I'd almost like to say wait until I publish a better novel but, hey I need all the readership I can get!
Here's another shill then, and this truly is a beautiful book (also the only fiction work I have written - of 23 - that has no bad language etc. in it, truly 'family friendly'.
Sorry for the slow reply - I've been travelling with family the last three weeks! Yes, agnosticism is the only thinking person's option, I think. Unless you're willing to take that next step .... Glad you liked it! And the XTC song is now on my playlist, so thanks for that, too!
“PILATE: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called 'Biggus Dickus'.
GUARD #4: chuckling
PILATE: Silence! What is all this insolence? You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behavior like that.
BRIAN: Can I go now, sir?
slap
Aaah! Eh.
PILATE: Wait till Biggus Dickus hears of this.
GUARD #4: chuckling
PILATE: Wight! Take him away!
CENTURION: Oh, sir, he-- he only--
PILATE: No, no. I want him fighting wabid, wild animals within a week.
CENTURION: Yes, sir. Come on, you.
GUARD #4: Ha ha haa ha, ha ha ha. Hooo hooo hoo hoo. Hoo hoo...
PILATE: I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. Anybody else feel like a little... giggle... when I mention my fwiend... Biggus...
GUARD #1: chuckling
PILATE: ...Dickus?
GUARD #1: chuckling
PILATE: What about you? Do you find it... wisible... when I say the name... 'Biggus'...
GUARD #3: chuckle
PILATE: ...'Dickus'?
GUARD #1 and GUARD #2: chuckling
PILATE: He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called... 'Incontinentia'. 'Incontinentia Buttocks'.
GUARDS: laughing
PILATE: Stop! What is all this?
GUARDS: Ha, ha ha ha ha ha...
PILATE: I've had enough of this wowdy webel sniggewing behavior. Silence! Call yourselves Pwaetowian guards? You're not-- Seize him! Seize him! Blow your noses and seize him!”
Excellent primer on what is arguably the most important 'position' any thinking person could suggest to oneself in our days of global conflict, wherein we tend to imagine we know more about the others than we do, or can, and even this to the point of stating that another does not know themselves; e.g. parents who object to their children's gender identities. Though I have personal symbolic realm beliefs, I have been a professional agnostic since age 12. It is the only sensible space for either a scientist or a philosopher, but more importantly, for anyone tempted - the term is used advisedly - to cast a judgment upon someone else a priori as it were.
'Paul Andrews is a man who isn't careful what he wishes for. The results are a spouse whose loyalty has been worn to a thread, an adoptive daughter who adores him too much, a therapist who looks the other way while he cheats with his wife, and friends who will do anything for him, including all the wrong things. Experiencing disturbing hallucinations and dreams, Paul is about to lead all of them and others straight into an existential abyss. The radically new knowledge of the human condition that is the result of this, may have been better off never having been known in the first place.'
A thoroughly dislikable novel with nary a sympathetic character; sounds much like our world story at the moment. Cheers, Greg
Thanks - and glad you liked the post re agnosticism. Sorry for my delayed response; I've been travelling with family the last three weeks. Yes, I think agnosticism - unless you're willing to go the final step and declare oneself an atheist - is the only other logical/reasonable/rational /sensible position any thinking individual can take. And feel free to shill your book! It looks quite interesting, though to be honest as my current fiction to-read list is rather long, it'll be some time before I can check it out for myself. But, hey - that's what Christmas is for! Take care! Bryan
Nice one Bryan. I remember discovering the term “agnosticism” when I was in high school and I always thought it fit me pretty well. And now I’ve got a soundtrack for it!
I'd almost like to say wait until I publish a better novel but, hey I need all the readership I can get!
Here's another shill then, and this truly is a beautiful book (also the only fiction work I have written - of 23 - that has no bad language etc. in it, truly 'family friendly'.
https://www.amazon.ca/Raven-Today-folk-tales-Northwest-Indigenous/dp/1682359026/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1688997453&refinements=p_27%3AG+V+Loewen&s=books&sr=1-6&text=G+V+Loewen
I have been an evangelical agnostic for decades now.
Thanks, Bryan, for this topic.
Also, had not heard “Dear god” by XTC in ages and it came on while reading this article!
Sorry for the slow reply - I've been travelling with family the last three weeks! Yes, agnosticism is the only thinking person's option, I think. Unless you're willing to take that next step .... Glad you liked it! And the XTC song is now on my playlist, so thanks for that, too!
“PILATE: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called 'Biggus Dickus'.
GUARD #4: chuckling
PILATE: Silence! What is all this insolence? You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behavior like that.
BRIAN: Can I go now, sir?
slap
Aaah! Eh.
PILATE: Wait till Biggus Dickus hears of this.
GUARD #4: chuckling
PILATE: Wight! Take him away!
CENTURION: Oh, sir, he-- he only--
PILATE: No, no. I want him fighting wabid, wild animals within a week.
CENTURION: Yes, sir. Come on, you.
GUARD #4: Ha ha haa ha, ha ha ha. Hooo hooo hoo hoo. Hoo hoo...
PILATE: I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. Anybody else feel like a little... giggle... when I mention my fwiend... Biggus...
GUARD #1: chuckling
PILATE: ...Dickus?
GUARD #1: chuckling
PILATE: What about you? Do you find it... wisible... when I say the name... 'Biggus'...
GUARD #3: chuckle
PILATE: ...'Dickus'?
GUARD #1 and GUARD #2: chuckling
PILATE: He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called... 'Incontinentia'. 'Incontinentia Buttocks'.
GUARDS: laughing
PILATE: Stop! What is all this?
GUARDS: Ha, ha ha ha ha ha...
PILATE: I've had enough of this wowdy webel sniggewing behavior. Silence! Call yourselves Pwaetowian guards? You're not-- Seize him! Seize him! Blow your noses and seize him!”
It’s a work of genius.
Excellent primer on what is arguably the most important 'position' any thinking person could suggest to oneself in our days of global conflict, wherein we tend to imagine we know more about the others than we do, or can, and even this to the point of stating that another does not know themselves; e.g. parents who object to their children's gender identities. Though I have personal symbolic realm beliefs, I have been a professional agnostic since age 12. It is the only sensible space for either a scientist or a philosopher, but more importantly, for anyone tempted - the term is used advisedly - to cast a judgment upon someone else a priori as it were.
But speaking 'About the Others', Substack has been pestering me to shill books, so I am going to take the liberty of using your comment space to do just that: https://www.amazon.com/About-Others-G-V-Loewen/dp/1682358836/ref=sr_1_1crid=10SN3I7ITHYZC&keywords=Loewen%2C+G.V.+About+the+Others&qid=1682816632&s=books&sprefix=loewen%2C+g.v.+about+the+others%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C143&sr=1-1
'Paul Andrews is a man who isn't careful what he wishes for. The results are a spouse whose loyalty has been worn to a thread, an adoptive daughter who adores him too much, a therapist who looks the other way while he cheats with his wife, and friends who will do anything for him, including all the wrong things. Experiencing disturbing hallucinations and dreams, Paul is about to lead all of them and others straight into an existential abyss. The radically new knowledge of the human condition that is the result of this, may have been better off never having been known in the first place.'
A thoroughly dislikable novel with nary a sympathetic character; sounds much like our world story at the moment. Cheers, Greg
Thanks - and glad you liked the post re agnosticism. Sorry for my delayed response; I've been travelling with family the last three weeks. Yes, I think agnosticism - unless you're willing to go the final step and declare oneself an atheist - is the only other logical/reasonable/rational /sensible position any thinking individual can take. And feel free to shill your book! It looks quite interesting, though to be honest as my current fiction to-read list is rather long, it'll be some time before I can check it out for myself. But, hey - that's what Christmas is for! Take care! Bryan
Nice one Bryan. I remember discovering the term “agnosticism” when I was in high school and I always thought it fit me pretty well. And now I’ve got a soundtrack for it!
Glad you liked it! And glad to be able to provide your self-description with a soundtrack!