Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / How Philosophy Is About Meaning, Not Comfort

How Philosophy Is About Meaning, Not Comfort

How Philosophy Is About Meaning, Not Comfort

The reason that theology is often only there for emergencies is the same fundamental reason that philosophy is only worried about in times of both suffering and hedonism.

It has nothing to do with a person’s relative level of pleasure or pain. It’s about meaning and purpose – not comfort.

Understand: Purposelessness is found in both extreme pain and pleasure.

Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We ‘have all we want’ is a terrible saying when ‘all’ does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St Augustine says somewhere, ‘God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full—there’s nowhere for Him to put it.’ Or as a friend of mine said, ‘We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; its there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.’

-C.S. Lewis, The Problem Of Pain (Amazon)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Philosophy, #Religion

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Notifications of all new posts by email.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
  • Where I Sit 24
    Where I Sit 24
  • Where I Sit 25
    Where I Sit 25
  • Economics 101: Rosy Scenario Policy
    Economics 101: Rosy Scenario Policy
  • Instabooks 345
    Instabooks 345
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
  • Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
    Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
  • The Massive Power Of Visual Persuasion
    The Massive Power Of Visual Persuasion
  • My Notes On, Kitchen Confidential, By: Anthony Bourdain
    My Notes On, Kitchen Confidential, By: Anthony Bourdain

Supporting = Loving

Buy Me a Coffee

Recent Posts

  • Where I Sit 25
  • Where Did I Set My iPhone
  • Where I Sit 24
  • Cold And Limp And All Of The
  • Random Thoughts – 375
  • King Of Love, By: I Am They
  • The Point Of Learning
  • Instabooks 371
  • A Dopamine Hit Just One
  • Random Thoughts – 374
  • A Leaders Necessary Exposure To Risk
  • The Compulsion To Read
  • Instabooks 370
  • With Tea Looking Out Of That
  • Random Thoughts – 373
  • Stayed Up All Night
  • Missed Internet Mania
  • Tenderloin, San Francisco
  • And That All This Is A Pause
  • Random Thoughts – 372
  • 100 Things That Made My Year – 2022
  • On Selling Popcorn
  • Instabooks 369
  • Solemn Week With My Parents
  • Random Thoughts – 371

Copyright © 2023 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in