R -E - S - P - E - C - T: Who gets it and who decides?

[Jenny A]

Why is it that some people tacitly assume that atheism is the rational position and that theism is not? Isn’t that already a slightly disrespectful position from which to start a conversation?

Still ruminating on this. I think I expect a lot less rationality in human affairs than you do. I value it less too. We'll, I do value it so far as it applies and is useful but I don't expect it to apply everywhere. I think you do expect rationality to follow you everywhere and expect more of it from your fellow man. This constantly surprises me because I know about your artwork. Being an artist must mean something different to me than it does to you. I come at it more in the e.e. cummings manner. I guess we just are two different people. I'm fine with that but sometimes I like to probe and look for the core beliefs where we split.

Not exactly. I don't expect rationality at all times. I couldn't live up to such a standard and wouldn't want to. What I do demand (not that I always get it) is an understanding of when we are talking about what can rationally be proven and when we are talking about what is felt. I'm quite capable of dissolving into a little bundle of emotions myself. It's just that I think it's healthier to know what one's rational motivations are and what one's emotional motivations are. Bolstering emotions with fake rationality is deadly. That's what I deplore.

My paintings are largely about my emotional view of the world. My rational mind may help out with comments about composition, but the paintings are ultimately an emotional conversation. You might discuss the composition or perspective of my paintings rationally just as you might dissect E. E. Cummings meter. But ultimately Cummings is not about meter.