The Fruits of the Spirit are Empirically Given Some prefatory remarks to a critique of Christian life

The latest over at the Substack. Do check it out and let me know what you think!
substack-proxy.glitch.me/articles/tho...

Well, after years of struggle and trying to find my way, I have at least found a partner for mylife's way—a blessing not everyone is given. Here's to many and prosperous years together! Please pray for us.

Thank you!

Corpses Rotting and Spiders Spinning On surfaces and inwardness; or, a very brief essay on life

The latest over at A Fitting Room for Thoughts (my Substack), which tries a bit to get at the difference between life and non-life—something especially important to get at as we think about how AI may help or hinder our flourishing as *living* beings: thoughtfittingroom.substack.com/p/corpses-ro...

And yet, they are mostly all ensconced in their respective beurocracies enjoying their sumptuaries and living protected from the righteous wrath of the laity for their abuses while the sheep themselves get mauled by the meat grinder that is the contemporary world.

I don't see how it is NOT eminently reasonable to think of the hierarchy as the butlers, stable boys, cooks, and maids of the Church. Fo this is *precisely* wherein the glory of the higher *as higher* is found—as per Christ's example. Of course, this is decidedly *not* how the whole has developed...

“Neither the sacraments nor the hierarchic shape of the church are decoys and displays for the world; they are, rather, in their significance turned inward. One might almost say [that] they are the arcana of the church… The sacraments and the hierarchy are means.”

Balthasar

Religion, Truth, and the Limits of Judgment A long-form sketch of some issues

Oh yeah, hey, all! I keep forgetting that people are here and that this place doesn't censor Substack links! Anyway, new piece over at the 'Stack. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

Gracias, amigo!

A good, intense, and engaging 10 days with my fiancee coming to an end—but looking forward to a long, full, and loving future.

Honestly, starting a local coffee house/book store, an alternative to bars where people can come and have quiet conversations and read and find new books, even play chess and Reversi and listen to lectures and such, would be rad and hot; not sure how to get funding to make that happen, though.

Those mimics, man.

It's one of several reasons I'd be inclined not to get a dog (although they can obviously be great companions). Dog owners apparently get Lyme disease at significantly higher rates than the general population.

What about ticks? Does she ever come back with ticks?

Yes. A good way of putting it.

Another piece now up over at the Substack, this one a follow-up to my last piece on memory and understanding. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

LOL, yeah.

I hate autocorrect.

She knew, too, that in spite of his official duties, which swallowed up almost the whole of his time, he considered it his duty to keep up with everything of note that appeared in the intellectual world. She knew, too, that he was really interested in books dealing with politics, philosophy, and theology, that art was utterly foreign to his nature; but, in spite of this, or rather, in consequence of it, Alexey Alexandrovitch never passed over anything in the world of art, but made it his duty to read everything. She knew that in politics, in philosophy, in theology, Alexey Alexandrovitch often had doubts, and made investigations; but on questions of art and poetry, and, above all, of music, of which he was totally devoid of understanding, he had the most distinct and decided opinions

Lotta folks suffer from this ailment

UGH!!!! I meant to write "Mmmmmm"! Goddammit.

Mommy, yes.

I liked that book, Lie with Me. It's better than hs _In the Absence of Men_, I think. Do you know about Sumru's _Other Names for Love_? That is another good gay novel.

I feel like one of the beauties of this place is that everything can remain small, and that's alright because a) it IS alright and b) because everyone is alright with that.

There we go! Boyfriend hunting sounds rad.

Book gay! What are you reading? And, what do you like to read? I'm currently working through Hollinghurst's new novel _Our Evenings_, as well as Anne Carson's _Glass, Irony, and God_.

Man, it is *SO* nice to know I can just post Substack links on here and not expect those posts to be downgraded or hidden.

Memory and Understanding A reflection

A thing I just wrote over at my Substack: thoughtfittingroom.substack.com/p/memory-and...

An inverse insight, I am told, is really only nameable once you have a larger explanatory context. Which is annoying. I need a salvific horizon to even know that sin cannot be understood?? What do you mean I need to know more to know what I can’t know, how dare you,,,

Now I just need to find a gaybor in New York who jives with me, and I him. Preferably, he'll be short and Catholic, or at least religious of some kind but, like me, seriously trying to figure things out.