Pinhead Dancing

Readers may be familiar with the old shibboleth (posed as a question) designed to discredit Scholasticism: "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"



An absurd question, really, when applied to everyday life, and the phrase has come to represent the idea of a useless or impractical debate.

There is much of this going on at present: discussions that are intellectually interesting but of next to no practical value. We find them in the endless blah about the "banksters" and Obama, about "terrorists," about how best to prepare for a crisis, about this or that wonderful idea. This morning I encountered a debate over the Augustinian and Thomist viewpoints on predestination and free will, and this in a publication dedicated to spreading the Distributist ideal. The economies of the once-Christian West are being seized by secular materialist bankers and their political cronies while the capons of the mass media don't raise a squawk, and those who have a genuinely worthy alternative economic system are splitting hairs and flapping their gums? This is the way to go about Paradigm Change?

No, it is not. Distributism can be learned about by visiting IHS Press, where a number of excellent resources can be found, but reading alone--never mind gum-flapping--isn't going to do the job.

Rather than ask about angels on pinheads, one might better ensure a good supply of pins should sewing make a comeback once there is an interruption or cessation of the supply of cheap, shoddy clothing imported from China, Indonesia and wherever else people are easily exploited.

It is time for production to take pride of place back from trade, and you can change that paradigm on a personal level beginning at once. Imagine making something instead of buying it already made! Now don't imagine it: do it! Better yet, make more than one of whatever it is and see if you can find someone willing to trade with you for it. Local economy!

If distributism, mutualism, social credit or any "alternative" economic ideas interest you, put some part of them into practice. That's part of what goes on here at The Catacombs.

Perhaps you should begin by starting a Catacombs of your own. And while you do so, let the tongues wag, the gums flap and the angels dance where they may.