Why Bother? - The Musical | Catholic and Loving it!

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

Why Bother? - The Musical

Blogged by James Preece on 10th June 2008

Alas no, there is no musical. I lied to make the title sound more exciting. But it is true that Fr Massie said my last 'Why Bother?' was too long and boring. So... here's the short version.

Things don't just happen for no reason.

You know, stuff doesn't just magically appear in the sky Monty Python stylee. Trains are caused by a whole team of engineers and designers who are in turn caused by the sort of behaviour you can't describe on a family blog by their parents who were in turn caused by their parents etc etc until you have fish on a planet caused by a primeval ooze or something. The planet came from rocks that were just floating around... or, perhaps they came from dust... which came from... um... here's an idea. Everything just popped in the existence out of nowhere with a big bang.

Somehow, somewhere, something happened for no reason.

Things have no choice.

Electrons follow the laws of physics. Magnetic field says go left, they go left. Magnetic field says go right, they go right. Stick them in a copper wire and push them around. They move around. Create a complex system of copper wires and push them around. They move around. They don't "think". They have no choice. They do what they do. Except in the case of James Preece. James can choose. He has free will. I know because I am him and I say so.

Some things have a choice.

Things are not right or wrong, they just are.

There is no physical property called 'morality'. You can't measure it. It isn't there. Only it is.

Some things are right and wrong.

Happy now?

Reader Comments

Mark said...

I think the first version was perfectly okay, better than the synopsis here. I suppose you could have divided it up into smaller parts.

James said...

Well Fr Massie said the first version was too long... and you wouldn't disagree with a priest would you?

Graham said...

Say what you like about my intelligence but I didn't read the last one, it was too long for my flick between blogs.

Thanks for the 'for dummies' version.

James said...

That's a good point... when I flick between blogs I only read short blog entries and headers... oh, and look at pictures.

I should learn from that, or something...

Mark said...

Your intelligence smells. :)

(emoticon only provided because only people I know can be expected to tell that I'm joking)

James said...

Well I don't like your face!

Mark said...

Does this mean that you don't understand the thread history on your own blog?

At any rate, my face can deal with that. I like my face; I put food in it and it gets digested, there's holes in it for me to breathe through, it has eyes for seeing, a nose for smelling, ears for hearing, and if you put beer in it, it makes Monica make a disapproving face and noises.

I have a wicked face.

James said...

Yeah I understand the thread history... I realise of course that you were insulting Graham's intelligence and that your so called emoticon was simply a thinly disguised ruse to avoid accusations of unkindness.

You digest food in your face?

Mark said...

"I put food in it and it gets digested". I retract nothing.

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.