Today's LA Times' Calendar section featured a review of a new book on Mark Twain by Tim Rutten, in which he makes an observation that has put me into pondering mode:Twain, though an unbeliever, was one of the first American cultural observers to intuit that the country's great propblem was not religion per se, but a surfeit of religiosity.
As I ponder more, I may have a few more thoughts about light that this distinction may shed on the dialogue (or better, the rant-and-rage-filled lack thereof) that characterizes our religious / political / social interactions these days.
It should be obvious I like the word "ponder" (see some translations, e.g., KJV, of Luke 2:19). If you check what the online Merriam-Webster has to say about it, it should also be obvious why.
The more I read Tim Rutten, the more I'm grateful that the LA Times seems to value him. I haven't seen such perceptive wisdom (not to mention courage) there since the great Paul Conrad retired.
Meanwhile, enjoy the following post.
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