THE MIDDLE POSITION

In my previous submission to this newslet-
ter, I argued that only the two extremes of
absolute purity and total depravity can be
defended with any integrity. It was pointed
out to ine by someone that there is a good
argument for the middle position because
that is where we all live. I readily agree
that we live in the middle if, in fact, we
can assign any meaning to such an idea.

For the person who accepts the concepts of
absolute purity and total depravity, a posi-
tion in the middle is indeed possible. When
he falls short of absolute purity, as he
will inevitably do, he finds himself in need
of forgiveness. Or he may consciously
choose to go in the opposite direction. His
position can be compared to that of a point
on a line between two extremes and having a
real sense of the difference between the two
directions that he can go.

The moral position of the person who does
not accept the above concepts is more like
that of an arrow (vector) in space. This
arrow is not pointed to any particular tar-
get, but merely “is". Thus the words "abso-
lute purity" and "total depravity" no longer
have any meaning. They are merely 7]lusions
of those persons who attempt to define the
direction they are headed.

When fully understood, this concept is dif-
ficult to maintain. The person who denies
aboslutes may find himself believing that
slavery is 'wrong' under any circumstances.
but that is clearly nonsense. If I ama
slave owner all I have to do is say "hurrah
for slavery", to paraphrase the words of one
particular moral critic. Thus shouts of
"hurrah for disarmament", "hurrah for mur-
der", “hurrah for abortion", “hurrah for
severance pay", "hurrah for restraint", are
not statements about right or wrong but mere-
ly statements about the individuals direc-
tion in space,

The moment I make statements like "According
to my moral code you should not do such and
such", I am losing sight of my presupposi-
tions and attempting to establish a point on

 

 

a line between absolute purity and total

MAD HATTER PAGE 4

depravity. To make a mathematical analogy
ijt is meaningless to speak of a sum of
vectors (arrows) being points on a line.

Al Harms

|

 

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE
CHRISTMAS CLOSURE

The Learning Resource Centre will be
closed between Christmas and New Years.

If you have any concerns or require spec-

ial arrangements, please call Virginia
Chisholm for clarification, local 2122.

Thank you.

 

UNCLAIMED MATERIAL

I am finding that a lot of papers, envel-
opes, and circulars are finding there way

down to my desk. Many of these lack prop-
er identification as to their origin.

To avoid having them eventually thrown in

the garbage, please leave a note with
your name and local, in order that they

may be returned to the sender should they
not be picked up in a few days.

Please help us to help you to avoid any
unnecessary disposal of any literature

that is dropped off at the Security Desk.

Thank you.

Lucille Keim
Security Supervisor

|
|

 

 

 

FOR SALE

17 cu. ft. two door, frost free fridge

Good working order
Colour - white
$100.00

(cont'd)