Tuesday, February 07, 2006

On Atheists and The Good - Pascal

"Atheists.—What reason have they for saying that we cannot rise from the dead? What is more difficult, to be born or to rise again; that what has never been should be, or that what has been should be again? Is it more difficult to come into existence than to return to it? Habit makes the one appear easy to us; want of habit makes the other impossible. A popular way of thinking!".

xxxxx

Speaking on "that man without faith cannot know the true good, nor justice" He says...

"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
And yet after such a great number of years, no one without faith has reached the point to which all continually look."

xxxxx

"Our instinct makes us feel that we must seek our happiness outside ourselves. Our passions impel us outside, even when no objects present themselves to excite them. External objects tempt us of themselves, and call to us, even when we are not thinking of them. And thus philosophers have said in vain, “Retire within yourselves, you will find your good there.” We do not believe them, and those who believe them are the most empty and the most foolish.

Stoics say, “Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest.” And that is not true.
Others say, “Go out of yourselves; seek happiness in amusement.” And this is not true. Illness comes. Happiness is neither without us nor within us. It is in God, both without us and within us."

Blaise pascal - Thoughts

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3 Comments:

At Tuesday, February 07, 2006 4:49:00 PM, Blogger Gordon said...

Profound thoughts, to be sure. It is true that our nature seeks to find happiness through self-fulfillment. I'm glad that I found God's joy as opposed to my happiness.

 
At Tuesday, February 07, 2006 5:30:00 PM, Blogger Correy said...

Habit makes the one appear easy to us; want of habit makes the other impossible.

Very good argument for can a man be raised from the dead.

 
At Wednesday, February 08, 2006 10:13:00 AM, Blogger Jada's Gigi said...

Amen to both thoughts...the Atheists comments...yes, which is harder??
As for the "happiness" question "that man without faith cannot know the true good, nor justice"
None is good but the Father, so it stands to reason that all goodness must be found in Him

 

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