An idea to start the day

[havenne]

Sunday mornings I sit at the computer and read the Times.  I really like not getting cheap ink all over my fingers but I do have my limits to how much reading I can stand sitting in an office setting instead of a comfy chair.  Anyway, on to the idea:

One of the columns in the times Sunday Magazine is an interview.  Today's is with Ian McEwan, about

Comments

[drachenfang]

I personally strive for the life without regret and find the concept of 'atonement' to be tiresome. It's not a matter of doing something you feel is 'good' because you want to make up for something you did that you feel is 'bad'; it's a matter of doing that 'good' thing first all of the time because it is the right thing to do. Guilt is for those who feel shame so it should be avoided by avoiding doing things you will be ashamed of. And if you botch it all and screw up then there's no reason to cry about it. learn and move on. Why even drag diety into the debate?

[havenne]

Why bring the gods and goddesses into the moral debate - good question. The original quote does presume a certain interest on the part of deity in the minutae of human interaction, as if we can't decide things for ourselves. Maybe some people need paternalism in their gods. Maybe there is just so much self-direction some people can stand.

[dragonmyass]

Perhaps he came from a Catholic background, hence the having a god to confess your sins to and be absolved of them. Other Christian religions don't have such a thing. However, I know that since I started on the Pagan path I have become more responsible with my actions/inactions because I know that while my Goddesses/Gods may forgive my misdoings, I'm going to have to pay the price for it somewhere. The law of 3 - what you put out comes back to you 3 fold.