The Spinoza Problem

by Irvin D. Yalom

“And would Epicurus think that you’ve acted in a way conducive to the good life?” “I must agree that he would not. At the moment, however, I believed that I was acting wisely in refraining from other utterances.” “Such as?” “That God did not make us in His image—we made Him in our image. We imagine He is a being like us, hears our murmured prayers and cares about what we wish—” “Good Lord! If this is what you almost said, then I see your point. Let us say, then, you acted unwisely but not entirely foolishly. Edward is a devout Catholic. His uncle was a Catholic bishop. To expect him to lay down his beliefs on the basis of a few comments, even rational comments, is highly irrational and perhaps dangerous. Amsterdam has a reputation for being the most tolerant city in Europe at the moment. But remember the meaning of the word ‘tolerant’—it connotes that we all be tolerant of others’ beliefs, even though we deem them irrational.” “More and more,” said Bento, “I believe that if one lives among men with greatly different beliefs, then one cannot accommodate them without greatly changing oneself.”