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Speeding....Thoughts?
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I <3 speeding.There's your sentence to quote out of context :)
In context, I <3 speeding because when I teach political theory, it gives me something I can use as a great example of original sin.
Consider:
1) We all acknowledge the right of the government to set speed limits. This isn't like welfare or abortion or any other controversial issue, even the most libertarian individual doesn't want anyone going 90 by an elementary school.
2) We all understand (and generally agree) that speed limits are reasonable, make the roads safer for everyone (if you are the civic-minded type) and for ourselves (if you're the selfish type).
3) We all understand that in general, speed limits are usually set in a reasonable way, i.e. faster on long, flat rural stretches, slower in town and through winding, hill, or dangerous roads.
and yet,
4) We speed anyway. Knowing that it's dangerous, knowing that we could hurt someone else or ourselves, knowing that we are breaking the law in doing it, we intentionally (especially in the age of cruise control, there's really no such thing as "accidental speeding") speed almost every time we drive. The fact that everyone does it just shows how pervasive sin is.
Anyway, there's my take on it. In terms of personal application, when I'm in the West and there's less traffic, I don't speed. When I'm in the East, I go with the flow of traffic (mostly for safety reasons, which is no excuse, just another sign of my fallen nature).
Ha! =) Leave it to Coyle to have a 4-point lesson plan ready that ties speeding to original sin! Nicely done, my friend...How is it that you get to teach original sin in a political theory class?
Haha, benefits of being the prof, I can teach what I want.Pretty much everyone does (or should) teach original sin in Intro to Theory, because Augustine has to be covered.
I was discussing the topic with a friend and we came to divergent views.
His view: he honors the government authorities by dutifully paying any speeding ticket. But since he is on the road so often he chooses to speed and use a fuzz-buster to gain additional time at home with family.
My view is 3-tiered:
1) no speeding in town
2) on metro-area interstates: move with the flow of traffic, but follow posted limits when sensible (traveling too much slower than traffic flow can be dangerous)
3) Non-metro interstates, hi-ways, and by-ways are where I run into trouble. On long road trips you can gain 30-60 extra minutes at your destination by speeding a little. Like my friend, I find that time highly valuable. But whenever I read Romans 13...I get reconvicted about obeying government authorities.
What's your take?