I bet you’ve never thought of this simile before, but believe me it’s a keeper. Every spring pet owners shave their shaggy dogs in preparation for the hot summer ahead. They do so with the best of intentions under the assumption that this will help their dogs cool down. It is understandable why they would […]
tradition
Squeezing David Hume’s big toe (and other ironic ways to honor the naive skeptical tradition)
As you probably know, the idea of “tradition” has not received great press in the modern age. In particular the appeal to a grand tradition as the legitimation (or partial legitimation) for a specific knowledge discourse is categorically rejected as naive and question-begging. Undoubtedly one of the most pivotal quotes expressing this skepticism comes from […]
The letter Dawkins wrote, and the letter Jerry Rivard would like to think Dawkins wrote
Jerry offered some interesting comments in response to my recent critique of Dawkins. They were well formulated and deserve to be pulled up on stage to perform a couple numbers with the band. “So come on up Jerry’s comments!” (Randal extends his hand and helps the nervous comments up on stage.) Jerry’s comments begin: “Sometimes, when […]
An illustration for the wisdom of conservatism (theological and otherwise)
Eight years ago we moved to Edmonton, Alberta. A month or so after we arrived I noticed a strange piece of wood on the floor with a shiny black veneer. “What the heck is that?” I thought to myself. And I set it aside, thinking I would soon discover from where it had come and thus where it […]
The Always Prayer Shawl: A Reflection on Living Tradition
When my daughter was younger I bought her hundreds of books. The vast majority were forgettable tripe tied in to product lines like “Thomas the Tank Engine”, “Dora the Explorer” and “Caillou”. Almost all of those early books are long gone, having been donated or discarded without a second thought. But a precious few were treasures […]
