Finding Truth in the Oddest Places

"There is a very interesting debate raging at the moment about the nature of sin, for example," said Oats.

"And what do they think? Against it, are they?" said Granny Weatherwax.

"It's not as simple as that. It's not a black and white issue. There are so many shades of gray."

"Nope."

"Pardon?"

"There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That's what sin is.

"It's a lot more complicated than that --"

"No. It ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."

"Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes --"

"But they starts with thinking about people as things ..."

Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett

There is a lot of good, solid common sense in the Discworld universe, as Terry Pratchett fans can attest. Of course, one must sort through a lot of silliness to get there. The silliness that happens around his witches, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax is my favorite sort.

Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred used the above excerpt as a jumping off place to discuss the nature of sin, faith and struggle. There is not a bit of silliness in it. There is, however, plenty of good, solid common sense. Here's a bit but do go read the whole thing.

The religious community must remember that Free Will is just that- free will. We have a choice in how we live our lives- and that is between man and God. Non believers can be as moral or even moral than a flawed believer- and we would do well to remember we are all flawed.

The secular community must remember that they do not replace the religious community. Scientific education and the secular study of ethics and morality do not make for an intellectual aristocracy, to be held in higher esteem than all others. One cannot negate the impact for good the religious community has had upon this nation and world. The value of that good is not demeaned by a relationship with God.

Tags: Catholicism, Christianity