(revised on Medium) On the house left behind by a travelling God (series: notes to myself)
There are some famous parables in the New Testament in which people travel, arrive, go away, or come back (for example, Matthew 25:1-13 on the ten virgins; Luke 15:11-32 on the prodigal son). But I have one in mind that has puzzled me for a long time: Matthew 25:14-15 (on the talents), about the man, probably representing God, who is “going on a journey” (ἀποδημῶν) and “comes back after a long time” (πολὺν χρόνον). The word ἀποδημῶν means “about to go on a journey”, and it is the same word used in another parable, when God goes away, again (Matthew 21:33-46). In both cases, he leaves the house for reasons that are not provided. Why does he have to go? Can he not stay? It seems that more pressing business calls him elsewhere. Something or someone is more important than us, who live in the house. An emergency? Or perhaps just a test? Maybe he just wants to see what the mice do when the cat is away. Whatever the motives, there is a journey, a time before and after his presence, and t...
Did you actually read what you linked to?
ReplyDeleteIts final statement is: "I believe the book to be an important work of ontology."
Yea, sure sounds like he is dimissing it and suggesting you read something else.
Yes, I did read it. And no, unfortunately, a phrase out of context makes no difference. Anyone who reads Kurzweil's review will realise that it is not positive and that there are better and far more important work of ontology to read. My suggestion is to start with Kant.
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