Designed for Sex

Note: During the next several weeks (as with the last few weeks), I will be blogging sporadically due to lack of net access. - Larry

Touchstone magazine has an article titled, Designed for Sex: What We Lose When We Forget What Sex Is For
by J. Budziszewski.

In the article Budziszewski, an authority on natural law, tackles our human nature regarding sexuality. This is not a quick read. Prepare yourself for the hard work of thinking through the issue. But when you are through, whether you agree or not with Budziszewski, you will have a better understanding of the concept of natural law, which, as Budziszewski notes, has been the "main axis of Western ethical thought for 23 centuries". Here is an excerpt.

In the case of every other biological function, only one body is required to do the job. A person can digest food by himself, using no other stomach but his own; he can see by himself, using no other eyes but his own; he can walk by himself, using no other legs but his own; and so on with each of the other powers and their corresponding organs. Each of us can perform every vital function by himself, except one. The single exception is procreation.

If we were speaking of respiration, it would be as though the man had the diaphragm, the woman the lungs, and they had to come together to take a single breath. If we were speaking of circulation, it would be as though the man had the right atrium and ventricle, the woman the left atrium and ventricle, and they had to come together to make a single beat.

Now, it isn’t like that with the respiratory or circulatory powers, but that is precisely how it is with the procreative powers. The union of complementary opposites is the only possible realization of their procreative potential; unless they come together as “one flesh”—as a single organism, though with two personalities—procreation doesn’t occur.

A Label that Sticks

In my June 26 post, Identity as Criteria, I mentioned Paul Scalia's article dealing with people wanting to be identified using the criteria of their sexual orientation rather than their humanity. I promised that if First Things posted the article online that I would provide the link.

A Label that Sticks by Paul Scalia. Enjoy!

The Time That Is Given To Us

The terrorist attack on London should be a reminder to all of us that the War against Terror is actually a World War. We are each involved whether we like it or not. The terrorists are now threatening Denmark and Italy. Most of us had no problem going into Afghanistan. But many question the wisdom of Iraq; that it has no connection with the War on Terror. But the group claiming responsibility connected the action with both Afghanistan and Iraq. If this group is truly responsible, then clearly they see a link that many have questioned.

Dennis Prager made some interesting comments yesterday. We think of the dead. These are people that woke up in the morning, off on their day, expecting to see their families that night. And the injured. These are people who in an instant became brain-damaged, lost their sight and/or hearing. Some will be burned horribly; disfigured so badly they will refuse to go out in public.

They weren't wearing uniforms. They were just normal everyday people going about their lives. But that's the goal of terror. To make people fear living even routine, boring, normal lives.

Prager said that evil arises in each generation. This is true. My grandfather's generation had the Nazis. My father's generation had the Cold War. My generation has the evil of Islamic fascism. We may wish that it is not so but it is.

In the Fellowship of the Rings, Frodo says "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." The ring represents evil.

Gandalf responds:

So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work, Frodo, than the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you also were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought.

There are other forces at work. Our only decision is what we will do with the time that is given to us. Will we fight evil or will we allow it to fester.

Lord will you give Britain the strength to deal with this attack, comfort for the victims and their families, peace to those who would otherwise be filled with fear, and resolve to world to stand against the darkness that would bind us.

This Date in American History - July 6, 1775

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms - July 6, 1775

July 4th is the day that we celebrate this country's Independence from a tyrannical government, which was proclaimed through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But, nearly a year to the day earlier, another Declaration was issued; this to justify the colonists' creation of an army.

"We are reduced to the alternative of chusing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force. -- The latter is our choice. -- We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. -- "

The final draft is the work of John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson. In an ironic twist of history, Dickinson was actually opposed to a separation from Britain. His task was to temper Jefferson's first draft, which was considered to harsh. Dickinson's opposition to Independence led him to abstain from voting on and signing the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Causes text is located at http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/arms.htm

Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings

A comment on my blog entry The Darkened Heart, brought "Interview with Arrested Soulforce Family" to my attention. The interviewer was really excited about his "scoop" on the family that the pro-gay theology organization, Soulforce, placed in the spotlight during their protest of Focus on the Family back on May 1st. The interview turned into a lost opportunity for the him and for his readers. It provided no real information beyond what the news articles had already provided. The interview was just another avenue for the Reitans to emote.

I analyze the interview and include the questions that could have been asked to clarify and to explore the intellectual foundation upon which the Reitan family's arguments supposedly rest.

Independence Day

Today is the 229th anniversary of the founding of these united States.

"Yesterday, the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was nor will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony, 'that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and as such they have, and of Right ought to have, full power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which other States may rightfully do.'" --John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

Regarding Independence Day:

"We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient." --Samuel Adams

Founder Benjamin Rush recalled Independence Day 1776: "Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the House when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress [John Hancock] to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants?" He lamented, on the 35th independence celebration, "scarcely a word was said of the solicitude and labors and fears and sorrows and sleeplessness nights of the men who projected, proposed, defended, and subscribed [signed] the Declaration of Independence." (emphasis added)

The Declaration lays the framework for the break with the throne. It provides in the first paragraph and a half a definition of human rights, what makes them unalienable, and the purpose for government tied to those rights. The document then lists the "abuses and usurpations" by the King. In conclusion, the Founders declared their right to be independent.

As you celebrate this Independence Day, reflect, not just on our liberty, but the basis of that liberty, the vision the Founders were truly putting their lives on the line for, and the men and women through these 229 years who have fought, sacrificed, and died for that vision.

For more information, see these links at the National Archives and Records Administration:

Transcription of the Declaration:
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Main page for the Declaration of Independence, which provides background information, history, high-resolution images:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/declaration/declaration.html

Making of the Charters: "A New World Is AT Hand" exhibit:
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/charters.html