Serious & Satirical Sunday

Cappadocia, Turkey, Travel+Leisure-Facebook

Just back from church @ sunny Surrey. Nice Spring so far and these Biblical mega churches have merit.

So many people and refreshing from what I have been used to.

From

Buzzfeed

McDonalds hits a new low. What is next, is that going to come out in the media as a secret ingredient in McNuggets as well?

Metaphor for philosophical societal confusion?

If that dog is leaving 'smokin' parcels, he and his owner have a real problem. Perhaps the dog could be trained by the CIA?

One should always fall with grace just in case the event is recorded on a cell phone and ends up on a social networking site, Always fall on your a** with class.

I came across this link today on science connection.com and commented on this with a couple of comments on my blogs, but on second thought reason I could add more material...

Science Connection.com

Synopsis is combination of male and female responses for balance.

Cited and with my comments both serious and satirical

'Synopsis of views on age-related topics:

Cited

1. Many women of all ages are offended by the stated desire by men (generally those in their 40s and older) for much younger women, when this does not appear related to the desire to start a family,'

Serious

If it is simply searching for a 'barbie doll' in some kind of evolutionary model, for example, I can give the women's perspective some merit.  

However, I am glad to see the desire to start a family is granted merit and a pass.  

Biblical.

Seems to me up until 40-50 years ago in world history, including the West, although large age gaps were not perhaps common, not most common, they were not considered wrong or weird.

My take is feminism has caused the view that supposedly unequal relationships are not right.

Question.

What is equal?

A younger woman that is very intellectual with perhaps more dating experience than an older man is not necessarily going to be in an unequal relationship.

Much depends on the relative experience of the man.

Does he have children close to her age, or is he basically at a similar romantic age as the younger woman?

I remember from my psychology studies at Columbia Bible College that biological age is only one form of age; there is also romantic or relationship age and other ages.

Also, ironically, in fundamentalist, evangelical, conservative Christian circles where the parents have much say in the marriage of younger women, I reason if parents are not sure of a potential older man that wants to potentially date a younger daughter, they may simply avoid him in order to avoid the risk of something negative.

I can understand the natural and Biblical, protect mode.

A way of safety has been found and rightness is assumed. To have dialogue is to put this at risk.

This assumes, philosophically, all older men are basically the same, with similar experiences.

Or if not the man is somehow faulty.

These are false, especially in the Christian community today.

A man may be quite Godly and therefore is not very experienced, dating wise, with the often worldly church and still wants a family.

Both Biblical.

Satirical

If the older man has 'gamblin' debts, is 350 pounds, has killer BO and smokes various substances, the feminists may have a point...

Cited

'in which case the search for a woman of child-bearing age is considered legitimate (if sometimes over-optimistic when it involves men in their late 40s and over).'

Good.

Again, Biblical.

If there is mutual attraction I think there is over-focus on age difference.

If no mutual attraction the issue takes care of itself.

Nothing will and should happen.

Satirical

To show interest is to be a man.

Chasing is not manly.

I used to have to chase my German Shepherd-Husky, Rebel (Jerkhead) down the street after he broke out of Stalag 13, posted a parcel on the neigbour's lawn, nearly was hit by a car, and then proceeded to look for fights with male dogs and for 'bitches', but those chasing days are over for me.

I doubt he was looking for a family...

Cited

'Middle-aged women find that in person men their age are attracted to them, yet "on paper" they are rejected by men older than they are.'

There is baggage, experience and family considerations, even if there is experience.

Satirical

How about being rejected Biblically?

Quite the concept...

Cited

'And the women targeted by men ten or more years older tend to be unimpressed or even irked as well.'

Not a problem. No mutual attraction means no issue, a person should move on.

Satirical

I thought that was what Daddy with the shotgun was for...

I know...that is more of a Southern and rural thing.

Cited

'2. Nevertheless, many men do in fact seek women of their age and the average ages difference between males and females of couples meeting via Science Connection is very small - 2 or 3 years on average. And both men and women have reported happy unions involving an older woman with a younger man.'

Serious

More likely experienced men. Men without desire for family, or do not mind pre-made older family.

Satirical

'And both men and women have reported happy unions involving an older woman with a younger man.'

Then there is that 1980s expression 'boy toy'.

Something I have always had zero interest in...

Cited

'3. Although misrepresenting one's age demonstrably occurs, no one has been prepared to defend this in the Newsletter and all condemn it as a bad idea in practice and for moral (even legal) reasons.'

Honesty is good. One may not concentrate on sharing their age, but should not lie.

Satirical

If you are rich I suppose boasting about age is no big deal...

Cited

'4. Some members argue that being of similar age brings benefits of cultural and general compatibility and syncronicity of life stage (retiring about the same time, etc.). Other members de-emphasize age, citing the greater importance of individual differences and regarding as folly the setting of narrow age limits for a prospective mate.'

The second has more truth. The first assumes similar experience for all.

Satirical

I do not plan on retiring.

Menopause is not for everyone, i.e. not universally men.

That is a bit of wrench in any life stage relationship argument.

Don't you think?

A comment from a female perspective

Cited:

'One of the member's comments struck a chord with me. I'm sure you get a lot of comments about the guys who want (or say they want) a much younger woman. This is such a turn off! Makes them sound so arrogant. Guys, explain to me why any woman (any woman over 30 anyway) would want to go out with a guy 15 or 20 years older than she is. It may be alright at 20, but when she's 50+ she's looking at prolonged widowhood.'

Serious

Arrogance, not necessarily, as it is not necessarily to view this is as an issue of deserving or not, which I think is philosophically misplaced.

Who deserves another in relationships?

Rather, it is a matter of nature and experience and related needs and desires.

The fact the younger woman would eventually be a widow is in my view is the best point against age gap relationships.

Other premises used such as lack of relating and assumed greater experience for the older man often do not hold up under intellectual scrutiny.

The younger woman has to believe reasonably that the older man is among the best potential men for her in order to choose him. The older man needs to be youthful and committed to staying healthy. It needs to be the case that if such a relationship would not occur, it would be a lessor good and greater evil from a Christian perspective that if it did not take place.

Here is where the Christian, Biblical commitment to family is important as the future widow would need to have extended family in place as well as if possible, immediate family.

Also with medical, nutritional and scientific advancements it appears that persons can live youthful lives longer.

I am somewhat qualified to comment on homecare as I homecare for my disabled Mother.

I do not see homecare for an older spouse as huge impairment to the life of the younger woman.

My Mother is disabled and is an old 79 year old biologically, probably with a 90+ years old body.

She with the assistance of professional homecare is not a significant burden upon family.

If I needed to relocate she could be placed in local care or move down to Arizona with my brother and family.

This care is pension and government covered in Canada and I assume by pension, government and/or medical insurance in other Western jurisdictions.

A typical senior, especially over the next few decades with advancing medical knowledge and technology is likely not going to be a significant time and work burden on family.

Satirical

Chuck Norris was born in 1940...I am the theological Chuck Norris-Facebook

Thomas Ronald Smith is our oldest resident at Shady Green, born in 1800. He sleeps a lot...

Interestingly here the seniors prefer 'grass'. Not sure if this is in BC, Washington or Colorado. Does not look like Monaco, definitely.

Ethiopian Suri Tribe/Why I View Game of Thrones & Vikings

Hawaii, Facebook-Travel+Leisure

Profuse apology (nice mode) for a reader's life on Blogger, Google+ or Facebook that I have somewhat 'disrupted' this Easter long weekend by now presenting my fourth post and taking up too much of your precious time.

'My precious'...

No, actually not (selfish mode), I need all the pageviews I can get and more views are created with increased catalogs of posts.

Oh yes, that 3 million plus pageviews statistic on Google+ has really gone to my head.;)

Send complaints to complaints dept:

Dr. Russ Murray
Between Pope Chucklin Estate: 'The Fatican' and Bobby Buff, Graceland
Maple Ditch, BC, The Socialist Paradise of Canada (Not the Excited States of Americana)
Although we probably have as much pot here in BC as the 'Mile High 'State'' and 'Washerington State', Avenue.

Thank you for your co-operation with these matters...

Besides this posts the posts include two Easter related posts. Articles this Easter weekend...

MPhil Resurrection Thoughts This Easter, Sunday, April 20

Rehashed material from my massive 40, 000 word MPhil thesis degree and blog posting, but edited and focused more specifically for Easter and the Biblical resurrection doctrine to form an original article.

If you do not like my rehashing of material in any way, I totally disagree as I am not interested in reinventing the wheel for your benefit, but there is the complaints dept.

Satirical, Critical, Images: Response On Easter-Saturday, April 19

This is somewhat influenced by thoughts on a recent Facebook debate. These debates are often circular, tedious and not view changing, especially when dealing with those from various fundamentalistic, religious and non-religious perspectives, but can assist in further clarifying ideas.

GC Berkouwser (PhD Edit), April 18, 2014

Discuses in brief, human freewill and determinism.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Ethiopian Suri Tribe

Daily Mail: Ethiopian Suri tribe

Cited:

'It may look odd to us, but in the Ethiopian Suri tribe, this enormous lip plate is actually a sign of beauty. When girls hit puberty they have their bottom two teeth removed in a bizarre ritual before a small hole is cut into their bottom lip. A clay disc is then inserted into the hole, which is steadily increased, stretching the lip, much like flesh-tunnel piercings which have become popular with teenagers in the UK.

The larger the lip plate the more cows the girl's father can demand in dowry when his daughter is married - usually 40 for a small plate and 60 for a larger one.

'Men on the other hand take part in the considerably less-painful ritual of body painting.'

The young women

Omo Valley

i1yiting.com

I am of dual thoughts with this issue.

On one hand I reason Western and Christian standards should not be forced upon those in Africa. An historical mistake from the past. A culture should at least be respected.

On the other hand, it certainly appears a cultural form of physical deformity and with potential health concerns.

This would be more of a potential issue than aesthetics.

Is the practice culturally forced?

I shall keep my mouth shut on this issue, satirically...

Why I View Game of Thrones & Vikings

My brother in his trips back home introduced me to the programs. One from HBO (Canada), the other The History Channel.

I suppose in a way I am a typical male, and there are many ways in which I am not, but I am not typically very interested in extended dramas that do not also contain action.

I think I would do better with extended dramas in a live theatre context as there would be more empirical stimulation than simply viewing a two dimensional screen.

I do not with my busy work schedule with basically two careers and homecaring, like committing to viewing a two hour movie, often which is not being watched from the beginning.

I then often realize part way through the movie that I have seen portions previously, or portions from a related film.

These films repeat and repeat.

These films repeat and repeat.

Game of Thrones is a fictionalized reality of a realm influenced by English and European history from the middle ages/medieval period. The wickedness, gore, although not slasher film like, and combination of Church-Religion/State union makes the show more than just entertainment for me; it is also provides philosophical and theological considerations in regard to the association of Church-Religion/State and how politicized religion is predominantly evil.

As Game of Thrones is a fictional realm and reality, there is not from what I seen and I have not viewed the show from the beginning. a Judaism or Christian gospel.

The polytheistic religion (s) portrayed, although not explained in great detail does/do not seem to represent primarily benevolent gods.

Therefore, finding redemption for this realm on a philosophical, theological basis is interesting and difficult.

However, there is still at times, glimpses, of human good. There are a few sympathetic adult characters.

The program also has me philosophically and theologically ponder on my historical studies in regard to torture in the middle ages/medieval period and freedom of religious thought and/or freedom not to have religious thought as in preference.

I ponder back to the torture museums and dungeons viewed in the British Isles and the Continent. Those tortured and killed for being considered treasonous against a Church/State.

The program is thoroughly entertaining with fine actors, many of them, not surprisingly appear to be from the British Isles, although the program is American produced.

Vikings, I find almost as entertaining and the contrast between the Viking, Norse religion, that at times offers human sacrifice and medieval politicized Christianity is interesting.

However, the adult Vikings are so brutal, even though Game of Thrones is probably overall more graphically brutal and violent as a series, I simply do not find the lead characters in Vikings worthy of sympathy. When they battle each other or the Christians, virtually everyone of adult age, via my theology and philosophy of law and order, is worthy of death for murderous acts via just punishment.

I do not find myself sympathizing with the Vikings or the Christians, both murderous within Church-Religion /State systems, even though the story focuses more so on the lives of the Vikings.

The usual film technique is to build sympathy, a feeling of harmony, for the stars of the program.

The adult Vikings simply are not sympathetic characters. I feel for the children and innocent victims, on all sides, primarily.

And the program is still quite interesting.

Facebook

Satirical, Critical, Images: Response On Easter

Google+:Happy Easter

Not sure, but this photo of a perhaps slightly attractive alien, but only slightly by my leanings, in his space ship might be evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial beings. It looks like he is travelling at some incredible speed perhaps?

Facebook-Never found reincarnation convincing. For one thing, it is very difficult to learn from past lives not remembered. Sowing and reaping in life makes more sense.

From Atheist Republic.com via Facebook

Analysis: Human beings were not created in/with original sin (Genesis 1 and 2). Persons became sinful in thoughts, actions/acts and nature at the Biblical fall of Genesis 3. There is the Biblical story of Noah and God destroying most of humanity not due to just sinning as we all do, (other than Christ when he lived) in this realm, but due to human wickedness and evil being continual as in constant (Genesis 6: 5).

With my Reformed view I reason that God willed the fall as the first cause, but I also view the fall as not a work of force or coercion upon humanity. Adam and Eve with significant and yet limited free will, did freely choose to disobey God. They were perfectly moral but were immature and inexperienced, which was important within their nature that made the fall possible and actual. As the secondary causes of the fall, disobedience to God by humanity would be viewed as sinful.

But how is God not be tagged as sinful as well? The theology and philosophy being that God as author of life is infinitely and eternally holy and perfectly good. If life and death were infinite and eternal to God, and God prior to the creation of finite matter, God would be a contradictory being. Therefore God is reasoned to be holy and perfectly good. He is called holy in Scripture as in Isaiah, Leviticus and 1 Peter 1: 16. His holiness and perfection also represented in the atoning work of Christ and the future resurrection of perfect persons. There is also in Revelation the documented future restored Universe.

These views are not going to suit hardcore atheists, but are at least internally consistent when researched.

True, many people are not going to be part of the restored Kingdom because they are not part of God's plans, as in not elected (Ephesians 1 and Romans 8), but this is not done in force or coercion. Romans 5 mentions that persons, outside of justification through Christ are enemies of God and this is done with what I view as limited (human) free will. Yes, there is the doctrine of the virgin birth and incarnation and yes the crucifixion willed by God with good motives; in contrast to Romans, Jews and satanic forces, sinful motives. The atonement and resurrection of Christ covers the elect in Christ.

God does show love to humanity, especially those in Christ (Gospel of John).

Controversial yes, especially for a radical atheist, but we are dealing with different worldviews.

Personally, having studied atheistic approaches to theodicy and the problem of evil in secular United Kingdom, MPhil and PhD theses, I view academic, scholarly critiques from atheists and critics as at times helpful. As noted on my blogs, Dr. Russell Norman Murray, especially.

However, the less scholarly 'rock throwing' approach, although it at times has elements of truth is not of serious intellectual value.

Either way, I do not take atheism seriously as a potential alternative to Christianity, largely because of issues such as first cause which I think is not adequately dealt with via views of chance or via finite matter as cause alone. I deny that naturalism and empiricism answer all needed key issues in regard to origins. If the Biblical Scripture was even/ever invalidated, and I see no good evidence for that, I would lean toward deism, not atheism.

Spaced Out?

H.R. Macmillan Space Centre

A few years ago at the H. R. Macmillan Planetarium in Vancouver, now apparently the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre, I wanted to view any reasonably interesting laser show, as I had not viewed one since I was a child.

Other than a laser program on the universe at a smaller planetarium in Reno, Neva.

That story at the end.

My preference in Vancouver was and still is the planetary laser programs as we viewed one in Reno, however these shows were shown less frequently in Vancouver and so for a short window of time, probably months, some friends and I started seeing ‘rock shows’ such as Laser Rush, which I critiqued somewhat negatively.

I was somewhat negative on Laser Rush as I owned double digit unofficially released albums as well as most of the official albums. I reasoned the wrong tracks were chosen or wrong versions of tracks. I favour live versions often.

I think we also viewed Laser Zeppelin, which seems to me was decently good.

We might have viewed Laser U2, but I cannot remember, so it probably was forgettable.

For some reason, and I must have been with a certain Japanese friend that is a fan of the ‘Doors’, because I was wrangled into viewing Laser Doors.

Now keep in mind I was not a fan of the Doors, am not a fan of the Doors, and very likely will never be a fan of the Doors. So, with my of course open, but satirical mind, I attended.

Because I wanted to see another laser show, and I was there with friends. Trying to be the good friend that will compromise with what we do when we associate.

As we arrived the attendant asked the crowd to lie down on the floor, which I thought was goofy as there were seats that were angled so one could look ceiling ward, but for some reason we were requested to take the floor and view the ceiling for the I deduce ‘groovy show, dude’ while on our backs.

There then was the warning from the attendant against smoking any illegal substances during the show, not because it was illegal or bad for a person, but because the smoke could damage the laser projectors.

One must have his/her ethical priorities.

Good to see those of the academic, scientific, planetary establishment provided.

So, I was on my back on the floor looking up at the ceiling waiting for the show I was not very interested in (and can barely remember) in the dark, and all of sudden this, from what I could see in the pitch black, thin quite young woman lies down right beside me and states...

‘Wouldn't it be cool to be Jim Morrison’.

He was the now and then deceased singer of the Doors. 

I stated:

‘But then we would be dead’.

She stated nothing further....

Yes, I have more tact with the ladies now.

Live and learn...

On the other hand the kind of young woman that would laugh and/or love slap me, or like, in that type of situation, after my comments...

That is my type.

Now Reno...

Saint Chuck the Debonair Comic Book Collector and I were near a University area in Reno and the planetarium was on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center. Uncle Chuckles and I did not know where it was and there was two young women across the street and the only people nearby. I thought they were probably students.

So, I was planning to ask them where the planetarium was, but the closer Pope Chucklins and I got to them, the faster they walked.

A man, I assume a student from a dorm, then opened his window and yelled out 'Go get 'em boys'! or like.

I think this explains something about American culture....

It sort of makes a little sense the more I learn. Both the actions of the young women and the comment of the male.

Vancouver-trekearth

GetImage from email

GetImage from email

Proverbs Versus Being Duped

Road to Lake Como, Italy-Google+

I am not trying to be crude or over-sensational here, there are some theological and philosophical lessons.

Daily Mail: April 9

Cited:

'A sex-crazed Angelina Jolie lookalike has been handed a suspended jail sentence after a taxi driver claimed she had tried to kill him when he refused to perform a sex act on her for a third time. 

Nicolae Stan, 35, told police Luminita Perijoc, 31, had already forced him at knifepoint to have intercourse and perform oral sex during the incident in 2012.

He claims he met Perijoc while he was hired to deliver some bags of shopping to her apartment in the city of Tulcea, in eastern Romania, and when he turned up at the door she had asked for his phone number so that she could engage his services again.'

He said several hours later she called and asked him to pick up some bottles of wine and come back to her apartment to deliver them.

When he turned up at the door, she had grabbed him and dragged him inside and demanded sex. 

When he refused she pulled out a 10cm knife and forced him to undress, he told the court.

Mr Stan says he only escaped when he managed to barricade himself into a bedroom and dial 999 on his mobile phone. Police confirmed that they had rescued him from the flat of the half-dressed young woman and that he had been taken to hospital with more than half a dozen stab wounds. She was initially jailed for five years after a court rejected her claim that she was really the victim.'

End of citations

This connects to Proverbs somewhat...

Proverbs 5:1-15 from the New American Standard Bible

5

My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;
2 That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an [a]adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her [b]speech;
4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6 [c]She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house,
9 Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one;
10 And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11 And you groan at your [d]final end, When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12 And you say, “How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof!
13 “I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14 “I was almost in utter ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern And [e]fresh water from your own well.

Charles G. Martin states: 'The father again warns his son against the seduction of an adulteress...but in the end puts a major consideration'. Instant pleasure or fascination blinds the dupe to the harsh reality'. Wisdom weighs not only the immediate gain, but the end. Martin (1986: 662).

MARTIN, CHARLES, G (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

This is a somewhat humourous story, therefore it is in the Daily Mail and on this satire site.

Accepted.

I realize the way the male mind works, being a male, and having spent much of my social life with males and interacting with them in regard to issues with females.

Males can often be duped in sexual and romantic ways.

Unless there is some kind of counter.

Instant pleasure and fascination is temptation. Fueled by natural desire, sinful lustful desire and frustration with a less than fulfilling life in a life that could theoretically offer so much more.

Men can be duped by someone that is supposedly very attractive as is supposedly Angelina Jolie and her lookalike.

Personally, I am not attracted to Jolie and her many tattoos but that is another issue.

I prefer someone more on the conservative side.

Being duped is a result of being finite and sinful through the fall and the effects this has on human nature, in this context male human nature.

Amazingly, the man had already had incident with the woman and must have had some significant insights in regard to her nature.

'He said several hours later she called and asked him to pick up some bottles of wine and come back to her apartment to deliver them.'

He foolishly as a dupe went back, paying I reason, more attention to his sexual and romantic desire and less to common sense and potential physical, mental and spiritual self-preservation.

'When he turned up at the door, she had grabbed him and dragged him inside and demanded sex.

When he refused she pulled out a 10cm knife and forced him to undress, he told the court.'

He should have followed Proverbs and divine wisdom from God.

He should have followed common sense, even with a limited human wisdom.

The nature and character of the person one is seeking involvement with is essential to consider.

'15 Drink water from your own cistern And [e]fresh water from your own well.'

It would be better to seek this with God's help, from a Christian perspective, in Christ, and to avoid other.

End

Foolish car wreck images from

Just Sick

That would have been something to see...

Vancouver area?

Inscrutable Images?

Bristol-Google+

I finished a ten hour shift @ corporate security yesterday which was originally supposed to be four to seven hours, but someone missed and I was asked to fill in.

I received these classic photos that evening trying to chill...

Satirical photos sent to me by email, unless otherwise noted.

Now I am the first to admit that I am not mechanically inclined. But I have evolved (not macroevolution, take it easy) to a point where I can replace a broken lock on a door and do some minor car repairs and maintenance. This gentleman I suppose could support somewhat the philosophical and Darwinian scientific idea of survival of the fittest, and he does not look too fit. And also more accurately his actions support the Biblical concept of fallen nature and bad choices, implied and explained from Romans, which in this case works against common sense.

'Hey Mom hurry up and finish that bucket of ice cream. Do you want me to get hurt working outside without a helmet?!' 'Yea I need the bucket'. The bucket is not recommended or sanctioned by any government safety board, but by Safeway.
In the context of my present employment I would deduce that a turban would provide more protection.

Do not be too judgemental! The worker in the yellow construction vest could be holding: a) Mr. Fantastic b) Plastic Man or c) Elongated Man d) Mr. Bobby Buff. Four 'reasonable' philosophical possibilities, in another 'possible world'. 

See that backs up previous comments. Comicvine.com

Now this appears to be an adult male, but does it not look like the work of a three year old? 'Look Mommy, I can fix it!'

I philosophically disagree with this photo. The area behind the yellow metal bars should be a designated group smoker's pit...And frankly the way Western society is going one had better open that area up for potheads and crackheads too.

From crackheadscandy.com

Bravest wildcat: Daily Mail

Cited

'Tiny wildcat fights for its life in a battle against four lionesses Lionesses are 30 times its size - but the cat will not give up without a fight Kitten bares teeth and swipes claws at the predators in Botswana park'

Cited

'This brave little wildcat took on four lionesses in a battle for its life in a wildlife park in southern Africa. The tiny cat ferociously bore its teeth and rose its claws in an attempt to fight off the predators as the lionesses crowded around. In the David versus Goliath attack, the females ganged up on the animal - despite it being 30 times smaller than them. Tragically the little wildcat lost the battle, but proved that it still had some fight left in its body and scratched one of the lionesses across the nose before it was killed - causing the predator to lurch back.'

End citations

This incident made me emotionally sad and admittedly reminds me of, and I will have to paraphrase because I did not document the exact words, the statements of my temporary academic advisor at Manchester University, Professor and Philosopher of Religion, David Pailin.

Basically one the major objections he used against a Biblical and Reformed philosophical/theological position on the problem of evil was in regard to the pain and suffering of creatures in nature.

Some possible critical views, not an exhaustive list, are that God is deistic, in contrast to the Biblical God and does not intervene in material affairs although he is the creator, which I think was at least somewhat the Professor's position.

That God is unable to intervene, perhaps less than infinite and omnipotent, which was I deduced perhaps the Dean's position when I spoke to him on the subject.

These types of views have been discussed on my other blog or my PhD thesis.

Other options include that God does not care about creatures like this wildcat.

Or that God cares, but creatures like the wildcat have much less value, in a divine view, than human beings would provide for them.

Or that God, if he exists, is evil. 

These are not my views after twelve years plus of problem of evil and theodicy research, granted within a Christian worldview.

Some possible Biblical, Christian theological views could be that God cannot or does not intervene because of human free will, with humanity having dominion over the animal world (Genesis 1). When humanity fell, so did all of creation (Romans 8).

I think this view is incompatibilistic and places too much emphasis on human free will and freedom.

God as first cause could be reasonably understood as intervening in the sense of preventing pain, suffering and death, at times within creation.

Another possible explanation is that this type of animal death is at least in this present realm, a natural part of God's plans for his animal creation and non-human biological creation.

I personally reason that within a compatibilistic view that there is an aspect of the fall effecting creation, but more likely this effected human beings primarily and secondarily other creatures, although human beings can effect other creatures via sin.

I also reason ecologically animal, plant and no-human death is likely a natural part of God's creation. At least, minimally, in the present realm.

I am not certain how this shall work in a restored Universe.

Human death at this point is also in a sense, natural. Human beings need to be transformed from present flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15) and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Non-exhaustively, theological views, include that prior to the Genesis 3 fall, human beings were immortal and lost that aspect of nature through sin, or that they were mortal and would have been translated into immortality, theoretically if the fall had not occurred.

However, I still find the incident sad and once again this demonstrates to me even taking a Biblical, Reformed position on the problem of evil, suffering and theodicy, that God, the Biblical, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, takes a radically different view on the problem of evil and suffering than does humanity.

And often radically different that many in the Church or cultural Christianity.

I do not believe, as documented especially on my other blog and in my PhD, in gratuitous evil, as God is the sovereign first cause of all things with purpose, but I certainly from a human perspective reason there is inscrutable evil, as also documented.

This would be evil and evils be very difficult if not virtually impossible to reasonably fully understand for humanity. I would also further state that these would be very difficult if not virtually impossible to reasonably fully explain at times.

Perhaps the death of a cute, lovable looking, wildcat kitten within nature's food chain may at least, even accepting the fall and natural order, fit somewhat under the category of inscrutable evil.

Further

But this depends on whether or not, I suppose, in a restored Universe, all death is to be ended, or if rather human death is to be ended based on Revelation 21-22.

It seems philosophically that even in a realm of everlasting life (eternity) that an ecology would require at least a type of death via and through a programmed life cycle in the sense of regenerating itself, but the ending of animals for food is perhaps possibility and therefore perhaps an inscrutable evil at this point.

Google+ Views

England-Google+

Google+ Views

As noted on my present Facebook status, I noticed for the first time that with my two Google+ profiles associated with my two blogs, one blog per Google+ account, that 'view' statistics were provided.

I was surprised that relative to the Blogger blog (s) pageview numbers, how much higher the Google+ site's views were.

The Google+ sites are several years more recent than my blogs and in my opinion I do not have that many 'followers' relative to those recently documented Google+ views.

I view myself as a moderately successful blogger with two blogs writing in the difficult genres, as far as gaining views, of Philosophical Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy and Biblical Studies with Satire being a major component of my second blog.

I have not been significantly publicly embraced within the Church or in a secular context, and yet I do have slowly increasing readership, it appears within the Church and secular society.

The statistics

First Google+ account associated with my first blog, Dr. Russell Norman Murray.

Russell Norman Murray

Google+

112 followers|933,887 views

Dr. Russell Norman Murray

Blogger (Google)

173 followers/286,913 views

Second Google+ account associated with my second blog, Satire And Theology

Russell Norman Murray

Google+

58 followers|2,529,493 views

Satire And Theology

Blogger (Google)

137 followers/485,788 views

My first blog was established in 2004 with basically full-time blogging beginning in 2006. The blog was restructured in 2006 and I deleted some satirical (Bobby Buff related) posts taking this approach to my second blog, Satire And Theology, established 2006.

My Google+ accounts and sites were started this decade and therefore have many more pageviews than the Google Blogger accounts in much less time.

Perhaps the use of the animated clips, often humourous and sometimes educational, featured on Google+ and borrowed legally, make my Google+ sites more marketable overall, and more popular than my Google Blogger sites.

Even so to have 933, 000 views with my first account associated with Dr. Russell Norman Murray blog and to only have 112 followers is disappointing and somewhat of a concern as far as actual and potential readership and support.

The same can be stated for my second Google+ account, associated with my Satire Theology blog, as I have over 2.5 million viewers and only 58 followers.

That statistic seems very disproportionate! Two and one half million pageviews according to Google and I do not even have 60 followers.

Laughable.;)

I would have never reasoned with 58 followers the Google+ numbers would equal the Google Blogger pageviews at this time.

Forget the reasonable reality of surpassing them substantially.

My sister-in-law on Facebook, a professional online marketer, was impressed with the Google+ statistics. Which is a positive.

But as usual with me, I am seeing mixed signals here. Perhaps my academic, skeptical nature.

Chuck has stated previously that I could start my own Christian cynics club...

Overall, this year especially I am noticing more significant growth with my sites. And I am thankful to God and my supporters for this growth.

Incidentally, I shall present the Google+ statistics for my two 'dummy' sites, noted previously on this blog, that were simply formed because Google kept emailing (annoying) me and telling that each Google related email should have an associated Google+ account, making it more difficult to sign in without Google+.

These are accounts and sites that I have zero interest and intent in building, but they serve as good contrast.

R Wales 8 followers|3,631 views

R Wales II 11 followers|425 views

I often wonder how with two blank pages and zero effort I managed to get 19 followers, more so sadly and satirically only 39 behind the Satire blog...

That is a bit concerning.

However, obviously the views tell a more revealing story.

Then there is my good blogging friend Ms. Eva from Brasil and her home decoration blog with 32 million views on Google+ and 13 million Revolver views.

Yes, this is why I realize I am merely moderately successful...

My cat on the way to the veterinarian used to insist on lying on my lap, or my Dad's when I was too young to drive. There was with scared orange and white cat digging his claws in for dear life. The German Shepherd-Husky (yes he and the cat were 'deeply secretly in love') on the other hand insisted, when given the opportunity that he follow everywhere, jumping into the Ford F250, forgetting that virtually every time this led to him 'ralphing' in the truck. Another job for me...

How many scratch marks did my cat leave on my dog's nose? And yet next time the dog attempts the big sniff, tail wag with the whine, once again.

Photos from email