The Dream of Scipio

I'm reading Ian Pears' The Dream of Scipio, a complex novel about a fifth century pagan bishop, a fourteenth century poet, and a twentieth century scholar, all obsessed with beauty and how to preserve civilization against the forces that would destroy it: "Civilization needs to be nurtured, cosseted, and protected from those who would damage it.... It needs constant attention," says the twentieth century historian.

Pears is a historian who can write - although the book is complex with neoplatonism, not at all dialog or action driven, it's still a compelling read.

It's Sunday, so Sullivan's thoughts are on God

Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Dish has three nice links today on the god gene:

• the first, on how apes might see cause and effect, and could therefore be a whisper away from attributing unknown effects to a unseen, god force;


• a lovely podcast of Sullivan in conversation with Bob Wright, a conversation that ranges across Buddha, weeds, Philo of Alexandria, and what the true goal of religion should be - to break down the walls behttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftween each of us individually to where we see we are all one - part of the body of Christ, as Sullivan says;


• a good paragraph on abortion;


• a link to an article on how development increases religousity;


• and a link to an essay about how of course the earliest examples of human art would be obsessed with sex. And anyone who doesn't think that art and sex have to do with religion... hmm.

Sunset to the East

Behind the wall of dusty Russian Olive trees at the eastern edge of the yard, the sky is lit up with a mauve fading to salmon light. To the east. The world is full of magic, is it not? And now, just in the time it took to write this, it's turned to a pearly lapis lazuli, edged with amethyst.