Re: half-Catholic?

From: David Alan Beck (dabeck@IUPUI.EDU)
Date: Sat Aug 18 2001 - 22:25:54 EDT


Jim wrote:
> comments. Also I apologize to you for any of my earlier remarks that
you
> found hurtful or offensive. I knew I was speaking maliously out of
> anger, I regret doing so and I apologize.

No apology necessary (at least on my part). Hey, that's part of being on a
listserv. I know I've gone off many times (especially on our faculty
listserv) and regretted it later. One thing that I've noticed in
cyberworld: even (perhaps especially) guiet, introverted types like myself
can feel free to "let it out" in emails, saying things that I probably
wouldn't have said face-to-face (or at least I would have worded things
differently--less caustically). Unfortunately, we miss that "body
language" and the "face of the other"--in Levinas's terms. (It's just too
easy to whip off an email and hit the ol' send command.)

The language and interactions of cyberspace I think would have been of
great interest to Percy, but I have no great insights. All I know is that,
while never offended, I accept your apology, knowing that I've been there
and probably will be there again. So don't sweat it.

Peace,

David Beck

On Sat, 18 Aug 2001, James L Piat wrote:

> Dear Patrick,
>
> Enjoyed your comments. As to my identity as a half Jew and half Catholic
> maybe you're right that half assed is a better description on both
> counts. Mostly I was trying to be open about my biases. But I speak only
> for myself and claim no authority beyond that. Are you saying it's OK
> with you if I'm a half assed Catholic or even a lapsed Catholic but I
> can't be part Catholic and part Jew? You may be right. I'm not an
> expert. I've always, perhaps quite wrongly, thought of all Catholics
> (in fact all Christians) as partly Jewish. But I certainly don't speak
> with any authority and I'm not about to get into the business of telling
> another person who or what they are. And I'll leave matters of religious
> authority to the religious leaders. In any case I enjoyed your
> comments. Also I apologize to you for any of my earlier remarks that you
> found hurtful or offensive. I knew I was speaking maliously out of
> anger, I regret doing so and I apologize.
>
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Piat
>
>

David Beck

"The only true joy on earth is to escape from the
prison of our false self, and enter by love into union
with the Life Who dwells and sings within the essence of
every creature and in the core of our own souls."

                                -Thomas Merton



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