Coercion, Freedom, Absolute Truth

So My brother and I were having this conversation with my uncle Dave about religion and the communities they create and the individuals relation to that community. Intermixed in this discussion were philosophical questions about positivism and objectivism. Basically we were trying to understand our views on what degree the religious individual is free to make decisions independent of communal pressure and coercion. My uncle felt that one is really not free unless he is completely free of those communal considerations. What I realize now is that there is a fundamental difference of what freedom means. He might define it as being free from outside influences in order to make an independent decision based on your own intellect. I think that that is a valuable thing. However, I believe freedom is actually having the knowledge necessary to make the right decision. This might underline another major difference; that being our views on whether or not absolute truth exists or whether each individuals reality is just as good. Interesting questions.

La Vertu d'Acceptation Totale

"Certes, la souffrance d'un enfant etait humiliante pour l'esprit et le coeur. Mais c'est pourquoi il fallait y entrer. Mais c'est pourquoi, et Paneloux assura son auditoire que ce qu'il allait dire n'etait pas facile a dire, il fallait la vouloir parce que Dieu la voulait. Ainsi seulement le chretien n'epargnerait rien et, toutes issues fermees, irait au fond du choix essentiel. Il chosirait de tout croire pour ne pas etre reduit a tout nier. Et comme les braves femmes qui, dans les eglises en ce moment, ayant appris que les bubons qui se formaient etaient la voie naturelle par ou le corps rejetait son enfection, disaient: "Mon Dieu, donnez-lui des bubons", le chretien saurait s'abandonner a la volonte divine, meme incomprehensible. On ne pouvait dire: "cela je le comprends; mais ceci est inacceptable", il fallait sauter au coeur de cet inacceptable qui nous etait offert, justement pour que nous fissions notre choix. La souffrance des enfants etait notre pain amer, mais sans ce pain, notre ame perirait de sa faim spirituelle."(Paneloux en La Peste par Albert Camus, p. 248)

This reasoning by the priest in the The Plague that we must choose to accept completely the way of God despite difficulties in understanding why bad things happen for seemingly no reason is enlightening for me. I do not know exactly what Camus is trying to get across--if he is actually trying to discredit this reasoning--but it seems clear to me that we cannot pick and choose what we will believe in depending on our preferences. That would negate the good which comes only on the condition of complete submission. I do not mean that we must submit to what others believe is the correct way but what we know is right.

L'ignorance

"Le mal qui est dans le monde vient presque toujours de l'ignorance, et la bonne volonté peut faire autant de dégâts que la méchanceté, si elle n'est pas éclairée. Les hommes sont plutôt bons que mauvais, et en vérité ce n'est pas la question. Mais ils ignorent plus ou moins, et c'est ce qu'on appelle vertu ou vice, le vice le plus désespérant, étant celui de l'ignorance qui croit tout savoir et qui s'autorise alors à tuer. L'âme du meurtrier est aveugle et il n'y a pas de vraie bonté ni de bel amour sans toute la clairvoyance possible."(La Peste, Albert Camus pg. 151)

This quote speaks for itself. Ignorance is the greatest vice.

La Misère

"Mais le moindre prêtre de campagne qui administre ses paroissiens et qui a entendu la respiration d'un mourant pense comme moi. Il soignerait la misère avant de vouloir en démontrer l'excellence."(Rieux en La Peste par Albert Camus)

In this quote we have Rieux who is disagreeing with a priest who has given a sermon on how the plague which has come to their city is a punishment from God and can push the populace to repentance. Rieux who is a mild atheist reasons in this quote that one must first "treat misery before wanting to show its excellence." I believe this and should take care to follow such counsel. It does not change the fact, however, that "all these things shall give (us) experience and be for (our) good."

Friendship

"Delicious is a just and firm encounter of two, in a thought, in a feeling. How beautiful, on their approach to the beating heart, the steps and forms of the gifted and the true! The moment we indulge our affections, the earth is metamorphosed: there is no winter and no night: all tragedies, all ennuis vanish--all duties even: nothing fills the proceeding eternity but the forms all radiant of beloved persons. Let the soul be assured that somewhere in the universe it should be rejoined its friend, and it would be content and cheerful alone for a thousand years."(Ralph Waldo Emerson, Friendship)

Le Père Goriot

"Moi et la vie, nous sommes comme un jeune homme et sa fiançée." Le Père Goriot in Honoré de Balzac's Le Père Goriot.

What an attitude with which to approach each day of life! An enthusiasm, a feeling of good will and of boundless hope, and a love for life which characterizes newlyweds would surely be worthy sentiments to retain everyday.