How Do We Better Things?

No one can expect to, by his will alone, effect social change in a group. Each man's will is not the will of any other individual; and so, no one has ultimate power over the direction of a group. It is important at the outset to realize that this is how things are. In order to have any hope of positive change, we must understand what we can change for the better.

But neither can a man expect to effect change in his own will. For how can a will will what it will not? It is a contradiction. Thus, neither our own will nor the will of our neighbor can we change.

What then are we to do? The good news: not everything is will. As conscious persons, we have much in our world that we have to work with besides "self-improvement". In that world, we have a lot to pay attention to. It seems that by paying attention to what we see as good now, leads to the development of good in the future. Conversely, refusing to enjoy the good, we refuse the only thing that will bring happiness to us.

Thus, our attitude toward affecting change should be one of gratitude towards the good we now experience. It is one that cultivates what we have, and it does not seek to go beyond and do things it cannot. We can't give ourselves new material to work with, we have to do with what we've been given. And so we should do what we can: "do whatever our hand finds to do."

New Project: The State of Christianity

It has been said, by Charles Williams, I believe, that Christianity always seems to be dying, but somehow it keeps coming back with ever new vigor. Today, the idea of its dying, is at the forefront of my mind. To encourage it to either die faithfully or live wholesomely, is a task that not only may help others who find the situation bewildering: but also will help me understand too.

Among the concerns of mine are
- the church's organization in the current political climate
- our understanding of theology after the scientific revolution
- christianity's teachings to young men and women after the sexual revolution

A major focus of this blog will be to analyze the state of Christianity throughout the world and then (perhaps) to give my take on what it could do to improve. In this way, I realize that I will be criticizing many who are better than me; that I am a drop in an endless sea of opinion; and that (hence) the only chance of good work is by great personal growth and by divine blessing.

But it is to be an honest attempt, and if it helps me and others understand our current situation and what to do about it just a little better, then it is worth it.

New Project: Programming in Everyday Life

Currently, I'm reading The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. It makes the following claim:

Educators, generals, dieticians, psychologists, and parents program. Armies, students, and some societies are programmed. An assault on large problems employs a succession of programs, most of which spring into existence en route. These programs are rife with issues that appear to be particular to the problem at hand. To appreciate programming as an intellectual activity in its own right you must turn to computer programming; you must read and write computer programs--many of them. 

The authors turn from our encounter with these patterns in everyday life to the theoretical study of these patterns in computer science. I'm going to reverse the movement they're making here. I'll note down their theoretical considerations, then I'll suggest practical conclusions we may draw from programs.