to a fundamental principle of economics: something has to give. We can't have it all," he says.
That's right. We think having a stay-at-home mom will be a bigger advantage for our kids than a stack of money would be when they turn 18.
I'm not Catholic, but I'm very please to see that Catholic bishops are holding firm on the matter of abortion and not allowing it to be dismissed as a "private" matter.
The statement from Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop William Lori said Biden, who appeared Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," is the latest case of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy correcting a Catholic politician.Asked on the program about when life begins, Biden said: "Look, I know when it begins for me. It's a personal and private issue. For me, as a Roman Catholic, I am prepared to accept the teachings in my church."
He added that while he believes life begins "at the moment of conception," it would inappropriate to impose that view on others in a pluralistic society.
The bishops said Biden was right to say human life begins at conception. But the church "does not teach this as matter of faith; it acknowledges it as a matter of objective fact," they said.
Abortion is no more a private matter than is any other homicide. Some may be justified by self-defense considerations (which the bishops would probably disagree with), but acting as if protecting a baby is a mere "imposition" of morals is absurd.
I'm going to steal a letter written to Jay Nordlinger with a tale of Christian compassion.
Dear Jay,I have an out-of-wedlock child. Unfortunately, the father of my son did not step up to the plate, as Levi seems to be doing. All but one member of my family were so ashamed of my situation that they ignored me for the entirety of my pregnancy and during the first few months of my son’s life.
I found acceptance and comfort where I never expected it. I’m not a particularly religious person, and at the time I attended a Baptist church only occasionally. But the members of this church took it upon themselves to take care of me. By “taking care of me,” I mean that they had a baby shower, called to check up on me, and, after my son was born, brought meals to my house. Stuff like that.
Not once did I feel I was being judged. I might not have the deep faith that those Christians do and sometimes am puzzled by some of the things they say they believe — but I become deeply uncomfortable any time I hear Christian-bashing. With them, there was (as you said) no shame, agony, or hiding under the couch.
Had to grab the letter, because, hey, I'm a Baptist! And yes, we do believe in right and wrong, but in my experience we throw a lot fewer stones than the Left does.
