As often happens, I awake in the middle of the night with my cat, Beare, on my chest.

This time, she begins by telling me, "I've been reading Nietzsche.  He is hot & cold, so you have to take him with a grain of salt, so to speak".

 

"Cats can't read."

 

"I know, I know.   They can't talk either.  Find yourself a good psychoanalyst and tell them your cat talks to you.  Remember David Berkowitz?  An opposable thumb is overrated."

 

 

"Well, you sort of left it out there."

 

"I don't remember leaving Nietzsche laying about, but it will go into the next used-book sale for the shelter."

 

"Well, Nietzsche said, 'In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross.'"

 

"Well, that may be true (depending on how you define 'Christian'), but there are a lot of very good people that use Christ in their life as role model when making decisions.  The average 'Christian' will not raise the dead, heal the sick, or feed thousands with a a couple of loaves & fishes."  So what does Nietzsche say about their efforts of faith?"

 

"Yes.  That's a tough one.  But he also said, 'A casual stroll through a lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.'  When, in fact, many outside the asylum have demonstrated that faith can move mountains."  "In general, I'm afraid I must discard his ramblings."  "I know.  You just want to go back to sleep." 

 

"I am not nocturnal.  And I've never been a big Nietzshe fan.  Though modern philosophy would be lacking something without him."

 

"Oh.  Ambien is wearing off, is it?  You're starting to engange me in a conversation."

 

"No.  You figure out how much validity you want to give him -- just as the rest of us do.  I'm going to sleep now."

 

"Well, I will leave you with this last thought, courtesy of Mark Twain: 'If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat.' "