satire and theology©

The Problem of Evil...Computer Viruses

2012-02-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

Moscow (trekearth.com)

January 27, 2012

A. Rootkit Zero Access Viruses

According to Dedicated 2-viruses at

2 Viruses

'ZeroAccess rootkit, also known as Max++, is a nasty piece of malware which is designed to start its persistent campaign just after infiltration. The infiltration of this malware is quite simple and done through security holes together with infected downloads, often Adobe Reader or Java fake updates. It can be said that additional purpose of ZeroAccess rootkit is to set up a stealthy, undetectable and un-removable platform which should help to download malware into the target PC. As you can see, it’s a rootkit which is advanced and sophisticated.'

According to CleanPCGuide.com at

CleanPCGuide

'ZeroAccess rootkit is a malicious trojan horse or bot that may represent security risk for the compromised system and/or its network environment. ZeroAccess rootkit injects rootkit components into Windows processes to avoid detection. It as been also noticed to be used for stealing online banking accounts, disabling some of Windows components, such as User Account Control or others and delivering fake Antivirus applications that should swindle the money from trustful PC users for removal services of malware programs detected by fake antivirus. ZeroAccess rootkit poses a dangerous threat to any computer or system and should be terminated immediately.'

How my computer contracted Rootkit Zero Access Viruses

'Golly, no we got hit by a virus on YouTube, I never heard of that before'.

Former natural body-builder and competitor from East Maple Ridge.

My good friend and frequent blog (s) commenter Bobby Buff/Walter Thomas Franklin very kindly decided he would once again look to YouTube for some theological material in which to comment on my blogs. A couple of weeks earlier he had visited me here in the loft and was on YouTube 'fail' videos which somehow contracted to my computer a fake XP virus alert, similar to what my second citation mentions. I ran Combofix at that time and it appeared to find and delete all traces of Rootkit Zero Access.

However, a couple of weeks later a second time my friend was hit with the viruses, and even though Comboxfix and Kaspersky were both able to find the viruses and delete them, XP would only start in the last known mode that worked and this seemingly guaranteed that the viruses would continue to exist. I also ran SuperAntispyware and Malaware Bytes Anti-Malaware which deleted some of the viruses 'apparently'. Every other product I tried online either would not load or could not find the viruses sufficiently.

To be blunt, there were some software fails here! I had as the virus name states zero internet access thanks to the series of viruses, and no real ability to fix the problem. With my Mom in the hospital I went to the downstairs part of the condo and used her computer and looked for whatever help I could online.

So, after speaking with professionals and enlightened amateurs my only reasonable option was to reformat XP. I figured a new operating system would be a larger headache with my era of computer unless I just go and buy a new laptop and pass this desktop on to my disabled Mother, which I will likely eventually do. Of course there was 50 hours of work involved and that is not including reloading all my iTunes which still is not completely done, but now I have wisely backed up my key progressive rock, jazz-fusion, art rock and classical discs for 'next time' if evil strikes.

Krym Alupa, Ukraine (trekearth.com)

Lake of Solonets, Oster, Ukraine (trekearth.com)

B. Babylon Toolbar

According to eHow at

eHow

'Babylon is a translation software program that offers one-click translation and dictionary access.'

'Babylon comes with a toolbar that integrates itself with the toolbars in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Toolbar. Users report that, even after they have uninstalled the Babylon program, this toolbar remains and slows the operation of the computer.'

From Spybot

Spybot

'Babylon Toolbar is a useless toolbar that gets installed by other software, for instance FoxTab Videoconverter. Legal age for installation is 18 while this fact is only mentioned in the terms. Babylon Toolbar installs itself to the system, the Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome. The Babylon.Toolbar is almost identical to Toolbar.Facemood. Some affiliates like MediGet also install Babylon and the Babylon Toolbar without proper userconsent using a count down timer to start install.'

What I found is that Babylon somehow through my web searches with Google got into both the Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, defaces them and then basically without one's permission creates not only a Babylon Toolbar but virtually a Babylon browser. Chucky was on Google Chrome for only a few minutes and Babylon hijacked that browser as well. It does not attack Safari at this point. It took Cardinal Chucklins and I around 45 minutes to get rid of Babylon from Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome on my computer. I am disappointed to see Microsoft involved with Babylon and as Uncle Chuckles stated that night, Google needs to upgrade their security.

Page views and world views

2012-01-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Sydney (Google Images)

December 28, 2011

Best of the Christmas Season and Happy New Year.

A. Page views

I do reason that Blogger keeps more accurate blog traffic statistics than does Statcounter or Site Meter, and my Blogger numbers are higher. I think Blogger will better keep track of traffic arriving on its on sites than will the other two programs. I also know empirically from past commenter experience that Statscounter and Site Meter have both failed to track the experience of certain commenters. Therefore, I take it that my higher traffic and page views numbers on Blogger in comparison to Statcounter and Site Meter are generally accurate, but the Blogger statistics program application is rather new and not as detailed.

However, and not surprisingly, according to Statscounter my statistics for 2011 show that my satire and theology page views are down around 12, 000 from 2010 and my Dr. RNM page views around 10, 000 from 2010, so overall about 22, 000 from 2010. Is this because I have gone from two-three posts per blog per month to only one per month? Perhaps, but I doubt it. I think it has to do somewhat with the use in the Western World of Facebook and Twitter and other which are quite simply easier social media to read and use than Blogger and other blogs. Many Bloggers/bloggers, including Christian ones in the West may spend more time concentrating on social media such as Facebook and Twitter and less on Blogger or another type of Blog.

This is also quite understandable considering how much time blogging takes for the lousy pay.

Both my blogs have had a rise post-summer in page view numbers to 2010 levels which are better than 2009 and 2008. There appears to be a Blogger Blog growth in South America, Latin Europe, and Eastern Europe and my interaction with that (as sadly finding Western evangelicals on Blogger and other to blog with has often and usually been difficult) is positive. Hopefully I can find a job posting related to my degrees, or if not right away, at least have the use of my Doctorate to promote my work as I work in another field and still send out CVs. I still will have an overall increased amount of blog articles extant on the web. I should have a gradual increasing number of reciprocal Blogger followers, Facebook blog followers, and reciprocal links.

I therefore still reason my blogs will slowly increase in readership size over the years.

God willing.

The idea of writing more posts is a reasonable one to generate more traffic but I am not good at maintaining the quality of my blogs with more posts. I cannot at times arrive easily with the ideas and I will not force them. As well, I like the comment interaction and as stated previously do not like zero comment posts personally.

Vancouver (Google Images)

B. World views

MPhil 2003

God to Blame?

In McGrath’s second chapter entitled Blaming God he mentions some prominent modern twentieth century philosophies and discusses some of the results of these world-views. He noted that atheistic communism and western liberalism had failed to deal with the harsh realities of life that had taken place in the twentieth century, particularly during World War II. Communism and liberalism removed God from the equation, however, to McGrath, it caused more evil to take place. He stated: "Belief in God is a vital restraining factor. It curbs human evil by stressing God’s condemnation of those who inflict suffering on others." McGrath (1992: 11). McGrath believed that neither communism nor western liberalism had eliminated suffering, and thus their disbelief in God was not on strong intellectual footing.

To him, the great suffering which occurred in the twentieth century indicated there was something wrong with human nature, and that many people who attempted to blame God for those woes should, instead, have looked at world philosophies such as communism and western liberalism which ignored God. McGrath stated these philosophies that overlooked God, at the same time, overlooked his love. He noted: "Occasions of history are stained by the tears of our God who was working to bring about the day when ‘there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.’ (Revelation 21:4)." McGrath (1992: 14).

I am in agreement with McGrath that the sinfulness of human nature was overlooked by communist states such as the Soviet Union. In fact, the utopia of socialism actually led to the Soviet Union committing acts of violence in great numbers against their own citizens and those of other nations.

Communism is faulty in that it depends on the state forcing equality among people. This, however, does not end the evil of poverty, for example, but simply takes away initiative from people to advance themselves economically, and gives economic and political power to a select few government and military officials. At the same time, tyranny takes place as these select few must strongly enforce the equality that they see as necessary in order for the communist state to advance.

Christianity, on the other hand, favours shared equality. By this I mean people willingly sharing some, and sometimes all, of what they possess. But the idea is not that a state or ruling counsel should dictate this, but that it should be done willingly in love. With this world view, people have the freedom to willingly help others.

Now with western liberalism, I think it can be argued that, unlike Communism, it does have some major social benefits because it still allows for individualistic human thought which can lead to creativity. When this is taken too far, however, it can be seen that without God, human creativity can only solve few problems because human beings are fallen and imperfect and will still commit evil acts. A person who does not believe in the God and follow Him, can make social progress, but this will be limited because social ethics can make him/her moral but cannot make him/her spiritual as in believing in and following Jesus Christ. A spiritual person seeking God’s guidance should, at least, be theoretically more open to loving and caring for others, to show other people the love God has shown each of them. God’s love being shown within someone should take them beyond morality to a personal concern about the spiritual state of others.

To play devil’s advocate, a critic could claim that Christianity has not solved suffering any better than Communism or especially western liberalism; however, I think McGrath is correct. A belief in God in society and better yet a spiritual relationship with Christ leads to the tempering of evil in a nation and the world. Christianity’s ultimate answer to evil comes through revelation, but at least that has historical evidence of Scripture behind it. Christians are disobedient to God, just as nonbelievers are, and this is probably part of the reason Christianity has not made more social progress. But I still agree with McGrath that Christ’s atoning work and resurrection is the only ultimate answer that remedies evil. This work has, of course, not been completely culminated, but I think the Scriptural evidence supports the idea that Christ will return to restore his creation.

Western liberalism shares some of Christianity’s positive views on sharing and even love, but it depends too much on the goodness of humanity. The twentieth century demonstrates that social evolution in humankind is good, but always limited. This is part of the reason why the advanced, modern, western world still produced a nation like Nazi Germany.

These people were cultured and socialized, but still spiritually blind.

C. The Non-Conformist of the Year Award 2011

For previous reviews please see last year's post.

2010

2011-Chucky!

Saint Chucklins are you fattergasted by this award? You deserve it by your dedication to let us state the mythical Chuckastinian Monastic Order which supports strongly libertarian political causes, honouring of thy Mother, assisting friends for free, driving around family members, booping a computer for fast cash, counting the church's cash, being a choir boy, playing the target for martial arts weapons sparring, posting 'freaky Friday' night photos of you, taken by me, for your Facebook profile, being a Mennomonk and honouring thy Mother.

Bobby Buff-10x winner
Chucky-3x winner
Documentary Man-2x winner
Jeff Jenkins-2x winner
Zombie-2x winner
Cousin Buff-1x winner
Manson-1x winner
PMH-1x winner
thekingpin68-1x winner

Something for Christian philosophers to consider as well...

Well, at least I have four earned degrees...

McGRATH, A. (1992) Bridge-Building, Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press.
McGRATH, A. (1992) Suffering, London, Hodder and Stoughton Limited.

Thoughts on Joy, Suffering and Christmas

2011-12-01T03:27:00.000-08:00

Emerald Bay, California (trekearth.com)

November 28, 2011

A. The Joy of ?

Our church brought in a guest speaker that discussed somewhat the subject of 'joy'. Philosophically and theologically this is an interesting subject for me. I thought the speaker was good and helpful and so I am not picking an argument, but in my mind with my MPhil/PhD background in freewill and determinism I do philosophize on human 'joy'. From a Christian perspective should 'joy' primarily be understood as the responsibility of human attitude and free will (what I would deduce would often be an evangelical and secular response) as opposed to 'joy' being primarily the responsibility of God to give to persons?

Browning reasons Biblical 'joy' is more than an emotion, as it combines a sense of human happiness with a state of blessedness. In the Old Testament it is marked by festivals (Deut. 12) and by settlements of grievances brought to the Temple (Psalms 43). In the New Testament he explains that 'joy' is prominent in Luke/Acts due to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which can also be seen in Galatians 5. Browning (1997: 210).

Creath Davis explains 'joy' is a delight in life that goes deeper than pain or pleasure and from a Biblical perspective would not be limited or tied to external circumstances. Davis (1999: 588). 'Joy' is given from God as a gift and can be experienced during very difficult and extreme circumstances. Davis (1999: 588). In both Testaments 'joy' is presented as sign of one being a believer and a sign in the believing community, it is a quality of life and not simply an emotional reaction or feeling. Davis (1999: 588). This 'joy' comes from God (Psalms 16, Romans 15), and is an aspect of faith and one's life with God. Davis (1999: 588). 'Joy' is also connected to weakness and suffering when it has redemptive purpose and is bringing persons to depend on God (Matthew 5 and 2 Corinthians 12). Davis (1999: 588).

Further, Davis mentions that psychologically one cannot experience 'joy' while being preoccupied with self-security, pleasure, or self-interest. Davis (1999: 588). There is a freedom that comes when God alone is the 'only adequate center for human existence, and God alone can enable persons to experience life with joyous spontaneity and to relate to others with love.' Davis (1999: 588)

From Strong. Two of the main examples of 'Joy', one from the Hebrew Bible and one from the New Testament.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

DAVIS, CREATH. (1996) ‘Joy’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.

In my conclusion I lean to the idea that 'joy' is primarily a gift from God to believers and less so something than can be developed by human means, although I would not in any way discount prayer, study, and fellowship with other believers in the process of developing personal 'joy'. The Lord does work through his people and in other ways, persons in general. From my theodicy, problem of evil and suffering research, and personal living perspective, a practical difficulty with 'joy' is when God wills suffering for what ever good (Romans 8: 28-30) is intended in one's life and these sufferings directly effect one's security, health, happiness, self-interest, pleasure, etc. Here is where I state that although the sufferer should thank God for blessings obtained (salvation in Christ, material and spiritual blessings, lack of curses, etc.), ultimately, although the person should actively be praying, and working to improve one's life, it is primarily the sovereign God's responsibility to provide the 'joy' not primarily the person's change of attitude or actions with the use of free will.

This does mean that a person may at times for a time, which is not set, be depressed or miserable, (the Biblical example of Job comes to mind perhaps) as he or she waits obediently for the Holy Spirit of God to provide 'joy' or 'joy' in greater measure.

Cernay, France (trekearth.com)

B. D. A. Carson Harsh Reality

Taken from MPhil, University of Wales, Bangor 2003 (now Bangor University)

MPhil

2. Harsh Reality

Carson began Chapter 1, First Steps, by noting stories of people who had suffered.

He stated:

The truth of the matter is that all we have to do is live long enough, and we will suffer. Our loved ones will die; we ourselves will be afflicted with some disease or other. Carson (1990: 16).

This is a cold yet a realistic statement. Suffering touches virtually every human being. If a person believes in God, yet he/she suffers, how should this individual deal with this intellectual tension? I think suffering, in one way, should be seen as a sign of human weakness, we have a fallen nature which resulted from sin. We all pay the price, and it does not always correspond to how good or evil we appear compared to our fellow human compatriots. God makes use of human suffering despite, as Scripture repeatedly says, loving us. This suffering, from a human perspective, can help people find God by reminding them of the temporary nature of human life.

As human beings, at best, no matter how much one is dedicated to God in Christ or how much one loves others, no matter how successful a person is in life, and no matter how many goods deeds are accomplished, each person perishes in a single solitary death. This is likely in old age and, as Carson stated, people may witness their loved ones dying and may suffer with disease themselves.

If God is not to be ignored concerning suffering and death as uncaring, powerless, or nonexistent, then when one thinks of God, one should also ponder on human death which exists within God’s creation. This seemingly is more productive than sweeping death under the rug philosophically, and seeking to live the best possible life, ignoring the Grim Reaper until he won’t leave! This harsh reality should be considered by anyone serious about knowing God. I think this can be a motivator to seek God and avoid sin which can be pleasurable, but in the end is destructive.

In Hebrews 9:27 it is stated: " And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement ." New American Standard Bible (1984).

Christian life on earth should be seen as temporal, but sin can be largely avoided by viewing daily life as within God’s directive, realizing judgement follows death.

Yes, all sin, but knowing that death is certain (hopefully later, than sooner) means that God’s ever present judgement awaits us. I admit that I sin but, by God’s grace, it is tempered by the harsh reality of eventual death and a certainty that an infinite, omnipotent and loving God awaits to speak to me in person for the first time. My suffering now is a reminder that this leads ultimately to death. . . sobering but effective.

CARSON, D.A. (1981) Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, Atlanta, John Knox Press.

CARSON, D.A. (1990) How Long, O Lord?, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

C. Merry Christmas

I like Christmas. When I was a child seems to me at around December 1 society and the media starting celebrating Christmas. Now with commercialism and other factors I suppose it is November 1 to after US Thanksgiving when 'Holiday Season' arrives all the way up to the first week of January. So I guess I should conform...I am ready.

D. Video

No worries the actual video.

Halloween/All Hallows Eve

2011-11-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Venice (Google Images)

November Satire and Theology post

October 30, 2011

A. Halloween/All Hallows Eve

H.F. Vos writes under the heading 'Halloween' (All Hallows Eve) that these are the names given to the October 31 celebration, the eve of the Christian festival of All Saints Day on November 1. Vos (1996: 493). All Saints Day dates back to the eighth century. Vos (1996: 493). The pagan festival of Halloween began with the Druids of Gaul (France) and Britain. The Druids reasoned that on Halloween night ghosts and witches were most likely to be at work. Vos (1996: 493). Therefore, a celebration took place. The Druids were involved in lighting bonfires and feasted on this night. Vos (1996: 493). Vos notes that pagan peoples in western Europe believed that their god could take human and animal form. Vos (1996: 493). Druid practices were eventually merged with Roman fall festival practices and all the Christian feast day. Vos (1996: 493).

BBC Religions

'All Hallows' Eve

All Hallows' Eve falls on 31st October each year, and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar. The Church traditionally held a vigil on All Hallows' Eve when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day itself.

The name derives from the Old English 'hallowed' meaning holy or sanctified and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe'en.'

Viewpoint

A view on Halloween from a fundamentalistic, very conservative evangelical perspective might be that Halloween celebrates evil, and since the Scripture states to abstain from even the every form of evil, anything to do with Halloween should be avoided. I am however, a moderate conservative.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

Page 605.

The Scripture is certainly true of course and the NASB, as it often does, does a good job of literally portraying the Greek text. Twenty-first century Christians should of course in no way be involved in any kind of Druid, Pagan, or occult like ceremonies, celebrations, games or like, on Halloween or any day of the year. That would be a form of evil that should definitively be avoided.

There is a gray/grey area in regard to dressing up in costumes I reason. I will be transparent, I have not been that interested in Halloween since I was 12 or so. Yes prior to that I was on the 31st Spider-Man or Batman and really cute, I watched out for those dreaded razor blades in the chocolate bars and 'pigged' out on a bunch of candy. I have just not been able to get interested into the 'pop' occultic nature and themes of Halloween. I remember one day in Elementary school some kids were quite upset with me that I was skipping trick or treating to go to the Canucks game as my Dad had Season tickets.

Does a Christian dressing up in a Halloween costume equate with being involved in a Druid or like pagan ceremony? I think not. One must realize that as Christmas has largely been de-Christianized of the Christian message and is largely a secular holiday and celebration, Halloween has also been largely been secularized and is no longer mainly an occultic celebration. So, if a Christian dresses up in an ghoulish costume celebrating Halloween, it is more so celebrating a secular custom than celebrating occultism. But I do acknowledge even with the pop nature of Halloween there is still a form of 'pop' occultism in a sense, which I personally as noted, do not find appealing.

As far a ministry is concerned, I live in an apartment, and so no children come by, but I generally love little children and I have thought about this quite a bit having little nieces and nephews and friends with little children. But living in a townhouse or home, if one is able bodied, I am now as a mature adult troubled with the notion of shutting the lights off and not handing out candy out to the little children. I am thinking it would be better to be known as the friendly Christian neighbour that is very kind to the children, complimenting them on their costumes and showing the love of Christ to neighbours on a secular celebration. I reason this is a far better approach than judging these children as children of the wicked world, turning the lights off and ignoring them. Again, I am not really interested in Halloween, but in Christ I am supposed to love others as myself (Matthew 22, Mark 12) and I think this a good approach.

B. Map Time

From

Daily

From

Canada

From

California

Arc De Triomphe, Paris (Google Images)

Champs Elysees, Paris (Google Images)

Eiffel Tower, Paris (Google Images)

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

VOS, H.F. (1996) 'Halloween', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

C. Funny Vids

CNN

Man tazed on US Black Friday at Walmart

Planet's Most Valuable Sports Teams 2011

2011-10-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

(Nasa image)

September 26, 2011

A. Syrian teen executed

CNN Syria

'Alhusni was only 18 when she stepped away from her Homs residence last month to buy groceries. Her family never again saw her alive. She was whisked away by Syrian security forces to coax the surrender of her activist brother, and ended up beheaded and dismembered, a neighbor, activists and human rights groups say...'

'Her older brother, Mohammed, became a well-known activist in the family's hometown of Homs in western Syria, often leading the demonstrations against embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and treating the wounded.'

The tremendous desperation and sickness of a regime to execute an eighteen year old woman largely it sounds like because of an association with her activist brother as she was rounded up off the street. According to the report she was decapitated, chopped into four parts and then burned.

(Windows Images)

B. Driving

Driving from Maple Ridge to Vancouver from home to church and back on Sunday is a spiritual challenge. I usually attempt to pray on the way there not leaving everything to do at the service or especially the Lord's Table. I confess my sins asking for cleansing and also thank the Lord for blessings and the lack of troubles in many areas. At the same time I definitely ask for changes and upgrades in my life.

1 Corinthians 11:26-34

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.

The spiritual challenge comes from many of the drivers. I actually usually find the 'slow drivers' more irritating than the 'fast drivers'. Like many drivers I drive the speed limit/spirit of the law. I drive the allowable speed limit. The fast drivers that drive by, they pass and they tend to not be a danger to me very often. The slow drivers often are more likely to be a nuisance and a potential danger because of a tendency to, for example, not move to the slow lane, and worse to often keep hitting the brakes rather than simply slow down while in traffic. One should also be maintaining a proper distance between other vehicles in order to not be tempted to over brake. What hitting the brakes does is of course trigger those pretty red rear lights and cause cars behind them to often do the same. These red lights seem to serve as hypnotic stop signs for some, and not enough seem to realize that he or she may be a tailgater which is why one often hits the brakes. This approach to driving annoys me because it slows the traffic down, often needlessly and more importantly it also increases the chances of a multi-car pile-up. I have no interest in being involved in a 1980s episode of CHIPS.

If drivers would leave braking to basically stop lights, stop signs, initial parts of sharp corners and emergencies this would make freeway, highway and street driving more efficient and safer.

It would also improve my Sunday spirituality.

Further, I am not claiming to be a 'F1 driver' but I reason many people on the road over brake because they simply lack driving skill. Sadly, these types lead me to at times a struggle with the use of the tongue, and no I am not discussing the use of Biblical tongues.

Now the people in Vancouver proper especially that the cross the street, including crosswalks without even looking at the traffic, in faith, that is another story...

I always look, I am not interested in blind faith.

(Weirdwebsites.info)

Abbotsford, BC (Keller Williams scan)

September 27, 2011

C. Planet's Most Valuable Sports Teams 2011

Forbes: Top Ten

Manchester United

$1.86 Billion: English Premier League

Dallas Cowboys

$1.81 Billion: National Football League

New York Yankees

$1.7 Billion: Major League Baseball

Washington Redskins

$1.55 Billion: National Football League

Real Madrid

$1.45 Billion: Spanish La Liga

New England Patriots

$1.37 Billion: National Football League

Arsenal

$1.19 Billion: English Premier League

New York Giants

$1.18 Billion: National Football League

Houston Texans

$1.17 Billion: National Football League

New York Jets

$1.14 Billion: National Football League

Others listed:

Philadelphia Eagles, $1.12 Billion, National Football League
Baltimore Ravens, $1. 07 Billion, National Football League
Ferrari, $1. 07 Billion, Formula 1
Chicago Bears, 1. 07 Billion, National Football League

Fifty teams are listed, most from the National Football League.

I am 'of course' once again 'shocked' there are no National Hockey League teams on the list. One would think there would be with the mighty Toronto Maple Leafs and all that expansion to the southern United States.

Image from The NewsNY.com

Vancouver Rioters and Spa Treatment/ESPN

'Spa to rioters: 'Fess up now, relax later

ESPN.com news services

Attention, Vancouver shoplifters: You could be eligible for $50 in free spa treatments.

But there is a catch: In exchange for the pampering, the recipient must turn himself in for the role played in the riots, arson and looting that followed Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.'

Man City 6@ Man Utd 1 equals worst day ever for Ferguson

As I noted on Facebook, what I respect about Manchester United and Ferguson in this case is that even though they were badly beaten at home 6-1, the Manager states 'There will be a response'. A high standard of professionalism and winning is to be maintained. I can respect this philosophical approach and many other professional sports franchises/teams that are trying to win are not trying to win at this type of level and could learn from this example.

I reason, if winning is important for the follower, Manchester United is one of the few professional sports franchises in the world worth being a devoted fan to for the reason just stated.

Flat Bible Revisited

2011-09-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

Monte Carlo (Google Images)

A. Flat Bible

Flat Bible was originally discussed as a topic Monday, September 24, 2007

I will add material to this section of this month's post.

Progressive revelation is defined as the understanding that God's self-disclosure is in progression from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96). Therefore the New Testament offers a more complete revelation from a Christian perspective. The Old Testament is to be understood in light of the fuller teaching of the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96).

Someone once asked me in person about progressive revelation and we had a discussion on Facebook. This is the revised answer I sent:

At Columbia Bible College (Mennonite) and Canadian Baptist Seminary, I was taught that the Bible is not flat, as there is progressive revelation which ended in the apostolic age. Therefore there is no need or place for Islam, Latter-Day Saints, or other continuing the Christian faith.

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 12: 24). Hughes describes it as a better covenant (Hebrews 8: 6) as the old one was inadequate not permanent. Hughes (1977)(1990: 551). The law in particular was only a shadow of good things to come. (Hebrews 10). The law cannot save as discussed in Romans 4, but persons are saved through righteousness of faith fulfilled in Christ. Galatians 2 mentions the folly of following the law as we now have Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 4-6, Jesus explains the deeper spiritual meanings of the law. The new covenant provided atonement that was 'fully adequate and everlasting in its efficacy'. Hughes (1977)(1990: 551). Christ provides 'the blood of the eternal covenant (Hebrews 13: 20)'.
Hughes (1977)(1990: 551).

The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is as valid as the New Testament, but it is often stated that one must interpret the Old Testament through the New Testament. I can agree with this concept since there is progressive revelation, but the Old Testament must be read in context, or else one risks reading the New Testament into the Old Testament. Christianity explains that the New Testament revelation of Christ/apostles does not contradict the previous revelation and instead adds to it explaining the plan of God. Islam is rejected for reasons such as the denial of key doctrines about Christ, including his deity, and the Latter-Day Saints theology is rejected for reasons such as holding to polytheism which is against Scriptural teaching. (Isaiah 43, 44, 45). There are various reasons why these other religions are rejected as well, but I mention those key points. If my concentration academically was more focused on the Hebrew Bible, I would have no problem with studying Hebrew scholars for the original context as this should be done, but I reason the New Testament can shed light on many of the older teachings.

In the Westminster Confession, Chapter XIX points out that the moral law does bind forever, even though true believers be not under law as a covenant of works. Westminster Confession (Chapter XIX). The new covenant does not contain the old covenant ceremonial laws but does contain the spirit of the same moral law. So, the same basic moral law is repeated.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

HUGHES, PHILIP. (1977)(1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646).

Monte Carlo (Google Images)

B. Aliens

In regard to a recent friendly discussion, the following is a philosophical difficulty with replacing the Biblical God or Deistic God with speculation that aliens created human beings and by default avoiding dealing with the issue of a primary cause.

Aliens existing in the physical universe of matter would likely be physical beings and would be finite. In philosophical terms a secondary cause when they commit actions.

Even if aliens from some hyper-speculative theory did create human beings, the aliens as a secondary cause would have created human beings also physical beings of finite matter, a secondary cause when they commit actions.

Therefore there would still be the need for an infinite, non-matter/non-material, primary first cause that existed prior to the beginning of finite time and matter in order to avoid a vicious regress in the process of creating the aliens.

Further:

In the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Simon Blackburn discusses ‘infinite regress’ and mentions that this occurs in a vicious way whenever a problem tries to solve itself and yet remains with the same problem it had previously. A vicious regress is an infinite regress that does not solve its own problem, while a benign regress is an infinite regress that does not fail to solve its own problem. Blackburn writes that there is frequently room for debate on what is a vicious regress or benign regress.

In The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, William Tolhurst writes that a vicious regress is in some way unacceptable as it would include an infinite series of items dependent on prior items. A vicious regress may be impossible to hold to philosophically, or it may be inconsistent. From the same volume, Raymond D. Bradley cautions that the mere existence of an infinite series is not the same as infinite regression, and is not philosophically objectionable. His first example is that every natural number (a positive integer, 1,2,3,4, …, or a non-negative integer, 0,1,2,3,4,…) has a successor that is a natural number. Bradley writes that it would not be illogical to state that each free act of consequence is a result of an act of free choice. Bradley thinks that trying to answer infinite regress by bringing in the idea of the theist’s God makes no sense.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford, University, Press.

BRADLEY, RAYMOND D. (1996) ‘Infinite Regress Argument’, in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

TOLHURST, WILLIAM (1996) 'Vicious Regress', in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

C. Atom

The smallest part of an element that can exist and consists of small dense nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons. The number of electrons equals the number of protons so the overall charge is stated to be zero. Electrons orbit around the nucleus. (61).

Oxford Dictionary of Science, (2010), Sixth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Would not an Atom and Eve cult be weird?

D. Video

Shared this one previously.

The commercial overlooks the fact many world religions have such different views on the nature of God, that they could not reasonably be expecting the same final ultimate spiritual being. Christianity is not expecting another teacher to surpass Christ, as God's work in Christ will not be surpassed.

The late Avatar Adi Da Samraj claimed to be the supremely great spiritual being. This is a false claim.

E. Jets

The new Winnipeg Jets main logo along with the main logos of the other six Canadian teams. Rumours are consistent in the media in Canada and the United States that Quebec City will be the next NHL franchise by relocation whenever that occurs, meaning Canada would have eight teams once again, its all-time high. Perhaps the Canucks can find a new team playoff time to meltdown against in the clutch. Yes, I am glad I am a Manchester United supporter.

F. Netlog and WAYN

Friends asked me to join each site, but so far I have found some of each site's membership questionable. On WAYN I have already been dealing with a Russian scammer, although she is using some newer techniques that I have not come across in years past with other scammers and now this morning via someone on Netlog here is this classic junk from 'Sweet Heart'. Enjoy.

Sites that mention:

Romancescam.com/Sweet Heart

Anti-scam/Sweet Heart

'Dear Sweet Heart
Greetings to you my dear, I am writing to you with a heart full of tears and sadness, but first I have to say compliments of the season and I'll be waiting for my email in response to my request to you, please tell me more about your car and intenssion to me if you agree to be intimate with me, My name is Miss Favour Siako i am 24 years old, but age does not matter in a real relationship, I am the only surviving daughter of my late father (Dr. Siako Adams) of Liberia, in the small town of Grand Bassa, am 5. 8tall 173cm, but I am currently residing in Dakar Senegal under asylum as a refugee, I'm a sophomore at the University of Liberia studying mass communication before the war started in my country until the death of my late father Dr S. Adams, my father was the director general of Siako Manufacturing and he was the personal advice to the former head of State ( former President of Liberia Charles Taylor) before the rebels attacked our house one early morning and killed my mom and dad in cold blood. I'm open minded girl easy, safe, hard working and caring, always keep my word. looking for someone who is honest, as I wrote in my profile to marry, no matter where it comes from and no matter their religion back tail.

I am single never married and active and I like everything he does, for example, easy and comfortable life, go to the beach, cooking, watching TV, like sports football, etc, shopping, reading newspapers and novels, walk.pls after long time I would have liked to chat with u but in this field are not allowed to go out often.

I have no relative who can now go to all my relatives ran away in the midst of war, the only person I have now is the Rev. Danny King, who is the pastor of Christ (for all Churches) here in the Camp been good to me since I got here, but I'm not living with him rather i am leaving in the women's hostel because the camp have two hostels one for men and another for women. And I use to contact you via computer Reverend Danny King here in the camp i sent and received, also here is the Reverend pastor Danny King phone number (+221-76-33-86-879) for easier to hear your voice, When you call tell the reverend pastor Danny King wants to speak to Miss Favour Siako He sent for me,

As a refugee here I have no right or privilege to any thing be it money or whatever because it is against the law of this country.I want to go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the incident that traggic lead to my being in this situation now took place.Please hear this, I have my late father's account and death certificate here with me I'll send you the letter because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money a leading financial company in which he used my name, Favour and family members, the amount involved is (Certificate of Deposit) to (U.S. $ 4m) four million U.S. dollars deposited by my late father in the bank I'm the next of kin.

So I would like to help me transfer this money to their care and from it you can send some money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come to meet with you.I kept this secret to people in camp here the only person who knows about it is the Reverend because he is like a father to me. So in the light of above i will like you to keep you and not tell anyone for fear I have lost my life and the money if people gets to know.

Remember i am giving all this information due to trust and love i deposited on you.I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, truth and working hard.
The mean time I would like you to answer me as I told you I have much to say .. If you accept and is willing to help i connect my picture here, please kindly attach your recent photo and details to contact you to answer me.

Have a nice day and think you hear me.Awaiting
Thank you my dear and take good care of himself.
A lovely lady Favour yours'

Looking through the Oxford Dictionary of Science

2011-08-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Somewhere where they receive a lot more sunny weather than Greater Vancouver...

A. Looking through the Oxford Dictionary of Science

Even as this is primarily a blog that deals with theology, philosophy of religion, Biblical studies and satire, scientific issues do arise as well and are of course important. Education and academics today do require at least at times the learning of disciplines outside of one's areas of expertise. Somewhat similarly my PhD thesis was completed within a Religion and Theology Department, but the content, as was the MPhil thesis, was as much philosophy/philosophy of religion and it was theology as it primarily dealt with the topics of the problem of evil and theodicy. As well I was required to do some research into empirical theology and social research which included statistics, and also researched how empirical theology related to science. With post viva revisions I was required to research some scientific journals on the subject of consciousness. Even without completing science course work and degrees I have done at least some science research in my academic career and reason I need to keep learning about science particularly in how it relates to the main disciplines I study. The origin of humanity is a topic/subject, for one, that can cover the disciplines of Biblical studies, theology, philosophy, and of course science.

Being quite pleased with the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy and the Oxford Dictionary of the Bible which I use, I bought on discount with damaged beat up cover the Oxford Dictionary of Science. Yes, I had to ask for the discount and all sales are final, but the price was right. Interestingly, unlike the other two texts this has no author on the cover, although there is a listing with Editors, Advisers, and Contributors provided on a credits page. I have bought other science texts during my academic career and been given other texts, but this text will be particularly helpful for blogging in its dictionary form and its size in larger than the other two Oxford volumes put together.

Oxford Dictionary of Science, (2010), Sixth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Interesting how the definition differs for entropy for example in the science text, compared to the philosophy text, a term and subject that would be discussed across disciplines even in theology at times:

From the Science Dictionary: Symbol (S) a measure of the unavailability of a systems energy to do work; in a closed system an increase in entropy is accomplished by a decrease in energy available. When a system undergoes change the entropy (S) changes by the amount equal the energy (Q) transferred to the system by heat divided by the thermodynamic temperature (T) at which this occurs. However, all real processes are to a certain extent irreversible changes and in any closed system an irreversible change is accompanied by an increase in entropy. (292).

In a wider sense entropy is interpreted as a measure of disorder, the higher the entropy, the greater the disorder and it states see the Boltzmann Formula. This is the second law of thermodynamics and involves the heat death of the universe. (292).

Simon Blackburn provides a less technical definition and agrees entropy is a property of a closed thermodynamical system. Entropy is a measure of the disorder in the system. He reasons the second law of thermodynamics states entropy always increases. Basically, a useful philosophical summation is provided. Blackburn (1996: 121).

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Also in the huge 889 page science volume:

Evolution: Interestingly the text theorized 3000 million (3 billion) years of evolution and explains that up until the middle of the 18th century there was the generally intellectually accepted concept that God created living species. The text then goes on to claim Darwinian natural selection which it states is supported by modern genetics, for example. But, it admits, and I find this quite interesting, that evolution as theory is quite controversial and needs to be firmly clarified in regard to relationships of groups above the species level (304).

All in all a useful text that I will be using as a tool for blogging.

Christian scientific site I am familiar with:

Reasons to Believe

Also Jeff Jenkins of Thoughts and Theology has been showing some clips from Exploration Films lately:

Exploration Films

B. Various

'Classic' high-pitched voice guru. No, all religions are not the same.

If you find the music annoying (one vote from me) you can of course turn the volume down on YouTube.

On the web this is noted as supposedly in India, the home of technical support for many home computer owners. Does potential electrical fire come to mind?

(Image from Amazon.com)
Thanks, Jeff

From:

The Vancouver Sun: Bert & Ernie wedding: Sesame Street says no

'Are wedding bells in the cards for Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, roommates in the iconic children's TV show who have long been rumoured to be gay?

There's an online petition at the activism website Change.org, with more than 5,000 signatures, which is calling for such a union, or for something else to happen on the show to teach kids that having a different sexual orientation is OK.

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics . . . they remain puppets and do not have a sexual orientation."'

I just heard about this on Albert Mohler's Podcast.

In regard to this article I think it is okay for kids to reason that the puppets are asexual/nonsexual. I think it is okay to let children figure it for themselves minus some political/moral agenda.

August 20, 2011

C. Age of the universe the Oxford Dictionary of Science

Having received a reasonable number of comments this month I return to the main topic. The text under this entry states that the age of the universe is the reciprocal value of the Hubble constant ( which is the rate at which the velocity of recession of galaxies increases with distance... Hubble time is a measure of age of universe assuming that expansion rate has remained constant, and it is assumed the expansion of the universe is accelerating. p 400). The Hubble constant according to the Oxford text is assumed to be 13.7 billion years old. p 18. But, it is admitted that the calculation of the Hubble constant and the age of the universe will depend of what theory of cosmology is used. They state that it is usually tied to calculations concerning the expansion of the universe arising from a big-bang theory. p. 18.

I deduce from this entry there is room for some debate in regard to the age of the universe, even from a secular scientific perspective in regard to cosmology which does overlap with the field of philosophy which of course overlaps with the field of theology.

Entitlement philosophy and an earning based philosophy

2011-07-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Belchen, Germany (trekearth.com)

A. Quebec is more deserving than Winnipeg?

I still do not consider myself an NHL fan. I am a fan of European football, Manchester United, Arsenal, and the UEFA Champions League. I am an observer of the NHL and not a follower like I was when I was younger. I still am not impressed by how the League is run, especially in regard to franchise location, although I like how the League is seemingly being somewhat forced into reevaluating that philosophy and recently relocated Atlanta to Winnipeg which had lost its team in 1996. Winnipeg lost its team due to a variety of economic reasons and the fact it had an old outdated arena and no prospects for a new one, or a local owner that wanted to continue losing money. It now has a newer arena and a billionaire co-owner. The League also has revenue sharing and a salary cap. Quebec also lost its team one season prior to Winnipeg for similar reasons including an old outdated arena and no prospects for a new one, and no local owner that wanted to continue losing money. When Winnipeg received Atlanta via relocation the Mayor of Quebec reportedly stated in the Montreal Gazette:

Montreal Gazette

'"Today we should be thrilled. The best thing that could happen to us is to see Winnipeg get its team. Usually, we could be next on the list," the mayor told reporters.'

The idea having been implied by the League which has also been discussed by the media in both Canada and the United States is that if Quebec, like Winnipeg builds a 15, 000 seats NHL size/type arena it will very likely be next in line to receive a franchise should one become available.

However, former Quebec Nordiques or Nordique great and member of the European Parliament Peter Stastny took a negative route according to the Winnipeg Free Press:

Winnipeg Free Press

'BRUSSELS, Belgium -- With apologies to Winnipeg, former Quebec Nordiques great Peter Stastny says Quebec City should have been first to see the return of the NHL.

Stastny even admits he was less than thrilled to learn that the Manitoba capital got an NHL club before Quebec City.

"Personally, I was sad," Stastny said Wednesday, adding that Quebec was more deserving of the distinction.'

Further

'Despite Stastny's assessment, Winnipeg had several advantages over its Quebec rival.

The Manitoba capital has a larger population and a completed, modern arena -- built mainly with private cash.'

My take is that, not knowing his heart (motives) of course, is that because he played for Quebec and because the NHL Quebec team, not the WHA team, did generally better than Winnipeg on the ice, he may think it sad that Quebec did not receive a franchise back first, and that Quebec should have received this distinction first.

This type of thinking comes across as entitlement philosophy as opposed to an earning based philosophy. Let us face it, entitlement philosophy it is often associated with both Canada and Europe more so than the United States, although it does exist there also. Winnipeg builds the 15, 000 plus seat/type NHL arena owned by suitable people that could own an NHL club in 2004 and in 2011 and Quebec still has not, although it is being planned and it does have suitable ownership. Winnipeg was in a position to purchase and properly support a franchise, Quebec was not.

Therefore, Stastny is philosophically mistaken.

Further, as side issues, I hope Quebec does receive either the next relocated franchise or the next one after that, if not Southern Ontario receives it. Actually when I a kid, I received Stastny's autograph, he was a nice man.

Political map of Canada, please click for magnification.

B. Rights

I tried to find a good definition of Entitlement in one of my philosophy texts but there was nothing suitable, and so I went to the 'Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy' which I used for my PhD and it is reliable and it uses the term entitlements is the context of defining rights. Rights are a type of entitlement by this definition and so I suppose are a useful example here.

Stanford

'Rights are entitlements (not) to perform certain actions, or (not) to be in certain states; or entitlements that others (not) perform certain actions or (not) be in certain states.'

Chevreuse, France (trekearth.com)

The West? Is this tied to an attitude of entitlement too often?

C. The Work of Christ as Remedy to the Problem of Evil

From my MPhil (Wales) of 2003 Edited

I think, however, the philosophical discussion needs to be complemented by the theological remedy. I can understand Alister McGrath’s perspective on suffering as in many post-Enlightenment works the faith has been under attack because of the problem of evil. The attacks were of a philosophical nature and thus dealt with so, but ultimately the defence of Christianity comes down to divine revelation. McGrath stated in Iustitia Dei:

'The central teaching of the Christian faith is that reconciliation has been effected between and God and sinful man through Jesus Christ, and that this new relation between God and man is a present possibility for those outside the church, and a present actuality for those within its bounds. McGrath (1986: 1).'

Since to McGrath this is the central teaching, it makes sense in apologetics featuring the problem of evil, that the work of Jesus Christ in atonement which includes restoration and reconciliation, must be central. He thus thinks discussions on the problem of evil that do not deal with this in strong fashion, are lacking. Suffering was written to comfort those struggling with the problem of evil and to inform them that ultimate victory over suffering will be had through Jesus Christ.

McGRATH, A. (1986) Iustitia Dei, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

McGRATH, A. (1992) Bridge-Building, Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press.

McGRATH, A. (1992) Suffering, London, Hodder and Stoughton Limited.

Interestingly, those in Christ are entitled to punishment (Romans 1-3) but the atonement is for sin and the elect are in Christ (Romans 8, Ephesians 1), and those in Christ are saved by grace through faith unto good works.

D. Satirical look at career prospects

That job is in the tank...

Larry Potter?

Match I attended with Uncle Chucky

Thank you to Philip for sending this to me.

No Doomsday or Tombsday

2011-06-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

May 26, 2011

A. Doomsday/Tombsday (or sadly was it Dumbsday?)

Uncle Chucklins sent me this link that also contains a video concerning Harold Camping:

IBTimes San Francisco

'May 24, 2011 8:46 PM EDT

The failed Doomsday prophet Harold Camping, the president of Family Radio who raised over $80 million of donations over the past five years, said he has no intention of giving any money back to those who have donated for his false Doomsday campaign.'

The article notes the network has 66 stations worldwide with Internal Revenue Service filings revealing the non-profit group worth $72 million dollars.

'Camping has repeatedly announced in the public that the Doomsday will take place on May 21, 2011 when 200 million people will Rapture and the remaining people will go through series of natural disasters, including earthquakes that would make Japan's recent earthquakes “look like a Sunday school picnic in comparison,” until October 21, 2011 when the world will be destroyed completely. Basing his calculation on Bible verses, Camping said he was, “without any shadow of a doubt it (Doomsday) is going to happen.”'

In the article it appears he has no intentions of returning any donations.

I noted on my other blog previously that this was a false prediction, I stated, edited:

thekingpin68 February 2011

'I saw two of these signs locally today, finally.

As I stated on Facebook. I reason this represents false prophecy. It is from Harold Camping of Family Radio, California.

In this rare case a friend wanted me to publicly make a comment because the billboard signs were local and very public and so I posted on Facebook prior to Blogger...

Matthew 24: 34: 41 NASB

34"Truly I say to you, (AS) this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

35"(AT)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36"But (AU) of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

37"For the (AV) coming of the Son of Man will be (AW) just like the days of Noah.

38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, (AX) marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that (AY)Noah entered the ark,

39and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the (AZ) coming of the Son of Man be.

40"Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

41"(BA) Two women will be grinding at the (BB) mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

Also in Matthew 24: 24, Jesus warned against false Christs and false prophets that would show great signs and wonders, and if possible even mislead the elect.'

Further today:

H.L. Ellison states that the time of second coming is unknown except to the Father, but this does not mean there will not be clear signs before it. Ellison (1986: 1146). R.T. France reasons that date of the parousia (second coming/advent) is unknown to human beings and to angelic beings and even to the Son. A limitation of Jesus' earthly knowledge as human, although he is still both God/man. France (1985)(2001: 347).

Camping when he predicts anything rapture related is not merely suggesting signs, as many of us in the Christian community do, but is going beyond on that into the error of false prediction and false prophecy.

I do not know the man's motives but he would have millions of reasons to have bad motives. But only God can judge his heart properly...or mine.

ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Matthew’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

FRANCE, R.T. (1985)(2001) Matthew, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans.

B. Calvinism

Blackburn page 53.

I have quoted secular philosopher Simon Blackburn a fair amount on my blogs and within my Wales MPhil and PhD theses. I find him a very useful philosopher and scholar. I am Reformed and basically hold to TULIP, and of course this too would need to be defined and debated. Since I have Reformed Baptist leanings although I am a member of a PCA church while in Canada, I consider myself more so Reformed than Calvinist or Calvinistic.

I suppose Blackburn's definition is basically largely correct although in regard to freedom Calvin does note...

If freedom is opposed to coercion, I both acknowledge and consistently maintain that choice is free and I hold anyone who thinks otherwise to be a heretic. If, I say, it were called free in this sense of not being coerced nor forcibly moved by an external impulse, but moving of its own accord, I have no objection. Calvin (1543)(1996: 68).

What Calvin seemingly opposed theologically and philosophically was libertarian free will, as he reasoned that a person with a corrupt nature would make choices via that nature. In the 'Introduction' to Calvin's The Bondage and Liberation of The Will the author A.N.S. Lane states that ' Calvin argues even the best of human works are tainted by human sin'. Introduction (xxi). A fallen human being was of a corrupt human nature and would always commit actions accordingly. Because of the sinful nature continual resulting sinful thoughts and actions could not be avoided by libertarian choice. However, a person was not forced or coerced by an outside force to commit acts that he or she would then be held morally accountable for.

To further clarify, this does not mean a person with a corrupt sinful nature will always sin, a particular sin, so, for example a person could resist a temptation, but the person will always be sinful.

For the Christian, being regenerated, born again (John 3), is the process by which God begins to work good in the person which culminates in the resurrection. At the resurrection, the taint of sin is removed from the human spirit/body unity. In contrast to human wickedness from a corrupt nature, Calvin noted goodness results from the grace of the work of the Holy Spirit. Calvin (1543)(1996: 115). This spiritual work starts the transformation is the elect.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford, University, Press.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

LANE, A.N.S. (Introduction) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

C. Satirical look at career prospects

I have between 150-200 CVs out this year for teaching positions at colleges, Universities, seminaries, and positions in regard to media/radio and publishing. But I suppose I need to consider my options outside of my four degrees (and future academic writing such as journals and books)...

Photo via email from Philip Hayes

One could start an international Yarsel business.

Some inspirational statements within my academic career

2011-05-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

Conwy Gardens, Wales 2001 (thekingpin68)

Update

I have reposted this article for May (May 1). It was originally published April 25, but I have added more statements in May. As I have noted presently on my other blog, thekingpin68, I am going to try to write one post per month per blog (thekingpin68 and satire and theology) and I will attempt to place more than one section/article in each post. So two posts per month overall, with always the possibility of more.

I am not personally interested in a 'Twitter' like short blog approach with several monthly posts. Although I admit some have success with it.

Thank you to you loyal readers including the anonymous ones. Commenters, followers and links also appreciated of course. Cheers.

Big D, has stated I should put a post together with inspirational statements from my nearly twenty years of academic education.

These will be paraphrased since I do not walk around with a note pad, recorder, or personal assistant. The dates will also be estimated.

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor J

'I don't have time to read fiction because there is too much non-fiction for me to read.'

I have largely had to live by this as with my four degrees I have spent a lot time studying Biblical Studies, Theology, and Philosophy of Religion as well as dabbling in Statistics, Social Research, Psychology and Science, and there has not been much time to read fiction.

That is if I wanted to have any kind of social life outside of reading.

Which I do.

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor J

'Looking through both tears of despair and tears of joy, one cannot see the truth very clearly'.

Profound.

I doubt this is true in every case. I tend to think that at times with increased emotions the brain becomes more active and thoughts can become more clear as long as one remains controlled.

I can grant, however, that with intense out of control emotions leading to tears, yes, objectivity will very likely be impaired.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1997-1998: Theology Professor R

'When I am asked to speak at a funeral and I am not reasonably sure if the deceased knew the Lord, I state that the Lord is a perfect and just judge'.

I think that is a good approach.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1997-1998: Theology Professor R

'There is no point having you students write term papers because at your level you have nothing significant to add'.

I was fine with this comment. I was looking at this pragmatically. I was inspired by the pragmatism. We were taking Theology I and Theology II at a Masters level together at nights over several hours for a few weeks. I certainly did not want to add term papers to that agenda! The Professor was not liked by all but I still like and respect him and my marks were high and I learned a fair amount.

I never sold-out my Christian faith and philosophy academically, but I have always been very pragmatic when it comes to academics as well. I discuss this in my e-book.

The University of Manchester 1999-2000: Advisor and Professor P

'I have never met an animal like you.'

This unfortunately makes me think of the poppy song called 'You're a strange animal'.

This statement was in the context of this 'tutor' wanting me to change my views in regard to the problem of evil, theodicy and the nature of God in order for me stay within the theology and religion department. I was soon forced to leave and he did not want me there in the first place. The person that had accepted me was away on the Continent for a year.

I was soon inspired to succeed at Wales.

Wales University 2000: Advisor and Professor W

Via a phone conversation...

'The only advice I will give you concerning women is to date someone that will attend the same church as you'.

This I think is vitally very good advice which I will always follow.

Wales University 2000: Advisor and Professor W

'Liberals have taken advantage of conservatives in the British academic system for 40 years and I am sick of it'.

True enough and I experienced this, but I was inspired with God's help to work hard and succeed anyway within they system by the rules without compromising my worldview.

I managed to meet Theologian John R.W. Stott very briefly after he spoke at a church in Manchester. I explained to him that I was working on a PhD on the problem of evil. He said to me...

John Stott 2001: Speaker

'You are a very brave man'.

Turns out with all I went through he was correct.

The other day at church I bought one of his books. I was advised not to cite him in my PhD as he was not considered academic enough at Wales. At the very end of the book 'Basic Christianity' Stott explains that a Christian should follow Christ wholly and unreservedly in service. Stott (1958)(2009: 156). I will not claim that for myself in a perfect sense, but I will state that I did serve the Lord in a sacrificial sense in the UK and in my academic career.

Also at church the other day, I bought a book from Arthur W. Pink, a theologian I cited in my PhD. The book I bought is 'The Attributes of God'. He states:

Arthur W. Pink 1975: Theologian and Author

'Here is an encouragement to prayer. There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God, since he knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. Pink (1975)(2009: 23).

The Lord hears the prayers of his people, and answers within his will. I can have that peace, as can others in trusting in the Lord. This does not guarantee happiness in regard to an issue that is being prayed on, but at least there can be peace that the Lord has heard the prayer.

John 14:6 (New American Standard Bible)

6Jesus said to him, "I am (A)the way, and (B)the truth, and (C)the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

This has always been important theologically and philosophically for me. Certainly Christianity does not have all truth, and other many other worldviews and religions have truth, but if Christianity is essentially true the claims Christ made on this point are essential.

David J. Ellis describes Christ as the vital link between the heavenly and earthly realms. There is no salvation apart from his teaching and Jesus as a person cannot be separated from what he does. Ellis (1986: 1254).

I will add that having studied various worldviews at secular Universities I reason the Christian worldview is the most true.

ELLIS, DAVID, J. (1986) 'John', in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PINK, ARTHUR, W. (1975)(2009) The Attributes of God, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids.

STOTT, JOHN, R.W. (1958)(2009) Basic Christianity, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids.

I may add some more statements to this post as they come to mind.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1998-1999: Biblical Studies Professor from South Africa

'Class (Closs) when writing an exam do your best and do God's best'.

This professor was nice enough to introduce to me to the department at Manchester. Too bad it did not work out...

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor K

'If you use a better grade of paper you are more likely to receive an outright 'A' in my course'.

Yes this was the case. I was using the standard academic grade paper but I went out and purchased higher grade paper for my printer just for my World Religions and World History courses with this Professor. In his defence, and I wrote him this by email this year, his technical preparations foreshadowed some of types technical things expected of my theses writing in Britain several years later.

John Calvin 1543: Theologian

'All things are subject to his power, and so there is no created thing which does not, either of its own accord or under coercion, obey his will. Accordingly everything that happens happens of necessity, as he had ordained. Satan too and all the wicked are submissive to his authority, so that they cannot move beyond what he has commanded, for they are constrained by his hand as though by a bride or a halter, so that by now he restrains them, since it pleases him to do so, and now he drives them on and guides them to execute his judgements.' Calvin (1543)(1996: 39).

In my MPhil and PhD theses I take the compatibilistic position that significantly free thoughts and actions that one would be held morally accountable for by God would not be forced or coerced. Human sin, in a sense, is not forced or coerced upon a person by God or any outside force.

Therefore, human sin can be traced to human corruption (Romans 1-6) and sinful thoughts and a limited free will leading to sinful choices, all within the will of God.

So, these would be appear to be the thoughts and more clearly actions of 'its own accord' Calvin was discussing.

Further, I admitted in my Doctorate that not all human actions were significantly free if forced/coerced and that not all human actions were morally significant if same.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

How can I not be inspired by Chuck?

Conwy Overview, Wales 2001 (thekingpin68)

My 'Estate': May 18, 2011 at a prayer time (thekingpin68)

A Timeline of Dr. Russell Norman Murray's academic history

2011-04-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Byrne Road Cactus Club, Burnaby BC

Photo by Trevor Epp (April 2, 2011)

I was called 'The Don' and thekingpin.

Photo by Dave Murray (April 2, 2011)

Thanks for the cake, Chuck.

A Timeline of Dr. Russell Norman Murray's academic history by Chucky with assistance from thekingpin with some of the funny bits especially.

PhD Graduation Party April 2, 2011. Byrne Road, Cactus Club Cafe, Burnaby, British Columbia

Thanks to friends and family for the excellent PhD Graduation Party at Byrne Road, Cactus Club.

Thank you to Cactus Club, Byrne Road as well. Professional with first-rate food and service as it has been with every Cactus Club Cafe I have been to.

Dr. Russ Murray:)

Chucky...

(~1987) Russ becomes a fan of cult expert Dr. Walter Martin - the flame is kindled. He realizes there is more to ministry than Ernest Angley, Peter Popoff and Oral Roberts.

(1989) Russ attends a Christian college & careers bible study and makes some friends who notice and encourage his passion for apologetics. Russ makes fun of his friends by drawing comic strip stories about them and others. His friends Chuck and Bobby are easy targets. Bobby shows his muscles off for the girls at Bible school.

(1990) Russ decides to quit insurance and call center work and pursue an academic career in Biblical studies/theology/philosophy, starting with Columbia Bible College. Russ becomes acquainted with the Mennonite belief system that his goofy pal Chucky was raised with. This system is soon rejected for Reformed Theology. Sorry, Gerry. Russ hangs with Bobby Buff at school. They almost always skip chapel and play foosball. Russ takes classes from and befriends Chucky's relative, Gerry. Uncle Gerry mentors Russ and has a theory.

(1995) Russ completes his Bachelor of Arts degree. First trip to Britain with Chucky. Travelling by train and bus. Russ gets a sore toe in the Cotswolds. Chucky misreads the bus schedule and after failed attempt to hitchhike back to Stratford, asks a local to call a taxi. Russ has to have toe surgery in Birmingham. Chucky meets David Forbes, and eats haggis and black pudding at Brian Forbes' place. David keeps us up all night with crazy wonderful stories and then puts in a full day driving the double decker bus. Russ relaxes at the Giants' Causeway in northern Ireland. Chucky stops a crazy drunk lady from jumping into the River Liffey in Dublin. Russ used some of his counselling from Bible School and was told to "F off". Russ goes to Canadian Baptist Cemetary (part of ACTS at TWU campus) for his first masters. First attempt at focusing on theodicy. Russ becomes well-acquainted with the TWU photocopier.

(1997) Russ completes his MTS degree. Lack of support from some lovely baptist professors at ACTS drives Russ to aim for a PhD. Mega 2-part vacation - California to see Rush with Chucky, Greg D. and biological cousin Colin, then 2nd Britain trip with Chucky to check out schools. Looking for CD shops in San Francisco, we find ourselves in Castro district, by accident. The gay capital of the world. The Rush show was enjoyed by all. Later we would find a high quality recording of the very same concert. Post-show rendezvous was difficult, especially with no cell phones, but successful. Cousin Colin departs in mysterious fashion. We are ditched. We are not sure if Colin headed back to Castro. Greg D takes bus from Seattle and Russ and Chucky fly to London. Russ and Chucky rent a car and deal with the stress of trying to drive on the left and navigate out of central London to get to Cambridge. Chucky directs Russ down a one way street the wrong way. Schools visited: U. of London, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol. Russ recalls a stuck-up guy at London: "I don't know that your 1st class Christian honours are not our 3rd class honours."

(1999) Russ accepted for MPhil/PhD program at Manchester. Russ attends Manchester, discovers British bias against North American theological training, labelled as fundamentalist. Advisor was away at Germany for year. A source, with a similar name ;) tells me Prof. Jantzen, of Manchester, had it in for TWU students and she used to attend, and so she wanted me out. Prof. Pailin ended up being a real Pailin in the ass. Leaving his flat for a short trip back to Canada, Russ returns to find his Manchester flat burglarized. Conflicts at Manchester lead Russ to attempt switching to Nazarene Theological College (also in Manchester). Nazarene is blocked by their relationship with Manchester, politics force Russ to search for another school.

(2000) In despair about his situation, Russ sends out emails to a few other potential schools, prays, and the following day receives a call from Dr. William Kay at University of Wales, which offers a distance learning PhD. But must first complete a British MPhil degree. Russ started the MPhil while in Manchester. Did Chapter 1 in the UK. Chucky comes over from Belgium to visit at Christmas time, and Russ and Chucky are attacked downtown, Russ getting bottled. UK doctor attempts to fix the nose by hand, makes it worse. Nasal and dental reconstructive surgery were done after returning to Canada.

(2001) Russ works from home, and rekindles his relationship with the TWU photocopier. Russ learns statistics, as advisor (William Kay) has statistical background and they decide a survey approach to theodicy would be unique and interesting.

(2003) Russ completes the MPhil for U. of Wales with no revisions, despite having to deal with annoying vitreous floaters and sleep apnea related fatigue. Sleeping 12 hours a days to do 12 hours of work, including thesis writing and blogging.

(2004) Russ begins blogging, starting with thekingpin68 blog, with posts on various theological topics, and beautiful scenic photos of places around the world. A guy named "Jeff" becomes an early fan and voluminous writer, also providing occasional humourous photoshopped images. An annual feature is the “non-conformist of the year”, selected among Russ' many nicknamed friends. Bobby Buff is the 10-times winner. Russ begins work on the PhD.

(2006) Russ adds a second blog, satireandtheology. Today both blogs receive about 15,000 pages views a month combined. First PhD advisor (Mark) advises Russ to avoid a philosophical approach. Mark leaves the University; Russ is assigned another advisor (Rob). There is a long delay between advisors. Rob wanted way more work - lots of additions. Rob then leaves for another school (Chester).

(2009) Russ goes to Wales and impresses the examiners with his thesis defense (viva). The examiners ask for a more philosophical approach and revisions that took another eight months.

(2010) Russ finally gets word that his PhD revisions have been accepted. University of Wales, Lampeter is involved in merger with Trinity University College. The merged school is called University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The merger slows up processing of the doctorate. Russ' doctorate was basically lost and was only found when he emailed the top three persons at TSD and they put pressure on the office to get it done. Diploma arrives in the mail with stamps from both University of Wales and University of Wales, Lampeter. Fortunately it is not bent like his Silver Surfer comic book. (2011) Russ develops a following among young, female Brazilian bloggers. Also some from Spain and Argentina.

Photo by Dr. Russ Murray (April 2, 2011)

BA, MTS, MPhil, PhD (Order on wall, PhD, up BA, down MTS, MPhil)
My wall completed after my PhD graduation party.
Photo by Dr. Russ Murray

Thank you to Philip Hayes for the last three images from Icanhasmotivation.com

Totalitarianism

2011-03-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Libya, desert oasis (Google images)

Libya, is of course in the news much lately.

CIA

Libya

'Government type'

'Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state'

In other words, a state theoretically governed by the people through local councils, but in actuality these councils answer to an authoritarian state. This type of state is also described philosophically as dictatorship and totalitarian.

Blackburn defines totalitarianism as a principle of government by which all institutional and private arrangements are controlled by the government/state. Autonomous groups and associations do not exist and as well there does not exist legally recognized private/public distinctions. Blackburn (1996: 379).

Philosophically, some possible implications for the Christian Church in a State if Blackburn's definition is followed closely or somewhat closely:

The Church could be made illegal and forced underground.

The Church could be heavily controlled by government authorities leading to a corruption of theology and practice.

The Church could be influenced by government authorities leading to some compromises and perhaps corruption in theology and practice.

It is possible the Church could be allowed relative freedom by government authorities to truly practice Biblical standards, but this historically seems less likely.

Therefore, philosophically, Christians should politically oppose totalitarian forms of government.

The objection could be made from the critic that the culminated Kingdom of God/Heaven will not be a democracy but as a Kingdom will therefore be totalitarian. However:

God shows love to his people. (John 3).

God elects and atones those in Christ by grace through faith. (Ephesians 1-2).

The new heaven and new earth of resurrected believers, (Revelation 21-22) we will be ruled by an omnipotent, perfectly holy God, although Christ will be king.

I therefore, do not reason Christ/God will be a dictator.

There are other very serious reasons of course for Christians to oppose totalitarianism as well, such as human rights, and other.

The issue of military force to battle totalitarian regimes is complex and needs to be looked at and reviewed in each case.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford, University, Press.

Murzuq, Libya (trekearth.com)

The Sahara Desert, Jalu, Libya (trekearth.com)

THE END

Keeping with the sand theme...

My dear Mother sent me some photos from Maho Beach of Sint Maarten on the Dutch side. The Princess Juliana International Aiport is next to the beach...

This is actually where they drop off those packaged peanuts for the beach buffs.

That guy is classic. 'This is my vacation!'

Goofy email I received:

'Get back to me if Interested!!!

I have an orphanage project for you worth US$14,000,000.00. get back to me via email on (deleted@qatar.io) for more details.
Mr. Newton Hannington.'

PhD Viva experience

2011-03-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

Solva, Pembrokeshire, Wales (trekearth.com)

Solva, Pembrokeshire, Wales (trekearth.com)

As my April 2 unofficial local PhD Wales gradation approaches, I thought I would for a few reasons, including as a public service to PhD students worldwide, present a fairly short post 'PhD Viva experience'. I do receive occasional emails on the issue. I hope I can assist some people.

The day prior to the Viva, I was sitting in my underwear (of all things) in my bed at a quite nice local Bed and Breakfast reading my Viva notes ranging from human consciousness, statistics/research methods, to theodicy, the problem of evil, free will, determinism, gratuitous evil, atheism, etc. All of sudden I heard a lady hammering on my door yelling. I thought, crazy British lady! And this was inside a building, downstairs, early in the morning. I had lived in Manchester for two years from 1999-2001 and are there are some 'characters' and so this explains my 'horrible attitude'. The lady was actually the very kind Welsh lady co-owner stating, 'Mr Murray urgent call from Canada, hurry'. Then I thought, I am gone less than a week and something has gone wrong already. Oh well, Mom and I agreed I needed to stay and get this Viva done. Turns out it was my good buddy from Manchester just wondering when I would be done with my business there in Wales so I could find a way to struggle with buses and trains to get to Northern England. Yes, the nice lady could not tell a Manchester accent from a Canadian one. My friend and I did not want some 'silly PhD Viva' to hold us from seeing football for too long. I mean a PhD Viva versus Manchester United at Old Trafford, come on, and my friend is an Arsenal supporter and he still went with me.

My advisors at Wales were very professional and knew enough about the topic of theodicy and the problem of evil, primarily philosophical and secondarily theological academically, in my opinion, that for the sake of originality it needed to be approached with empirical theology which included research methods and statistics and so questionnaires and surveys. The PhD thesis also included practical theology for originality. My skill-set unlike my advisors was more of a philosophical theologian and I actually wished to not only deal with more philosophical theology but more philosophy of religion. I had been learning more philosophy on the side since my time at Trinity Western University and Canadian Baptist Seminary. However, much of my philosophical work ended up edited out by the advice of my advisors.

Once all the revisions were done with my advisor at the time, he was pleased with the work and he reasoned, but could not promise, I would probably have few revisions. At the Viva, an internal philosopher of religion was brought in and an external theologian from London. They wanted more philosophical input such as review and argumentation concerning different ways of looking at the omnipotence of God for example within the work, and more philosophical discussion on certainty. Once we discussed issues at the Viva, they understood as a philosophical theologian and philosopher of religion I understood the concepts but the thesis had been somewhat guided differently. So, I was not happy with eight months revisions (as it turned out), as I would have liked to written a more of philosophical thesis in the first place. I was not angry with my advisors, but was angry with system.

If part A of the system with advisors asks for example, a, b, and c, to pass and part B of the system with the reviewers at the Viva asks for a, b, d, e to pass then there is differences with the approach.

The advisors required a thesis with an empirical/practical emphasis.

The reviewers required a more philosophical thesis.

The University wants successful PhD students, in general terms, as do all basically establishments.

Therefore:

There should be a more consistent approach within the PhD thesis review system.

Further:

My suggestion is to have the advisor as the internal reviewer and simply weed out students that are not likely going to pass prior to the Viva process.

The reviewers stated I demonstrated I knew the philosophical material lacking in the initial pre-Viva/pre-finalized version by my ability to discuss, debate/argue.

But, I truly feel for someone that is very academically book smart and does everything they are told to by their advisors, for example, a,b, and c and then run into reviewers that want a, b, d, and e, that is not a good speaker or debater. Does he or she perhaps end up with an MPhil? That would mean he or she would perhaps fail. I thank the Lord he gave me the skill-set and help to get through this glorified minefield.

On the other hand, it is an honour to have a PhD from Wales.

By the way, with the British system, the MPhil can be earned, prior to a PhD, as part one of the research thesis program, as I earned it, or instead of as a scaled down thesis.

Conwy Castle, Wales 2001 (Russ Murray)

Conwy Gardens, 2001 Wales (Russ Murray)

I thought of a new name for a modern denomination...

Me Church International

German football/soccer manager along with player fake injuries. A classic I posted previously.

Another classic manager/actor from this blog's past, this time from Colombia. This involved a riot looks like, sadly.

The Elite

2011-02-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

Cha Grande, Brazil (trekearth.com)

A family friend, the same family friend from thekingpin68 post 'The Battle of Ricky's: Dr. Kingpin and The Demon Chaser' wanted my professional opinion as a theologian and philosopher of religion on this topic, which by the way is not a particular interest for me. But, I suppose it may be important.

I was given the DVD series to copy to my hard drive within two days and then it was to be returned.

It is produced by the The Prophecy Club and The Prophecy Club.com

The DVD is Lindsey Williams 'The Elite Speak'

The CD is Lindsey Williams 'Plans of the Elite'.

I have since found the DVD series on You Tube and posted.

Mr.Williams states he worked on Alaskan pipeline in the 1970s as a chaplain. He knew two in-charge persons which he calls members of the elite. He claims the elite economically run the world.

He states today there is a new agreement between Russia and China with Russia supplying China with energy in an exclusive manner. He therefore reasons Russia and China are basically most important in the world scene for America.

Mr. Williams then launches into a patriotic presentation on how many American companies now manufacture their products in other countries. He states that the elitists are responsible for this and the resulting US job losses. He reasons this has been a betrayal by the US political elected officials of the American people.

He claims China's economy will be 40% larger than the US economy by 2040. He explains the US has more debt than rest of the world combined.

Mr. Williams reasons by 2012 the US dollar will be dead. The elitists have the Devil's Messiah and he ties this into the future antichrist of the Bible. The only way the elitists could make future slaves of the American people was to bring evolution into school, take prayer out of school and to get rid of the Christian God. He states that several counties in the US have ordinances that if there is a single complaint against a church that a church can be shut down. Eventually every single church not in compliance with the Devil's Messiah in the United States will be shut down.

He suggests that one invest in gold and silver, the currency of the elite.

Mr. Williams states that one should pay close attention to the price of oil as the higher that becomes the worse things could be for Americans.

The major mortgage crisis will become worse. He suggests that Americans should stay out of debt. With the government bailout the elite will end up owning all commercial and domestic/residential mortgages in the USA.

He urges his listeners to trust in Jesus Christ.

He appears to be a King James Version only Bible supporter.

He explains that the elite are not of any ethnic group as some would expect.

My comments:

1.Thank you to my friend for providing me with this information. In a sense, knowledge is power.

2. I believe that billionaires that run corporations have very strong influences on economies, governments, and the markets. Is that a world-wide elitist conspiracy? Not sure. Not convinced.

3. A Russia-China pact and a weakening United States is a potential threat to Western democracy in my opinion.

4. With all due respect to my much loved American readers, links, followers and friends, the United States in not the only democratic country in the world here that matters but Mr. Williams acts like it is. He offends me a little as a Canadian/British intellectual. But, I do think the United States should protect its jobs and economy and its freedom, but I think other Western countries should as well!

5. Whether the antichrist is a system only (my pastor's view for example) or a system and a person, which seems quite possible as the man of lawlessness of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, it would seem many of the world's wealthy and powerful would be enlisted by the antichrist. So, in the future the elite, so to speak, of all sorts will follow the antichrist, but so will many of the masses.

6. Good to see that he is not stating a 'Jewish elite' for example, exists. The elite are not an ethnic group.

7. Concerning the King James Version. There were English versions before it. There are later versions based on possible earlier manuscripts. It is 'a' version.

8. Good to see the gospel preached.

Majority Text

NT Manuscripts

Sorate, Bolivia (trekearth.com)

Andes, Bolivia (trekearth.com)

From What's My Blog Rated?

satire and theology

thekingpin68

February 19, 2011

Yesterday I was trying to clean up a mess from the day before as I had received a near mint book shoved and bent in my mail box by Canada Post, so now only a Fine. Canada Post does not want to take responsibility...we shall see! They want me to go after the sender. I see this as morally unethical and immoral. As I was leaving their parking lot in my vehicle I was rear-ended and now the bumper needs replacing. I was angry for about thirty seconds and then as the red truck approached I greeted the man with a 'Good Afternoon'. He admitted fault. My bumper is destroyed…for the fourth time. Each time I have not been at fault officially. I filed a claim online yesterday. We shall see. My poor ol’ Mom was jolted up a bit, as I was taking her shopping.;)

No, the man in the red truck had nothing to do with the elite.

PMH sent me this, thank you.

Islam and estimated world population growth

2011-02-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Austin, Texas (trekearth.com)

January 30, 2011

I came across this article in The Economist from January 27, 2011. I present segments of it in quotations and comment.

the economist

From The Economist

'"The Future of the Global Muslim Population”, produced by the Pew Research Centre, a non-profit outfit based in Washington, DC, reckons Muslim numbers will soar from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030. In other words, from 23.4% to 26.4% of the global total.

At the heart of its analysis is the ongoing effect of a “youth bulge” which peaked in 2000. In 1990 Islam’s share of the world’s youth was 20%; in 2010, 26%. In 2030 it will be 29% (of 15-to-29-year-olds). But the Muslim world is slowly heading towards paunchiness: the median age in Muslim-majority countries was 19 in 1990. It is 24 now, and will be 30 by 2030. (For French, Germans and Japanese the figure is 40 or over.) This suggests Muslim numbers will ultimately stop climbing, but later than the rest of the world population."

The article concerning Europe and North America

'The total Muslim share of Europe’s population is predicted to grow from 6% now to 8% in 2030: hardly the stuff of nightmares. But amid that are some sharp rises. The report assumes Britain has 2.9m Muslims now (far higher than the usual estimates, which suggest 2.4m at most), rising to 5.6m by 2030. As poor migrants start families in Spain and Italy, numbers there will rocket; in France and Germany, where some Muslims are middle-class, rises will be more modest—though from a higher base. Russia’s Muslims will increase to 14.4% or 18.6m, up from 11.7% now (partly because non-Muslims are declining). The report takes a cautious baseline of 2.6m American Muslims in 2010, but predicts the number will surge by 2030 to 6.2m, or 1.7% of the population—about the same size as Jews or Episcopalians. In Canada the Muslim share will surge from 2.8% to 6.6%."

Based on the Pew Research Centre research and forecast in 19 years there will be 2.2. billion Muslims instead of the present (2010) estimated 1.6 billion. The % will go from 23.4 % to 26.4% in their estimation.

However, in the next 19 years that will still have the world at basically/approximately the 25% mark with Muslims. This is just one study, but it seems things will be much the same over the next twenty years in regard to Muslim world numbers.

Therefore, from this study I cannot deduce that the increase in numbers will have Islam substantially cause cultural change in the West within the next twenty years.

Concerning Europe and North America

'The total Muslim share of Europe’s population is predicted to grow from 6% now to 8% in 2030: hardly the stuff of nightmares.'

If this is accurate, I would tend to agree. With over 5.5 million Muslims in the UK estimated by 2030, those are high numbers. The study claims numbers will rise in Spain and Italy and interestingly the rises are predicted to be modest in France and Germany, although 10% Muslims in France by 2030 would be quite substantial but still nowhere near a majority of the population. There would be over 7+% forecast for Germany, a significant minority. Russia is still a non-Western country and is mostly in Asia and so in a sense a different issue. With less than 2% of Americans being Muslim in 2030 that is obviously a small minority. In Canada the rise from 2.8% to 6.6% seems fairly substantial. Back to Europe and the graphic...Sweden? Interesting, those are large numbers predicted.

The question is asked at the end of the article how liberal democracies will respond to the challenge.

It states that the USA has its constitution which may protect it better than many European countries.

I ponder on which trend is more likely in certain European countries with no specific timeline.

1. The Muslim minority tend to become Westernized, and support the Western democratic system, and radical political and religious persons within Islam are not able to cause significant movements toward Islamic (Shari'a) law that are a threat to democracy.

2. The Muslim minority tend to become Westernized, and many support the Western democratic system, but radical political and religious persons within Islam cause significant movements toward Islamic (Shari'a) law that are a threat to democracy.

Aberystwyth, Wales

End

Admittedly I am a moderate conservative and I for example, do not generally think tattoos look good on women. No moral judgment, but a strong preference, especially against large ones. But this Facebook ad showed up today (January 30, 2011) on the right side of my Facebook page as a young lady was trying to message me. She (not the woman in the ad) is a Facebook friend that I may have met online during my former Facebook dating application days.

Now why does this 'Christian Girl' have dyed orange hair and piercings of the nose and lip? The typical single Christian male is probably going to look for someone a bit more conservative looking. But no moral judgment of the young lady. There are sincere true Christians with tattoos and piercings. But that is not the main point of this second section of my post.

This ad was not a work of a marketing genius.

Perhaps the next ad should feature a 'Christian Goth Girl'.

I am not trying to provide any links.

Want a Christian Girl?
christianmingle.com

Experience the relationship that was indeed set forth by the Lord-Search Christian Mingle for free now!

Comparative religion in regard to Jesus Christ

2011-01-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

King's Chapel, Cambridge University

1. Over the holidays I came across this short article from the Saudi Gazette. I will deal with some points from it.

Saudi Gazette Dec 30, 2010

It calls Jesus Christ the Noble Prophet of Islam.

'...On the other hand, modern-day Christians (where the majority are Pauline Christians) consider him to be the “begotten son” of God and worship him as if he is one of the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth.'

And it also states:

'But the Islamic view of Jesus (peace be upon him) is based on what God has revealed to mankind when He said, “Verily, the likeness of Jesus in Allah’s sight is in the likeness of Adam, He created him from dust, then (He) said to him, “Be!” and he was. This is the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.” (Qur’an 3: 59-60)

So in Almighty Allah’s view, the creation of Jesus is no different from the creation of Adam (peace be upon them). When Allah wants to create something, He only says “Be!” and it is. He can create anything and anyway He pleases.'

E.F. Harrison summarizes the ideas of Jesus Christ as only begotten son as meaning he is unique, all that God is, and is alone this. Harrison (1996: 799). Greek scholar Bauer states 'only and unique' may be quite adequate for all the Johannine uses in regard to Christ being only-begotten. Bauer (1979: 527).

According to Colossians 1, the idea of co-creator would be a more accurate description of Christ as opposed to one of the 'Creator'. N.T. Wright states Paul regarded Jesus as fully divine and yet not the Father. Wright (1989: 69). The pre-existent Lord of the world becomes the Lord of the Church. Wright (1989: 69). From all eternity Jesus in his nature was the image of God reflecting the nature of the Father. Wright (1989: 70). Christ would therefore be the Father's image within humanity. Wright (1989: 70).

Colossians 1:14-18

I am not an expert on Islamic texts, but they came about several hundreds of years after the New Testament era and we clearly here within the discipline of comparative religion (not being mean or nasty or disliking Muslims here) have a disagreement. I side with the New Testament concerning Christ and also the Hebrew Bible and the Prophets which came earlier. There is no internal reason from the New Testament to believe that Christ was not God the Son, God the Word. The Islamic ideas were added hundreds of years later externally. Non-Biblically.

The End.

2. I was quite keen on attending Cambridge for many years. I met a very nice older gentleman there in Cambridge that had tea and biscuits with me in 1997 that stated that they would likely accept me for the PhD program if would first do the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Now at this point I already had 3.7+ GPA with BA and MTS degrees and so I was, to be honest, insulted. But, I was used to being insulted in the UK by this time, and more was to come, and was about to fight back.;) But not with insults, but with God-given success over the next many years. I seriously considered taking the GRE for awhile and actually came back to BC and went to SFU locally and picked up a GRE practice test and started working on some University intro level, mathematics questions, for example. But, I thought about spending months studying University intro level mathematics, science, and English literature etc. to 'prove' I could do a PhD in Theology and Philosophy of Religion when there were no GRE questions related to Theology and Philosophy and thought this very educational and very stupid. So, I said no to Cambridge.

Wales' educational approach made more sense as they had one do the MPhil thesis first and then a PhD. The social sciences and statistics manuals according to my advisor were at a Masters' level. I was not assisted with understanding the texts (cue cards) but my questionnaires and surveys were reviewed by my advisors. And with the post-viva revisions I did review thirty plus scientific journals concerning consciousness. So, granted there was some statistics with my MPhil and PhD and therefore mathematics and there was science in the Doctorate. I have always admitted on these blogs I need to keep learning in many disciplines. There could have been the possibility that at my PhD viva that my examiners were more empirical theologians and more statistical leaning and so that meant I had to have cue cards and have all that studied and memorized for months along with all the other theological and philosophical material. As it turned out one of my examiners was a theologian and the other one was a philosopher and they ended up wanting graphs! So, Cambridge was not completely out to lunch with their approach, but they were still holding the lunch bucket with Scooby-Doo on it, so to speak.
'Shaggy'.

3. From my recent searches to attempt to find more Google/Blogger followers worldwide for which I have made some progress, this is non-scientific, and non-statistical, but having looked at many Christian evangelical blogs, Reformed blogs, and now South American and Latin European blogs, and am deducing 60-70% of bloggers are young women. Does this mean I will change my marketing strategy? My blog content? Nope. But for some of you male Christian bloggers out there. Hint. When you do an article on evil or demons, for example, posting dark imagery all over your blog probably is not going to make your readers feel comfortable and want to come back again and again. Again Christian ministry blogging material outside of standard church fare like on Sunday morning is going to be controversial enough and so one must stay in the truth but always consider the audience. So, I keep telling myself...

BAUER, W (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

HARRISON, E.F. (1996) ‘Only Begotten' in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

WRIGHT, N.T. (1989) Colossians, Grand Rapids, IVP/Eerdmans.

The non-conformist of the year award 2010

2011-01-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Maple Ridge, BC (December 29 2010)

The non-conformist of the year awards is a previous archived post here:

Original archived post

It was updated and awarded yearly. With new comments.

I decided this year to start a new post and to copy and paste the previous years into the main body and start with new comments.

December 30, 2010

Jeff has stated that this is my most satirical work with this post and I would agree.

Sorry Jeff, two time winner, the last two years, you took so much of the year off blogging I cannot give you the non-conformist of the year award for 2010. Imagine that? Someone actually takes time away from Blogger and Facebook to work for money? Morality today! No award for you! And plus you are not sending me those fancy graphics anymore.

On a more serious note, excellent to see you back at work!

Hmm, what of 10x winner Bobby Buff, also known as Walter Thomas Franklin… Well, he does come over once a week and he does basically keep his word, but his supposed 9:30 arrival is usually 9:45-10 p.m. He often has a hum, haw, hum, haw, hum, haw, back and forth is his brain approach and then he phones and emails and asks if Cardinal Chuckles is here before he decides to honour his word or not and arrive. He is not really worthy of being honoured as non-conformist of the year for 2010 as he is now too stable. Sorry.

And what of Cardinal Chucklins? I suppose it is sort of non-conformity to resist the temptations of the flesh and live like a monk and take the morning train out to Vangoober (NBA Commissioner David Stern, well sounds like it, sort of) to boop with computers five days a week and come home and look after his mom and brothers and go out to Surrey to see his Dad. But, I do not think he did enough in 2010 to merit the award. No offense Pope Chuckles. By the way, since he is working I would hope for a pretty expensive PhD graduation gift from him at my party.;) None of this gift certificate from McDonalds stuff! And Bobby, please put on your Crisco and say your prayers and get up your nerve to get over the new Pitt River Bridge to get to Burnaby that night because we ‘ain’t’ having my graduation party in ‘Maple Ditch’ and no I don’t want you to throw a separate party for you to attend so you can skip the main one like has happened with some of my previous birthday parties.

Gee, I wonder what kind of PhD gift would be appropriate from a friend with Cardinal Chucklin's booping job? You collect comics/graphic novels right?

All added up, they cost $2.87! Come on Chuck!

As for me I was a *total saint* in 2010 as the people that deleted me as a Facebook friend in 2010 will agree with won’t you?;) Of course I made more friends than I lost and I do treat my friends well, that is why I gain friends and followers online. The theology, philosophy of religion, Bible, ministry business is controversial. I am always willing to make right.

2010 Winner: PMH (1 x winner)

The first commenter that I ever had to ****** some of his words because some of his language was too colourful for the rather Christian context of my blogs, but his direct and no nonsense approach was really appreciated by Chucky, Walter and myself and other readers. PMH is also known for rather colourful and informative emails. PMH works in the Hollywood industry, in California and BC and is a warmhearted Christian, conservative family man. PMH blessings to you and family in 2011. Thanks for your friendship and comments in regard to Islam.

Bobby Buff-10x winner
Chucky-2x winner
Documentary Man-2x winner
Jeff Jenkins-2x winner
Zombie-2x winner
Cousin Buff-1x winner
Manson-1x winner
PMH-1x winner
thekingpin68-1x winner

January 11, 2010

2009: Mr. Jeff Jenkins (2x winner)

Jeff is also a very fine graphic artist.

I have still have not met Jeff in person, and when I do will wear a bullet-proof vest and have the bomb squad on speed dial, but for the second straight year he is our winner. For his 2008 write-up and all the other write-ups about these clowns please see below.

Hey, Jeff, please don't open any anonymous packages at your door.

Well, I thought that my blog posts concerning theodicy, the problem of evil, free will, determinism, the NHL, Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, save the gay whales, and relationships were controversial enough, but THE JEFF blows that away. Here are some recent post titles:

Islamic Slavery

Islam: Tears of Jihad

Muslim Brotherhood 'Conspiracy' to Subvert America

Barack Obama the Beast of Revelation...okay, that is not on Jeff's blog.

The Jeff

Now, I provide his link while selfishly stating that you are better off reading my wonderful, awesome, 'fatastic' blogs thekingpin68 and satire and theology. So if you have ten minutes to spare please give Jeff's two minutes and mine eight.

Jeff mellowed a bit in the fundi department this year which was nice to see. Thankfully, however, he still does not think that humankind evolved from apes, although when I think of couple of my male friends...I do wonder.

The also-rans...

thekingpin68: Yes, I ran a fair amount in 2009 as my dental apnea appliance is moving me in a healthier direction. I of course remain macho theology/philosophy man. I would have blown a gasket had Wales given me a MPhil in January 2009 instead of a PhD with revisions. Now I just need that final word from Wales.

BTW, Wales is a country Americans as opposed to save the gay Whales.

Bobby Buff: I am glad you have that 'radio' installed in your chest for your ticker. But, I do not know why you cannot connect it to my computer speakers and play us some good music. Thanks for all the smart*** blog comments in 2009.

Saint Chucklins: Perhaps you should open up your own Mennonite/Presbyterian monastery/psych ward, with funding from governments of course. See previous entries.

January 4, 2009

2008: Mr. Jeff Jackson (a.k.a. Jenkins) (1 x winner)

Mr. Jeff Jackson is my supportive friend and has the Thoughts and Theology blog. He is the first person that I have not actually met in person to win the non-conformist of the year award. This award that has existed, at least in my mind since 1989, has been dominated by Bobby Buff, who also has various other aliases, but in my mind Jeff deserves it for 2008.

The award existed in paper text format for years and has been on-line since 2006.

From Jeff's one profile picture I must state that it is nice to do the cross-cultural friends thing with someone that at least looks part black.;) I reason I am doing my bit for world peace and for peace and diversity within the 'body of Christ.'

Hey baby you're cool.

What has Mr. Jackson done in 2008?

He has supported my blogs thekingpin68 and satire and theology. Thank you, Jeff.

He has taken a stance against the acceptance of homosexual practice in the church and in society to the point of sometimes 'fundi' zeal. He attempted to take my head off/choke me out/Chuck Norris me/toss me like the Lochness Monster tossed that British presenter/force feed me an entire bottle of 'Happiness' spice from Rick Beef one time in a post where I stated that in Canada as we now have same-sex marriage, I would rather have the compromise in our very secular and non-Christian society of same-sex civil unions. Of course I would more prefer neither same-sex marriage or civil unions, but Mr. Jackson was worked up over the issue in Florida and let his canons rip!

Jeff acted like the last man remaining in a Zombie movie!

Sometimes Mr. Jackson needs to have a cold shower running because he gets so overheated as he begins to burn his keyboard. He actually fried a couple of the deadly spiders that infest his house by breathing on them. He would have snacked on them if he had a bottle of 'Happiness', but he did not.

Mr. Jackson also can go nuts on Facebook. He is a great supporter of my blogs on Facebook, thanks Jeff, but he goes a bit crazy with the applications...wow, he has stated he often has about a hundred messages to deal with. Perhaps Mr. Jackson should get a job as a graphic illustrator for Facebook.

Mr. Jackson is wisely not a supporter of the theory of macroevolution, however, if he saw my hairy friends Chucky and Deeaaaan, he may reconsider.

Chucky stated: Golly gee whiz, that Bobby sure features prominently in the awards, don't he?

2007: Chucky (2x winner)

A.K.A.:

Chuck
Sir Charles Nelson Chuckles

Congratulations, Sir Chucklins!

Chucky is so committed to his family that he has dedicated himself to near monastic like existence. He even forsakes many job opportunities in order to stay closer to Maple Ditch and assist his family. He has also forsaken purely hypothetical opportunities for true love, although they were seemingly few and far between, kind of like Manson’s nose hair trimming escapades, Zombie’s Bible studies, thekingpin’s dates, and Bobby’s trips over seas. It is tough finding a compatible Christian woman in ‘Vangoober’ (as the NBA commissioner kind of sounded like he pronounced it).

Chucky is such as nice guy, that in 2007 he visited on-line an atheist blog to assist a Christian blogger who was facing abuse, and Sir Charles was called an a hole is the process. Chuckles will walk ‘into it’ for a fellow human being, and that is the good Mennonite way! They should be called Men no knights. Chucky would give you the shirt off his back, and Bobby Buff would definitely give you the shirt off his back. Some guys are so hairy or have so much stomach muscle that they should never give someone the shirt off their back.

Also-rans:

Bobby Buff had a rough 2007, but still managed to shine…thanks to Crisco. He helped lead a peasant’s revolt against a tyrannous industry and now works for higher wages and with more reasonable hours, and yet an evil still lurks.

Cousin Buff our 2006 champion, had a lavish wedding attended by the College of Cardinals and Pope Benedict XVI. I asked the Pope that since the NFL’s Saint Louis Cardinals moved to Arizona, if the College of Cardinals would ever consider moving to the United States for a better lease, and more revenue from outside sales, and he gave me a flat ‘no comment’. Cousin Buff’s wedding featured dancers from 190 nations, although the Palestinian dancers would not go on the same stage as the Israeli ones. Cousin and Bobby Buff did an impromptu dance with their shirts off all greased up to raise money to pay for the wedding and reception. Cousin Buff and his new bride went to her Asian homeland to rent a huge truck and deliver garbage into neighbourhood bins. It was called ‘Project Buff Up’.

Documentary Man continues teaching at a preppy school in central Florida and avoided having his tires slashed in 2007.

Zombie is still paying his debts, although he does not seem to own a heck of a lot despite all the payments he makes. Zombie’s finances are perhaps like one big hole in the ground.

Philosophy Man and the Bulgarian Princess had a beautiful baby girl and not the triplets as speculated. The two month old has already shown a great interest in samba dancing and has the run of the house. She is being taught, sub-consciously as we speak, how to nag Daddy…;) Thanks for the New Year’s party!

Thekingpin68, yours truly, has had his sleep apnea relapse. With all the taxes we pay in this country the government will not pay to have my jaw moved forward. I need ideas for collecting the $15,000 plus needed for the jaw surgery. I need to finish my PhD and find work…duh.

February 10, 2007

Update:

Philosophy Man and his dear wife Bananjela today sent out one of those this is how our year has been emails to friends. It was well done and highlighted some nice new pictures on their website. I admit myself to have sent out those kinds of mass emails with bcc when I was in England, as in this is how crappy my year has been, but thankfully things are somewhat better now. Thankfully, or perhaps not, depending on your perspective the email gave me an idea for a satirical, somewhat fictional account of the year of the non-conformists.

Here it is:

Greetings this is thekingpin. I am sorry for writing this impersonal mass, bcc email but I have spent much of the last two evenings and mornings staying up sending out problem of evil questionnaires to those persons I know worldwide. I was therefore tired and was faced with the option of writing to each and every one of my dear friends personally, or trying to win an Actual Soccer tournament on my Mac clone. Clearly you can see which choice I made. Please don’t feel bad as losing occasionally does not make you a loser.

2006 was fatastic for me as I lost almost 20 pounds after my two sleep apnea surgeries. I also lovingly welcomed several large dark clumps of vitreous floaters into the back of my eyes, especially the right. It is so cool trying to read and having those pretty artistic black wispy lines floating back and forth. I really appreciate my local eye doctors telling me how acceptable they were and warning of me of the evils of heading down to the Excited States to have them removed, even though these local doctors were not technically familiar with what the doctor in the Exited States did, and were not willing to find out. Thanks to the wonderful surgeon here my nose no longer closes up at night, and without my tonsils and uvula I no longer wake up at night gasping for air and scaring the tar out of anyone who happens to hear me.

Academically it appears that things are going well. I am cool with the department as long as I don’t talk about everlasting hell, evolution, abortion, ufos, homosexuality, Michael Jackson, or why England has not won the FIFA World Cup since 1966.

Chucky’s star has continued to rise in the church choir circles. Chucky Saint Divine: Choir Boy for the 21st century. As well, he is becoming known on the net as Sir Charles Nelson Chuckles the debonair comic book collector. Clearly this man is on his way up. He has purchased a new pair of glasses, which give him that baby eyes look, as opposed to the other pair of Lennon’s, which at times give him the snotty French debonair comic book collector look. With French accent, “Oui, Oui, you English pig dog, how dare you want to trade that modern age comique for my bronze age masterpiece!”

Documentary Man’s star also rose in 2006 as he is becoming known as the most overeducated and intellectual prep school teacher in America. Since it is too much of a pain in the ass to get a PhD and teach graduate students, Documan wisely simply teaches the youngsters at a PhD level. Documan had a difficult time in the beginning convincing the administration that a 50% grade in his class was an A, but they eventually went along with it.

Bobby Buff is quickly become known for his book and CD; congratulations my friend. Bobby’s deal with Crisco has paid dividends as each book and CD has a Crisco coupon within. Crisco donates 1 cent from all sales to the Columbia Bible College: East Maple Ridge project. Bobby hopes to one day build a satellite Columbia site in East Ridge and coax all the old retired professors from the 1990’s out of retirement, or out of the grave if need be by prayer, in order to teach there.

Cousin Buff has continued with his environmental awareness and rumour has it has been visiting several lonely garbage bins throughout the Lower Mainland.

Philosophy Man and Bananjela have continued with their environmental work as well. There is hope that eventually their family shall increase in size and they can buy the lot across the street and build a centre for environmental awareness and samba.

2006: Cousin Buff (1x winner)

He dethrones his cousin, Bobby Buff, and the throne is a sensitive subject in our group!

Bobby Buff wanted:

The body of Arnold...
The voice of Elvis...
The spirituality of Jesus...

He received:

The body of a 'Big Jim'...
The voice of Buddy Holly...
The spirituality of Mister Rogers...

Sir Chuckles of Haney, thinks I was lenient in not giving the 2006 award to Bobby Bluffeuffofus because I somewhat overlooked the seriousness of Bluff stating one night that his children, presently under the age of 10 years old, would not in the future attend college or University.

The Garbage Man cometh!! We have a new, first time winner of the non-conformist of the year award. Cousin Buff, congratulations!! Why is Cousin Buff our 2006 winner, especially since I saw him less than five times this year? At the Buff family fire a few months ago, Cousin Buff was ranting and raving on cousin Bobby Buff's new book, 'Son, don't just bluff look buff'. Cousin Buff went on and on, "wow, wow, wow, wow". Meanwhile Chucky and I looked at each other thinking, the book is good, but not that good. One would think that Cousin Buff was considering Bobby's book for Biblical canon status, or perhaps if not canon, Bobby's book should considered for Church Father status, as the volume would be credited to the Greek Father, "Saint Bobbus Bluffeuffofus". One would think that Bobby would soon be on Oprah flogging the book. Cousin Buff and his girlfriend apparently set up a table at his church presenting Bobby's book. Yes, of all the books in the world, they push the book of a 160 pound, greased up, well meaning weight trainer who wants his sons to grow up right, and slight. Were the writings of Augustine, Luther, or Calvin at the table? No! Instead the table featured the work of theological wizard Bobby Buff. Months later, I heard from Bobby that Cousin Buff listened to the pre-production version of Bobby's new CD, "Plastic Retractions" and once again the response was "wow, wow, wow, wow". The CD is good, but by no means should be confused with a classic. Perhaps it would be "plassic"?

The main reason Cousin Buff is the winner for 2006, is that he has shown an uncommon care and concern for the environment. Cousin Buff failed to make it to the dump to drop off garbage in the back of his pick-up truck at the end of a work day. He knew that the dump would be closed for the weekend and was so concerned with environmental problems such as garbage odour, sabotage from rats and dogs, the ozone layer, and global warming, that something had to be done with the trash that night! After viewing a hockey game with yours truly, Cousin Buff, driving us home in his truck, searched the local area for a garbage bin located in a empty industrial park lot with no security. Cousin Buff, with his compassionate heart saw an empty, and lonely garbage bin on an industrial lot and quickly unloaded his twenty bags of garbage into the formally ignored, and overlooked bin. Cousin Buff then floored his pick-up truck on the wet streets and headed towards home. I laughed so hard as Cousin Buff modestly did not want anyone to see his love for the environment or his compassion for that formerly lonely, unappreciated, and empty garbage bin. Cousin Buff you deserve this award!

I had my nasal reconstruction surgery done in July and I am recovering. That combined with my March uvula and tonsil removal means I have slightly more energy and have lost 16 pounds. I am no longer a great candidate for DQ magazine. Bobby has been a T.V. star this year as a fairly lame man on the street interviewed Bobby about his book. At the end of the interview the man on the street wisely stated that "Bobby's world was the only world Bobby knew." How amazing that the man on the street figured Bobby out in less than a day! Bobby thinks I should be non-conformist of the year this year, but I think not. Bobby has still produced some gems. He loves his children tremendously and is a great father, but his desire/obsession to impose his "phony lifestyle" upon them is fascinating. While driving in the car one night, Bobby, Little John and I went by a technical high school, and the well meaning Bobby stated that his kids would go there, because they would not likely go to college or University. Keep in mind his kids are not even 10 years old! So, because Bobby and Daddy, work at the mill, Grandpa worked at the mill, Great gramps smuggled moonshine, Great, Great gramps trapped raccoons, Great, Great, Great gramps smuggled and sold manure, Great, Great, Great, Great gramps fought for the south in the civil war, then Bobby's boys won't go to college or University. How does Bobby know? He is a prophet or the amazing Kreskin? Or does God always let Bobby know what is going to happen by intuition? If so he should start his own pseudo-Christian cult, The Church of Bobby Buff, Latter-Day Fakes. Did Bobby find mystical golden weights buried on his parent's estate? Hmm, come to think it, looking at this list, Bobby you're right, your kids won't go to college or University.;) Anyway, Bobby is sure to bring his kids up in a godly household, and if they rebel it will be of a serious nature of crossing a bridge and moving to another town, or even worse moving to a big city for a job. I can imagine Bobby having to drive out to Vancouver on the weekend to see one of his kids...

2005: Bobby Buff (10x winner)

Wow golly gee, Bobby is a professional labourer, body builder, Elvis fan and newly published author, with this book 'Son, don't just bluff look buff'.

Chapters include:

Like me don't use "roids", because "bitch tits" are a possibility
I love myself am real significant, I think so anyway
Be yourself, and don't be too realistic
Never give up! Be obsessive
Crisco is crucial for personal self-esteem

Bobby congrats!

Bobby-"Thank you, thank very much".

The 2005 candidates (cheesy music playing from The Apprentice)

thekingpin (1x winner)-Although I am a muscular force and work out a lot and eat a little, the results of sleep apnea make me look more like a DQ (Dairy Queen is an American fast food place that is not located world-wide) model than a GQ model. I am looking forward to getting some energy and losing some weight. I have my throat surgery in March and will actually breath well while sleeping for once is my life. This all could avoided if the MDs would have heeded the calls of my Mommy when I was little and removed my constantly swollen tonsils, but no, no, "We know better in the early 1970s, after all look at our Charles Manson inspired hair styles". In 2005 I have actually come close to finishing my PhD, so I can actually get a real job, wowee! I have a part-time job in security and have had to put up with crap from drunk idiots smashing up the can after a wedding, and people who refused to close the fire exit door. I also need more plastic surgery on my weak eye lid, with the idea being for the eye to close better while sleeping and for me to have a shot on being on the cover of DQ. I was cornered at church by an emotional chick that claimed I must get on the C-PAP machine, or else she would be angry with me in heaven forever, if I died young. She said @#$% the money, just get the machine. I don't want it anyway, and I can't sleep with cotton in the ears, forget trying to breath with that thing. I appreciated her intentions, but can't afford C-PAP even if I wanted it, but she would not listen, and what she was saying made slightly more sense than John McLaughlin's 1972 bootleg, pot influenced religious rant at the Whisky A Go Go club.

Chucky (1x winner)-Boop, boop, boop, Chucky's year has been so tough that his blood pressure is now sky high, and that perhaps is why his head is sometimes so red it looks like it could blow up. Chucky has also had to look after his sick Dad and help out his family, for which he deserves much credit. He has as well had to beat off some 40 something chick chasing him all over...go Chucky go! Hey Chuck, Ron Popeil sold that spray that covers up bald spots remember?

Documentary Man (2x winner)-The defending champion gets a break since I have not seen him since 2004. thekingpin-"Hey, thanks for the photo copies from Harvard for my PhD".

Documentary Man-"Shhh, I am in the middle of my daily 5 hour walking and kneeling prayer". Documan and Mrs. Documan are currently in California and may be meeting in-laws...EVERYBODY PRAY! See 2004.

Philosophy Man aka the late (real name)-Your puppy is a real piece of work with his championship dumps on the carpet and eating the New Year's Eve grub...good luck with the training sessions. It may be easier for you to train Chuck and I to find Christian women to date...

2004: Documentary Man (2x winner)

In 2004, he has been married twice, and been in several controversies concerning religion. He has attempted to persuade some of his critics of the truth of his arguments using theatrical prose and poetry, but often has dug himself a bigger hole. Now he must wait for his green card, and can hopefully stay a choir boy until he can go back to the USA. However, this will likely only be possible if he can avoid Bible study discussions, vicars, and family members.

Bobby stated: Hey, Documentary Man, the years (2004) not over yet, but I admit that taking the title from you this year would be quite a feat even for me, Bobby Buffster. thekingpin stated: There is no way I could win the award this year (2004). Documentary Man is marrying twice with godly intentions but controversy, and Bobby did his protest at the mill baba. Bobby stated: Congratulations Documentary Man on getting married. I wish all the best to you and your new wife. I hope that you will place your comments here on this highly commendable website. Beware of the WebMaster, He may spin a web of nonconformity upon us all!

COUSIN BUFF: Well I think the King Pin has out done himself this time. Non conformist of the year hey. Well it seems as though if this king pin finishes his schooling and finally gets his dream job. He might become the conformist of that year. who knows when that will be though. lol kidding buddy it will be soon Im sure. Oh imagine the auther and creator being elected for something he invented.

2003: Manson (1x winner)

"Call and confirm" : For me to be expected to call you to confirm, when you were supposed to come out to visit me, sealed it Manson.

2002: Documentary Man (1x winner)

The Documentary Man visits Canada, as well as making a splash in NYC. "Do you speak English?", NYC female Burger King server to Mr. Oxbridge of the English upper class.

2001:Bobby Buff (9x winner)

I return to Canada to find a Bobby who is more willing to spend time, but now I hear comments such as him having the "best build of all his friends"...nuff said.

2000-Chucky (1x winner)

DECEMBER 24 2000, IS A DAY THAT SHALL LIVE IN INFAMY. The bottle incident, Mr. Freeze...nuff said.

1999-thekingpin68 (1x winner)

I was squabbling with both Trinity Western University and Manchester University over "well meaning" advisors at the same time, so I win.

1998:Bobby Buff (8x winner)

Bobby begins to question some of his phoniness as some of his friends move away or threaten to (like me). His plan to keep all the same friends, in the same town, all his life, now goes to pot, as does his hope that we can set up a major Bible College in his parents back 40.

1997:Bobby Buff (7x winner)

Bobby wonders if having children will cause him to lose weight.

1996:Bobby Buff (6x winner)

Married life and Bobby now feels he has even better reasons to be as he is...in his own little worl...there.

1995:Zombie (2x winner)

Two time winner as marriage hits the rocks faster than the Canucks in the playoffs.

1994:Zombie (1x winner)

Trojan condoms and April 5 1995...nuff said. However, my squabble with Columbia Bible College over me taking Greek via correspondence cannot be overlooked, as I was called a Bulldog by a professor known as the Undertaker.

1993:Bobby Buff (5x winner)

I invited Bobby to go to the UK with Chuck and I after we graduated, but he declined stating that he was "too disciplined" with bodybuilding.

1992:Bobby Buff (4x winner)

Getting Plastic Man over the Pitt River bridge was an amazing feat. He needed to attend Missionsfest to pass a course, and he had to temporarily consider my assertion that the McDonald's truck we passed on the highway was a roving McDonald's restaurant.

1991:Bobby Buff (3x winner)

"I'm not showing off my muscles at Columbia with my muscle shirts, Russ". What a load of cow pie, as he admitted many years later.

1990:Bobby Buff (2x winner)

Getting Bobby out of the gym or away from watching He Haw reruns was quite difficult this year.

1989:Bobby Buff (1x winner)

When I met Bobby for the first time I figured that he was a godly Christian guy, and a "big phony". Well, sometimes first impression are sometimes true.

Agassiz, BC (trekearth.com)

Emerald Lake, BC (trekearth.com)

Emerald Lake, BC (trekearth.com)

BC farm (Ron Niebrugge)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's 2011 (Audio)

2010-12-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas photos from trekearth.com

Audio link below:

audio d510.mp3

Christmas market, Montpellier, France

Vancouver, BC

Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal

Rome, Italy

Kansas City, Missouri

This one I received via email.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To All!

With the audio message, I wanted to write a few words concerning this blog. Even though this blog awhile back passed my other blog, thekingpin68 in average monthly traffic, I still struggled somewhat with the purpose for this blog. With the other blog, it has been for a long time clear in purpose with philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, and Biblical Studies, especially now once again that I have a decent scanner and can work with New Testament Greek properly.

With this blog is just became so obvious that when I did news related theological posts the blog did reasonably well. I will continue to write theological, philosophical, and satirical posts related to the news and Islam and other comparative religions in regard to Christianity and within Christianity. So, I may write about groups considered academically non-Christian and compare and I may write about other groups considered Christian and compare.

This is an academic and spiritual exercise. A couple of persons messaged me on Facebook in regard to Islam, as in a concern that my articles risked a non-loving approach. Look, I do not hate Muslims or any people or group, and anyone that wants to get on this blog and start writing that kind of stuff about me, please do not bother in regard to Islam or any group because that is simply not the case and any person that knows me well would support me on that point.

I subscribe to Matthew 22 and Mark 12 and so I am to love God with all my heart, soul and mind, and my neigbour as my self.

I am also to love my other Christians as in John 13.

But there are also Biblical calls to stand up for the truth as with 2 Timothy 15 and 1 Peter 3: 13-17.

Therefore, as a Christian I need to stand on this blog in both love and truth.:)

Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This is me in my 'Michelin Man' BC winter jacket back in 2008. The older gentlemen and owner of the house, I presume, came out for a few seconds to see which persons were in front of his place and then quickly went back inside.

'But sir, I am a theologian.' I thought. And then I thought, 'On the other hand, it is nice not to be hassled'.

The first scan is from Browning page 63, the other Oliver page 220. I only scanned part of Oliver.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

OLIVER, O.G. Jr. (1996) ‘Christmas’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

My framed PhD degree document will stay wrapped up until after my graduation party in March.

Who would disrupt Remembrance Day?

2010-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Photos from trekearth.com

I thought I would write another Islam related post. Again I am not an Islamic scholar and I will remain true to my blog header while maintaining a distinction between this blog and the more theodicy, problem of evil, citation orientated thekingpin68.

In the news:

Take a pill, Jack.

Digital Journal: November 12, 2010

'London - As the clock struck 11:00 and people stood for Armistice Day’s two minutes of silence, Islamic protesters in London burned a model of a poppy and shouted out messages such as "British soldiers burn in hell."

About 35 protesters, many with their faces masked, gathered near Hyde Park. They set a model of a poppy on fire at the stroke of 11am, and then marched through the area carrying signs and chanting.

Messages on the signs included "Hands off Muslim lands," "Islam will dominate," "There is no God but Allah," “Our dead are in paradise, your dead are in hell” and "British soldiers burn in hell."

The protesters said they were members of a group called Muslims Against Crusades.'

Armistice Day-UK
Remembrance Day-Canada
Veterans Day-USA

Regardless of my theological and philosophical differences as a Christian theologian and philosopher of religion, with Islam, the radical Islamists hardly made a good case for their cause by their classless burning of a poppy and shouting during two minutes of silence.

As noted several times, I realize there are kind-hearted Muslims and I had a Muslim friend in the UK while I lived there. I am not against Muslim people or any people, period.

In a general terms, I am a supporter of NATO and the Armed Forces. This does not mean I blindly support every mission, however, I certainly respect in general terms the sacrifices of the Armed Forces past and present, both dead and alive.

So...

I think that all persons that live in the United Kingdom should at least minimally appreciate the freedom afforded to them by the Armed Forces past and present through sacrifices, this without a blanket endorsement of all missions past and present.

There was an official public ceremony taking place.

Therefore, I conclude, that these Muslim protesters should at least minimally respect the two minutes of silence and shut up and stand still.

The masked faces showed signs of cowardliness. If they are going to protest they should have the guts to show themselves, or go and look for a job, or go back to class, or the pub or mosque or whatever.

The Bible teaches that unless one is written in the book of life, one will reside in the lake of fire, forever. This is according to many scholars likely figurative literal language and literature in regard to hellfire, but the everlasting distance from God is certain as in Revelation 20, even if in the less probable case of annihilation over everlasting punishment, which has been discussed on thekingpin68 and satire and theology.

The Crusades...

New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia

'It has been customary to describe the Crusades as eight in number:

the first, 1095-1101;
the second, headed by Louis VII, 1145-47;
the third, conducted by Philip Augustus and Richard Coeur-de-Lion, 1188-92;
the fourth, during which Constantinople was taken, 1204;
the fifth, which included the conquest of Damietta, 1217;
the sixth, in which Frederick II took part (1228-29); also Thibaud de Champagne and Richard of Cornwall (1239);
the seventh, led by St. Louis, 1249-52;
the eighth, also under St. Louis, 1270.
This division is arbitrary and excludes many important expeditions, among them those of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. In reality the Crusades continued until the end of the seventeenth century, the crusade of Lepanto occurring in 1571, that of Hungary in 1664, and the crusade of the Duke of Burgundy to Candia, in 1669. A more scientific division is based on the history of the Christian settlements in the East; therefore the subject will be considered in the following order:

I. Origin of the Crusades;
II. Foundation of Christian states in the East;
III. First destruction of the Christian states (1144-87);
IV. Attempts to restore the Christian states and the crusade against Saint-Jean d'Acre (1192-98);
V. The crusade against Constantinople (1204);
VI. The thirteenth-century crusades (1217-52);
VII. Final loss of the Christian colonies of the East (1254-91);
VIII. The fourteenth-century crusade and the Ottoman invasion;
IX. The crusade in the fifteenth century;
X. Modifications and survival of the idea of the crusade.'

Knight, Kevin (ed.)(2010), Crusades, New York, New Advent.Org.

Now reasonably the Crusades ended several years ago prior to the establishment of the present United Kingdom in 1707.

Certainly for one, even politically, Europe is much more secularized and less Christianized than it was in the fifteenth century.

One does not have to be an expert in political science and history to realize that the British are in the Middle East for minimally significantly differently reasons than in the era of the Crusades.

Therefore the current British military missions are not Crusades.

Further:

At Bible School and 'semetary' I was taught that the Islamic world connected religion and state so tightly that it saw the West in the same light. The West was like in the Middle Ages, but it is a cop-out to state these London protesters in the 2010s do not know that Britain is primarily a secular democracy and not a Christian Western country.

Telegraph: Novemeber 11, 2010

'"Our aim is not violence but if people come to us with violence, Muslims will defend themselves."

He added: "We will do this again. Until the British people condemn the British Government for these illegal wars, we will not stop protesting."

Posters bore slogans including "Hands off Muslim lands" and "Islam will dominate", and flags bore Arabic writing with the words "There is no God but Allah"....'

'Of the three arrests made, two were for public order offences and one was for assaulting a police officer....'

'There are suspicions Muslims Against Crusades is a splinter group of Islam4UK, founded by Anjem Choudary, a British Muslim extremist formerly a senior figure in the now banned Al-Muhajiroun and Islam4UK groups.'

When I see them shouting, masked and acting disrespectfully, I have reason to doubt that violence is not a real possibility.

All religion is the same? Nope.

2010-11-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

Saudi Arabia. Lovely desert from the birthplace of Islam.

October 30, 2010

My name and thekingpin68 blog cited on #1 blog-Huffington Post.com (according to Technorati).

Huffington Post

My thekingpin68 theology blog

From (edited):

CNN teens executed

October 29, 2010

'(CNN) -- A Somali militant group publicly executed two teenage girls Wednesday after accusing them of being spies for the Somali government, according to the group, eyewitnesses and a relative of one of the girls.

"Those two girls were evil and they were spies for the enemy (the Somali government), but the mujahedeen caught them and after investigation, they admitted their crime, so they have been executed," said Sheikh Yusuf Ali Ugas, commander of Al-Shabaab in Beledweyne, a town in central Somalia.

The teens were blindfolded with their hands behind their backs against a tree, and shot, according to a local journalist.

A resident of Beledweyne told CNN that Al-Shabaab called on the town's residents to come out and watch the execution.

"Hundreds of people came out to watch the execution," he said. "It was very bad ... the girls looked shocked and were crying but [no one] could help."

A relative of one of the teens denied they were spies...'

'Al-Shabaab is waging a war against Somalia's government in an effort to impose a stricter form of Islamic law, or sharia.

Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, and fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ravaged country.'

From (edited):

The Australian

'Two accused spies, teenage girls aged 15 and 18, have died amid a fusillade of bullets from a firing squad organised by a hardline Islamist militia in Somalia.

Horrified residents of the town of Belet Weyne, in western Somalia, were forced to watch the execution by al-Shabab on Wednesday. One woman fainted as the girls were gunned down by 10 masked executioners.

"Those who watched the event could not bear the painful experience. Two very young girls were shot as they watched and no one could help," said Dahir Casowe, a local elder...'

'Only shortly before the executions, Sheik Mohamed Ibrahim sentenced the girls to death for spying for government soldiers fighting al-Shabab. The only qualifications Ibrahim needed to be appointed a judge by al-Shabab were that he be male and know the Quran...'

'Human Rights Watch said in an April report that al-Shabab imposes "unrelenting repression and brutality".

Somali militants photo: AP / Farah Abdi Warsameh

I do not claim to be an Islamic scholar, my expertise with four earned degrees comes in the subjects of the nature of God, the problem of evil, theodicy, and to some extent, atheism in regard to the problem of evil.

Online sometimes I read certain critics, some of them atheistic, some not, that like to lump all religions together as if the choice is between being an atheist and intelligent and a theist and an idiot. I should point out in my MPhil and PhD theses research I came across both intelligent atheists and theists.

Some of these more radical atheists and radical anti-religionists often to varying extents try to connect those like the Somali rebels and their radical Islamic law with someone like myself that is a Christian theologian, philosopher of religion and Biblical scholar.

Well, for both the non-believing critic and Christian reader, I will point out some differences. I am not going to compare all of Islam to all of Christianity. I realize not all Muslims act like these Somali rebels and not all Christians have my beliefs and actions.

Admitting we are both monotheists...

Here are some very non-exhaustive comparisons:

1. These Somali rebels are seeking to overthrow a present government and establish one based on their religious and political worldview.

'Al-Shabaab is waging a war against Somalia's government in an effort to impose a stricter form of Islamic law, or sharia...'

Romans 13: 1-6

Be Subject to Government

1Every (A)person is to be in (B)subjection to the governing authorities For (C)there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3For (D)rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an (E)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also (F)for conscience' sake.

6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

F.F. Bruce explains that according to Paul in Romans the state is given the divine ordinance to govern. Christian obedience is actually a way of serving God. Bruce (1985)(1996: 221).

Cranfield notes that pagan imperial state was still divinely appointed by the Biblical God in Paul's theology. Cranfield (1992: 322).

Mounce states similar (1995: 243-244), but acknowledges a government will sometimes overstep what is its 'rightful domain'. Mounce (1995: 244). He lists the religious disobedience of Peter and John in Act 4:19 as being proper. So, proper Christian worship, and the right to do so takes divine priority over the rule of the state.

My following of Romans 13 would rule out my involvement with a group and/or organized Christian military rebels to trying better establish Christian rules and laws within the Lower Mainland, BC, and Canada by force. This in my mind would not rule out participating in the lawful practice of democracy and government.

So...

The Somali rebels are religious and political militaristic revolutionaries.

My religious worldview in regard to propagation is non-militaristic.

Therefore:

The religious views are radically different on the subject of religion and government.

I reason that via Romans 13, I am to obey the state, in my case in Canada, which is secular, as long I am reasonably allowed to follow Biblical Christian standards.

A philosophical argument could be made that a state must maintain law and order in order for a Christian to justly obey it. And the Roman Empire was at times executing Christians and was still, in a sense, maintaining law and order and was therefore to be obeyed.

I would not completely eliminate the possibility that government in extreme cases could be so corrupt that it no longer maintained significant law and order and should not be obeyed.

So...

An establishment of stronger Islamic law and new government is a goal of the Somali rebels.

My religious view allows for civil disobedience only in extreme cases.

Therefore:

The religious views are radically different on the subject of religion and government.

2. I would not shoot or sanction the shooting of teenage girls or anyone simply they were supposedly spies.

They were the ages of 15 and 18, and so by international standards the 15 year old was a child and the other barely an adult. Even if a real crime was committed, which is VERY questionable, certainly it was not worthy of execution.

So...

The Somali rebels are interested in arbitrary and brutal political and religious punishment.

My religious worldview is interested in the protection and betterment of young teenage girls, adult or not.

Therefore:

The religious views are radically different in regard to human welfare.

3. I would not shoot or sanction the shooting of two young teenage girls because their religious views were different than mine.

Mark 12 and Matthew 22 both feature Jesus Christ commanding his followers to love God first and foremost, in modern terms all their spirit and mind, and other persons as much as self.

So...

The Somali rebels were not concerned with loving these teenage girls in a religious sense, and had a misguided sense of justice.

My religious view is attempting (and not succeeding perfectly) at the highest divinely inspired human forms of love and justice.

Therefore:

The views are radically different in regard to religious toleration.

Further:

It would seem that actually maintaining law and order, as in Romans 13, would be the only reason for me to perhaps to kill someone if an authorized officer of the state, either police or military, or like, was not immediately present to prevent loss of life.

BRUCE, F.F. (1985)(1996) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Where do I go from here?

2010-10-17T00:28:00.000-07:00

The theological path to somewhere, at my estate.

1. My previous post on this blog in the comments section has recent comments concerning the humanity of Christ which were originally posted in GGM's blog, 'Shalom is the Word' in reciprocal links.

The post will much more challenging than this one, if that suits you.

Previous satire and theology post

Also to the right of this post is my other theological blog linked which features some of my work on the problem of evil, if that so interests.

Anglicans and Baptists: The Problem of evil

Comments for both posts appreciated...

2. I am in hope awaiting my final PhD hard copy documentation from the University of Wales.

In the meantime I am working on my e-book, assisting my Mother in several areas and making preparations for me to eventually leave Greater Vancouver for work elsewhere.

Feel free to mention institutions, but I have decided I am not going to do that, but I will certainly comment on any kind comments and suggestions.

When I was younger I really liked rain, and mildly colder weather and I still like rain, not the esthetics of it, but the refreshing nature of it. In that sense, I have been fortunate enough to live in two places that rain a lot, Greater Vancouver and Greater Manchester. When I was younger I had some brief experience with the Alberta winter with family and thought it was cool, literally and figuratively. However, the last few years I have visited Florida, for a second time and Southern California for a second time, having also been on another time to Northern California. These trips combined with my two vacations to see family in Greater Phoenix have me thinking that it is in many ways easier and more comfortable to live in an area of the world where it is warmer and sunnier.

I also have visited Reno and surrounding area and did not care for it, overall. Being chased out of a steakhouse restaurant washroom by the 'crazed owner' with 'Pope Chucklins I' was one reason, but many people in that area seemed to dislike outsiders. That is rather counterproductive for an area which specializes in tourism.

Perhaps they hate being second to Las Vegas. Perhaps Reno should be renamed Lost to Vegas.

I spent the first part of my life in rainy overcast areas where there were minimal sunny days. With my British passport if I move back to the UK for work that will be the kind of weather I will face. Mind you, with Greater Vancouver and the UK the rare sunny days, especially in summer, can be very nice, but those kinds of days are common in places like California, Florida, Texas, Spain and Portugal year round. Now, I could use my UK citizenship which is also EU citizenship to move to a warmer EU locale, but I only speak English and so that would quite complicate any move.

As a Canadian I could stay in Canada, but other than Greater Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, and perhaps a few other areas, most of Canada receives cold winter and winter like conditions many months a year. To be honest, I like playing in the snow like I did as a child in BC and Alberta, and the snowmobiling was fun in Alberta. But it is just more difficult to travel and go to work in colder conditions.

My last two degrees are from Wales, and so are British and European, so certainly some employers should at least consider me for a position in that system as a Theologian and Philosopher of Religion. But I am a moderate conservative and most of the departments are liberal of sorts. This could be a difficult fit, and this as already been demonstrated with my hassles with Manchester and my first PhD appointment.

Being blocked by the Research Committee from transferring to an affiliated Christian institution after I quit the main (Police) academy was not a good sign for future fellowship with these types of departments although Wales has worked out fine.

Canada is apparently slightly smaller in population than California and is a lot less Christianized than the United States, Canada being more like Western Europe in that regard. This is a major reason I likely will not be able to accomplish my career goals locally with few places to apply to. With my career being in Theology, Philosophy of Religion and Biblical Studies it looks like the United States is the best place to look. I want to work in a warmer climate and my family in Arizona, which will include my Mom when I move on, would like me to live closer to them. Therefore, I will need to look for work in areas that are fairly close to them by car, or plane. This would be the Western United States and if this would not work out I would look Eastward.

I have been to New York City once. It would be fascinating to work there for a season, but I was there during spring and just found it very humid and uncomfortable with all the concrete buildings and few trees. As a teen I visited Washington DC and Virginia and liked it, although I saw the impressive Europe like historical parts of DC only.

Of course, much of it depends on who would hire me. If the best job offer was in Australia I would of course have to strongly consider it, as I would Hawaii or Southern France.

Another issue for consideration for me is if I had any local friends in an area, or anyone willing to act like a friend.

I saw this on Looney's blog.

Countries in the World visited followed by Provinces,

States, and European Countries visited

I just saw this commercial on Spike...hilarious.

Thanks, Philip. This is short and devastating.

T vs. Chuck

Examples:

'There is nothing to fear but fear itself, and fear itself fears Chuck Norris.

King Kong once challenged Godzilla to an arm-wrestling match. Mr. T won.

The reason newborn babies cry is because they know they have just entered a world with Chuck Norris.

The last man to make eye contact with Mr. T was Stevie Wonder.

Chuck Norris is a man’s man’s man.

Mr. T once beat a man to death with his own corpse.'

How to blow-up your blog: Writing that online diary

2010-10-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (trekearth.com)

This reminds me of Western films from when I was a little boy.

In November, 2008, I wrote an article entitled: How to blow-up your blog without thinking too much. Please consider this post a follow-up. If one is already very, very, well-known in the field he or she blog about perhaps he or she can get away with more and play by some different rules, I suppose. However, most bloggers are not.

1. I do not want to come across here at all as a blogging know-it-all, or a know-it-all in any way. But, I wish to share some of my blogging philosophy...once again.

2. I have been blogging with this blog, satire and theology since 2006, and according to Blogger statistics I am averaging 10, 000 page views per month. I have been blogging with thekingpin68 since 2004, seriously since 2006, and receive about 5, 000-6, 000 page views per month. So, I am a moderately successful blogger with about 15, 000 page views per month, which is still much better than most bloggers do, and so I think I do have some at least fairly important things to state.

3. A right thing I have done is to concentrate on reciprocal blog linking which has helped promote my blogs online. Also very importantly some of my articles, especially with my more academic blog, thekingpin68, are being linked online.

4. A mistake I have made, and I have recently noted this on Facebook, was to basically ignore Google/Blogger followers for six years. With the rise of Twitter, which I have no interest in, and Facebook/Networked Blogs followers which I have worked on, I should have paid more attention to it. Now, as a result with my blogs I have a good amount of Facebook followers on both blogs but only have a decent amount of Google/Blogger followers due to my recent push. For me, I am online enough and Twitter is extra work I do not want or need.

I missed the opportunity for years to visually display my followers with two applications on my blogs, which others were doing, but I basically ignored the marketing possibilities. Yes, an impressive amount of reciprocal links looks good but images of followers for both Facebook and Google/Blogger adds public credibility.

This public credibility does not make my blogs good or right, but means people care about them. If others see this they are more likely to pay attention and see how and where God has guided my work to be good and right, by God's grace.

5. Some may state that I should not be concerned with these things and just share the gospel and related. I do not agree. I should desire to present the gospel, Biblical Studies, theology, philosophy of religion and related as effectively as possible with my talent and skill God has given me. Blog image is not near as important as blog content, not even close, but presenting my blogs as readable and worthwhile by others through links and followers is an important marketing tool. A person comes on my blog and thinks....people care about this blog.

Marketing is so important.

6. Marketing is a reason I always desire to have comments, because '0' comments does not look good. But, more importantly, I am not interested in writing an online diary and really appreciate the public interaction. It makes blogging far more educational and fun for myself and readers. I have so much to learn and my commenters assist.

7. I still reason some Christian and non-Christian bloggers are hurting their own cause and working toward blowing-up their blogs and basically writing an online diary. They are too strict in their overall blogging approach.

8. Many bloggers are too strict concerning comments. Ever wonder why I allow and even encourage off-topic comments? Because I want readers to feel welcome and at home and I hope therefore they will return and contribute more to my work. If I refuse to publish a comment because it is off-topic, I quite likely will never hear from that person again. More bloggers should be much more appreciative for any respectful comments at all. Fine, if ones does not want to publish SPAM, do not, and of course feel free not to publish disrespectful comments, comments from trolls etc.

But one should not be offended and block or delete comments that the blogger does not like in some personal, narrow sense.

9. Do not expect commenters to be as interested in your material as you, the blogger, are. People are busy and accept a respectful comment on your work. Do not make yourself the overly judgmental spiritual/intellectual judge of comments. I am turned off by bloggers that will not publish my kind comment where I state little and promote my blogs. If you are kind to me, I will quite likely read more of your blog and comment more, but if you disrespect me and deem my respectful comment unacceptable, you have likely lost a contact. And I reason many other contacts will see it in a similar way if his or her comment is blocked or deleted. Also, do not expect others to necessarily read all your rules of engagement for comments before commenting. Many people will not. With strict bloggers this may lead to the comment being blocked or deleted and a lost contact.

Boooom!!!

'But I stubbornly got my righteous way!'

So, many Christian bloggers do this and I think it is destructive for building a blog.

10. In the same way, bloggers should attempt to reply to most comments. When this is reasonable. Remember you must try to network unless you want that online diary. Networking means that you are not going to easily and necessarily find a bunch of clones that think and act just like you, so loosen up a bit, chill out. Do not look at your blog as a power trip but as a chance to network with others, to share with other Christians and non-Christians.

11. I have a PhD in Theology (Philosophical Theology), and Philosophy of Religion. From a marketing perspective, years ago, I decided that with my thekingpin68 blog, if I presented it like an online academic journal I would have difficulty gaining readers. So, I kept it at the same high academic level but added photos and humour. I reasoned the more effective academic approach was not to market it as an academic journal but market it like an academic lecture in a classroom of young people that wanted to learn at the highest level while at the same time being entertained.

This blog, satire and theology is a more readable version if thekingpin68, but the philosophy presented is the same.

12. Being open to others does not mean one must weaken his or her theological stances. My moderately conservative Reformed views have grown not only through six years of public blogging with many that are non-Reformed, but also through MPhil and PhD degrees at Wales which is secular and moderately liberal.

My PhD topics were theodicy, the problem of evil, atheism, liberal Christianity and free will and determinism and my Reformed, Biblical philosophy and faith has grown. These views have been shared on my blogs. My views have been challenged severely especially with the PhD and MPhil degrees. God has guided me.

I truly believe many Christian bloggers have fear of being theologically challenged and therefore often avoid dealing with those of other views. I am meaning in practical and not just philosophical terms, bloggers can feel threatened. Now, I am not stating one should look for trouble, or get in endless debates. These can become tiring and a waste of time. I am simply suggesting one be an open-minded blogger.

Mark 12:28-40 (New American Standard Bible)

28(A)One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and (B)recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"

29Jesus answered, "The foremost is, '(C)HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

30(D)AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'

31"The second is this, '(E)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that (F)HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;

33(G)AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, (H)is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (I)After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Autumn...yes deleted from previous post and added here. I placed new comedy material in previous post.

Philosophical thoughts related to recent 'cult' like group

2010-09-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Guadalupe Mountains, National Park, Texas (trekearth.com)

1. I visited Carson City, Nevada several years ago with Saint Chucklins of Ditch. We were in a hockey draft with my brother in Reno. Being the good fundi-Menno Chuckles was not into gambling, and I was not into it either, having been told it was sin by a professor at Canadian Baptist Seminary and by a Mennonite professor at Columbia Bible College.;) Well, I actually am not into wasting money. We were therefore bored with Reno and found a lot of the hired help rude. In Carson City, I wondered where Johnny Carson was that day. We had to use the washroom and there was no public washroom, so we quickly dashed into a steakhouse restaurant in a fancy old building. I went but Cardinal Chucklins took longer. There was a sign stating that the facilities were for the use of patrons only.

When were both done the owner chased us down the street threatening to have Pope Chucklins, the Innocent arrested. I said something along the lines of 'Go ahead we are from Canada'.:)

The End

2. I saw a couple of stories on this group on CNN.com and watched a couple of videos. I am no expert on the story or the cult. That is not primarily what this post is about.

CNN

To quote parts of the article:

'Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A group of 13 Salvadoran immigrants missing in southern California amid fears that they planned a cult-like mass suicide have been found alive, unhurt and upset to find they were the subjects of an extensive search.

Authorities had been scouring the Palmdale area of northern Los Angeles County on horseback and by helicopter Sunday in search of the group, which included eight children between the ages of 3 and 17, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A resident spotted one of the vehicles identified in the lookout at a park and notified the sheriff's department, he said.'

'The search began Saturday afternoon, when the husbands of two women in the group reported them missing, the Sheriff's Department said. One of the men said their wives were part of a "cult-like group" and had been "brainwashed" by its leader, and Whitmore said the wife left a purse with her husband and asked her "to pray over" it.

When the husband opened the purse, he found money, mobile phones and notes that "talked about meeting Jesus, talked about deceased relatives soon to meet up," Whitmore told CNN earlier Sunday. That raised concerns that the group members planned to take their own lives, he said.'

The husbands told investigators that the group had broken away from a Christian church in the Los Angeles area "and formed a separate group that included both traditional and non-traditional practices and beliefs," the Sheriff's Department said Saturday. Its leader, whom investigators identified as Reyna Marisol Chicas, had taken her followers on a similar outing six months ago "in the apparent belief that there was going to be a major earthquake."'

Quote from the Los Angeles Times:

L.A. Times

'But she said some congregants would meet separately, in their own prayer groups outside the church, and among those groups beliefs could vary. Chicas, she said, never took on a leadership position at the church beyond greeter at Sunday services, but may have been more assertive within a prayer group.

Chicas had slowly severed social ties with the couple -- no longer wanting to drink or go out as they used to.

They last saw her at the church about six months ago.'

End of citations.

Now, with the following:

'he group had broken away from a Christian church in the Los Angeles area "and formed a separate group that included both traditional and non-traditional practices and beliefs,'

'But she said some congregants would meet separately, in their own prayer groups outside the church, and among those groups beliefs could vary.'

Those of you that know me personally, and those of who read my blogs, thekingpin68 and satire and theology, will quite possibly realize I am a non-conformist, free-thinker and although I am teachable, I do not primarily let others do my Biblical Studies, theology and philosophy for me.

However, I am still a traditionalist. At least in the sense that I reason the Scripture was inspired by God, presented historically through prophets, apostles and Scribes, and that the Word is the living God that also became incarnate and is the risen Lord. This living Lord does work through his Church. That is present tense.

Based on this view, my Biblical work, theology and religious philosophy is historically grounded and therefore it has an objective aspect and is not primarily subject to my personal thoughts and interpretations. Of course I interpret but it is through a historical Biblical lens, with the assistance of the Church through scholarship, preaching, and personal interaction.

I value the observations and views of others that share in the appreciation of Scripture in context, and I am not my own island when it comes to Biblical Studies, theology and philosophy of religion (the secular perspective on religious philosophy).

I therefore do not favour a break away from the Christian Church with the formation of personalized little groups. I am against cult-like Christianity and cultic pseudo-Christianity.

In addition:

I do not have a problem with the formation of independent churches or new denominations when it is for the sake of Biblical truth. But, this needs to be done with a view that the worldwide unofficial Church of Christ should not be abandoned. Where there is agreement on essential doctrines there can still be fellowship, intellectual fellowship at least, even when there is disagreement on secondary issues.

3. Battle of the Bulbs 2010 (TV)

Part of this movie is being filmed across the street Friday, and is why there is no parking...'exciting'.

4. Satirical and serious photos

Nice 'tat'.

More tats.

I think he got too involved with his shoot.

Is this the same person again?

I would like to see that yappy little dog downstairs yap at this scene.

This post brought to you by Shell Oil.

And by McDonald's

I saw this on CNN and then YouTube. More lion attacks, this time

in the Ukraine. In my opinion the children and public should never

have seen this as greater security measures should have

been in place. The weapons used against the lions were insufficient.

Religious album covers, kind of

2010-09-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

Phnombakheng, Cambodia (trekearth.com)

With email confirmation from Europe, I have finally overcome the stress of waiting for a final post-viva PhD pass result, I am in the mood for fun. But it can be serious as well.

Please see below for more on my Doctorate:

thekingpin68

I realize that for practical and learning purposes I do repeat some blog material.

However, these albums are all new to this blog.

I have done other posts on this subject.

Best of religious album covers (September 1, 2009)

Religious albums cover III (November 14, 2007)

Religious album covers: continued (July 12, 2007)

Religious album covers (June 14, 2007)

The year without a Santa Claus? For some fundamentalists is that not every year? But, I am no apologist for Santa. If I had children I would not build the Santa story as if it were real, and certainly would emphasize Christ in Christmas. At the same time, I would not suggest my children tell other children that Santa is fictional.

Or that Santa is of Satan!

Now, in the comments more critics go at this blog than at thekingpin68, and so yes, I understand that Christ was not likely at all born on December 25.

Browning states, that the early Church had no celebration for the birth of Christ. The date of the birth was unknown. Eventually, the birth of Christ within the calendar was given a single day of January 6. In the 4th century the Church designated December 25 as a good day for the celebration as it had been the pagan festival of Sol Invictus when the sun triumphed over darkness of winter as the days became longer again. Browning (1997: 63).

To me, this issue is rather on the unimportant side theologically. The Church simply put aside a yearly day, and season to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I reason the religious groups that place far too much emphasis on this issue are probably to some degree cultic and therefore have more serious theological problems concerning the nature of God, human salvation, law and grace they should be concerned with.

Church of Christ preacher Ira North.

I do not know much about him. I have no firm opinion, but I can see the modern secular liberal critic looking at the cover and thinking, 'That fundamentalist was struggling with his sexuality and was considering having a sex change operation, but the repressive Church was condemning him for it and therefore he stayed a man'.

He seemed quite conservative, but was trying to preach through a woman's perspective.

Imagine that, trying to understand the perspective of someone radically different in some ways.

How non-21st century is that?

Ephesians 5:25-27 (New American Standard Bible)

25(A)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (B)gave Himself up for her,

26(C)so that He might sanctify her, having (D)cleansed her by the (E)washing of water with (F)the word,

27that He might (G)present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (H)holy and blameless.

The joke is on me. Christmas Eve 2000 in downtown Manchester, Pope Chucklins the Non-resistant and I were attacked by three men outside after dinner. They were actually part of a group of about thirty men. The three were losing in the fight against me and so one of them threw a bottle and took out my two front teeth and broke my nose.

When I called home, my brother stated 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth'.

I eventually received crowns in Manchester that had to be redone eventually in BC. The nose was 'fixed and straightened' by hand without anesthetic while I was in Manchester. That too had to be redone when I came home. My surgeon here said the doctors had made the nose worse in England. He joked that my nose internally was near my ears.

The black Bob Ross in a fancy white suit? There. I have no interest in it being just Jesus and me. And I have no interest in it being just Jesus and Carl. Carl, theologically there is no room for a fourth member of the Trinity.

Does his desired 'feelin' have something to do with the overuse of some illegal or legal substance?

No judgment here, I do not know anything about the man, but if not, I 'swear' he looks like some of the folks around here that use 'BC Bud'.

By the way, someone in my complex, which is mainly 55 years and up, even though I am many years younger than that, smokes cigarillos many evenings after dinner. After midnight the type of cigarette changes to something that you cannot (yet anyway) buy at the grocery store.

As well, in the park across from our complex some nights are pot smoking parties and they take place in the park down the road. That was park I had spotted the cougar walking into a few months ago.

The cougar busting up a pot party. That would be funny to see.

Our society here in BC is quite liberal on the subject of marijuana.

No, I have never smoked anything and have no intention of doing so. I have put years into my brain and I have no intention of messing with it with smokes of any kind.

That puppet reminds me of that creepy film Magic (1978). I did not watch the movie but remember the disturbing television promotional ads as a child.

I just do not get into that type of puppetry, and so I guess Sesame Street is still my intellectual level for puppets.

Okay, I come across some Christian and non-Christian fashion blogs in my web searches. I in no way claim to be overly fashionable or a fashion expert. But here is my take on this cover. The females in white are doing fine.

The older lady in the multi-coloured outfit may be colour blind and not realize that her dress looks like it was made of raked up leaves.

The one guy is wearing a brown jacket with gray pants, and even I know that does not work well.

The man wearing the red jacket with the blue pants looks like an American car salesman pushing deals and 'steals' on July 4th in live television ads.

Browning, W. R. F (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

I just saw this story on the local news. It kind of looked like a bar fight with men against the lion.

Uncle Chuckles arriving for Friday night shenanigans.

Strict rules for Islamic women drivers

Richard Dawkins versus Richard Dawson, sort of (reprise)

2010-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

York Minster

A different version of this article was originally posted May 19, 2008.

Since then my readership has grown and this article has received many page views.

In the thousands. I thank you Lord.

So, I represent this post with some minor changes.

Thank you.

I have nothing against either gentleman. Richard Dawson is a fine comic actor and host.

This is posted for educational and satirical purposes.

Quotes from:

Dawkins

World of Dawkins

'Religious people split into three main groups when faced with science. I shall label them the "know-nothings", the "know-alls", and the "no-contests".'

There is also room for persons who are educated in both science and religion. It is closed-minded to overlook such a possibility. This would not make someone a 'know-all', or 'no contest', but simply someone with education in both science and religion.

The link is dead now, please see:

TWT

Scientism:

A pejorative term for the concept that only the methods of natural science and related categories form the elements for any philosophical or other enquiry. Blackburn (1996: 344).

Dawson

Dawson ff

If at first you don't succeed....kill 'im. (Family Fued)

Dawkins

"I suspect that today if you asked people to justify their belief in God, the dominant reason would be scientific. Most people, I believe, think that you need a God to explain the existence of the world, and especially the existence of life. They are wrong, but our education system is such that many people don't know it."

Granted there are religious people that are not very educated within religious studies.

There are also non-religious people not very educated within their particular worldview.

One of my complaints on this blog over the years has been the overall lack of philosophical education within the Western education system until University/college.

Christian theism can appeal to first cause philosophical arguments which reason that an immaterial, non-measurable, infinite, eternal, first cause created the laws of science.

Therefore:

This would be mainly/primarily an appeal to philosophy/philosophy of religion and not science.

As well:

Philosophical ontological (and related) arguments are secondary considerations concerning the existence of God within Christian faith.

Philosophical ontological (and related) arguments are for theism and not the neccessarily the Christian God.

Therefore:

Christianity primarily appeals to historical, Biblical revelation for a belief in God.

Dawson

Dawson imdb

Richard Dawson: I asked you to name a time when people usually get out of bed. And being the Einstein you are, you said..."Morning." Our survey said...[Bzzt]

Richard Dawson: Zero. And then as if that wasn't bad enough, I asked you, name a time when people usually go to bed. You said, of course..."Night." Our survey said...[Ding!]

Richard Dawson: Two!

Dawkins

"...when it comes to choosing from the smorgasbord of available religions, their potential virtues seem to count for nothing, compared to the matter of heredity.

A good point, but then some persons are educated in religious philosophy and faith, and do not simply follow the worldview of parents.

So:

Children often grow up being taught the worldview of parents.

The worldview often goes significantly intellectually unchallenged by the children.

Some parents are religous.

Some parents are non-religious.

Therefore:

The worldview of children who become adults could be religious or non-religious.

Dawson

Dawson blim

"It's all part of life's rich pattern.

Dawkins

Quote

"Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence."

Yes, some religious faith is not warranted. On my blogs this type of faith is challenged again and again.

Those who hold that empiricism and science provide the ultimate answer to all questions do not have all the specific answers on how this takes place.

Therefore:

Faith may be placed in energy/matter as its own cause.

As well:

Religion can be a cop-out, but so can simply following pop science philosophy which can in ignorance and without proper religious education, reject all religion as blind faith.

Anyone that dismisses all religious academia and its philosophical and theological complex workings as pseudo-academic is intellectually ignorant on the issue, and there are plenty of these people on-line.

Dawson

Dawson quotations

“ABC has told me that a sponsor has complained about my making anti-Nixon jokes. I would just like to say that I believe Mr. Nixon did his best to destroy this country.”

Dawkins

"It is often said, mainly by the "no-contests", that although there is no positive evidence for the existence of God, nor is there evidence against his existence. So it is best to keep an open mind and be agnostic. At first sight that seems an unassailable position, at least in the weak sense of Pascal's wager. But on second thoughts it seems a cop-out, because the same could be said of Father Christmas and tooth fairies. There may be fairies at the bottom of the garden. There is no evidence for it, but you can't prove that there aren't any, so shouldn't we be agnostic with respect to fairies?"

There is not historical documentation from many sources over many years from different geographical areas for fairies at the bottom of a garden.

There is Biblical historical documentation of approximately 3500 years of actual persons, from various religions who experienced God. There are scribes, prophets, apostles and of course the resurrected Christ who are actual documented persons.

I conclude:

The documentation would still be actual even if the Scripture contained some falsehoods, meaning a false comparison and false analogy is presented.

Definition of False Analogy:

False Analogy

Dawson

Dawson quotations

“There were people I know that got upset that I kiss people. I kiss them for luck and love, that's all. That's what my mother did to me.”

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press

Dr. Dawkins

Mr. Dawson

Thanks Philip from L.A., for the image below.

The original email message suggested these people were Obama supporters, but for the purposes of this blog let us just state that these people are very poor philosophers.

My more specific suggestions are:

These people are under the control of aliens and are being sacrificed for the cause.

These people are hellbound and going to a plain literal hell on earth. Yes, some fundamentalists hold to that type of view on hell.

These people are cultists giving it all for the cause.

Have some suggestions who these people are and what is happening? Please leave a comment.

Interesting how they jump in, rather than walk in and fall like mindless Zombies. No offense Zombie.

The final animation is Benny Hinn at 'work'.

Academic follies

2010-08-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Big Sur, California

Firstly, speaking of academic follies, as I mentioned in thekingpin68 blog comments, Skubalon in links on his blog posted the story of a Christian in the USA involved in an academic conflict with a University. For my satire and theology readers/comment writers I will post the headline here. Please feel free to comment on this interesting topic.

Lawsuit Claims College Ordered Student to Alter Religious Views on Homosexuality, Or Be Dismissed

Secondly, I have a new and more academic article, a PhD edit, here (comments appreciated on that blog as well).

Consciousness and soul/spirit (PhD edit)

Thirdly, Academic follies

Well, I have gone over my hassles with Manchester more than once (see 'A good guy...' posted April, 2010) but other follies have occurred. Here is one example.

My first trip to see Wales, Lampeter, my new campus and my advisor was in early 2004. I was to stay a few days. I had been staying with my friend Documentary Man in Greater Manchester and had to take the journey to west Wales. See map below.

Well according to RAC and its fuel and mileage claim calculator the driving distance from Manchester to Lampeter is 157.07 miles/252.78 km and about 3 hours 24 minutes.

Having never been to that part of the UK, and having not driven on the left side of the road since 1997, I decided to take the train. British Rail had no direct route to Lampeter and so I had to take several trains without sleeping in order not to miss my changes, and eventually got close enough to Lampeter to find a bus that would drive me to the centre of Lampeter, from which I could carry my luggage to the campus.

This trip which started very early in the morning in Manchester took approximately 9 hours. I arrived in the afternoon quite tired as I still had jet lag. I had only arrived in Manchester a day or two earlier. I managed to find a main office that directed me to my room. I then cleaned myself up and introduced myself to my advisor. He stated that I must have been tired and that he would see me for a meeting that evening with a several other PhD students.

I arrived at the meeting that evening and judging from the questions being asked there was basically, as there was with me at Manchester, a fairly large gulf between what I had been taught with my first two Christian degrees, and picked up with my own research and what they had been taught within the British system.

The planned discussion which took place concentrated on the methodology of certain writers as opposed to the theology or philosophy of writers. There was more concern with the assumptions and methods of Biblical writers and those who wrote on the Bible and theology, than the philosophical views presented.

This was a different approach for the most part me, although, I did do some methodological work at Canadian Baptist Seminary at Trinity Western University, for example. But my primary focus was the views presented as opposed to how these views came to be. Having written my MPhil and PhD theses I do now have a greater appreciation for background information and methodology. There is plenty of it with my PhD although it is far less interesting for me to research and write.

Much less interesting for readers too, hence you do not see much of it.

It has its educational benefits. A concern I have with it is its potential abuse. For example, reading into Paul's objections to homosexuality in Romans 1 and I Corinthians 6, in that Paul was a single man, and perhaps homosexual and was therefore speaking against a personal struggle he had. This opposed to simply recognizing that Paul, or a scribe on behalf of Paul, had a philosophical and theological objection to homosexuality as sin.

All of the students it seemed, when presenting seemed to favour methodology over philosophy and I was thinking that as a result they all seemed more like Biblical scholars doing PhDs in Biblical Studies as opposed to one like myself who was a philosophical theologian doing a PhD in Theology, who has now basically become a philosopher of religion as well. I do Biblical Studies too, of course.

When my turn came to speak, I stated although I did not neglect backgrounds and methodology, the philosophical views were primary to me. One gentlemen from the Caribbean got quite upset by that and also by the fact I stated I used the historical grammatical method of reviewing Scripture, which would use some methodology by the way. This as opposed to what I stated was overly subjective methodological approaches that risked reading motives into the writers of Scripture and modern writers of Biblical Studies, theology and philosophy of religion.

The gentlemen insisted that I did not know what I was doing and would not pass at Lampeter. Now I had just done a 40, 000 MPhil thesis at Wales, Bangor with no revisions after marking, and so I was confident but realized, as I still do now, that I always have much to learn. He insisted that after the meeting he would get my email address and so he could send me some information on how it is done. I stated that was fine.

Admittedly, since these men (no women there, figures) were apparently more so Biblical scholars than theologians they were ahead of me in certain areas of Biblical education.

I then spoke on my work with the problem of evil and theodicy and basically received some pretty blank stares as if no one knew what I was taking about. No one challenged me and I seemed to gain respect.

The gentlemen from the Caribbean, which I deduce was a kind man basically, came up to me after the meeting and seemed a little less cocky. He asked for my email address and it contained 'grandfinale' and does one of my present ones. He then asked me what it meant. Here, I thought I was going to have some fun. I asked him if he had heard of Rush from Canada. He said, yes. I told him I was the guitar player and I did a famous solo called 2112 Grand Finale from the album All the World's a Stage. I thought he would see through my joke, but he did not and so I did not go out of my way to correct him. I think I implied I was joking, but I am not sure how clear he was on it though. I told him to feel free to email me with his instructions but I cannot remember if he ever did. He went on to state how he could only do the PhD at Lampeter for as long as his Bishop in the Caribbean would cover it financially and allow it. I thought that perhaps he was obeying the party line from the Bishop and was glad I had no such line to follow in order to maintain myself in a PhD program.

I mentioned the gentlemen to my academic advisor at a later point, and I was told he was struggling. I hope he made it.

Aberystwyth is apparently about 50 km north of Lampeter. Wales is a beautiful country, by the way.

I think I am a 'little' too young to have done that 1976 solo.

Theologizing and Philosophizing on the web

2010-07-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

South Africa

1. Reciprocal blog linking

This has become slightly less important to me recently. It is largely because I reason my theology blogs, satire and theology and thekingpin68, are not going to receive much more traffic through increased reciprocal linking, as I already have several links. I will still link reciprocally of course. Having reciprocal links does assist with receiving more comments, which I appreciate much.

I still use Blogger next blog and web searches to seek out relevant blogs to perhaps link with, but for the most part blog owners do not reply to my comments. A lot of people seem to stick with their 'online diaries' for awhile and then give up. Yes, I realize many do not have the time for blogging and are not blogging in their career field as I am.

With God's help and human assistance, I think I have received around 500, 000 hits between the two blogs, which is a decent total, but I suppose a lot of Christian bloggers could not benefit at all from linking with me, and interacting with my fine supporters, some of which have their own wonderful blogs in my links.

Do that crusade on your own blogger.

2. Facebook

Facebook blog followers, some of them not Facebook friends, are many of my new blog readers. More so than from new reciprocal links.

Facebook UEFA Champions League Picks
2009-2010: Overall World Rank 232/51066

Facebook FIFA World Cup Picks
2010: Overall World Rank 838/101230

Not bad for a Canadian/British viewer that lives in BC and has to get most of his football news via UK web radio.

3. Technorati

I have the last few months placed more priority on Technorati ranking as the overall amount of links I have around the world seems to be a better indicator of the size of my blogs than does the number of reciprocal links. Technorati rankings are more accurate and consistent than they were years ago apparently, but I find my rankings swing from the 13, 000 to 90, 000 range which is somewhat off-putting.

4. YouTube

Mr. X, Pope Chucklins and Walter Thomas Franklin have all suggested I theologize on You Tube. Well, I have already been working on my blog audio posts for lecturing practice and experience. I am pleased with progress.

I do not currently have video equipment or software, but I may purchase these in the future.

I certainly would not allow public comments as there is an often very crude and abusive culture within YouTube comments. I have seen above average looking young women on YouTube singing and like and commenters suggest procedures such as nose jobs and fixed teeth are needed.

A female presenter often gets compared to the supermodel and Hollywood actress.

I really would not appreciate such comments in comparison to Brad Pitt, some boy band member, or the latest heartthrob.

5. For those of you that missed it, James Leasure interviewed me in October.

Richmond Evangelical Examiner

All for the glory of God

October 18, 9:44 PM Richmond Evangelical Examiner James Leasure

Have you ever considered going to school for a Christian education? How long would you like to attend? How hard would you be willing to work? Only a hand full out of hundreds of people will actually go to school for half of their lives. Some will need to in order to accomplish all they have set out for in preparation for the rest of their life's work. Russ Murray is one of them.

Russ Murray, a citizen of British Columbia, Canada has been in pursuit of the ideal packaged Christian education. He has some very ambitious goals, and he realized long ago he would need the tools to accommodate him. Russ wants to teach The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is not going to settle for anything less than being an authority in his field of study. Just look at his credentials!

Russ is a PhD. Dissertation candidate of Theology and Philosophy of Religion, University of Wales, Lampeter United Kingdom. He says he will probably wrap that up in the next week or two and have his grades by Christmas.

He has a Master of Philosophy from University of Wales, Bangor United Kingdom.

Russ has a Master of Theological Studies from the Canadian Baptist Seminary at Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia Canada.

His BA is in Biblical Studies, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford British Columbia, Canada.

In Russ' spare time (which he says he really does not think he has) he writes in two successful blogs. One of the Blogs is entitled Satire and Theology. Russ says this blog reflects his personal views. The second blog is Kingpin68. King Pin 68 features Philosophical Theology, Reformed Theology and Philosophy of Religion. Russ is also a student of martial arts. And, as most of us do, he likes to socialize and enjoy the normal affections of life. How all of this is managed is day-to-day for Russ. And, of course, there are unexpected emergencies and occurrences which will demand Russ' time.

Question:
How long have you been a student?

Answer: (Not including primary grades through high school) "Since 1991 with post-secondary degrees with some breaks for not having MPhil and PhD advisers."

Question:
How difficult is it being a student in the British system, within Theology and Philosophy of Religion?

Russ' Answer:
"I live in BC, Canada and so I am a distance learning student (not called correspondence).

I do not have access to my adviser, except by email.
My MPhil was 40, 000 words and my PhD under final review is 125, 000 including footnotes. With a British PhD, in my opinion, it is more work researching and finding enough citations than figuring out the philosophical issues.

The number of revisions is incredible. An idea, a paragraph, is worked over many times. As well, each adviser and reviewer has a different take on one's work."

Question:
What are your plans after your final graduation?

Russ' answer:
"I would like to teach as a professor.
(I would also) Continue with blogging, will provide links (Russ networks among bloggers as a way of studying and sharing his results. "Provide links" is to exchange hosting a link. I.e.; Russ would post Richmond Evangelical Examiner's link on his blog in exchange for Richmond Evangelical Examiner to host a link to Russ' Blog.)

Perhaps interested in other forms of media...
Need to get out of debt."

Question:
Does your academic work influence your everyday life?

Russ' answer:
"Yes. My topic is the problem of evil, and I have found that I can apply theology to everyday problems.

Contrary to what some assume, theoretical theology and philosophy can have practical theological benefits.

The Bible and the historical Christ and his work provides the remedy to the problem of evil and therefore as I live, and as every Christian lives, there is a future. A future free from the problem of evil (Revelation 21-22)".

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Corinthians 10:31 New International Version .

End

6. Burqa Bans

Daily Mail: Belgium Burqa ban

April 30, 2010

'Belgium became the first European country to impose a full ban on wearing a burka last night.

Its parliament approved a draft law which states women can be jailed for hiding their faces in public.

The bill - which must be rubber-stamped by the Belgian senate - is set to become law by July.

Centre-Right MP Daniel Bacquelaine said last night: 'The notion of recognising people in the street is essential to maintain public order...'

'The move comes as other countries consider bringing in similar legislation. There is widespread support for a ban on burkas, or full face veils, and niqabs, which cover the head and face but leave the eyes visible, in the Netherlands.

In Switzerland, voters recently supported a ban on the construction of new minarets, while France is preparing to vote in July on its own law banning Islamic headwear.'

CNN: France Burqa ban

July 13, 2010

'Paris, France (CNN) -- France's lower house of parliament Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on any veils that cover the face -- including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

The vote was 335 to 1.

The measure must still go to the French Senate before it becomes law. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the week of September 20.

Amnesty International immediately condemned the vote.

"A complete ban on the covering of the face would violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion of those women who wear the burqa or the niqab in public as an expression of their identity or beliefs," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's expert on discrimination in Europe.

French people back the ban by a margin of more than four to one, the Pew Global Attitudes Project found in a survey this spring.

Some 82 percent of people polled approved of a ban, while 17 percent disapproved.

That was the widest support the Washington-based think tank found in any of the five countries it surveyed...'

End of citations

This political movement appears to be a reaction to the fear that statistically France and other parts of Europe will eventually have a majority Muslim population.

Perhaps those lawmakers in Europe are hoping to drive many Muslims out and discourage other Muslims from immigrating in.

These laws are also aimed at anti-terrorism I reason.

Bahia Honda Bridge, South Florida

The Continents (teaching myself geography)

2010-07-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Mom, for photos send by email.

Even with my non-conformist approach and sometimes skeptical, and perhaps cynical way of looking at my reality and culture, I am still am admittedly significantly influenced by Western thinking.

Christianity and the gospel is not just work for evangelists and missionaries but also for one like myself that is a theologian, Biblical scholar and philosopher of religion.

In the New Testament the gospel was sent throughout the world, and the nations (Matthew 28: 18-20, Acts).

Therefore, a philosophical world perspective is required.

Africa

World Atlas Africa
'Population: 1,000,050,000 (2009 estimate)'

I have not visited, but would like to.

Interestingly in research for this post I see that the continent is now estimated to have a population of 1 billion persons, making it the second most populated continent after Asia.

Fascinating. The area of Africa in perspective.

Interestingly, I have heard several times over the years that Europe is roughly half the size of the United States. From my research that is incorrect, as what was probably meant was that Western Europe is roughly half the size of the United States. I did not realize that Europe actually has more area than Canada as well.

Antarctica

World Atlas Antarctica
'Population Officially none, but governmental research stations are populated with small groups of scientists at all times. In addition, in 2003, over 13,000 tourists visited the continent.'

I have not visited, but would like to. Basically I would like to step foot on land/ice and then head back to South America.

It is dangerous to walk a little too far north here in Maple Ridge because basically it is wilderness, but walking too far in any direction away from civilization on Antarctica would be scary and dangerous.

Imagine landing on Antarctica and hearing ice cream truck music.

Asia

World Atlas Asia
'Population: 3, 879, 000 (2005 estimate)'

I have not visited, but would like to. In particular I would like to see Russia, China, India and Japan.

Relative populations

Australia/Oceania

World Atlas Australia/Oceania
'Population: 32,000,000'

I have not visited but would like to see Australia, New Zealand and the Indian Ocean.

Worth learning.

Europe

World Atlas Europe
'Population: 729,000,000 (2006)'

I lived in Manchester, England for two years. I am a UK/European citizen.

I could live in Europe again. I very much enjoy historical touring and football.

North America

World Atlas North America
'Population: 501, 500, 000'

When I was a child in Elementary and Secondary schools, I was taught that North America consisted of Canada, the United States and Mexico. Now many modern atlases include Central America and the Caribbean as part of North America. It is considered to have 22 countries instead of 3.

Satirical and very overstated.

South America

World Atlas South America
'Population: 379,500,000'

I have not visited but would like to for football and jungle.

South America is of course the home of Argentina and Brazil.

Many in the media and football fans choose Argentina or Brazil to win the FIFA World Cup each and every time.

The assumption is that these are the two countries that play the beautiful game.

Together they have won 7/18 World Cups which is 38.9%, or 39%. Yes, the other teams, particularly from Europe should not bother playing in the tourney.

I suggest to appease these people that Argentina and Brazil are alone invited to the FIFA World Cup and play the Final.

An often sleepy and yet generous, kind-hearted Zombie comes to my estate bearing gifts. He was moving so quickly, in stealth that this was the best my Blackberry could do. Before I knew it he was in my condo eating Timbits and crashing on my floor.
He is friends with the Guru, see previous post.

A friend gave me a Paranormal Encyclopedia

2010-06-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

I live here and my friend Walter Thomas Franklin lives that way...

As noted on my other blog, thekingpin68, I am recovering from a vitrectomy, and have a temporary gas bubble in my eye. So my vision is 'abstruckted' obstructed.

The other day, my good friend and frequent blog commenter, Bobby Buff/Walter Thomas Franklin and various other aliases, gave me a gift, a castoff book given to him that he wanted to get rid of. However it may suit our purposes.

What an attractive cover. I could take a picture of myself with black eye presently, with my Blackberry and still be prettier than Wolfgang in the bottom right corner. And I have the alien freak beat, no problem.

MATTHEWS, RUPERT (ed.) PAUL ROLAND, KAREN FARRINGTON, LUCY DONCASTER, ANDREW HOLLAND, (2009) The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal, London Arcturus.

Blackburn states that paranormal is phenomena supposedly beyond the powers of the mind. These phenomena are attempted to be understood scientifically. Blackburn (1996: 277).

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

So, I suppose I can discuss a section, at least, of this book and see what the public response is.

Ouija Boards

The volume suggests the word ouija comes from a combination of French and German words for yes. (p. 26). The board was produced as a parlour game in 1898 by the Field brothers of Baltimore. (p. 26). Today there are various versions of the game.

U.S. Patent D056449 (PDF). Design patent for toys (D21/813) which was filed May 26, 1920. Issued Oct 26, 1920. Patentee was Clifford H. McGlasson.
From: New World Encylopedia

The board has numbers, the letters of the alphabet and some 'mystical symbols' to make it look scary. (p. 27). Participants place a finger on the pointer/planchette which moves on casters. (p. 27). It is supposedly moved by spirits. The participant asks a question and the answer is spelled out as the planchette moves on the board.

The ouija is seen as a channel for a person that is not a medium, in order for that person to make contact with the spirit world. This is seen as the case whether a spirit or person is actually primarily moving the pointer. (p. 27).

Now, quite obviously, this game could be used by someone who psychologically makes the board state what is desired. The game could also be used in order for a participant to deceive observers.

The occult as with religion can be used for psychological purposes which leads to unintended deception. The occult as with religion can also be used for the purposes of intended deception.

I would not assume that every use of this game/tool will lead to a paranormal experience. I would not assume that it would be a regular occurrence with the game. However, I am not an expert on the topic.

The text states that detractors suggest that supposed spirit messages could come from a participants unconscious. (p. 27).

Demonic Forces

The book states there have been an alarming number of violent attacks and teenage suicides involving certain disturbed impressionable persons who claim to have been following the instructions of demonic forces contacted via a ouija board. (p. 29).

The game can become dangerously addictive and a problem for those that are psychologically disturbed. (p. 29).

The book postulates the board may not be itself 'intrinsically bad' but should not be used by the irresponsible and immature that cannot handle what they receive. (p. 29).

I doubt deceased persons are taking part with the ouija board as deceased persons/spirits are disembodied by nature and should not be a threat to living persons.

I have doubts that disembodied spirits would even have the natural control or ability to respond to such a game. God had Samuel respond to a medium (1 Samuel 28), but that was a rare case.

So, the demonic forces suggestion is a reasonable one made by the text.

Further:

Demonic beings are opposed to God and are very evil.

They can Biblically harass all persons and in some cases heavily influence persons which is seen in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

Therefore, no person is responsible or mature enough to reasonably be dabbling with any kind of ouija board.

Further:

I am not some 'crazed fundamentalist' that the mainstream media can reasonably mock, but I reason that if a person is interested in spiritual life, the paranormal, and the supernatural, it is far more reasonable to have dealings with the infinite triune God of Scripture than his finite evil fallen demonic creations which serve his purposes, even as they oppose him (Job).

Guru Chucky lives that way...

Guru Chucky arrives this evening. The glowing guru.

I saw the smoking baby on David Letterman. Not paranormal, but abnormal. Bizarre parenting.

French coach Raymond Domenech refused to shake the hand of the coach of South Africa, Carlos Alberto Parreira.

France vastly underachieved.

Domenech was very likely frustrasted.

Domenech was very likely angry.

However, that being said, he should have shook the hand and then went off by himself to cool off.

I admit I can strongly relate to his situation.

Hilarious fight in the net: Slovakia versus Italy. Look from 1: 15.

Classic statements (If I were famous)

2010-06-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

Bristol, England (photo from trekearth.com)

My good friend and basically neighbour Bobby Buff, also known as Walter Thomas Franklin, has stated that I should put together a post with some of my statements/quotes.

Jeff Jenkins has stated he keeps track of some of my statements.

So, yes this is like a television episode where they use a lot of footage from old episodes.

However, since my readership is slowly growing, much of the material should be new to the reader.

And comments are a huge part of my two blogs, and they almost always contain new content.

My blogs posts are never ever really duplicated.

There is some new content with this post, in the main body, as well.

From satire and theology:

How to blow-up your blog without thinking too much

'When someone leaves a comment on your blog, either completely ignore the comment, or better yet erase it later after it has been published. Make sure you come across to your readers with that 'What the hell do you want', type of attitude. Treat your blog commenters like they are telemarketers while your favourite television show is on.'

Remember, 'Stranger Danger'! (June 4, 2010)

'Use plenty of ad hominem personal attacks in all your articles and comments. If someone disagrees with you make sure you state that they must hate you and what you stand for with your blog. Imply you are the Blogosphere's Mother Teresa/Gandhi/non-resistant Mennonite as you use vicious ad hominem attacks against your readers that disagree with you in any major way.

Reason that it is okay for you to viciously attack your critics, because you are 'right' and since they are 'wrong' as they disagree with you, and they obviously must hate you.'

From satire and theology

Theocracy

'I am not suggesting theocracy, but the need for more rational common sense ways of looking at humanity and therefore how government should be run.'

'I would not desire for one religion to be favoured as those citizens outside of the religion could face persecution, and in the extreme case of a state church be considered to be committing treason.'

'I do not support any primarily human attempt at establishing theocracy.

A primarily human attempt at theocracy does not guarantee Biblically based rule through the guidance of the true God.'

'In the present age, I favour democracy over theocracy.'

From satire and theology

The non-conformist of the year awards

'Mr. Jackson is wisely not a supporter of the theory of macroevolution, however, if he saw my hairy friends Chucky and Deeaaaan, he may reconsider.'

From satire and theology

Recent comments on other blogs (because that is how I roll)

'Is gay the new black?

Biblically, it is natural to be black, but not natural to be homosexual.

Blacks are not condemned for being such, but homosexual acts are condemned.'

So, no gay is not the new black. (June 4, 2010.)

From thekingpin68

No surprise this is Canada

'I would have preferred to see the court state the obvious, that marriage traditionally has encompassed a man and a woman, and for good reasons. The union of a man and woman can, if normal health (and if they are of childbearing age (June 4, 2010)) is present, lead to the sexual production of a family. Homosexual marriage cannot lead to the production of a family unit, even if both partners are completely healthy. This is clearly a difference between heterosexual and homosexual unions, and as one critic argued, the latter are really homosensual unions.'

From thekingpin68

Arminianism and Free Will

'Pelagianism

It must be noted that Arminianism is not Pelagianism. Pelagianism believes that human beings can achieve salvation from their own powers. It is believed that human beings can choose in free will, good or evil. Original sin was a bad example, and not inherited. Yarnold (1999: 435).'

'Arminianism holds to original sin and human corruption and that people are not able to do good without prevenient grace. Grider (1996: 80). Prevenient grace could be explained as preceding grace.'

'In my understanding the fallen human being has a limited free will that freely rejects God, and through the salvation process God enables the believer to freely follow Christ.

By limited free will I accept the idea that a fallen human being is free in the sense that he/she can be restored by God if elected (and regenerated (June 4, 2010)), but not free in a way the he/she could be saved through prevenient grace.'

From thekingpin68

Begging the question

'Begging the question would be if a person specifically argued the conclusion of an argument within a premise.'

Here are some additional sayings of mine:

'Life is fatastic'.

'Life is flabulous'.

'My floaters are a real problem of evil' (They will be gone very soon).

'Bloggers that do not want to reciprocally link can enjoy writing their own personal online diaries, unless they are already well-known in the field they are blogging about.'

'Excuse me, this is the web and you have a public blog, this means strangers can read your posts and comment.'

'Stranger Danger!'

'You can always turn comments off, and/or make your blog private'.

'You are a gentleman and a skull hair'.

'The radical fundamentalists and radical liberals tend not to support my work. My support mostly comes from moderate conservatives and moderate liberals. Mostly conservatives.'

'I am a moderate conservative.'

'I am so muscular I have a twelve pack.'

'Let's see, here in BC, we do not have a lot of police, do not have a large military, do not have a lot of hospitals, do not have a lot of freeways, and do not have a lot of rapid transit.

Yet we pay close to half of money earned to governments for taxes, plus sales taxes and other fees.

Where does all this money go? I think something is wrong.'

GRIDER, J.K. (1996) 'Arminianism', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.). Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

YARNOLD, E.J. (1999) 'Pelagianism', in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

Below is some of Jeff Jenkins' work for my blogs over the last few years.

Happiness is a spice from Rick Beaudin.

Jeff's blog

Rick's blog

Quotes: Infamous, satirical and inspirational

2010-05-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

Moezel, Germany

Since my MPhil/PhD theses topics are theodicy/the problem of evil, I thought I would take a few infamous quotes and look at them through the lens of my academic study.

Please feel free to provide your own quotes/citations in comments.

Infamous quotes:

Stalin1

Stalin2

Death solves all problems - no man, no problem.

Joseph Stalin

My comment and take on what is meant:

Human opposition to Stalinist communist political philosophy is a problem.

Death for such persons is preferred.

Stalin3

Stalin4

Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.

Joseph Stalin

My comment and take on what is meant:

Thinking intellectuals could be a threat to Stalinist communist political philosophy.

Non-intellectual citizens are preferred.

Mao1

Mao2

Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.

Mao Tse-Tung

My comment and take on what is meant:

Communism is rule by dictatorial, totalitarian force.

No one must be allowed to be a serious threat to the State.

Mao3

Mao4

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive.

Mao Tse-Tung

My comment and counter to what is stated:

Communism is a threat to democracy.

Political freedoms should be maintained through diligence.

Hitler1

Propaganda must not serve the truth, especially as it might bring out something favorable for the opponent.

Adolf Hitler: Mein Kampf.

Below appears to be a more full citation:

Hitler2

Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, in so far as it is favourable to the other side, present it according to the theoretical rules of justice; yet it must present only that aspect of the truth which is favourable to its own side. Mein Kampf, Chapter VI War Propaganda

My comment:

Propaganda uses persuasian.

Propaganda appeals to emotion.

Propaganda uses filtered information.

It is not necessarily truth.

A few years ago I came up with the idea of putting the words promotion and propaganda together.

Promoganda.

I am not stating that I am the originator of the word. But at that point I had never heard of it or seen it. I have since then seen it on the web elsewhere.

Satirical quotes:

Wilde1

Wilde2

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde

On a British comedy T.V. program in 2004, Jonathan Ross stated that a Muslim extremist suicide bomber was expecting to be taken to heaven where he would be rewarded with 72 virgins. Instead he was given a 72 year old virgin.

Inspirational quotes:

My comment:

The way of Biblical salvation and the ultimate benefits.

John 14:1-6 (New American Standard Bible)

1"(A)Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me.
2"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for (B)I go to prepare a place for you.
3"If I go and prepare a place for you, (C)I will come again and receive you to Myself, that (D)where I am, there you may be also.
4"And you know the way where I am going."
5(E)Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
6Jesus said to him, "I am (F)the way, and (G)the truth, and (H)the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Revelation 21:1-9 (New American Standard Bible)

1Then I saw (A)a new heaven and a new earth; for (B)the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2And I saw (C)the holy city, (D)new Jerusalem, (E)coming down out of heaven from God, (F)made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, (G)the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will (H)dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them[a],
4and He will (I)wipe away every tear from their eyes; and (J)there will no longer be any death; (K)there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; (L)the first things have passed away."
5And (M)He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am (N)making all things new " And He said, "Write, for (O)these words are faithful and true."
6Then He said to me, "(P)It is done I am the (Q)Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (R)I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the (S)water of life without cost.
7"(T)He who overcomes will inherit these things, and (U)I will be his God and he will be My son.
8"(V)But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in (W)the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the (X)second death."
9(Y)Then one of the seven angels who had the (Z)seven bowls full of the (AA)seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "(AB)Come here, I will show you the (AC)bride, the wife of the Lamb."

Short audio post: fideism (too much reliance on faith)

2010-05-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

Fiji

This is an audio post version of some text last provided on my thekingpin68 blog in October 2008.

I will add some further comments within the audio.

Thanks. The short mps3 audio post is below and I provide some of the related text.

fi.mp3

Definitions

Blackburn writes that fideism takes a pessimistic view concerning the role of reason for achieving divine knowledge. The emphasis is instead on the merits of acts of faith. Blackburn (1996: 139).

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Stanford

'The term itself derives from fides, the Latin word for faith, and can be rendered literally as faith-ism.'

'Fideism” is the name given to that school of thought—to which Tertullian himself is frequently said to have subscribed—which answers that faith is in some sense independent of—if not outright adversarial toward—reason. In contrast to the more rationalistic tradition of natural theology, with its arguments for the existence of God, fideism holds that reason is unnecessary and inappropriate for the exercise and justification of religious belief.'

According to R.K. Johnston, fideism is a term used by Protestant modernists in Paris in the late 19th century. It is often used as a pejorative term to attack various strands of Christianity as forms of irrationalism. Johnston (1999: 415).

Johnston explains that the concept of fideism has little value as most theologians would not deny the use of reason. The term fideism is useful when it describes an excessive emphasis upon the subjective aspects of Christianity. Johnston (1999: 415).

My propositions/premises:

Fideism can be religious and non-religious

It appears to me that many persons with both religious and non-religious worldviews at times concerning certain subjects are fideists. They operate with an over reliance on faith, as they rely heavily on the understanding of their own worldview and perspective at the expense of other views and evidence which may challenge their own ideas.

Fideism in an unorthodox fashion could be defined as faith over reason in the rejection of religious truth.

The my team is best (comfort as truth) approach is problematic

To use figurative language, just because someone is born onto the green team, or has had an intellectual and/or emotional experience with the green team and joined it, does not make the green team the team with the most truth in comparison to the blue, red, yellow, black, or white teams, etc.

Whether or not the green team is essentially correct in worldview is dependent on reason and evidence, and faith can be involved.

Faith has its place

I am not against faith. Christianity is dependent on reasonable faith, as God revealed himself historically through scribes, prophets, apostles and Christ himself. This took place over 1500 years and through various persons and in various regions. It was documented in Scripture and individual books were copied many times. There was also oral tradition. Christianity also relies on philosophy, as in, for example, the concept of first cause, and archaeology to verify that places described in the Bible actually existed as described.

There is not complete objectivity

I do not claim complete objectivity. In many ways we are made up of what we read, hear, and experience. But, in a sense all things are intellectually up for grabs, and up for intellectual challenge. We hold the primary doctrines of Christianity as essential and they can be defended well with Bible, theology and philosophy and at times other disciplines. We trust that God has revealed himself and is guiding his own through the Holy Spirit.

Lack of significant objectivity is intellectually deadly

In a fideistic approach human beings that insist something must be true will likely find an intellectual way for it to be true, no matter what the evidence. One should make as certain as possible that evidence is guiding one to conclusions concerning truth. Being guided by God in the process of finding truth is of course of primary importance.

Conclusion

I would therefore conclude that proper reasonable religious philosophy needs a heavy dose of rational thought that works with faith. In other words, it presents itself reasonably in order that more faith is warranted.

An example would be the documented Biblical, historical resurrection of Christ that is clearly presented in Scripture. It lends itself (1 Corinthians 15) to the theological concept that believers shall likewise one day too be resurrected within a reasonable faith.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

JOHNSTON, R.K.(1996) ‘Fideism’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.) Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

Magic Island, Hawaii

Classic video revisited with more explanation

I saw this on the Tonight Show. Staged.

Hoax

A good guy and not necessarily a nice guy

2010-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Princeton University (photo from trekearth.com)

For a more academic article I have written please click here:

Reformed Theology and The Bible

Hello, and thanks for reading. It is warm up in my loft again, but I like writing up here more in the heat.

Comments appreciated on both blogs, even as anonymous or with a pseudonym.

My PhD finale pass from Wales could be in the mail any day. Once I have this document I can upgrade my CV and begin my worldwide search, although mainly in the United States, for work as a professor in Theology, Philosophy of Religion and Biblical studies. While waiting I have been assisting my Mom with her web business (see ad at the top of this blog that states Click here), studying a little mathematics and studying a fair amount of psychology, especially social psychology.

I am the type of guy that would play Wii with his friend's three little girls as the adults were playing board games. Sure I generally prefer computer/video games over board games, but I truly love my friend's kids, and they now have a son as well. They have now moved back to the South.

I would even play dolls with the girls when they would ask. Of course not the way they would play dolls. I usually managed to work some kind of satirical love spat and martial arts combat into scenes which made the little ones stare and laugh. Or I would spin a certain male doll around and around and the little ones made up a story that he was going 'potty' and would laugh and laugh.

So, yes I am that kind of nice.

I have realized the last twelve years especially, due to academic battles that although I needed to stay good in the Biblical sense and love God with all my heart and love others as self (Mark 12 and Matthew 22), I needed to better stand up to social and psychological attempts at manipulation.

At Canadian Baptist Seminary and Trinity Western University, although an A student I had not written a thesis previously and my advisor had never advised someone. The advisor left for the United States and I was given all the blame for a project that had to be shortened.

I had put almost complete faith in the system and my advisor, and was led to a point that was not where I should have been. It was there that I needed to make a stand and I did. Although the project did not do as well as I had hoped I did have a negative review letter taken off my permanent record by me taking a strong stand with the administration.

Here I realized that I should have informed the administration previously that I was not being advised as well as needed.

When I arrived at Manchester University to start my PhD my advisor was away for a year and my temporary advisor stated that if I did not change my views, think secular and stop believing that God created the world, in light of the problem of evil, I would not pass.

I met with my temporary advisor and I met with the academic Dean. They promised that after I came home for Christmas from BC, that I would not be reviewed academically for one year. I came back to Manchester after Christmas to an apartment that had been broken into with all my electronic equipment stolen. In the mail, or rather 'post' there was a letter from the academic department stating that I was to face academic review within one week.

So they lied.

I called the Dean via a pay phone, as I had no phone, and he offered double talk. The letter was wrong he stated, and although the meeting would not be a review, I would be grilled and needed to defend myself.

Hmm, sounded like an academic review.

So another lie.

Going against my parents wishes (sometimes as an adult you need to do this, but I state this as I was the more informed adult) I told the academic department I would not meet with them, had met with my advisor and Dean concerning the issue already, and that I did not deal with liars.

Good-bye.

Here, with God's guidance, I got myself out of a situation where they probably would have wasted a year with me and then booted me.

I tried to transfer to a Christian college affiliated with Manchester and was blocked by Manchester that stated I knew that I could not do the work.

Hmm, well if I knew I could not do the work why was I trying to do an in University transfer?

The level of work would be the same from one Manchester PhD to the next. I simply wanted to do that level of work and be able to come to my own reasonable academic conclusions.

So, another lie.

One night in Manchester I prayed to the Lord for help finding another University or I would go home soon. I searched online for several Universities and emailed a few.

The next day a man from Wales called me on the phone and offered to be my advisor. I wrote the 30, 000-40, 000 word approximately MPhil thesis degree with no revisions after marking.

That is no lie.

Although while writing my PhD I did my own MPhil revisions (see MPhil posted on thekingpin68).

The other day an online teacher tried to use psychological techniques with me as I asked some questions on his discussion board and ordered one product previously. He tried to use Alpha male techniques and acted like I needed to commit to such and such with his organization and that there was no excuse for not doing so. I stated that I would make no such commitment, wanted to be online less, would be online less in the future and to take me off the list.

As a result he respects me and we remain in contact. I truly do need to be online less in the future.

Biblically, I am with God's help trying to be loving and kind but need to stand for the truth. I in no way claim anywhere near apostolic authority but in Acts 5 Peter was not nice and two people died as a result.

Sometimes it is ethically superior not to be nice.

Photo sent to me from Jeff Jenkins

I am curious if they have a mascot, and if they do is he perhaps the Beurger King with a turban or the Sultan of Shakes?

THE JEFF

My Mom emailed me these photos of flowers, apparently from the Netherlands.

UEFA pulled the previous video off of YouTube, but this video is much better.

Internazionale Milano lost the second away leg of the UEFA Champions League to Barcelona. But, due to the first leg 3-1 victory, Inter won the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate.

Inter Manager José Mourinho ('The Special One', yes that is his nickname) went onto the Barcelona field using the number 1 sign (not the middle finger) pointing toward the Inter away fans and soon the sprinklers were turned on. Apparently he was in a confrontation with Barcelona's goalkeeper.

The football shenanigans...I must admit they make me laugh.

Mirror

'Jose Mourinho was involved in an amazing bust-up with Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes last night as his Inter Milan side fought its way through to the Champions League Final in a turbulent tie at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho called the 1-0 loss “the most beautiful defeat of my life” but it was marred by his clash with Valdes which happened as he charged across the pitch at the final whistle to salute Inter fans celebrating reaching the Champions League Final with a 3-2 aggregate win.

The Special One was intercepted by a furious Valdes, who grabbed him and wrapped him in a bear hug to try to prevent him waving at supporters high in the top tier of the stadium.

Mourinho eventually wrestled himself free from the grip of the keeper, who was then confronted by a group of Inter Milan players.

The Barcelona supporters hurled a fusillade of missiles at the former Chelsea boss as he tried to applaud his club’s supporters.

Then, as Mourinho and his players cavorted on the pitch in front of their fans, Barcelona turned on four sprinkler jets and drenched them...'

Resting in God (contentment, depression)

2010-04-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2010
Please note my additional article at bottom: Integrity and Matthew 18

Happy Easter.

Ontology: Derived from the Greek word for being, and in the 17th century became associated with metaphysics concerned with existence. Blackburn (1996: 269).

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

If one in Christ died this instant and went to paradise (2 Corinthians 12, Philippians 1, Luke 16, Luke 23). I do not seriously doubt that being in the Lord's presence, the person would be totally without suffering and despair resting in the Lord in a sinless state personally and ontologically. Needs would be met in some spiritual way, but I believe the Lord would be more than enough, as one would await the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) and the culminated Kingdom of God (Revelation 21, 22).

A problem with our present earthly realm is that we are sinful, live in a corrupted ontological environment and that our needs as Christians are met only within God's will for our good (Romans 8). So, the blind need to see, paraplegics and quadriplegics needs to walk, etc., and cannot. These are actual needs, but God's plans and needs for persons have greater priority.

This divine priority is often misunderstood by persons.

One can show faith, consider the Lord perfect and holy, pray and thank the Lord for blessings, ask to be cleansed of sin, and pray for others. One in Christ can have the peace of knowing Christ, being elected and born again, and it is the greatest occurrence for a human being.

Yet there can be misery and suffering. Because of personal sin? Well, somewhat and sometimes but not necessarily and primarily if one is basically a committed, obedient Christian. This is not necessarily and primarily a free will issue, or even a fallen nature issue. Quite simply like a blind person that cannot see, one can have actual needs that are not met. One can be unfulfilled in certain ways within God's permissible will. I reason within his perfect will, God will provide healing and all needs for persons within the culminated Kingdom with resurrected citizens.

So in conclusion, resting in God and Jesus in this life can be a misunderstood theological concept and a half-truth, if it is deduced to be a remedy to depression via suffering without some type of countering contentment.

I was christened as a child and baptized as an adult. Covered.

How about seeking theological truth? Oh sorry, that is not cool, baby.

Which is true?

a) This strongman also had to eat the stone within a ten minute period in order to win another competition.

or

b) This strongman and his competitors formed two teams and played a game of soccer with that stone ball as part of the competition.

This one made me a laugh. It is satirically pro-evolution and anti-Calvinist at the same time.

Integrity and Matthew 18

In light of a few, not several, past disputes over the last few years I write the following short addition to this post.

Note: I do not expect past disputes to be corrected this way, necessarily, but I would like to document this for the future occurrences. I remain open, however.

I have been blogging with thekingpin68 since 2004, and this blog, satire and theology, 2006. I reason I am a sinner by nature and by choice at times (Romans 1-6), saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2: 8: 10). I hold to the Reformed view that all my actions are tainted by sin in this realm. I must be born again (John 3) and therefore regenerated by God's choice (Ephesians 1) to be in Christ and am useable by the triune God in basic although not perfect obedience.

Sin can exist with online dealings

Sometimes while blogging, emailing, and using other social media, one's finite nature and yes, sinful nature, can contribute to problems with others, that also have finite and sinful natures.

Questionable integrity can exist online

Online there also exists a difficulty of being able to demonstrate integrity to others that do know one in person. For example, I can say I have integrity but when others do not know me in person and simply read my words, or listen to audio posts, this integrity is more difficult to establish.

One is morally responsible, even if less to blame

I am morally responsible for my thoughts and actions and cannot control the morally significant thoughts and actions of others. Even if I feel I am the less wrong in a given situation/discussion, one or more persons may be able to show me where I have erred in some way, and/or I may be able to show persons where I have not erred, or where he/she has erred. One or both parties may be able to make personal improvements and perhaps reconcile. Each should be willing to discuss the issue, looking at both sides.

Writing can be limited

Simply writing back and forth may not increase understanding. Personally, I am open to Skype or telephone conversation, and I am sure that one could call or email Grace Vancouver Church and ask my pastor about me in some cases if needed.

An example comes to mind here. More so in the past I blogged with a gentleman that also blogged with several other of my links. I thought some of his views were orthodox and Biblical and some were heretical. I told him via email that some of his views were heretical.

Now, in my mind when he argued against me and my Reformed views online, my impression of him was that he was quite sure of himself and trying to defeat my Reformed arguments. We sort of made up and he somewhat agreed to consider my points. He did state over time that he wanted to learn from me, but he would argue with me at times. I reasoned we ended up arguing in circles and that he had not read enough commentaries and used enough Biblical tools to see the error of many of his views.

But, very interestingly, when he later called me on the phone, and he has I think four times now, I had to admit that although I still believed I had been correct in calling some of his views heretical, that I had him reasoned out somewhat wrong as a person.

This really hit me, actually.

He was in actuality far less sure of himself when were on the phone, and I realized that what I thought was a rather argumentative nature via print was actually via the phone a nature that wanted to test his points for self-verification and verification by others. I actually found him much less combative and sure of himself on the phone than I deduced him to be online. I reason he was in actuality more teachable by me by having talked to me in person.

I of course learned as well.

In conclusion, the Matthew 18 model should be used to resolve these conflicts:

When the issue of integrity and/or moral and ethical correctness comes to mind, I invite him/her and representatives if required in the situation, to contact me with the method that works. This is based on Matthew 18: 15-17.

'Matthew 18

¹⁵ "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. ¹⁶ "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. ¹⁷ "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.'

Short audio post: Common criticism, God cannot be known by the senses and therefore cannot be known

2010-03-27T22:43:00.000-07:00

Maple Ridge, BC

A photo I took from just outside my complex. Within a year or so it will likely be my former complex.

I need to buy a better microphone. If I make the mix too loud there is a lot of noise. However, I need to have a reasonably high volume mix to make up for the mediocre quality microphone.

I would suggest the listener turn up the volume and turn down treble/bass settings if needed.

I admit there are different types of knowledge, and that God as Spirit (John 4: 24) is not known in the same way that one human being knows another, for example. Biblically God is personally known by regeneration via election (John 3, Ephesians 1).

However my audio post presents this basic argument but not in the exact same order or way:

Common criticism, God cannot be known by the senses and therefore cannot be known.

1. Natural theology/natural religion provides a type of knowledge about God as creator (Romans 1 does mention this but is not the only source for this concept which can be deduced).

2. Philosophy of religion and concepts of first cause can provide other somewhat related knowledge which can be deduced as being a parallel truth to the creator in Genesis, although the first cause is not necessarily the Biblical God.

3. Scripture provides God's supernatural revelation through prophets, apostles and scribes.

The conclusion being the empiricism should not be completely abandoned and has uses in science, for example, but should not be viewed as the only source of knowledge. God could never been known this way in a strict sense as Spirit. The critic should therefore have an open mind.

Thanks.

Short audio post

emp.mp3

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

I did not cite these but kept concepts in mind. I have cited these in my recent PhD revisions and in blog posts.

HUME, DAVID (1779)(2004) Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Digireads.com/Neeland Media LLC, Lawrence, Kansas.

KANT, IMMANUEL (1781)(1787)(1998) Critique of Pure Reason, Translated and edited by Paul Guyer and Allen W. Wood, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

KANT, IMMANUEL (1781)(1787)(1929)(2006) Critique of Pure Reason, Translated by Norman Kemp Smith, London, Macmillan.

KANT, IMMANUEL (1788)(1997) Critique of Practical Reason, Translated by Mary Gregor (ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

KANT, IMMANUEL (1788)(1898)(2006) The Critique of Practical Reason, Translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, London, Longmans, Green, and Co.

Finally an ad dedicated to my friend Bobby Buff. I don't find that attractive, BTW, only reminds me of a certain friend.

Rotunda, University of Virginia

Flat Bible and Progressive Revelation

2010-03-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Tet Valley, Southern France

This topic was discussed previously on this blog. But, I have made some changes to the post and have more readers now.;)

Flat Bible and Progressive Revelation

Explanation

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant in contrast to the old covenant of the Hebrew Bible. (Hebrews 12: 24). The law in particular was only a shadow of good things to come. (Hebrews 10). The law cannot save as shown in Romans 4, but persons are saved through righteousness of faith fulfilled in Christ and by grace through faith in Christ. Galatians 2 mentions the folly of following the law as persons now have Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 4-6, Jesus explains the deeper spiritual meanings of the law. New Testament revelation of Christ/apostles does not contradict the previous revelation.

The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament must be read in context, and the New Testament should not be read into the Old Testament. The Hebrew Bible should be studied for original context.

I conclude that Biblically a flat Bible hermeneutical approach which does not properly interpret old covenant teaching through a new covenant amplification, should be academically rejected for one that takes a progressive revelation approach, in order for one to posses the fullness of God’s Scriptural revelation and the gospel message. Progressive revelation is defined as the understanding that God's self-disclosure is in progression from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96). Therefore the New Testament offers a more complete revelation. The Old Testament is to be understood in light of the fuller teaching of the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96).

Additionally

The gospel plan of the New Testament is God’s final Scriptural revelation for humanity. There is therefore no other means of salvation (John 14: 6, Acts 4: 12).

Theologically, as examples, Islam is rejected for reasons such as the denial of key doctrines about Christ, including his deity, and the Latter-Day Saints theology is rejected for reasons such as holding to polytheism and henotheism (belief in more than one God, or the belief that more than one God in existence is possible, although only one is worshipped) which are against Scriptural teaching. (Isaiah 43, 44, 45). Christ as the Alpha and Omega, as the beginning and the end (Revelation 1: 8, 21: 6, 22: 13) demonstrates theologically his nature as the one and only Almighty God. There is only one God in existence and only one God that should be worshipped. Mounce states that this title of Christ in Revelation sets Christ beyond the created order and Christ is also unlimited as The Son and has the same divine nature as the Father (and I would add the Holy Spirit). Mounce (1990: 393).

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

MOUNCE, ROBERT, H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Georgia judge bars release of photos

I do deal with the problem of evil with research degrees and my blogs. Keeping this in mind, I placed the above link in the comments of a couple of posts and am willing to discuss it in comments, but I decided to be sensitive to my readers and not discuss it in the main body.

Again, please feel free to discuss it on here if you wish.

However, I will state that I am glad Hustler was denied and that their request shows an incredible level of moral depravity.

A classic jazz-fusion piece with humorous unintended whistling and ending. I read online from Holdsworth that this album was demos and that a music company exec. came and took the tape away and soon there was an album, without the consent of the artist.

Holdsworth

'And we were actually rehearsing in the studio and they were rolling the tape while we were rehearsing on the premise that we'd be able to keep recording and also check things out, but that never happened. At the end of that day, the guy said "Thanks, see ya!" That's why a lot of those tunes don't have any endings—they were rehearsals! That was a complete rip-off.'

Now this is not Biblical.

Not Biblical

Patriotism: Canadian, American and British concerning sport and other

2010-03-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

French Riviera (a place I would like to see)

Obviously a very non-exhaustive post.

I am Canadian, born in Canada; British my Dad was born there, and pro-American, in general terms.

1. It was good to see the Canadian pride and patriotism during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver-Whistler. A sense of community was built. This sense of community may lead to more problem solving within the Province of British Columbia and Canada and less bickering.

2. One of the things during the 1980s and 1990s that disturbed me concerning the American coverage of Olympic games was how the commentators seemed so focused on American athletes to the exclusion of those in the rest of world. From my Canadian perspective, this was philosophically attributed to American flag waving which Canadians mention.

This is one major reason as I child and younger adult, although being pro-American, I developed a strong dislike for the up and coming American hockey and soccer teams. I dreaded in the future having to view and listen to the commentators talk on and on about how America had triumphed against the odds once again as always, this time against traditionally strong nations in these sports and America was now the best in these sports just like in American sports.

Thankfully this has not as of yet happened, although the USA is a major hockey power they are not definitively the best, or usually the best. They have good soccer team, although not a top contender for the FIFA World Cup. I have serious doubts that the USA can ever dominate soccer as there are too many sports ahead of it in popularity in America that will take the best athletes. Plus there are many countries where soccer takes many of the best athletes as the number one sport.

3. Frankly, I have to admit, I think that over the last decade or so Canadian commentary has PERHAPS become more patriotic than American. I mostly watched Canadian Olympic coverage but also watched American in 2010. The American coverage on NBC seemed to spend more time on non-American significant contributors to the Olympics than did the Canadian commentators on CTV/TSN/Rogers Sportsnet. The Canadian coverage seemed intent on promoting Canada at all costs.

This became annoying to me. I think it more important to discuss the most significant athletes.

4. While living in England I certainly found the English and British to be patriotic and support their athletes, especially in regard to football. However, the close proximity to other European countries also very good at football, most notably, seemed to provide more objectively based reporting.

As a scholar I thrive on objectivity, I am not claiming to be completely objective, but I reason that lack of objectivity in one area of life could lead to lack of objectivity in other more important areas of life.

Yes, I stand on guard for thee.

My argument is that patriotism in sports, Canadian, American, and British, for example, is good. Related overzealous patriotism that lacks intellectual objectivity, may often be harmless.

However, if a primarily non-objective overzealous approach is taken within religion and philosophy, the result can be intellectual blindness.

A possible thinking pattern:

I am born in Canada (for example), therefore I support Canadian athletes.

I therefore do not support non-Canadian athletes.

I am born in this country, therefore I support my country.

I therefore do not support a different country.

I am born into this religion, therefore I support this religion.

I therefore do not support other differing religion.

I am born into this philosophy, therefore I support this philosophy.

I therefore do not support other differing philosophy.

Something to think about.

Team Canada win 2010 Olympic hockey gold.

Okay, okay, I know this guy in on my Facebook page and in the recent thekingpin68 comments (see link below), but here he is again. Version one, psychedelic and version two, perhaps the original.

Speaking of patriotism...

The Soviet Robot, Eduard Khil.

It's like his batteries were running out after about 2 minutes and 30 seconds and the Soviets had to bring the propaganda machine back in to be recharged and oiled.

thekingpin68: most recent philosophical theology post