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Entry: Hitchens' Hubris Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/hitchens_hubris#2713 Post contents: No offense, Jim, but it seems to me that your critique of Father Kolbe as selfish for wanting to see the face of God, no matter what the cost, is rather like observing that a child as selfish for yearning to see his father. IMO only a very skewed sort of philosophy would have a problem with that, or fail to see that the child's desire is inherently natural and *good*. A child that behaves well because he has come up with some abstract system of morality, on the other hand, is in need of serious help. This whole idea of "disinterested" goodness is an exercise in pride -- how would a man's wife react, for example, if she found out her husband treated her kindly not because he finds any joy through her but simply out of a bloodless sense of cold, abstract duty? You could also accuse a man of being of "selfish" for not doing something perverse, because after all he doesn't want him*self* to turn into a degraded monster. In short, if a man is concerned about preserving the integrity of his identity, preserving his soul from corruption, you could I suppose identify him as "selfish". Ultimately men rather have to be "selfish", don't they -- since we are after all incarnated as *selves*? Part of the problem is recognizing that the "reward of Heaven" is not of the same kind as a promotion at work, getting a $10,000 dollar prize in a competition, or eating a chocolate bon-bon. The difference is not just one of degree but of kind; Heaven is not a country-club. The "prize" is Goodness, Justice, and Truth itself -- or rather Himself. And in any case, the "prize" is not earned by us -- rather *He* earned *us*. Things like martyrdom or even living in a Christian fashion are not meant to be all-expense paid tickets to Heaven, but rather bright flaming signs that point to God and guide the rest of us poor schmucks. The saint's foremost purpose is not to glorify himself nor to get bonus points to cash in at the Pearly Gates, but rather to call attention to the One Whom the saint serves. Sent at: 2008 08 30