Sounds like you know Gael pretty well. I only had him that one semester, back in spring 1978. He made a strong impression on me, one that I still keep in mind, especially now that I have students of my own (though not art students; I changed my major to creative writing when I went back in 1992). I remember Ron coming into Coogan’s when I was a waitress there in the 70s. He used to play pool with dear, sweetly departed Wally Dryer. I’ve always admired artists, though I admit I don’t understand them. I’m more of a word person, and their mysticism perplexes me. It’s like they know something I don’t know or something I do know but can’t verbalize.

Nancy J

But it’s not that one should ’seek validation’ from a higher moral authority. The way I’ve come to understand it: You’re right – God is not human, nor even comprehensible, but what He has done, whether in Heavenly genius or divine indifference is create the Laws of Nature.

I think these laws of nature, ie math, from which derives physics and all others, also apply in the moral and spiritual realm. Before we understood science, the workings of natural phenomena were explained through superstition and appeals to gods. Similarly, because we are ignorant of ‘laws’ beyond our understanding, people seek to explain and find them through the same methods. What was once superstition eventually becomes science and knowledge.

It still doesn’t mean that, regardless of our understanding, there are ’spiritual and moral’ laws that we can either be in or out of accordance with, set by God, who has no obligation to interact or validate at all – beyond cause and effect of course.

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Since God’s word is law – to know the sum of natural law is to know… and be God.

I think that we as humans have a natural inclination to figure out how things work – I’d say someone who is truly interested in anything, will find Beauty in that thing when it is done well. Whether it’s Art, a novel piece of mathematics, a well-tuned engine, or nature itself.

Personally – I think there is an absolute morality, just as there are laws of physics – but we can NEVER hope to fully understand it, and can certainly never claim to DEFINE it, because of course… we are not God.

ps: not saying this to be critical of your post – it’s just that these are the questions that make me think and wonder – so I thought I’d take the opportunity to reply. Thanks for your post.

I’ve noticed that you haven’t posted on your blog in ages! Why have you stopped writing? Did you just get bored, or was it too much work? Is your blog dead for good, or are you going to continue to write? Please let me know .

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