MemeMachineGo!

Great Larry Wall interview on Slashdot. Of broadest interest is probably his wonderfully geeky discussion of faith and religion.

"Systematic theology" is an oxymoron. God is not a system. Christians are fond of asking: "What would Jesus do in this situation?" Unfortunately, they very rarely come up with the correct answer, which is: "Something unexpected!" If the Creator really did write himself into his own story, that's what we ought to expect to see. Creative solutions.

And this creativity is intended to be transitive. We are expected to be creative. And we're expected to help others be creative.

He is so smart, and has such broad knowledge, and integrates it so usefully and holistically and humorously that I'd consider it worthwhile to read the whole thing even if you don't consider yourself to have an interest in computer language design, which most of the interview focuses on. Much the same way I recommend Understanding Comics and Impro universally even if people don't think they have an interest in comics or improvisational theatre.

Wall says further:

And finally, there is the underlying conviction that, if you define both science and religion from their true centers, they cannot be in confict.

c.f. the Beast:

Our method is science
Our aim is religion.