The serious and sometimes satirical reflections of a priest, poet, and pilgrim — who knowing he has not obtained the goal, presses on in a Godward direction.
February 15, 2010
Thought for 02.15.10
The most important prooftext is the one that describes the strength of the whisky.
Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG, with fond reflection on the wisdom of A E Houseman: Malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to Man.
I suppose it should not be a surprise that many have linked drink to the sacred. It often is present when 2 or 3 (or more) are gathered. It is potable when even water is not. And if the divine transcends our intellect, it seems only natural that mind altering substances be involved in some way in our experience of the divine.
"The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour. Sobriety diminishes, discriminates and says no; drunkenness expands, unites, and says yes. It is in fact the great exciter of the Yes function in man. It brings its votary from the chill periphery of things to the radiant core. It makes him for the moment one with truth."
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Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI suppose it should not be a surprise that many have linked drink to the sacred. It often is present when 2 or 3 (or more) are gathered. It is potable when even water is not. And if the divine transcends our intellect, it seems only natural that mind altering substances be involved in some way in our experience of the divine.
Thanks, Grant. I've often heard that when two or three are gathered you will often find a fifth... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of William James here:
ReplyDelete"The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour. Sobriety diminishes, discriminates and says no; drunkenness expands, unites, and says yes. It is in fact the great exciter of the Yes function in man. It brings its votary from the chill periphery of things to the radiant core. It makes him for the moment one with truth."
The way I heard it was wherever there are four Episcopalians, there's a fifth!
ReplyDelete;-)
ReplyDeleteYeah, but some of transcended our minds right into the hospital until we dried out! God is the malt, and God is in the strength of some to forgo it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Tobias! Hold that thought as you journey to England.
ReplyDelete