The goal of Profound Pontifications is to be a place “Where pomposity becomes profound”. Of course, this is made difficult because the mere concept of a “profound pontification” is, according to common usage, an oxymoron. But should it be?

“Pontification” comes from the root word, “pontiff” — a bishop, high priest, or Pope. When capitalized, Pontiff refers to the Pope or “Supreme Pontiff”. To “pontificate”, then is literally to: 1) administer the office of a pontiff or 2) officiate as a pontiff. But, through common usage, it has also come to mean: “to speak or express opinions or judgments in a pompous or dogmatic way”. I guess that is a rather fair assessment of a pontiff. But I would imagine that the notion that one’s opinions are codifications of The Divine might make him or her express said opinions in a rather forceful manner.

Anyway, “pontifications” are typically defined as the actual speech or expressions that are considered to be delivered in a so-called pompous or dogmatic fashion. And Urban Dictionary.com even goes so far as to give pontification this meaning:
“The act of speaking out for the purpose of hearing oneself speak. Posturing…speaking to people that don’t really care what you say one way or another since you’re speaking solely to front yourself as ’someone in charge’. Speech or written communication that is generally pointless except to cast favorable light upon the speaker or author as if the message were a pronouncement from on high.
Usually full of shit”.

Well obviously, with the more negative depictions of “pontification”, adding profundity to any such pronouncement would appear to be a tenuous undertaking at best. But since I don’t consider my pronouncements to come “from on high” — at least not ALL of them — and I don’t really care about being seen in “a favorable light”, perhaps some depth can be added to the pontifications herein. But that’s where YOU come in.

Instead of stopping with my pronouncements, we can discuss them via your comments and my responses — pro and con. At times we may come to a consensus; and at other times we may merely agree to disagree. But, in any case, the vibrant exchange ought to lend some profundity to just about any issue. If nothing more, we may ALL become more aware of — and more tolerant of — opposing viewpoints. All I ask — no, REQUIRE — is that we all disagree agreeably. NO POST will be deleted for merely disagreeing with me. But ALL POSTS will be deleted that violate the laws of civility. No other rules apply!