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.'
I tried to post a comment, but it said, "We're sorry, but we were unable to complete your request."
ReplyDeleteSo I'll just post the link:
President Hussein Backs Al Qaeda in Libya
Libya Live (video of plane being shot down)
ReplyDeleteLibya: the West and al-Qaeda on the same side
ReplyDelete'President Hussein Backs Al Qaeda in Libya' This according to Atlas Shrugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeff.
'Libya Live (video of plane being shot down)'
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
Devastating.
'Libya: the West and al-Qaeda on the same side'
ReplyDelete'Statements of support for Libya's revolution by al-Qaeda and leading Islamists have led to fears that military action by the West might be playing into the hands of its ideological enemies.'
'Col Gaddafi has pinpointed the rebels in Dernah as being led by an al-Qaeda cell that has declared the town an Islamic emirate. The regime also casts blame on hundreds of members of the Libyan Islamist Fighting Group released since the group renounced violence two years ago.'
Nice article, I guess as the government and church get closer there is the chance according to your article that the church could be corrupted in practice and theology by governmental influence.
ReplyDelete-Rocket Reader-
Why would anyone want to be at a beach with jets flying that close to you??
ReplyDelete-Beach Buoy-
'Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteNice article, I guess as the government and church get closer there is the chance according to your article that the church could be corrupted in practice and theology by governmental influence.
-Rocket Reader-'
Yes, as was taught to us as Columbia Bible College (Mennonite) and was taught to me as well at Canadian Baptist Seminary at Trinity Western University.
'Why would anyone want to be at a beach with jets flying that close to you??
ReplyDelete-Beach Buoy-'
I have never been interested in being a 'beach bum', although I enjoy the ocean, and relaxing on the beach after a hard day would be nice. So, yes that holiday for me would personally be a waste of time.
Cheers.
Hello! It's really good to read your posts again! I will be visiting here often again! God bless!
ReplyDeleteGood that you are back. I hope and pray you are well, Honey.:)
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but look forward to that day
Tammy :)
Thanks, Tammy.
ReplyDeleteThe world certainly needs some improvements and the end of the problem of evil.
Now that you got me excited about trekking across the sand for a few days ...
ReplyDeleteThe discussion has me thinking of Romans 13. In historical context, the Roman state would have been deemed totalitarian. Then there is God's choice to preserve His people in Babylon/Persia rather than Democratic Greece.
'Now that you got me excited about trekking across the sand for a few days ...'
ReplyDeleteI would like to go across, with proper preparation, the Sahara Desert and the Saudi desert (s), for example.
'The discussion has me thinking of Romans 13. In historical context, the Roman state would have been deemed totalitarian. Then there is God's choice to preserve His people in Babylon/Persia rather than Democratic Greece.'
I agree.
As well, eventually there were closer Church-State ties (Roman Catholic Church in the West) which eventually in part led to the Reformation.
Thanks.
I would like to go across, with proper preparation, the Sahara Desert and the Saudi desert (s), for example.
ReplyDeleteMy (late) dad was in the desert in Africa in WWII, and he said it was incredibly hot during the day and incredibly cold at night.
Obama advisor calls for a military invasion of Israel
ReplyDelete'My (late) dad was in the desert in Africa in WWII, and he said it was incredibly hot during the day and incredibly cold at night.'
ReplyDeleteI have read and heard that about deserts before. World War II and Africa, that would be fascinating.
'Samantha Power of the Kennedy school and a Obama advisor calls for a military invasion of Israel to create a palestinan state'
ReplyDeleteHa, the US military thinks it has problems with Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya...
That would be potentially quite more problematic.
Plus, Israel is a democratic country and ally. They should be supported at least in that context and left alone.
Thanks, Jeff.
From the perspective of western governments, the issue of using military force is not that complex. It's all about access to resources.
ReplyDeleteNo oil zone = No "No Fly Zone"
That is why Libya gets the fighter jets and Syria gets no help from the west even as their government is killing protesters.
Should it be this way? I don't agree. But then, I would disagree with any foreign involvement in a civil war. There are too many problematic issues. How to determine when to pull out? What if the anti-government forces start fighting amongst themselves? Who among them do you support? That's my opinion anyway.
I stated this evening on Facebook:
ReplyDelete'At the after church lunch today, I mentioned I was not in favour of any religious law as law of the land in our fallen realm. I prefer a democracy that has some Christian influences upon, more so than today.
A problem with a Christian theocracy that is not directly ruled by God/Christ is that the persons in charge are still sinful. The kind of Christian law produced may be corrupted.
Shari'a would be bad as well. Worse.'
Thanks, Chuck.
A (not the only) concern I have is that the United States and West are now involved with three wars in Islamic countries with restrictive rules.
These types of wars tend to be a negative as they are prolonged, and costly with Western lives and money.
Technically we are directly involved in four wars in Islamic countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Looney.
ReplyDeletePakistan as extension of the Afghan war? Not separate.
Please explain, because that is not what the media is generally stating.
I guess we can say that the actions in Pakistan are a consequence of the "Afghan War" and not a separate war. But then we will quibble over whether it is a three wars or four countries that we are involved in!
ReplyDeleteAs for the media, well, I usually assume they are wrong until proven otherwise. For example, I saw the BBC referring to the removal of Zelaya as a "coup", even though it was done by due process based on his violation of the constitution. In Egypt, however, Mubarak's removal was deemed the result of a "popular uprising", even though the military sent him packing and then grabbed power.
Would you trust the media to deal sensibly with philosophy?
'I guess we can say that the actions in Pakistan are a consequence of the "Afghan War" and not a separate war. But then we will quibble over whether it is a three wars or four countries that we are involved in!'
ReplyDeleteYes, three wars in four countries. That is how it is widely and basically portrayed. Semantics.
Listening to Albert Mohler recently there is a semantic debate over the term 'war' in regard to Libya as well.
'Would you trust the media to deal sensibly with philosophy?'
Sometimes. I am more likely to pick up errors (and do) when the media discusses topics related to my academic study.
Thanks, my friend.
A Facebook Friend commented: "The President finally addressed the nation and the world nearly two weeks after initiating military action against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Boiling down his speech, he claimed a moral imperative to intervene with force because Gaddafi had killed innocent civilians and destroyed mosques in his struggle to hang on to power."
ReplyDeleteMy Facebook Friend also pointed out a reminder of something that Obama had said in a speech a while back: "The Adhan (Muslims call to prayer) is indeed a beautiful sound."
Thanks, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteNATO and allies are fighting a limited war.
Gaddafi will not give up power, unless forced it appears.
Citizens and residents are still in danger from the State.
Therefore, a more broad type of war will likely be needed to accomplish the goal of protecting citizens/residents.
OK, I know it's not Christmas, but I found this to be funny:
ReplyDeleteJihad Bells from Bethlehem
Funny. Will post on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteRussian Television: Moscow “alarmed” by reports of al-Qaeda presence in Libyan opposition
ReplyDeleteAs posted by a Facebook Friend:
REMINDER: "The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam."
(Barack Obama)
Oh, and speaking of dear ol' President Hussein:
9th Circuit Court to hear eligibility questions
'Moscow officials on Wednesday expressed alarm that al-Qaeda may be working inside the ranks of the Libyan opposition. “Quite alarming reports are coming, which say that al-Qaeda elements could very likely be present among the opposition forces,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a news conference.'
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mr. Jenkins
Someone on Facebook, I think it was, made a comment about how [some of the] nations (i.e., in the Old Testament) who came against Israel no longer exist. Well, in light of that, as well as the U.S. turning more and more against Israel, I thought the following was interesting:
ReplyDeleteJapan’s Earthquake & Tsunami–the Hand of God?
I deal with this subject somewhat with my Natural Evils post here (as you know Jeff):
ReplyDeleteNatural Evils
Thanks, my friend.
If I look at the definition of Totalitarian, and compare it to Christ's kingdom as described in the NT, I think it does fit the definition. There is no reference in the Bible to a distinction between public and private in heaven or in the Kingdom of God in the Bible, and it's clear that Jesus will be 100 percent in control. The question is really can he do a better job than all the other totalitarians we know and don't love.
ReplyDelete'and it's clear that Jesus will be 100 percent in control.'
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. I reason Jesus will rule by love and justice and not by force or coercion.
So, he will have total sovereignty but will allow human beings limited free will.
I do not see this as totalitarian, in a classic sense.
We do not know how exactly the private shall work in the kingdom, a kingdom without sin.
great post, great blog, I really believe nothing is so tragic that cannot be funny xD
ReplyDeletethanks for the comment about my song o/
DON'T visit our Musical Blog:
http://alvoradadosom.blogspot.com/
Funny, cheers, and thank you for the following which I returned.
ReplyDeleteRuss;)
Dear, thanks for visit in my blog.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me for being slow to respond
kisses.
Thanks, Karla.
ReplyDeleteBlessings in Brasil.