[linux-audio-user] OT .sig comment

ross at jose.lug.udel.edu ross at jose.lug.udel.edu
Sat Aug 13 12:32:24 EDT 2005


On Fri, Aug 12, 2005 at 08:22:58PM -0400, David L. Craig wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 12, 2005 at 04:44:37PM -0700, Mike Jewell wrote:
> > On Fri, 2005-08-12 at 19:21 -0400, ross at jose.lug.udel.edu wrote:
> > 
> > > "The good Christian should beware of mathematicians, and all those who
> > > make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the
> > > mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the
> > > spirit and to confine man in the bonds of Hell."
> > 
> > Huh???!!!
> 
> It's a quote that shows how even a man as spiritual as St. Augustine
> can have blind spots that arise from ignorance.  Ditto Martin Luther's
> attitude toward the Jews, not to mention the Crusades, etc.  Only God
> Himself has the pure perspective on everything and we should be slow
> to burn anyone at the stake.


Actually, I'm a mathematician ::-)

And some translators of St. Augustine prefer to use the word
"soothsayer" to translate that passage.  But I get a kick out of this
way!

-- 
Ross Vandegrift
ross at lug.udel.edu

"The good Christian should beware of mathematicians, and all those who
make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians
have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine
man in the bonds of Hell."
	--St. Augustine, De Genesi ad Litteram, Book II, xviii, 37



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