Thoughts from Culhwch

Is our current understanding of temporality the result of sin? It strikes me as rather peculiar that our understanding of time and sin both have a very similar structure. Let me explain.

Time: As much as philosophers love to play with definitions of temporality, and deny or proclaim its existence, I wish only to describe how I might perceive time. For me, temporality is a condition such that actions performed gain a sort of un-undoability. That which is performed cannot be un-performed. If I put it this way, time becomes a constraint upon me, dictating that at any given point certain actions cannot be changed.

Sin: The state of sin is such that having performed it, we can never un-perform it, we can never make our selves sinless.

Is the fallen state of humanity related to the constraint of temporality? Maybe, and maybe not. But they do seem highly related. I cannot go back an un-sin. I cannot change my past sinfulness. This is a condition both of sinfulness, and of temporality, as I have described it. But I wonder what temporality might look like if there was no need to un-do the past. If every moment was also the opportunity to be what we should be (or want to be?) in every moment, both past and present. Is the constraint of temporality also the constraint of sinfulness? Would temporality lose the constraint on the un-undoability of the past if sin were not there? Would it retain that constraint, but suddenly not be a constraint, since without sin, there would be no need to un-do the past? I’m rambling questions off the top of my head. I really don’t know what I’m getting into here. But something seems to be related.

Grace: What might grace be then? I wonder if it is not a sort of new kind of temporality, a breaking down of the temporal condition which dictates the un-undoability of the past. God gives us grace, but what is that grace? Is is the un-doing of sin and the undoing of our temporality. Does grace actually un-do the constraint of temporailty as well as the contraint of sinfulness?

Questions, and more questions…

What do you think?

So, I’m getting mini blinds today. I figured I should get some kind of privacy in here. Also, I decided that I want Roman shades for curtains. My mom said there was a pattern at the fabric store. So, maybe I can score some really cool curtains on my trip back home. Though it may be that I will have to do some of the sewing myself. Is it ok to admit that you know how to sew? Yes, “tailor” is a manly occupation. Especially if you ever watched Star Trek DS9. Everybody remembers Garak, the tailor who always seemed part psychopath. You were never sure what he was really doing behind the scenes. … So I’m geeking out now. Maybe I’ll check out the Bay Ridge blogs and see if anything cool is happening this weekend. I need to meet some neighbors.

Is it weird to check out your neighborhood from your window at eleven o’clock at night? Well, that’s what I was doing last night. Overall a pretty quiet street. The weekends were a little louder, but on a sunday night everything settled down at about 10:15 – 10:30. A few random people were walking up and down the street. But no loiterers. That makes me feel better about my choice of home. Overall the neighborhood is really cool. There is a sizable immigrant community here. Especially in my corner of Bay Ridge. I’m currently at an coffee place which shall be un-named for the moment. Since, I need internet access, and this place has it. I also needed coffee, and I don’t know a place to get recent roasts yet. But all in due time.

It’s nice to have a place all to oneself. No more roommates making messes that I have to clean up. (Or Vice Versa) . Every mess is my mess. Sweet.

I need to tell the super about the couple of problems I’ve found in the apartment. One, the glass is cracked in one of my bedroom windows. Two, there’s a faint smell of natural gas around my cabinet. I think it’s natural gas, but it may just be something else, since the gas is supposed to be turned off until the 22nd when the gas co. comes out to turn it on.

Anyway, I’m going to have to get some lunch now, and take a walk and explore more of my neighborhood.

Also, I just want to thank all of my wonderful friends who helped me move in on Saturday as well as those who weren’t able to help out so much.

~david

PS Expect a house warming party in July or August, as well as a 4th of July Party, or something like that.

PPS Pictures of the place coming soon.