All Comments (32)

Sometimes I feel like asking, "I believe in Jesus, now what?" It is refreshing to see NTW remind us that it more simple than we allow ourselves to believe.

Terry

I simply love steak and eggs and my hope is to sit down with Jesus and real "taste buds" to enjoy that meal...someday in the future. His grand creation is growing more and more lovely as I get older and older..I wonder why that would be?
All things are really wonderfully made. I wonder how silly are thoughts will seem when we end up in whatever state it is that He has planned?

Not only are you placing more weight on Aquinas and JP than they desire to bear, they'd whack you over the head with a ruler or a mitre becuse of your poor exegesis.

You're right, no one knows EXACTLY what Paul meant by Spiritual Body in 1 Cor 15. However, elementary Greek understanding shows that whatever it means, it is not a contrast with physicality that he has in mind.

Paul contrasts "SOMA PSUCHIKOS" (soulish body) with "SOMA PNEUMATIKOS" (spiritual body). Physicality doesn't even enter that contrast.

respectfully,
Nick Gill
Frankfort, KY

Some Catholic theologians are teaching that the resurrection did not happen?!

Who namely?

FMartin:
To GK Chesterton and Concerned (re your last exchange):

"What of importance depends on chosing one view or the other? They appeal to different audiences, but with what differing effects?

Does it matter that one view (the Professor's, I think) is more likely to be persuasive in the world and worldview most of us inhabit?"

I believe a lot is at stake if you go the "non-physical" resurrection direction. It deviates from the classic Jewish (and early Christian/Patristic Fathers) understanding of resurrection and we end up devaluing that God called creation "good" and is seeking to reclaim this good creation which would include our physical bodies. #2 - Even from a historical perspective, it's just not true that the word "resurrection" meant "a resuscitated corpse returning to life" to the Jewish mindview of the 1st century.

To GK Chesterton and Concerned (re your last exchange):

What of importance depends on chosing one view or the other? They appeal to different audiences, but with what differing effects?

Does it matter that one view (the Professor's, I think) is more likely to be persuasive in the world and worldview most of us inhabit?

To GK Chesterton and Concerned (re your last exchange):

What of importance depends on chosing one view or the other? They appeal to different audiences, but with what differing effects?

Does it matter that one view (the Professor's, I think) is more likely to be persuasive in the world and worldview most of us inhabit?

GK,

The subject has already been debated exhaustively by Bishop Wright and Professor Crossan. You agree with the Bishop. I agree with the Professor.

Concerned:

Your definition of the word "resurrection" is where we have a big time disagreement. We are not talking resuscitation. And this is not what any Jew in the 1st century would have said, including the gospel writers.

This is precisely my point. Your description does not represent a Jewish understanding of the new age which will include this earth becoming a new creation (in a resurrected physical sense including our bodies.) Yes, I agree that in the intemediate period, we don't have resurrected bodies - all we know is that the church triumphant will be with Jesus. But when Jesus returns, the belief is that we will be given resurrected bodies (see the Apostles' Creed.)

The biblical story makes no sense unless you read it with a Jewish understanding which includes a physical resurrection.

To deny the physical resurrection is to turn the story of the Bible into a disjointed enlightenment (Platonic) understanding which was not the original meaning of the biblical writers. It also distorts the creation story when God called creation good.

Like I've said before in these posts, if you want a Platonic type of Christianity, that's your business. But don't get it confused with orthodox Christianity or make it sound like Dr. Wright has some weird take on Christianity. He's pointing out what was there all along.

GK,

The issue that the " body resurrectionists" fail to take into account is Heaven is a Spirit State as per common sense and the theology of Aquinas and JP.

As per a number of Catholic theology professors:

"Heaven is a Spirit state or spiritual reality of union with God in love, without earthly -- earth bound distractions.

Christ's and Mary's bodies are therefore not in Heaven. For one thing, Paul in 1 Cor 15 speaks of the body of the dead as transformed into a "spiritual body." No one knows exactly what he meant by this term.

Most believe that it to mean that the personal spiritual self that survives death is in continuity with the self we were while living on earth as an embodied person.

The physical Resurrection (meaning a resuscitated corpse returning to life), Ascension (of Jesus' crucified corpse), and Assumption (Mary's
corpse) into heaven did not take place.

The Ascension symbolizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church.

Only Luke's Gospel records it. The Assumption ties Jesus' mission to Pentecost and missionary activity of Jesus' followers The Assumption has
multiple layers of symbolism, some are related to Mary's special role as "Christ bearer" (theotokos). It does not seem fitting that Mary, the body of Jesus' Virgin-Mother (another biblically based symbol found in Luke 1) would
be derived by worms upon her death. Mary's assumption also shows God's positive regard, not only for Christ's male body, but also for female
bodies."

Anonymous:

"The major problem with Bishop Wright's scholarship is his clinging to the physical resurrection of Jesus. Even Catholic theology professors are teaching that it did not happen."

Bishop Wright's position is that the word, "resurrection" to a 1st century Jew would not have been interpreted in a non physical way. Any other position is difficult to defend unless you project an elightenment philosophy back on to the 1st century.

GK,

The major problem with Bishop Wright's scholarship is his clinging to the physical resurrection of Jesus. Even Catholic theology professors are teaching that it did not happen.

Concerned the Christian Now Liberated States:
"Bishop Wright is in the minority with respect to who the historic Jesus really was."

What are the parts of Bishop Wright's scholarship on the historical Jesus that you find implausible?

Bishop Wright is in the minority with respect to who the historic Jesus really was.

See http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

Please note that three of the On Faith Panelists are on the referenced list (besides Bishop Wright) i.e. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen.

Jesus the Myth: Heavenly Christ

Earl Doherty
Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Jesus the Myth: Man of the Indefinite Past

Alvar Ellegård
G. A. Wells

Jesus the Hellenistic Hero

Gregory Riley

Jesus the Revolutionary

Robert Eisenman

Jesus the Wisdom Sage

John Dominic Crossan
Robert Funk
Burton Mack
Stephen J. Patterson

Jesus the Man of the Spirit

Marcus Borg
Stevan Davies
Geza Vermes

Jesus the Prophet of Social Change

Richard Horsley
Hyam Maccoby
Gerd Theissen

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet

Bart Ehrman
Paula Fredriksen
Gerd Lüdemann
John P. Meier
E. P. Sanders

Jesus the Savior

Luke Timothy Johnson
Robert H. Stein
N. T. Wright

E favorite States:
"What if, anon, What if, GK Chesterton, the Bishop meant what you said? It's still incredibly convoluted and hard to understand."

Christianity is a story beginning with the Hebrew Scriptures and reaches its ultimate fulfillment in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Because of Jesus' victory over sin and death, we are given an "advanced foretaste" of what will come in the future - when all of God's creation will be renewed and where there will be no more mourning, tears, wars, crime, homelessness, child abuse, heartache, etc. This is what my church along with many other churches celebrate every week in worship. And at the end of every worship service, the pastor sends us forth with this hope and with the strength of God's Holy Spirit to empower us to live in such a way that this world will move closer and closer to the world that God intended from the very beginning.

If you're not into stories (and by stories in this context, I don't mean pure fiction, although the biblical story is filled with metaphors, symbols, parables, etc.) than you're right, it will probably seem convoluted and hard to understand because that's what stories are - a journey filled with a plot, sub-plots, twists, turns, and surprises.

What I like about Bishop Wright (and so many other gifted biblical scholars, pastors, teachers, etc.)is in his gift of being able to articulately tell this full biblical story in a way that helps people to see themselves in this awesome story of God's love for the world.

E Favorite,

It's only convoluted and hard to understand if we don't recognize the context. As Ricky used to say to Lucy (and I say this with all humility) 'let me 'splain it to you':) ...

1) Wright is saying, "hold the whole thing up before God" - i.e. give the problem to him through prayer. Of course, this will not do for a non-believer, but for the believer (if Christianity is true- and I think it is, historically), we can trust that whatever suffering we may go through - will turn out for good. The worst event in the world for the disciples of Jesus was the death of their Teacher on the Cross. It did not make sense. He was to lead Israel to victory - How could he die? The answer came 3 days later in the resurrection. Through the suffering, death & defeat came something far greater than a military victory over Rome - it came the hope of eternal life in a glorious New Creation - and through prayer, God will help us overcome the troubles in the long run; sometimes solve the problems specifically; and comfort us through it all. This last point leads to the second part of Wright's statement and the crux of your difficulty:

2) "... God, who groans with the pains of the world" (Rom. 8). Romans 8 says "the whole world groans" - that is, there is in the earth a deep longing for something more than this world has to offer. There is an emptiness to life. 70+ years, and then you die. Or, you see people you love die prematurely. Or, you die prematurely. If not that, then there is an emptiness even in life. Lost loves, pain, oppression, etc. Wright is simply noting that, sorry for the syrupy cliche, "God feels our pain." We know this through his suffering on the cross - God brings all the evil of the world onto himself. He understands the pain. When Jesus saw his loved ones weeping over their brother's (Lazarus) death, "Jesus wept." This, even though he knew that he would be raising Lazarus from the dead only a short time later. But, he understood the agony that we go through - so he "wept" with them. And, God weeps with us today. It is a comfort to know that the One who can help us through difficulties and trials and can save us from the vanity of this world - also understands our suffering and "groaning" - because, He groans with us. He feels what we feel. So, when we go to God in prayer, we can know that He senses our agony and fears. And, will come to our aid - in one form or another.

1.2 billion Muslims in the world. Why? Because they were born Muslims and don't know any better. Lose their faith because of war? Of course not, war is part of their "koranic" faith. "Death to unbelievers" being their battle cry!!!!!!

What if, anon, What if, GK Chesterton, the Bishop meant what you said? It's still incredibly convoluted and hard to understand.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

The problem with WAR TODAY, is that in order to deceive one's enemy, one must often also deceive one's own people.

Take Iraq for example. Most Americans believe that we are in Iraq to preserve our future access to oil and many Americans do NOT REMEMBER the gas lines going all around the block, the possibility of even after waiting sometimes for over a hour, the station might run out anyway.

EVEN IF WE ARE THEREFORE IN IRAQ TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FUTURE ACCESS TO OIL ---- SO WHAT !!!

LETS WAKE UP FOLKS AND BEFORE WE DECIDE TO GIVE UP OVER THERE, TRY WALKING EVERYWHERE FOR A MONTH, OR RIDDING A BIKE EVERYWHERE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND PERSONALLY DOING THIS AND ++++IF+++++ YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PERSONALLY DO THIS, OUR AIRLINES, BUSES, SUBWAYS, MILITARY AND HEATING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY REQUIRE OIL.

WHEN WE THREATENED TO BLOCKADE JAPAN MONTHS BEFORE THEIR ATTACK ON PEARL IN 1941, THEY ATTACKED TO PRESERVE THEIR ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES ELSEWHERE.

IN WORLD DEMOCRACIES, OIL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD -- IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY -- BUT WHEN ZEALOTS AND ESPECIALLY ALLEGEDLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS CONTROL TERRITORY RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES +++++WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT +++DON'T WE !!!

So we pray, study, work AND MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AND IF THAT REQUIRES WAR, THEN SO BE IT.

Jacob a/k/a ECLATi-ON,

please e-mail me at Nevermore53@yahoo.com

I need to talk to you in private.

E Favorite: You ask a great question!
"What on earth does this mean? - 'hold the whole situation up before the God who groans with the pain of the world'"

How does this help us?"

Actually, there are a couple of other options - We can believe that God is everything and not wholly other. The problem is that if God is everything, God can not do anything about the pain of the world since God is part of creation only.

Or, we can believe that either God does not exist which again puts everything back in our laps or we can believe that God exists but never or rarely intervenes - again, not a very promising alternative in dealing with the pain of the world.

But what about a God who would take the form of a human being and take upon himself the pain of the world by dying on a cross and on the third day rising from the dead, and thereby signaling the beginning of the renewing of God's creation - with the ultimate promise that one day it will eventually be filled with peace and justice?

What if this last option (Dr. Wright's point in his post) would be true? This is the story of Christianity.

E Favorite:

As a former Christiian you must know this:

"For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God thourgh wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentile, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." 1 Corinthians 1:21-25

What on earth does this mean? - "hold the whole situation up before the God who groans with the pain of the world"

How does this help us?

"Same as any other time."

This man has studied the NT for 20 years and he is associated with Cambridge and Oxford. He could be pedantic, yet he has summed it all up in just five simple words. We should listen to him.

Ah, Jacob, you think this will happen in our lifetime?

C. S. Lewis's sermon "Learning in War-Time," delivered in Oxford as the Second World War broke out. Here's a snippet:

"The war creates no absolutely new situation; it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice. Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun. We are mistaken when we compare war with "normal life." Life has never been normal. Even those periods which we think most tranquil... turn out, on closer inspection, to be full of crises, alarms, difficulties, emergencies. Plausible reasons have never been lacking for putting off all merely cultural activities until some imminent danger has been averted or some crying injustice put right. But humanity long ago chose to neglect those plausible reasons. They wanted knowledge and beauty now, and would not wait for the suitable moment that never comes.
...
Thus we may have a duty to rescue a drowning man and, perhaps, if we live on a dangerous coast, to learn lifesaving so as to be ready for any drowning man when he turns up. It may be our duty to lose our lives in saving him. But if anyone devoted himself to lifesaving in the sense of giving it his total attention -- so that he thought and spoke of nothing else and demanded the cessation of all other human activities until everyone had learned to swim -- he would be a monomaniac. The rescue of drowning men is, then, a duty worth dying for, but not worth living for."

-- C. S. Lewis ("Learning in War-Time", in The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses)

http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0060653205&id=H4m1VKnO7VYC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=D6yiNMoBcZ&dq=the+weight+of+glory&sig=AeyxTkEf700_1y4HoDLB5csXbUs#PPA24,M1