I collect ridiculous sophistries from politicians and public figures, a hobby that entertains both myself and my friends and benefits readers. I'm especially fond of those pieces in my collection that come from people whom the press enjoy describing as "public intellectuals". I was riffling through the files today looking for the following for a colleague and thought I'd share.
It's one of my favourites.
“Our conviction about what is natural or right should not inhibit the role of science in discovering the truth,”Prime Minister Tony Blair responding to critics of Britain’s plan to clone human embryos for research.
I picked up another doozy this afternoon from Mr. Warner:
"If the Bible is very clear - as I think it is - that a heterosexual indulging in homosexual activity for the sake of variety and gratification is not following the will of God, does that automatically say that that is the only sort of homosexual activity there could ever be?"Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Isn't it lovely?
I'm especially fond of these ones. They leave you breathless and momentarily stunned with the beauty of their inner contradictions and uniquely brazen deceitfulness. They are, in their way, works of great rhetorical art.
6 comments:
Ah yes -- Dr. Rowan Williams, Archdruid of Canterbury. The gift that just keeps on giving...
There was a time, back when I was entering the Episcopal Church, that I thought there was something to this notion of Episcopalianism (and Anglicanism in general) as a "thinking person's" religion. Of course, since I have pretensions of being some sort of intellectual, I found this attractive.
I've since been disabused of this notion.
peace,
Have you given Catholicism a go? It wouldn't hurt to find out it's what you have been looking for.
Zach, you exasperating piker!
For Pete sake. I'm beginning to think you cling to this nonsense just to annoy me.
Hilary,
Not at all. I cling to this nonsense (my "weird religious obstinacy", as you so delightfully put it) for various personal (and likely culpable) reasons, which I never discuss in blogs.
Annoying you is just a fun side-effect.
peace,
Zach
P.S.: Have you seen a doctor yet about that kidney?
Hilary Jane Margaret:
I'm brand new to your blog, having stumbled upon it only last night.
You're brilliant! and you've suddenly become a part of my very short daily "must-read" list.
God bless you! And keep spitting fire!
Tadhg
I'm gratified to see that you know how to use an apostrophe.
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