h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Which was quite understandable given the cultural norms of his day. And to his credit he is generally considered the father of religious tolerance. It was he after all who said, "If god did not exist, we would have invented him."

This wonderful statement can be (and is) embraced by atheists and religious zealots alike, though it is often difficult to tell (given the dangerous religious times in which he lived and wrote) to prove what Voltaire really believed. I suspect he was a deist (small D) in the sense of being an agnostic who could not bring himself (anymore than I can) to dismiss all metaphysical phenomena to the cold altar of atheistic reductionism.
peace
~j~

>>Which was quite understandable given the cultural norms of his day

Oof. I'm not sure I agree with that. How unacceptable does the majority opinion have to be before one rises above it? Remember also that the majority opinion in Voltaire's day was also pro-Church.

I also think of someone like (my heroine) Decca Mitford. It's possible to be born into a family of Fascists yet be prepared to put one's life on the line for anti-racism. (Which she did when she was involved with the CP-USA's desegregation campaigns).

>> How unacceptable does the majority opinion have to be before one rises above it? <<

Rising is but one option (usually a fatal one). But there's also sink or swim. And Voltaire was just going with the flow regarding god's Chosen.

>>...the majority opinion in Voltaire's day was also pro-Church. <<

Which was anti-semitic. And remember this is the reign of Louis IV. Voltaire had already spent time in the Bastille; he wasn't gonna be seen as soft on Jews (not that I think he ever was). It was bad enough he threw doubt on the 'ancien regime'.

peace
~jwf~

to get back to the original post...

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that German station clocks do linger on that last second to give the guard time to blow the whistle and jump back on the train.

That's why they run on time.

That would mean that the 59 other seconds would all have to be slightly less than a second for the clocks to keep time. Not outwith the bounds of possibility I suppose...

German trains run on time?

Coo. A sighting of the word 'outwith'. I approve!

Yes, Mala. German trains run on time.

(*stares sternly* you know we Germans have to propagate that myth)

Before anyone changes the subject line, could I just point out that 'The Lingering Secong' would make an excellent name for a Doctor Who villain?

B

I did wonder about the subject title, but didn't want to put my so I didn't say.

It makes me think of some kind of sea-dwelling mammal, like a dugong. One that (like Voltaire) would seem to overstay its welcome.

Oh, the huge manatee!