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Francis Schaeffer on the Origins of Relativism in the Church

Words to Remember

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

From Scott Gold's The Shameless Carnivore

This is from the prologue. Emphasis is mine:
I love meat. I always have. You could plunk me down on the therapy couch and have the shrewdest analyst drill into my memories like a deranged Texas oilman, and I doubt he'd uncover a single time in my life when I haven't delighted at the thought of a perfectly grilled filet, a slab of ribs, or even just a good old-fashioned hot dog. For years, I've harbored this passion like some sort of dirty secret. It didn't keep me from enjoying the occasional half-pound hamburger or barbeque brisket platter, but these days, if you're looking to make a good impression, you'd be safer ordering a salad than a fourteen-ounce T-bone. Sadly, I can count on one hand my friends who regularly patronize a butcher shop. (Can you name the butcher shop nearest your home?) And no, the meat section at your local McGroceryStore doesn't count. I'm talking about an honest-to-God butcher shop, the kind of place that proudly displays slaughtered animal carcasses in the front window, where you can ask for hearts and blood and entrails and they'll answer you, straight-faced, with "What kind and how much?"

I don't get it: where at one point in American history a vegetarian would have been branded as a godless communist and advised to return forthwith to the CCCP, abstaining from the consumption of animal flesh these days is largely viewed as an enlightened life decision, even though it's not what most of us do. And to make things worse, we have to deal with the admonishments of anemic, skeletal celebrities who try to pass off the notion that it's perfectly okay to subsist on a diet of cigarettes, croutons, and energy drinks while pumping botulism toxin into their faces, so long as we don't eat the defenseless animals. I'm loath to criticize anyone for limiting their diet because of sincere religious convictions--I'm Jewish, after all, though my love for pork products, cheeseburgers, and shellfish will forever trump my fidelity to the laws of kashrut--but it must be said:

The defenseless animals taste really, really good.
Amen, and Amen...
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1 comment:

  1. KatOctober 4, 2009 at 4:41 AM

    Add in a third "Amen" from me! After all, I had some tasty lamb (and I assume it was formerly a cute and fluffy one) for diner last night. Mmmmmmm! Yummy!

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