Sunday, June 26, 2005

on Isolation

Professor Philip Zimbardo
Psychology, Stanford University

"I know of no more potent killer than isolation. There is no more destructive influence on physical and mental health than the isolation of you from me and us from them. It has been shown to be a central agent in the etiology of depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, rape, suicide, mass murder, and a wide variety of disease states."

Saturday, June 25, 2005

on the Love of God

Jealous Kind
by Jars of Clay

I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
Sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I've been unfaithful - Lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables, with the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle, thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you and your love of a jealous kind
Love of a jealous kind

Trying to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
For solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than to be broken by a lover I don't understand
'Cause I don't understand

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart's deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

on Awakening

Fight Club
by Chuck Palahniuk

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. "

Thursday, June 16, 2005

on "Something More"

Victor Frankl
concentration camp survivor

"Man...finds identity in the extent to which he commits himself to something beyond himself, to a cause greater than himself."