Monday, November 30, 2020
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Zoom: November 28-The Warning
Photo 2: Someone from Europe was just warned by someone quite European 'looking' from Delta.
The Warning
Photo 3: The battle of the domes
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Not a test of any broadcast system
Not a test of any broadcast system
Image: Facebook
Comments
I will not claim in this life to be totally free from stupidity. I do however, attempt to avoid significantly meaningless tests (less technically, stupid tests). Sadly, some of them were within academia.
(Yes, I have a long, selective memory)
Friday, November 27, 2020
Friday Bullets: Thank you to Saint Zombie
• More bogus, presumptive, without biblical evidence, theology, from false teacher KC. I am not stating his name because Facebook, without rational and human, analysis, blocked this website for eight months with a previous related posting. Thank you to Saint Zombie for the send.
• Apologies, but I have to comment. So typical, from that extreme segment of American society; he is only concerned with the United States of America. Here we have a worldwide pandemic and he is concerned with the United States of America only. Is that loving one's neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22, Mark, Luke 10)?
• Turned into satire, thank you to Saint Zombie for the send.
• Photo: Earlier in the year, prior to the pandemic, I went on Google street view and toured my original neighbourhood as a baby and small child. I maneuvered some of the photos to have sort of a childlike angle and view.
• Interestingly, within a few weeks of editing these, my Dad called our former neighbours and we met with these former neighbours that still live on that street. We did an actual tour. Amazing how much the area has developed. This street has now advanced to the left, north, to another subdivision, whereas when we lived there it was trees and forest.
• As long as I can remember, I have pondered on and was amazed by time. Incredibly, God as eternal, and infinite, does not change. I have changed drastically since I lived there as have others, as has the world.
• But, God is 100% ontologically (existence and nature), exactly the same. I find that amazing. There are of course significant theological, philosophical, moral and ethical ramifications of the fact that God remains the very same God as eternal and infinite.
• It connects to the fact that humanity is made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26-27).
• God is immutable. God is infinite, eternal and immutable prior to any creation in Genesis 1, and the existence of finite creation, as in time, space, matter and any created finite, spiritual dimension (s), does not change his nature.
• From my PhD, 2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
• Thiessen describes the immutability of God as meaning his divine nature, attributes, consciousness, and will cannot change. Thiessen (1956: 127).
• Erickson explains that God does not grow or develop, as there are no variations in his nature at different points within his existence. Erickson (1994: 274).
• R.C. Sproul and Robert Wolgemuth (2000) deduce that as God is eternal he has no beginning or no end. Sproul and Wolgemuth (2000: 2). As God is understood to be eternal and beyond time without a progression in nature, his infinite being would make a change in nature and character impossible. Sproul and Wolgemuth (2000: 2).
• By infinite, I mean where not contradictory/illogical, as God cannot have finite attributes, but can incarnate himself in finite humanity.
• As God the Word: λόγος (John 1 Gospel of John, Revelation, as examples).
• John 1 very notably: New American Standard Bible (NASB) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 [a]He was in the beginning with God. a John 1:2 Lit This one
• Blue Letter Bible Strong's Greek Dictionary G3056 λόγος
Cited
Greek inflections
λόγοι — 9x
λόγοις — 17x
λόγον — 133x
λογὸν — 1x
λόγος — 69x
λόγου — 27x
λόγους — 23x
λόγῳ — 43x
λόγων — 8x
• As God the Son: υἱός (The Gospels, The Gospel of John, Romans, Hebrews, I John, as examples),
• Greek Lexicon.org Strong's Greek Dictionary G5207 υἱός...υἱός, οῦ, ὁ
• Blue Letter Bible Strong's Greek Dictionary G5207 υἱός
Cited
Greek Inflections
Υἱὲ — 2x
Υἱέ — 1x
υἱὲ — 7x
Υἱοὶ — 1x
υἱοὶ — 25x
υἱοί — 7x
υἱοῖς — 7x
υἱὸν — 61x
υἱόν — 21x
ὑιὸν — 1x
Υἱὸς — 1x
Υἱός — 3x
υἱὸς — 129x
υἱός — 28x
• Romans 8: 3-4: New American Standard Bible (NASB): 3 For what the Law could not do, [a]weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of [b]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk [c]according to the flesh but [d]according to the Spirit. Footnotes a Romans 8:3 Lit in which it was weak b Romans 8:3 Lit flesh of sin c Romans 8:4 Or in accordance with Romans 8:4 Or in accordance with
The second person (distinction) of the Trinity, as incarnated divine self in finite man. Therefore Jesus Christ has two natures, divine and human, that do not mix. Jesus Christ, even as resurrected, has two brains, that do not mix in nature.
SPROUL, R.C., AND ROBERT WOLGEMUTH (2000) What’s In the Bible, Word Publishing, Nashville.
THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
27 gauge needle
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Zoom: November 21 2020-Where did that halo come from?
Zoom: November 21 2020-Where did that halo come from?
Thank you for this image, Arne.
Zombie...I saw that title when I was looking through the photos. That
cracked me up, well-done.
Last evening we had our weekly Zoom, BC, Florida, Norway...
Interesting talk of comparison of pandemic rates and approach...thanks friends.
Miss GLC is hiding her ageless looks once again.
21: 30 PST: Vancouver time, most Saturday evenings
Meeting ID: 620 916 4709
Passcode: 0jTaJp
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Not by our human works
Image 2: Thank you to Pastor David Pitman.
Image 3: Neuschwanstein Castle: Planet Earth on Facebook.
Friday, November 20, 2020: The Orthodox Study Bible: Cooperation
Cited 
Cited
A SERMON INTENDED FOR READING ON LORD'S-DAY, JUNE 28, 1891,
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:9,10.
Cited
If salvation had been by works, our Lord could not have said to the thief, dying at His side, "Today shall you be with Me in Paradise." That man could do no works! His hands and feet were fastened to the cross and he was in the agonies of death. No, it must be of Grace, all-conquering Grace—and the modus operandi must be by faith, or else for dying men the Gospel is a mockery!
God alone, through the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, and regeneration and application to believers, is the primary and first cause of salvation. God alone provides and applies salvation.
Human secondary cause, within salvation, embraces the salvific work of God. This theology both avoids works righteousness (bible and theology) and hard determinism (philosophical theology, philosophy of religion).
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Implausible fantasies/Cooperation
Implausible fantasies
Preface
The image is from Facebook and thank you to Miss CIA.
My website is satire AND theology.
Years ago, someone complained he did not know (paraphrased) really what was what on this website. My reply was (paraphrased): Well I suppose one needs to think about it.
Further, if it was primarily serious material, one would still need to think about it. If it was primarily satirical material, one would still need to think about it.
There is a comments section to discuss posts on Blogger. There is also one on the Facebook Business Page version.
This person, eventually defriended me on Facebook.
BURNABY, BC – A published study out of Simon Fraser university on generational sexuality has found that the most popular sexual kink among millennials is roleplaying as a couple that owns a house.
I am pleased by God's grace, to have inherited my Mother's condominium, after approximately 19 years of homecaring for her. I am a homeowner of sorts.
As I am presently single, this place is not particularly 'sexy'. No type of roleplaying takes place in my residence, whatsoever.
Our weekly Zoom meeting, hosted from this residence, is definitely, definitively, exceptionally and positively, not 'sexy'. Neither myself, nor any of my Zoom friends are too 'sexy' for 'x' or 'y', at least as far as I am concerned. I suppose to some, my friendly neighbour, Mr. Bobby Buff, might be considered 'sexy', with assistance from Crisco, but he does not attend our Zoom meetings.
Cited
While older generations have often used role-play as a way to simulate various power dynamics or unlikely encounters, millennials are using the popular kink to indulge their own implausible fantasies, both sexually and monetarily.
I try to avoid 'fantasies' unless from fiction as entertainment and labelled as such. I have to state that I have viewed many 'implausible fantasies' in much of the writing I have consumed online, from various sources, over the years.
But, yes, I still revise my work...
Cooperation
Martin Luther
LUTHER, MARTIN. (1525)(1972) ‘The Bondage of the Will’, in F.W. Strothmann and Frederick W. Locke (eds.), Erasmus-Luther: Discourse on Free Will, New York, Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., INC.
I have written on the theological doctrine, within, in particular, Orthodoxy, of cooperation in regards to grace and the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ applied to believers.
This versus a Reformed theological doctrine of the embracing by believers, of divine regeneration (John 3, Titus 3), and the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, in grace through faith for salvation.
John Hick and Soul-Making Theodicy
From my PhD thesis, John Hick as his Soul-Making Theodicy, rejected compatibilism and held to a view of human cooperation:
Human beings must, through uncompelled responses and co-operation with the creator, become children of God. Hick (1970: 291). Since Hick rejects compatibilism (Hick (1970: 381), ultimately God must inevitably convince human beings to freely follow him in a way that was amiss for many in their earthly lives. Hick (1970: 381).
Hick and his Soul-Making Theodicy holds to universalism, unlike Orthodoxy, which does not.
Orthodoxy versus Reformed
Edited
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
The Orthodox Study Bible text states that Christ's righteousness is given to us and by our own cooperation with God, we continue to be righteous, in it. (338-339). This participation takes place via human faith.
A Protestant and especially Reformed concern with the concept of cooperation, is the danger (s) of works righteousness.
My Reformed theology views the human embracing of salvation, including justification and imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, in a sense as philosophically and theologically, a human secondary cause; but very importantly, only the primary cause, the triune God creates the means and application of salvation through the atonement and resurrection.
I might coin the secondary cause here as a 'passive cause'.
Collins is rather helpful here:
secondary cause in British English
philosophy
a cause which is not the primary or ultimate cause
the distinction between the universal and primary cause and the particular and secondary cause
Not the ultimate cause, exactly.
In this way, those in Christ, being regenerated by God alone, only accept salvation as a divine gift and this also avoids the problem of divine force or coercion. People are not saved or damned through hard determinism, with no secondary agency involved. It is also not a (fallen) human work of salvation. Human righteousness (the human nature) is universally fallen and tainted in sin. Christ's righteousness as both God and man, is still divine righteousness and a gift of God (Ephesians 2: 8). It is a divine righteousness which is incarnated into a perfect human being. It is not universal, human righteousness as we know it in this present realm.
It might be more clear to state that a human being has secondary agency in embracing salvation. The secondary cause in secondary agencies, merely embraces the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, including justification and sanctification.
Philippians 2:12-13 New American Standard Bible
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to [a]desire and to work for His good pleasure. Footnotes Philippians 2:13 Or be willing
As secondary causes, as secondary agents, we embrace and work through, by grace through faith, the salvific work that only God has completed and applied through Christ.
From my MPhil
John Calvin (1543) stated concerning free will: 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).
---
By the leading of God the Holy Spirit, in regeneration, I have decided, as a secondary cause to grow in Christ, to work out my salvation. But there is no works righteousness on my part to create or apply salvation. God can be a primary cause by willing directly or allowing, a human being, that can be a secondary cause, by embracing what God has caused. God directly wills regeneration each time it occurs.
Again, to be clear, human secondary cause, is embracing and not creating salvation through any work of (fallen) human righteousness. There is the imputed, divine, righteousness of Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man (Romans, Galatians, as examples). Orthodoxy holds to a form of justification by faith (348, 801). But by my theological reasoning, by adding the concept of cooperation by His grace, it denies justification by grace through faith alone, which is especially key from Romans, Galatians, Ephesians and Hebrews.
If by works righteousness, concepts within James and Romans 4 (4: 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness) are meant, as in showing salvific faith by works and obedience, I can accept that as embracing salvation, but I would not use the term 'cooperation'.
CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
HICK, JOHN(1970) Evil and The God of Love, London, The Fontana Library.
HICK, JOHN(1978) ‘Present and Future Life’, Harvard Theological Review, Volume 71, Number 1-2, January-April, HarvardUniversity.
HICK, JOHN(1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T.Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN(1993) ‘Afterword’ in GEIVETT, R.DOUGLAS (1993) Evil and the Evidence for God, Philadelphia, Temple University Press.
HICK, JOHN(1993) The Metaphor of God Incarnate, Louisville, Kentucky, John Know Press.
HICK, JOHN(1994) Death and Eternal Life, Louisville, Kentucky, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN(1999) ‘Life after Death’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology ,Kent, SCM Press.
LUTHER, MARTIN. (1525)(1972) ‘The Bondage of the Will’, in F.W. Strothmann and Frederick W. Locke (eds.), Erasmus-Luther: Discourse on Free Will, New York, Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., INC.
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
See archives for links to full versions
Monday, November 16, 2020
Philosophical & Theological Reflections On Satirical Images: Satirical & Serious
Image 2: Facebook. A reminder of historical, western involvement in Africa.
Image 3: Facebook
Image 4-5: Guy Gadbois from The Return of the Pink Panther, 1975 and Krazy Kool, this last August. Sort of Birds of a Feather...
Image 6: Thehockeywriters.com: Hopefully the Quebec Nordiques are added within the next few years.
Image 7: Isidewith.com: I am Canadian, but my American political preferences this 2020.
Image 8: Facebook
Image 9: Zoom-Truly terrifying.
Image 10: The article on this website which led to the bogus banning of it on my Facebook Business Page. Even though I contacted them there was no dialogue from Facebook, from March to November.
As noted, I had to change this website's URL to fix the problem.
Friday, November 13, 2020
Brief on types of socialism
Brief on types of socialism
Photo: York, England postcard
My political leanings, moderate conservative, libertarian.
On CNN today I watched a brief discussion on the issue of Nazism and if it can be defined as under the political umbrella of fascism or socialism.
'There are different types of socialism.'
In other words, there are various moderate to radical forms of socialism. Socialism should not necessarily be equated with radical socialism.
All forms of socialism as political ideologies are not all, or near identical. Theoretically and practically, there are forms of democratic socialism and also forms of non-democratic socialism.
Nazism
THE CONCORD DESK ENCYCLOPEDIA (1982) New York, Concord Reference Books, Inc, Time.
Cited
Nazism or National Socialism, the creed of the National Socialist Workers' Party (Nazi Party) led by Adolf Hitler from 1921 to 1945.(858). The entry documents that the movement was rooted in nationalism, racism (especially anti-Semitism), authoritarianism and militarism. (858).
Key concepts within this worldview were rearmament (to counter the post World War I: Treaty of Versailles, my add). The text calls it 'severe terms' (858). Nazism also emphasized territorial expansion for lebensraum (German) which is living space. (858). This also included the racial and racist concept of a master race. The text calls it herrenrasse (German).
The text states of Adolf Hitler that in 1933-34 the Nazi Party 'won more than one-third of seats in the German parliament (Reichstag).' (858). Hitler became chancellor by 1933. (858).
Soon any semblance of democracy ended as in 1933-34, Hitler established a Nazi dictatorship. (858).
Here Nazi Germany began its persecution, and the interning and murder of political opponents, and/or more often, simply those deemed as non-Aryan. This included 'Jews', 'other non-Aryans', those in labor unions and of other political parties. (858).
I am not a political scientist, but am a theologian of the Reformed tradition and a philosopher of religion; but at this point, without denying the form of socialism that makes up its name, Nazism was certainly more authoritarian or fascist, and less so, socialist. Certainly not democratic socialist. Millions of Jews primarily were murdered and executed in concentration camps (858) as were others deemed enemies of the Third Reich. Correctly at the end of their article the text, it cites fascism as being a related entry. (858).
Within its fascism entry, it documents that fascism is 'strictly, the political social system of Italy under Mussolini 1922-1945.' (455). From fasces in Italian (455). A bundle of wood with a projecting axe blade (my add). Britannia: Fasces
This text, surprisingly, in my opinion, does not directly mention Nazism as being under the umbrella of fascism, perhaps staying with the 'strict' definition. It does note that fascism spread to Austria in 1933, and Austria was incorporated in Germany in 1938. (455). The encyclopedia does provide that fascism has 'close ties with Nazism' (455), due to nationalism and militarism (455).
The text also states:
"Fascist has become a term of abuse for many because of the ugly aspects of fascism, and is often used of anyone whose views are right wing.' (455).
Agreed. Attempts at objectivity should mean that more careful use of terms is sought within political arenas. The same can be stated for those that tag the left wing as communist or Marxist, when those being tagged, deny that they are that far to the left, politically.
Simon Blackburn is his philosophy dictionary places (post-World War I, my add) movements in Italy, Germany and Spain as 'the loose amalgam of aspirations and influences crystallized' (136). In other words, Nazism Germany and its Nazism is under the political and philosophical umbrella of fascism.
So it seems to me that Nazism could be placed under the umbrellas of authoritarianism, fascism and its own version of socialism, based on its own definition within its name. Again heeding the word from my childhood source, on types of socialism. Not democratic socialism. At the same time, I write this not being primarily guided by certain modern, western, political correctness and political considerations which leads to terms of abuse as the Concord Desk Encyclopedia noted.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
THE CONCORD DESK ENCYCLOPEDIA (1982) New York, Concord Reference Books, Inc, Time.
---
Citations in italics
There is only one problem: This argument is untrue. Although the Nazis did pursue a level of government intervention in the economy that would shock doctrinaire free marketeers, their “socialism” was at best a secondary element in their appeal. Indeed, most supporters of Nazism embraced the party precisely because they saw it as an enemy of and an alternative to the political left.
Feb. 5, 2020 at 3:00 a.m. PST'
Did you know that “Nazi” is short for “National Socialist”? That means that Hitler and his henchmen were all socialists. Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist, too. That means Bernie Sanders and his supporters are the same as Nazis … doesn’t it?
In agreement with the author from the Washington Post...No.
The Nazi regime had little to do with socialism, despite it being prominently included in the name of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The NSDAP, from Hitler on down, struggled with the political implications of having socialism in the party name. Some early Nazi leaders, such as Gregor and Otto Strasser, appealed to working-class resentments, hoping to wean German workers away from their attachment to existing socialist and communist parties.
The Nazi Party sought its own authoritarian form of government. Not communist authoritarianism, nor any form of democratic socialism. Nazism was not a form of western democratic socialism.
Agreed. Using the state to assist with certain financial resources within a democratic country, will not necessarily result in a form of authoritarianism. But, as does communism, Nazism did use power to significantly allocate control over financial resources.
However, I reason that democratic socialism and/or liberalism can erode, for example, the freedoms of those with non-politically correct views, that do not agree in the public sphere (religious views on morality, for example). I suppose that any form of democratic government can erode freedoms within democracy.
For balance, a conservative democracy that has some authoritarian aspects (religious, morality laws for example) may be more likely to erode some freedoms of the non-compliant, than a conservative democracy that is more so libertarian, as example.
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
RMS Queen Elizabeth
Reflection occurs when light traveling through one material bounces off a different material. The reflected light still travels in a straight line, only in a different direction. The light is reflected at the same angle that it hits the surface. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming light and a line perpendicular to the surface called the normal. The angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected light and the normal. The symbol Ɵ means “angle'' and arrows represent rays of light.
Image one: RMS Queen Elizabeth pulling into New York with service men returning home after the end of World War 2, 1945 from Facebook
Image two: Arne Novik, and his take on reflection: November 11, 2020 from Facebook
Image three: Facebook (Thank you, Jeff Jenkins)
Image four: Twitter, October 27, 2020
Monday, November 09, 2020
Monday Facebook Follies
Perhaps some biblical Christians need to take a 'chill pill' in regard to certain issues and pray and study scripture more?
Thursday, November 05, 2020
Tuesday, November 03, 2020
Satire Und Theology is back on Facebook
Facebook unfairly banned my previous URL, with no dialogue with me on the issue, as I contacted them several times, since March.
Russell Norman Murray, PhD
Photo of Anglesey Church Wales, Pixabay-dpexcel
Monday, November 02, 2020
PhD: Twitter quote 21
PhD: Twitter quote 21
Photo; Pixabay, Bridge RailwayPhD version
Erlandson explains that many theodicy are fatally flawed since they are too focused on the idea of God creating a world for the best possible state of human beings. Erlandson (1991: 1).
The ideas of Erlandson are in line with sovereignty theodicy, which places greater emphasis on God’s perfect and holy plans in willingly allowing the problem of evil to exist in creation, than does free will theodicy. Erlandson (1991: 1).
ERLANDSON, DOUG (1991) ‘A New Perspective on the Problem of Evil’, in Doug Erlandson PhD Philosophy, Reformed.org, Orange County, Covenant Community Church of Orange County. http://www.reformed.org/
Twitter version
Erlandson explains that many theodicy are fatally flawed since they are too focused on the idea of God creating a world for the best possible state of human beings.
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
PhD Full Version PDFSunday, November 01, 2020
PhD: Twitter quote 20
Photo: TimHil , Wales, Pixabay
Twitter version
Practical and empirical theology is a complement to my theoretical work on theodicy, and not a replacement for it.
Twitter bonus
Did humanity create God, or did God create humanity?
(Romans 1-3, as example)
ALLEN, C. LESLIE (1986) 'Romans' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
DUNN, JAMES D.G. (1988) Romans, Dallas, Word Books
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
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