Biologists say life begins at fertilization

Biologists' Consensus on 'When Life Begins'

22 Pages Posted: 6 Aug 2018

Steven Andrew Jacobs

University of Chicago - Department of Comparative Human Development; Northwestern Prizker School of Law

Date Written: July 25, 2018

Abstract

Many Americans disagree on ‘When does a human’s life begin?’ because the question is subject to interpretive ambiguity arising from Hume’s is-ought problem. There are two distinct interpretations of the question: descriptive (i.e., ‘When is a fetus classified as a human?’) and normative (i.e., ‘When ought a fetus be worthy of ethical and legal consideration?’). To determine if one view is more prevalent today, 2,899 American adults were surveyed and asked to select the group most qualified to answer the question of when a human’s life begins. The majority selected biologists (81%), which suggested Americans primarily hold a descriptive view. Indeed, the majority justified their selection by describing biologists as objective scientists that can use their biological expertise to determine when a human's life begins. Academic biologists were recruited to participate in a study on their descriptive view of when life begins. A sample of 5,502 biologists from 1,058 academic institutions assessed statements representing the biological view ‘a human’s life begins at fertilization’. This view was used because previous polls and surveys suggest many Americans and medical experts hold this view. Each of the three statements representing that view was affirmed by a consensus of biologists (75-91%). The participants were separated into 60 groups and each statement was affirmed by a consensus of each group, including biologists that identified as very pro-choice (69-90%), very pro-life (92-97%), very liberal (70-91%), very conservative (94-96%), strong Democrats (74-91%), and strong Republicans (89-94%). Overall, 95% of all biologists affirmed the biological view that a human's life begins at fertilization (5212 out of 5502). Historically, the descriptive view on when life begins has dictated the normative view that drives America's abortion laws: (1) abortion was illegal at ‘quickening’ under 18th century common law, (2) abortion was illegal at ‘conception’ in state laws from the late 1800’s to the mid-1900’s, and (3) abortion is currently legal before ‘viability’ due to 20th century U.S. Supreme Court cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. While this article’s findings suggest a fetus is biologically classified as a human at fertilization, this descriptive view does not entail the normative view that fetuses deserve legal consideration throughout pregnancy. Contemporary ethical and legal concepts that motivate reproductive rights might cause Americans to disregard the descriptive view or disentangle it from the normative view. However, these findings can help Americans move past the factual dispute on when life begins and focus on the operative question of when a fetus deserves legal consideration.

Keywords: human development, when life begins, abortion, scientific consensus, survey of Americans, survey of biologists, MTurk

Suggested Citation:

Jacobs, Steven and Jacobs, Steven, Biologists' Consensus on 'When Life Begins' (July 25, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3211703 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3211703

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3211703

Pax et bonum

A Little Screwtape on Social Media

On social media - a swamp I advise others to tread in cautiously - I've seen repeated debates over certain Catholic issues.

Usually, they are started by one side in the debates.

There are those who hate Pope Francis no matter what he says or does.

There are those who contend the only valid way to celebrate Mass is the Traditional Latin Mass.

There are those say only traditional hymns played on organ or sung by choirs are proper for Mass.

Tired of the endless stream of criticism - again, largely from one side - I posted:

All the squabbles over TLM vs. NO, contemporary (guitar) music vs. traditional organ hymns, Pope Francis vs. "Pope X" deemed more "orthodox," I think of The Screwtape Letters. C.S. Lewis uses Screwtape to point out that the devil uses such squabbles to help undermine faith.

I added two quotations from Screwtape:

“Provided that any of those neighbors sing out of tune or have boots that squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous.”

“Surely you know that if a man can’t be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighborhood looking for the church that “suits” him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches.”

The response was as if I stepped on a wasp nest.

Oh, there were those who agreed with me - but even more who attacked not only me and my position, but Novus Ordo and Vatican II in general.

So many claimed that with NO the liturgical abuses are the norm, not the exception.

I pointed out that I regularly attend NO Masses that are reverent and liturgically correct.

One person suggested that I must attend a "magical unicorn parish."

Sigh.

I know that the TLM folks have a beef because of some recent statements and guidelines out of the Vatican. Though I think a few brought it on the whole because of the way they talk and act - as some of the responses to my postings show.

I know that most TLM folks - especially the ones I know - are faithful, devout people who don't run around pontificating with chips on their shoulders.

As a musician, I know a lot of contemporary music is flawed. But there are also some wonderful new hymns out there - including some played on guitars. And I've been to churches where traditional hymns are played on an organ - and it sounds as if I'm at a circus. Musicianship is important!

I engage in debates with pro-choicers on a regular basis. To be honest, I find those debates less painful than these liturgical/Church ones. The pro-choicers are like the kid down the street who calls you a name. It may bother you - but not as much as when a relative or someone you considered a friend calls you the same thing.

The Church is universal, and I think we need to accept that as long as people are following the rubrics, various forms are worship are equally valid, so we need to be careful how and when we criticize. If something is being done incorrectly, speak up. otherwise, we need to accept that we are not all the same.

There are more important spiritual issues that need our attention than what language one uses or what musical instrument one plays.

As Screwtape notes, when we do this we play into his hands:

“The game is to have them all running about with fire extinguishers when there is a flood, and all crowding to that side of the boat, which is already nearly gunwale under.”

Pax et bonum

Life begins at conception

Life begins at conception

https://www.lifemattersww.org/Need-Help/Questions-about-abortion/When-Does-Life-Begin

Pax et bonum

Blessed Luke Belludi

Blessed Luke Belludi Story

In 1220, Saint Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked to receive the habit of the followers of Saint Francis. Anthony liked the talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him to Francis, who then received him into the Franciscan Order.

Luke, then only 20, was to be Anthony’s companion in his travels and in his preaching, tending to him in his last days and taking Anthony’s place upon his death. He was appointed guardian of the Friars Minor in the city of Padua. In 1239, the city fell into the hands of its enemies. Nobles were put to death, the mayor and council were banished, the great university of Padua gradually closed and the church dedicated to Saint Anthony was left unfinished. Luke himself was expelled from the city but secretly returned.

At night he and the new guardian would visit the tomb of Saint Anthony in the unfinished shrine to pray for his help. One night a voice came from the tomb assuring them that the city would soon be delivered from its evil tyrant.

After the fulfillment of the prophetic message, Luke was elected provincial minister and furthered the completion of the great basilica in honor of Anthony, his teacher. He founded many convents of the order and had, as Anthony, the gift of miracles. Upon his death he was laid to rest in the basilica that he had helped finish and has had a continual veneration up to the present time.

From Franciscan Media

Pax et bonum

Send in the Social Workers!

Pax et bonum

Elder John Strong Clerihew

The Puritan Elder John Strong

strove to avoid doing anything wrong.

His 18 children just might

suggest he certainly did one thing right.

Pax et bonum

Ice Cream! (Another Biden Clerihew)

Former Vice President Joe Biden

watches Ukraine, the border, inflation, and his poll numbers slidin'.

With so much at stake

it's time for an ice cream break. 

Pax et bonum

Novena for Life - February 20-28

Novena for Life In preparation for the Spring 2022 40 Days for Life Campaign 

Day 1 – February 20 Prayer of personal commitment Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, and never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

Day 2 – February 21 For our nation God Our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to you loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will and your will is to always choose life. Lord, we pray that our nation repents of the millions of lives lost to abortion and we pray for your mercy for according to your word: “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ) (partially from defendlife.org) 

Day 3 – February 22 For elected officials Heavenly Father, we pray for our elected officials. As you revealed in your Word, “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom 13:1). Help them to realize that their authority comes from you and they have a solemn duty to uphold justice for all and to protect the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn. Give them an appreciation for the Natural Law, the law that you established, and which is written in every person’s heart. We pray for those who are blinded by political power or allegiance to a political party, that the scales are removed from their eyes that they may be motivated by the common good rather than their personal gain. We pray most of all that they recognize the dignity of every unborn child and that they deserve to be protected as much as any other human being. We thank you for those elected officials who are fighting for the right to life of every unborn child. Give them courage and strength to continue the fight and support and encouragement from those they represent. Amen. 

Day 4 – February 23 Prayer for our courts and judges Lord God, we thank you today for the gift of our nation. You alone rule the world with justice. Yet you place in our hands the solemn duty of participating in the shaping of our government. We pray today for our President and Senators who have the responsibility of placing judges on our courts. Please protect this process from all obstruction. Please send us men and women of wisdom, who respect Your law of Life. Please send us judges with humility, who seek Your truth and not their own opinions. Lord, give all of us the courage we need to do what is right and to serve you, the Judge of all, with fidelity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

Day 5 – February 24 For the Church Lord Jesus Christ, you established your Church to be a light unto the world and promised that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. Yet we see the forces of evil working both externally and from within the Church to diminish its light. Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit inspire each member of the Church to ask themselves if they could be doing more for the cause of life and to spur them to greater prayer and action on behalf of the unborn. Raise up powerful witnesses to the Gospel of Life within the Church so that our culture may be transformed and that someday abortion will be considered unthinkable. Amen. 

Day 6 – February 25 For clergy Lord, we thank you for our clergy and the sacrifices that they make to minister to those in their congregations. We know the pressures on them are many, not the least of which is the desire to be liked by the people entrusted to their spiritual care. Lord, we pray that they may have the courage to speak the truth about the unpopular topic of abortion. May their love of their people and concern for their souls outweigh their fear of controversy. We pray especially for our bishops who are faced with so many distractions, that they realize the urgency and priority that must be placed on protecting the unborn who are sacrificed by the thousands every day in our country by the horror of abortion. May your Holy Spirit make them strong heralds of the Gospel of Life to their flocks in both word and example so that the church may be awakened and become a powerful force in building a Culture of Life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Day 7 – February 26 Prayer for pregnancy centers Lord, we thank You for Your grace in allowing pregnancy centers to operate in our area. We beg Your blessings upon all supporters of these centers, upon all who help in any way, and especially upon all those who come to the centers for help. We ask You to influence these women to choose life for their babies. We ask you to enlighten the counselors on how to individually help and advise each woman who comes to these centers. Lord, we trust You with our lives and with the lives of our family members. We put into Your hands all those who come to these centers looking for help. May Your holy will be forever done and may all we do give You glory. Amen. 

Day 8 – February 27 Prayer for the 40 DFL Campaign Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this 40 Days for Life Campaign according to Your will. We pray that people from this community may be inspired to come to the vigil site as prayerful witnesses to the Gospel of Life. We pray that people will be inspired to engage in sacrificial fasting so that demonic forces of death may be driven from our community. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, amen. 

Day 9 – February 28 Prayer to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Eternal God, You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life. We praise You for the Fatherly care which You extend to all creation, and especially to us, made in Your image and likeness. Father, extend Your hand of protection to those threatened by abortion, and save them from its destructive power. Give Your strength to all fathers, that they may never give in to the fears that may tempt them to facilitate abortions. Lord Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life of every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth of every child, a birth that reflects the joy of your own birth in Bethlehem. As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now send your protection upon every child still in the womb and grant to their mothers the strength and joy that comes from welcoming the gift of life. Come Holy Spirit, Creator of all things...You who breathed over the waters at the dawn of creation and brought forth all living beings --Come! Come and breathe on our world again, immersed as it is in the Culture of Death! Come, O Lord and Giver of Life! Defeat the works of death in our midst, that abortion may no longer stain our land. We know that no matter how strong the forces of death may be, we can still find in You the endless source of life. Renew that life in each of us and make us worthy apostles of the Culture of Life in our day! Amen.

Pax et bonum

Oh Joe ...

Former Vice President Joe Biden
watches Ukraine, the border, inflation, and his poll numbers slidin'.
With so much at stake
it's time for an ice cream break.

Former Vice President Joe Biden

often causes listeners' eyes to widen.

His most recent verbal fail

was his cringe-worthy dead dog tall tale.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has aides loudly play the Farewell Symphony of Haydn whenever reporters threaten to ask a tough question.

Older ones - 

Former Vice President Joe Biden
caused some Royal eyes to widen. 

His press people sighed, for from the start, 

they've been battling accusations he's just an old fart.

Former Vice President Joe Biden
is content to let gender definitions widen.
He has himself long used the trick
of identifying as a devout Roman Catholic.

The installation of Joe Biden 

was greeted with laughter from Sauron. 

Meanwhile, they giggled at Planned Parenthood, 

"Our financial prospects are looking good!"

The eyes of former Vice President Biden
suddenly began to widen.
"Wait, you mean now that they say I've won,
people actually expect me to get something done???"

Former Vice President Joe Biden
avoids mention of the works of John Dryden.
He fears voters thinking "it is all a cheat."
and claims that certain "people favor this deceit."

Pax et bonum

Closer To That Clerihew Book

I've begun to sort my clerihews for the book I'd like to publish. There are a lot of weaker, more topical, more political ones that I'm not including - they don't really have the gentle, whimsical spirit true clerihews should have. Even still, I have some 70 clerihews I can use.

iIalso tried to do some research, seeking out books of clerihews. I have Bentley's. But when I checked the library and even the book store most of the books are not available.

Academic Graffiti by W.H. Auden and Brief Candles : 101 Clerihews by Taylor, Henry are in the stacks in the main branch of the library. But The Call of the Clerihews edited by George Szirtes and Andy Jackson, The Clerihews of Paul Horgan and The Lost Clerihews of Paul Ingram are not available at the library or for ordering through my local bookstore. I might be able to find them online  - but I'm hesitant to deal with Amazon, and about ordering from publishers that require Paypal or online credit card ordering.

I'll keep looking for other clerihew wrtiers (such at Craig Brown of Great Britain.

Meanwhile, i'll be doing revising and ordering of my own clerihews, and looking for a publisher. I will likely have to self publish. 

Pax et bonum

Ooops

In my quest to read all of Shakespeare's plays, I started reading As You Like It. I looked at the characters' names, and thought, some of these sound really familiar. Then I started reading, and realized that I had indeed read this one before - years ago.

So take that one of the "to read" list.

I'm now down to seven plays still to read: 

The Merry Wives of Windsor
All’s Well That Ends Well
Measure for Measure
Coriolanus
Timon of Athens
Pericles
The Two Noble Kinsmen

My goal is still to read them before the end of the year. I may finish them all by this summer.

Pax et bonum

Human Trafficking Awareness Event

For the second year in a row, Deacon Mike Kristan (above) organized an event at Sacred Heart Cathedral to bring attention to the issue of Human Trafficking. This year, it was a presentation February 5 by the Rochester chapter of Angels of Mercy, an organization dedicated to women and girls in need. 

In a meeting room, the speakers offered a slide show and a video, and detailed some terrible statistics regarding human trafficking, noting that forced labor and sexual exploitation are growing problems, including in the Rochester area. Indeed, the slide show included headlines about recent local arrests.

Locally, human trafficking victims are not only those who are exploited sexually, they are often found in such industries as hospitality, food service, and agriculture. The predators also seek out vulnerable youth to coerce them into sex work.

After the presentation, the gathered people, including representatives of The Glory of the Most High and Immaculate Heart of Mary fraternities, went up to the Cathedral to say the Stations of the Cross for Victims of Human Trafficking.

The Angels also distributed a prayer from the Sisters of Charity about human trafficking:

O Lord,

No woman chooses

to be exploited.

No child chooses

to be abused.

Help us be the rescuers –

shining Your divine light

into the darkest corners

of our world;

giving hope to victims

of human trafficking;

speaking out to defend

their dignity;

ending this crime

against humanity.

Emboldened by the

Charity of Christ,

we raise our voices in prayer,

faithful that one day

through our efforts,

every child will be free

to fulfill their destiny.

Amen.

For more information about Angels of Mercy, go to www.angelsofmercyny.org

Pax et bonum

Saint Paul Miki and Companions

Saint Paul Miki and Companions

Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers, and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans, and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church.

Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862.

Pax et bonum

Enter the Dagon Trailer

(Yes, I'm in this trailer!)

Mass Intentions

One of the things I decided to do this year is for each day I regularly go to Mass  - Sunday to Friday - I will have special intentions for which I pray.

The intentions:

Sunday: Deceased members of my and Nancy's immediate families who were part of my life - Grandma Strong, Nana Baxter, mom, dad, my brother John, Uncle Jack, Nancy's father and mother, and Nancy's brother Nick

Monday: Children in other lands whom I have sponsored over the years - Abdi, Siady, and Kent

Tuesday: Members of my Franciscan Fraternity and their families who are facing problems or illness

Wednesday: My daughters 

Thursday: My own spiritual and physical healing and growth, and for the strength to deal with sinfulness in my own life

Friday: All my friends who have fallen away from the Church or who are members of other denominations or religions that they will come home or convert.

 

When friends in life and online ask for prayers I also include them as I go along - sometimes at Masses, sometimes with my Rosaries, or even just by pausing whatever I'm doing to say a prayer.

As for me, I always need the prayers of others.

Pax et bonum

Today's goal ...

Pax et bonum

Saint Francis on Respect for Clergy

From the Admonitions of Saint Francis of Assisi: 

26. Let Servants of God Honor the Clergy

Blessed is the servant who has faith in the clergy who live uprightly according to the rite of the Roman Church.

Woe to those who look down upon them; for even though they be sinners, no one should judge them because the Lord alone reserves judgment on them to Himself. For just as their ministry is greater in its concerns for the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which they receive and they alone administer to others,  so those who sin against them commit more of a sin than [if they sinned] against all other persons in this world.

Pax et bonum

Saint Colette

Saint Colette

Colette did not seek the limelight, but in doing God’s will she certainly attracted a lot of attention. Colette was born in Corbie, France. At 21, she began to follow the Third Order Rule and became an anchoress, a woman walled into a room whose only opening was a window into a church.

After four years of prayer and penance in this cell, she left it. With the approval and encouragement of the pope, she joined the Poor Clares and reintroduced the primitive Rule of St. Clare in the 17 monasteries she established. Her sisters were known for their poverty—they rejected any fixed income—and for their perpetual fast. Colette’s reform movement spread to other countries and is still thriving today. Colette was canonized in 1807.

- From Franciscan Media

Pax et bonum

In the park (Cinquain)

In the

park the statues

eaten by pollution,

beauty marred like souls decayed by

evil.

Pax et bonum

A Christian Mt. Rushmore

The Founding Fathers of Christian imagination - G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, and C.S. Lewis. (Thanks to the Babylon Bee)

Pax et bonum

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

In my quest to read all of Shakespeare's plays, I just finished The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

It's another early play, a comedy, and certainly better than the ultra violent last play I read, Titus Andronicus.

It had its moments, though the ending really stretched credulity. One character had become a robber chief. Another character betrayed his betrothed, betrayed his best friend, and attempted to rape his best friend's beloved. And yet, in the final scene, the robber is pardoned, and the betrayer/attempted rapist suddenly says he's sorry, and all is immediately forgiven and a couple of weddings planned.

Hmm.

Nine plays to go in my quest.

Pax et bonum

Saint Joseph of Leonissa

Saint Joseph of Leonissa

Joseph was born at Leonissa in the Kingdom of Naples. As a boy and as a student in early adulthood, Joseph drew attention for his energy and virtue. Offered a nobleman’s daughter in marriage, Joseph refused and joined the Capuchins in his hometown in 1573 instead. Avoiding the safe compromises by which people sometimes undercut the gospel, Joseph denied himself hearty meals and comfortable quarters as he prepared for ordination and a life of preaching.

In 1587, he went to Constantinople to take care of the Christian galley slaves working under Turkish masters. Imprisoned for this work, he was warned not to resume it on his release. He did and was again imprisoned and then condemned to death. Miraculously freed, he returned to Italy where he preached to the poor and reconciled feuding families as well as warring cities which had been at odds for years. He was canonized in 1745.

- From Franciscan Media 

Pax et bonum

Oliver Twist

One of my mini reading goals is to read all of Charles Dickens's novels. I haven't set a date to do so; last year I just said I'd read one in 2021, which I did with The Pickwick Papers. If I limit myself to a similar goal in 2022 I've already met it with the reading of Oliver Twist.

I liked Oliver Twist. I had a vague notion what it was about from some clips of the movie versions I'd seen over the years, but I did not know the full story.

It had the usual colorful characters typical of Dickens, - plus the satirical criticism of some social institutions.

It was not a perfect book. In the first two thirds or so of the novel Oliver faces repeated physical and spiritual dangers. We cared what would happen to him. But in the last third or so of the book he is safe and protected, almost as if Dickens didn't have the heart to put him in danger again. That threw the focus of the book off a bit. The character who faces physical and spiritual dangers in this part of the book is Nancy. Indeed, you begin to care more about what happens to her than to Oliver! 

The ending is a bit too pat - all the threads are suddenly tied together in a way that doesn't seem quite believable

Finally, there is Fagin. I did not know he was Jewish./Dickens makes use of the offensive stereotype of the evil Jew, and keeps referring to him as the Jew. It was a bit off-putting. I understand that anti-Semitism was typical of the English at that time, but it made me uncomfortable.

Despite those flaws, I did enjoy the book. 

Pax et bonum

Tears in Rain

St. Thomas Aquinas reportedly had some sort of mystical experience that led him to stop writing his uncompleted Summa Theologica. When asked why he had stopped , he reportedly said, “I can write no more. I have seen things that make my writings like straw.”

I am not a brilliant writer or theologian, but I sometimes think the same notion applies to what I read. I have a thirst to read; I have set goals. I am perhaps wiser and richer because of all I read. But at some point, I will die, and all that I have read, all that knowledge, will be so much straw.

I am reminded of the scene in the movie Blade Runner when the replicant Roy Batty reflects on what will be lost when he dies.

“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”

When I die, the works of Shakespeare and Dickens and Frost and so many other great writers will remain waiting for readers, but the fires they kindled in my mind will be gone. 

The only way for me to leave more than tears in rain is for me  to share what I have learned in some way. I did that as a teacher, and I can do so as I write in this blog and on social media. And I can turn some of those ideas into essays/stories/poems of my own. I would be nice to know that something I've written will be read long after I'm dead.

I'm hoping not all of it will be lost, and not just be tears in rain.

Pax et bonum

Unvaccinated! Unvaccinated!

Pax et bonum

Failed Haiku (three of mine published)

Failed Haiku (Volume 7, Issue 74 - February 2022) features science fiction and horror haiku. Three of my were published!

watching as the clone

learns to ride a bicycle - 

sense of déjà vu 

mirror with a painting

of a pretty girl’s face - 

vampire teen’s birthday 

trying to recall 

the species at the cantina – 

pregnancy test 

Pax et bonum

Unmasked! Unmasked!

Pax et bonum