Tag Archives: faith

Was It A Morning Like This?

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

There is one place that is central to our human story: Jerusalem. In about 2000 BC, Abram (to become Abraham) was instructed by God to leave Ur (south-east Iraq today) and go to the promised land, the holy land. He … Continue reading →

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Philosophy and Math

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

So I’ve been reading some physics lately. Physics is sort of a marriage between philosophy and mathematics. Philosophy, which quickly descends into random opinions; and math which is the language of the universe, but like all languages it tries to … Continue reading →

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The Penalty of Existence

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

I often think of a conversation I had early on in my time in the field. I was talking to a peasant, in a village somewhere in the third world. A morning greeting really, “Hi there, Juan, how are you … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My Opinions about the Opinions of a few about the Opinions of Others (AKA: Philosophy)

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

There’s nothing perhaps worse than the random opinions of those whose lives were not well-lived. Except, perhaps, opinions of others – mostly unknown – about the opinions of those whose lives were not well lived. Except I’m gonna try and … Continue reading →

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We Help Those In Our Path

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

As I continue reflecting on 25 years in the trenches, as I start to dredge up the past, old memories start floating to the top like decaying chunks of wood from an ancient wreckage I disturbed. I think, often in … Continue reading →

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From “The Cross and the Machine”

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

Somebody I correspond with sent me this remarkable article. I was going to try to write about it, but I can’t find the words. So I leave it with you, hoping you’ll take a few minutes — like I did … Continue reading →

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The Book of Enoch

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

Coming out of the dark ages, the renaissance gave birth to our age of light, a time when we were at last dispelling the ancient animisms of our dark forests. Enlightenment gave us reason; reason that we love and that … Continue reading →

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The Gospel in Primitivist Art

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

At the southern end of Lake Nicaragua (close to Costa Rica) a little archipelago pokes out of the placid waters. It is called Solentiname. Here, in the 1960s a Trappist priest named Ernesto Cardenal arrived from Granada to work with … Continue reading →

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A Speech of Mine on Christian Charity

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

I came across this speech the other day that I delivered to a fundraiser in Chicago a decade ago. Back then I was a Fellow in Human Freedom at the George W. Bush Institute and working as an advisor to … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Liberty | Tagged | 2 Comments

Close My Eyes

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

Listen to this song first: Did it haunt you, like it did me? If so, you may now read on… —— My wife thinks this song is about suicide. But my wife is wrong; though only partly wrong. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberty | Tagged | 3 Comments