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Keith Devens .com

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Daily link icon Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Great quote from Den Beste

Steven Den Beste: Sophisticated, Nuanced Moral Cowardice

There comes a time in every man's life when he has to choose sides. I have chosen my side. I am comfortable with my decision. I do not think everyone on my side is a saint, but I know that those on the other side are much, much worse.

Sometimes a man with too broad a perspective reveals himself as having no real perspective at all. A man who tries too hard to see every side may be a man who is trying to avoid choosing any side. A man who tries too hard to seek a deeper truth may be trying to hide from the truth he already knows.

That is not a sign of intellectual sophistication and "great thinking". It is a demonstration of moral degeneracy and cowardice.

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Comments XML gif

Martijn wrote:

On the one hand I agree with him, but on the other hand I think it is a bit too one-sided.

∴ Martijn | 19-May-2004 2:57am est | #4602

Mark (http://www.simps.co.uk) wrote:

But to you this is justification for staying blinkered from the truth. People with open minds are not completely undecided on moral issues. That is a trashy statement. Actually my own experience is different - those on that side are far worse than those on the other side. Why - I don't know. In Stevens' case I would say comfortable is bad. Never give up and accept comfort - strive for the truth 'coz that's what's gonna set you free mate. Not sleep inducing brain washing.

∴ Mark | 19-May-2004 6:49pm est | http://www.simps.co.uk | #4617

Keith (http://keithdevens.com/) wrote:

"blinkered from the truth"? "sleep inducing brain washing"?

Keith | 19-May-2004 7:34pm est | http://keithdevens.com/ | #4621

Mark (http://www.simps.co.uk) wrote:

Yes Smiley

∴ Mark | 19-May-2004 7:35pm est | http://www.simps.co.uk | #4622

Keith (http://keithdevens.com/) wrote:

Actually my own experience is different - those on that side are far worse than those on the other side.

I'm going to assume you didn't read Den Beste's full post and simply assumed he was talking about something like "left vs. right" or "liberal vs. conservative" or "American vs. European". Because what he was talking about were the terrorists and Islamic fascists that we're fighting. If you think that we're "far worse" than they are, then that's the type of moral degeneracy that Mr. Den Beste was writing about. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that's not what you meant. What were you talking about?

People with open minds are not completely undecided on moral issues. That is a trashy statement.

Did you mean to say that people with open minds are not completely decided on moral issues?

Keith | 19-May-2004 7:42pm est | http://keithdevens.com/ | #4623

Mark (http://www.simps.co.uk) wrote:

Sorry - to explain ... "blinkered from the truth": I believe that Christians have a narrow perspective on life. Don't you agree? Christians can only accept a certain way of looking at things that fits thier pre-defined outlook, set out repetitively at least once a week, according to acceptable standards of duty, in what could loosly be termed "brain washing".

That may not sit easily with you. After all, it's a negative take on something you hold dear. My manner is crude, but I believe what I say and I don't say it without consideration. I'm just striking a balance - this is the real world, and your statement to me is unbalanced, which is why I felt drawn to redress it.

∴ Mark | 19-May-2004 7:50pm est | http://www.simps.co.uk | #4624

Keith (http://keithdevens.com/) wrote:

You're aware that Den Beste is an atheist, correct?

Keith | 19-May-2004 7:54pm est | http://keithdevens.com/ | #4625

Mark (http://www.simps.co.uk) wrote:

OK I'm sorry - I got the totally wrong end of the stick here. I didn't read the full article linked to - I had the link open with several others marked to read - and whilst I found it mildly amusing and a bit long winded, didn't realise that it was the link from this post.

Why do I feel the need to post like this to your blog? Sorry for any offense caused. Must be something trying to get out! Apologies again. I do enjoy your blog really!

∴ Mark | 19-May-2004 7:59pm est | http://www.simps.co.uk | #4626

Mark (http://www.simps.co.uk) wrote:

But it read well as a christian justification don't you think Smiley winking

∴ Mark | 19-May-2004 8:00pm est | http://www.simps.co.uk | #4627

andursonne wrote:

Yeah, sure, because anyone who supports Bush and the war must of course be a religious zealot. Moron.

The person with the closed mind has clearly identified himself.

∴ andursonne | 20-May-2004 3:39am est | #4633

Alan Green (http://cardboard.nu) wrote:

Mark,

I'm a Christian, and I disagree with the proposition that it was "correct" for US (and the UK, and Australia) to invade Iraq.

My wife and I get brain-washed twice a week. I send my children for extra brain-washing, and yet I still hold a very different view on this from my brother Christian, Keith. Amazing, huh?

To say that "Christians have a narrow perspective" is as silly and insulting as saying "Englishmen don't bathe."

∴ Alan Green | 20-May-2004 9:12pm est | http://cardboard.nu | #4644

Jim (http://captainsql.blogspot.com) wrote:

Mark seems to be quite bigoted against Christians. I would also assume because of his anit-war sentiments that he is similarly bigoted against Jews. I would further postulate that he is probably indifferent toward Muslim violence against Hindus.

It seems that if the above is true he is close minded toward a large percentage of humanity.

∴ Jim | 22-May-2004 3:08pm est | http://captainsql.blogspot.com | #4650

Mark wrote:

Commenting on the quite disgusting comments left after my departure.

Ok - lets take my statement as it is, without reference to anything else, as it quite clearly doesn't relate...

IT IS a grave mistake, I believe, common to Christians, that they assume greater moral sensibilities than thier non Christian counterparts. This is a flawed standpoint, and is in my experience, way off from reality.

Alan: Christians DO have a narrow perspective. If you deny that then you deny that you have any concept of following a faith at all. Get over it.

Jim: You are one twisted individual. I am open minded about christians is all, that doesn't make me pro attrocities - caused in a so called lawfull manner by super powers or so called terrorism caused by much less powerful adversaries.

∴ Mark | 17-Dec-2006 10:53am est | #9863

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