Leafs

865 Mentions?

I received another notification from Academia.edu recently, for whatever it is worth. Through this website, which I joined this year to catch up with a British friend in Manchester, I  receive weekly invites to participate with the review and discussion of academic papers. 

But I am too busy with work. Besides my website work, I have other online projects including investing.

With this latest email alert, for the first time that I have clicked on 'View your Mentions', I could actually see the articles I have been cited in, and indeed they relate to my theological and philosophical works. 

The link worked the first time, anyway. Not the second.

So, I suppose this is legitimate.

My PhD was just posted in full on Dr. Russell Norman Murray; in 2020, but edited versions have existed for years as well as my full MPhil thesis and related articles. It is good to see that to some significant extent my website work is serving as academic work for peer review. I have stated on my websites that my website work is indeed and of course peer reviewable.

Thursday, February 04, 2021 Impressive Pluto

Thursday Bullets: Rules, Law & Order

 

• So far today, neither one of my academic, Blogger websites is allowing me to post photos. There is a malfunction.

• I have had many problems editing this work today on Blogger.

• Thank you to Mr. Charles Nelson Chuckles for posting this video on our Facebook chat group, 'Against Forced Isms'.

• The video is from Mr. Hansen from Norway. I subscribed for interest sake.

• SHTF= survivalist scenario 

• I can agree with the video, in my own words, that there are rule followers that believe that people with different options should be silenced. 

• Some of these rule followers believe that those in society that disagree with political correctness and the social and scientific ideas expressed as examples, should not have freedom of speech and freedom of expression to present disagreement.

• In other words, those who will not follow political correctness are considered dangerous to society by such people.

• In agreement with Mr. Hansen, I can deduce that some of these rule followers dislike a complicated life.

• Many of these types of rules followers are not philosophical, thinking types. 

• Or, in my humble opinion, if he/she are philosophical, thinking types, his/her worldview is fatally flawed by reasoning errors.

• So many people prefer obedience to political correctness over philosophical tensions and differing views on social, scientific, religious and worldview, ideas. 

• Mr. Hansen uses the example of Nazi Germany within Norway during World War II era.

• A fascist system and government in Nazi Germany and Norway which it invaded, was yes dependent on those Norwegian authorities following rules and regulations, within law and order.

• But, these rules and laws were fueled by philosophical politicians, and those in the military within the Nazi regime.

• Nazism produced the genocide of the Jewish people and required the assistance of the police and rule followers. 

• Law and order per say is not flawed, but law and order within totalitarian states certainly is especially flawed at many points. 

• Peace is not the same under democracy at it is under a totalitarian system.

• Peace in democracy depends significantly on the maintenance of law and order. 

• Peace in a totalitarian context depends significantly on the maintenance of law and order and the specific limiting of liberties to maintain the totalitarian state.

• Concerning Romans 13, F.F. Bruce writes that human government is a divine ordinance and has the powers of coercion and commendation which it has been given by God. 

• By Christians obeying the state, they are serving God. Bruce (1987: 221). 

• Bruce reasons that the Apostle Paul, in Romans, does not deal with the issue of unrighteous government here, but as with Acts 5: 29, 

• Christians must obey God and Christ and should not obey the state when the state claims divine honours. Bruce (1987: 221).

• In other words, the state is not the equivalent of God. 

• Cranfield explains that in Romans 13, Paul is not asking for an uncritical obedience to the state, but rather that God has placed the state in authority over persons. Cranfield (1992: 321). 

• Mounce writes that in Romans 13, there is a divinely sanctioned role of government and that Christians are responsible to that government. 

• It did not make any difference that the governing authorities were secular. God is the sole source of authority and established the authority for the state. 

• Concerning 1 Peter 2 13-15, biblical scholar, Barclay reasons that the concept of anarchy by the Christian is far from New Testament thought. 

• Barclay reasons what belongs to Caesar (the state) should be given to it, and what belongs to God should be given to God (Matthew 22: 21). Barclay (1976: 205). 

• I reason that non-Christians, within western democracy can basically agree with the concept of the state maintaining law and order, without embracing biblical Christianity. 

• Seems to me, in a western democracy, within law and order, there are many philosophical worldviews permitted. 

• Views within that law and order, are required to be held respectfully (at least non-offensively, if not obviously respectfully), while all citizens, residents and non-residents, respect the legal rights of others where philosophy, ideas and premises, disagree. 

• Within law and order, those that hold to biblical Christianity should therefore not be culturally bullied to comply with philosophies, ideas and premises that disagree with his/her worldview.

• Nor should a biblical Christian by intellectual bullying, attempt to force or coerce others that are non-biblical Christians to hold to philosophies, ideas and premises that he/she disagree with within a worldview. 

• In other words, culturally within western society, legally held views and opinions should not face bullying and cultural attempts to place them out of existence, because these are understood as negative by opponents.

• The societal priority should rightly be maintaining law and order within democracy, not maintaining political correctness within democracy. 

• At the same time, attempts at forcing or coercing some other secular or religious worldview and/or political/religious agenda on the unwilling, is not democratic. 

• Western governments and jurisdictions will in general, have reasonable slander and libel laws to protect citizens.

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

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. 

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

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

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. 

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

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Situational Ethics II

NHL: Ron Shock

Photo: NHL

Situational Ethics II

Cited 

The original associated You Tube video has been deleted, states You Tube.

NHL Jan. 19, 1977 Mike Robitaille,VCR v Dennis Owchar,PIT (hit) Vancouver Canucks Pittsburgh

Cited 

Chris Elliott 1 year ago

Last game he played , sued Canucks and won for mismanaging his injuries . 

---

The Pittsburgh Penguins 'color' commentator  from January 1977, states it was a 'high hit' and a 'clean hit'. Not by 2021 standards and by the last few years, anyway, within professional sports, culture.  In more recent years it would be considered a prohibited 'headshot'.

I am not medically educated but that stretcher position seems rather untypical.

I like the Penguins road blue uniforms from 1977.

Mike Robitaille: Wikipedia 

Cited 

His career ended pre-maturely in 1977 when he was blind-sided by Dennis Owchar of the Pittsburgh Penguins, which caused nerve damage in his neck. He would later win a lawsuit against the Canucks for mistreating his injuries.

I can admit that this video makes me sad to view. I hope Mr. Robitaille has recovered from his serious medical issues, reasonably well over the years. Culturally and socially, times change. But do situational ethics make this career ending hit palatable in 1977 and not in 2021?

Photo of Ron Schock, 1977, National Hockey League, Bleacher Report

Blackburn on situational ethics

The view that ethical judgments apply to whole situations, rather in a similar way that aesthetic judgments are applied to works of art. Blackburn (1996: 352). A difficulty being with the view that ethics is not only a matter of responding to ethical situations but is a practical subject where 'future options have to be ranked in the light of different features'. Blackburn (1996: 352). 

Cambridge

The Cambridge Dictionary on 'situation ethics': It states it is an anti-theoretical case-by-case applied ethics that became popular in some European and American religious circles after World War II. Becker (1996: 738). Each moral choice must be determined by a particular context and situation. Becker (1996: 738). It rejects the idea that ethical principles are universal, and the same for moral principles, and these ethics and principles do not go beyond 'indeterminate commitments or ideals' Becker (1996: 738). It rejects attempts to develop general ethical and moral guidelines from a case. Becker (1996: 738). 

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I reason that consistent Biblical, Christian ethics and morality should be and needs to be applied in all life situations. Biblical commands do not supply and allow for example, theatrical and sporting, exceptions and exemptions. That is not to state that one could not be an actor as that would actually be presenting fiction.

However, I can acknowledge that in professional sports and professional hockey in 1977, there was much less data, medical and scientific knowledge in regards to 'headshots', head, neck and spinal cord injuries than in 2021 and recent years. There was also, of course, much less knowledge of these by the public and by athletes.  A professional hockey player was allowed to legally hit his opponent with such a hit.

But of course even by 1977 standards a blind side hit in a public skating rink causing the same damage as the hit under review, would be legally prohibited, within,  generally, I would deduce, most jurisdictions preserving law and order. Again, the context of this time of 1977, and prior, was that the National Hockey League allowed this type of hit as legal. This video seems a practical, historical, example where situational ethics can be referenced, noting philosopher Blackburn's mentioning of 'aesthetic judgments', 'practical subject' and 'different features'. Each moral choice must be determined by a particular context and situation. Becker (1996: 738).

There is no black and white moral and ethical judgement by me on this one...

BECKER, LAWRENCE C. (1996) Situation Ethics, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 

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

Friday, October 04, 2013 Sports & Situational Ethics

Saturday Bullets: More votes

• @ the barber, this Friday afternoon. 

• She was discussing the lack of personal accountability for actions, by many persons, in our present British Columbia culture.

• I opined (paraphrased), that this suits liberal, social democratic governments because many a person does not want to take significant moral responsibility for his/her life.

• For balance, I fully accept that there are also  reasonable premises and conclusions that explain other reasons for human problems.

• However, an example of the lack of people taking significant, moral responsibility is the problem of the addiction to illegal drugs.

• Many in the society and the media, prioritize expectations that the government (s) should do more to solve problems, over the individual responsibility of especially, adult persons.

• Most western governments embrace these types of  political leanings now, even so called 'conservative' governments.

• Governments take these wishes of many in society and also through laws and regulations, take more power in the process of earning more votes. 

• Even so, the New Testament, in particular, mentions that there is judgement for each member of humanity post-mortem (Revelation 20-22, perhaps general for all of humanity, but at least the unregenerate, 2 Corinthians 5: 10, for those truly regenerate (John 3, Titus 3) within the Christian Church).

• We have Zoom this Saturday, 9:30 pm, PDT, Vancouver time: Russ Murray is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Russ Murray's Personal Meeting Room Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6209164709?pwd=S1FsWWVMSHFTTVh3OWlRalgxT2g1Zz09 Meeting ID: 620 916 4709 Passcode: 0jTaJp

• No set topics, but everyone that has participated so far is a biblical Christian of sorts...

• There is no Christian worldview requirement for the Zoom meeting (s).

Thursday Bullets: Not so Incredible

Thursday Bullets: Not so Incredible

• Thank you to the Norwegian Benny Hill for posting this humourous video. (Pulled by Facebook May 21, 2021)

• Contrary to my friendly neighbour, Mr. Bobby Buff, I never liked The Incredible Hulk television series (1977-1982) and related (1988) for two main reasons.

• For one, the show was so over theatrical in production, as can be seen in the video, it was more of a accidental comedy than action adventure/drama.

• Two, as 'huge' (Mr. Bobby Buff) as Lou Ferrigno is here, he is not the 1000 pound plus superpower monster of Marvel Comics (not that I was ever a Hulk fan per say).

• Television and films did not begin to do justice to the supposed powers of fictional superheroes until the era of CGI (computer generated images), starting in the late 1980's forward.

•  My deduction is that Mr. Bobby Buff thought it was way cool, every time the Hulk flexed, and that is the biggest reason he thought the program was so wonderful. (Golly I wish I could be that big, he thought)

---

Very non-exhaustively

• I can agree with the peace movement where it disagrees with non-defensive wars by states. 

• Peace is not the same under democracy at it is under a totalitarian system. 

• Peace in democracy depends significantly on the maintenance of law and order.

• Peace in a totalitarian context depends significantly on the maintenance of law and order and the specific limiting of liberties to maintain the totalitarian state.

27 gauge needle III

archived search 27 gauge 

Image one: My VGH/UBC ophthalmologist replaced Triesence with Kenalog for treatment today, but still used the 27 gauge needle. An actual version of the 27 gangue needle from the past is shown. The side effects are much less severe today. I am thankful.

Image two: Wow, it is rare to see such a negative portrayal from any type of mainstream hockey media.

Image three: I signed it, today. Re: Canadian government.

Bullet Sunday: Replies on Twitter

• August 10 1995, the first European football match, I viewed live. Inter Milan 0 @ Arsenal 0, friendly, Arsenal Stadium. 

• A very kind, new Twitter connection stated he has been following me online since the early 2000's. 

• He asked me in regards to educational recommendations with  aspects of theology and Old Testament. I replied as follows... 

• Russell N Murray @RNMPhD: Just back from church. Will reply more. Many thanks.

• Russell N Murray @RNMPhD: As you might have read on Dr. RNM, my first UK university was less than supportive, actually hostile, as my fine agreed upon tutor was away for a year. With God's help, I compiled a list of places and contacted potential tutors. The next day someone from Wales contacted me. 

• Russell N Murray @RNMPhD: So, find a supportive tutor @ a University rated high enough to meet plans. Wales at the time had the second most students in UK and my campuses were highly rated for theology and related, especially @UWTSD where I did the PhD. Tutor more important than how famous the place.

• Russell N Murray @RNMPhD: Do everything they ask. My PhD has 10 to 20 citations per page. Insist on staying true to the Lord and intellectual, academic, findings, while presenting various perspectives. Some will be suggested by the tutor. Some of your ideas might be left for online work, like me.

• Russell N Murray @RNMPhD: Sure..I did the UK approach because at the time I wanted research only. Yes, go where you are embraced.

Bullet Saturday: Nords

•  Lions in Kruger National Park, South Africa from aubtudotbiz

•  Sure, someone go and tell those cats that they are lazy and to get off the road...

• The Vancouver Canucks miss the playoffs once again. They had some success last year, but historically never seem to build on some success to continual contender and championship success.

• In my humble opinion, problems begin with ownership and management.

• There is no serious, major league sports competition, to influence the Vancouver Canucks to be better.

• There is no serious threat to the club's dominance in the British Columbia sports scene. No second National Hockey League (NHL) club in Vancouver or Surrey (which does not have the infrastructure of a major city), no National Football League, Major League Baseball or English Premier League (hypothetically) clubs to challenge the Canucks' dominance.

• A 'Vancouver Blazers' or like, National Hockey League scenario would in my humble opinion be helpful. It would push both clubs to be excellent for survival. But, it will not happen in this era, at least...

• Media critiques of the ownership are limited and muted as the media is usually connected to the Vancouver Canucks and National Hockey League as business partners.

• Serious negative media critiques are generally avoided, for positive spin on the future.

• Rogers Sportnet is promoting the North Division, National Hockey League playoffs.

• The beginning context of a current television advertisement is 'Kings of the North'...where of course there is no Quebec Nordiques, having moved to Denver in 1995. Strange advertisement. This video starts with only Canadian teams: Canadiens, Jets, then the Nordiques, actually Colorado wearing a Nords retro jersey. Then back to Canadian teams. American teams are only shown briefly at the end. 

• Are Rogers Sportnet and the National Hockey League using the Quebec (Quebec City) fan base without the NHL allowing a team? Again I have seen this in other contexts, such as with League product sales on Facebook. Various 'Nords' gear is being advertised by the National Hockey through business partners, not just the Colorado retro jersey.

 • Supposedly Quebec is too small of a market for an NHL club, and the Canadian dollar too low, but it is constantly appealed to in Canada at large. 

• If Quebec actually has a national fan base, then it is likely a more attractive market than its own metropolitan population suggests.

• Amazing how financially relevant a 'dead' club since 1995 is today to the National Hockey League in Canada.

• My sceptical side thinks the 'grow the game in America mainly', NHL, where there are obviously more people than in Canada, did not want Quebec entering the League with the much more favourable expansion draft rules.

• These rules provided to Las Vegas and Seattle, that were accepted for NHL franchises while Quebec's bid was deferred.

• Yes, imagine if the Nords became the first Canadian club to win the Stanley Cup since 1993...

Be honest with the police...

Bullet Wednesday: Future work with my friendly neighbour

Photo: IMG_20191025_1738594 

(Part of the route)

Tuesday, September 08, 2020 In Three Minutes: Walk in nature, sort of

• My friendly neighbour, has told me repeatedly that I should present nature videos with theological input and insights, as does the much, much, more well-known than me, Bishop N.T. Wright.

• I have been far too busy, but my friendly neighbour agreed with me on an idea, once we both are fully pandemic vaccinated.

• He shall drive me in his car, to get his cheaper fossil fuel from outside of Metro Vancouver, as he already has been doing most weeks and he shall ask me one theological/philosophical question which I shall attempt to answer within 3: 59.

• Perhaps we can at times have another person or two in the vehicle...

• I will attempt to use video and audio mode.

Bullet Saturday: Hyper-Intellectuals

Lightspeed Visual Technologies, Montreal, photo 

Bullet Saturday: Hyper-Intellectuals

Non-exhaustive points in regards to the short video

• I just happened to come across this Jordon Peterson video while searching for a topic. This has nothing to do with any recent Red Skull comments from our own local Red Skull... 

• Not everyone is an intellectual, creative, thinker, I agree. I am average in many ways, but in God's will, I am able to write academic websites. 

• The arrogance of the intellect is a danger. Being intelligent in ways, does not necessarily equate with wisdom. In other words, having intelligence and using it wisely are not identical.

• Agreed, character needs to work with intelligence.

• God the Holy Spirit needs to guide the biblical Christian in holiness/sanctification, for it to occur.

• Galatians 5: 5 King James Version 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 

• Those saved in Jesus Christ are legally justified through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 1-8, Galatians 2-3 as key examples). Holiness and sanctification will occur within this salvation.

 

• Humanity are all finite and sinful (see Romans, especially). God incarnate Jesus Christ was sinless.

• John 8:46 King James Version 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 

• Proverbs 3:5-6 King James Version 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Hmmm

Jack Shelley, Greater Humor Club, May 6 2021

Theologically, without hating someone that differs, a biblical Christian should avoid such a situation for the non-exhaustive reasons below:

1. If unmarried...fornication and adultery are considered sinful and evil.

Examples

Matthew 15: 19-20 New American Standard Bible 

(NASB)

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and [i]slanderous statements. 20 These are the things that defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.”

i) Matthew 15:19 Or abusive speech

As long as I have been an academic, and previously, I have always readily admitted that with many people, at least, including self, sexual sin is a problem at the thought level.

So as Jesus noted 'from the heart', come evil thoughts, (paraphrased) including sexual sinful thoughts.

2. A biblical Christian person, if married, should be married to a person of the opposite sex and to a Christian believer. See Romans 1-3, 1 Corinthians 6-7, 2 Corinthians 6.

3. I am not stating that people that do not follow a New Testament sexual ethic, do not have significant romantic love. I am stating that it is not within God's perfect will for sexual relationships. Final judgement of each person (Revelation 20-22) is up to God. But, I am prayerfully presenting New Testament theology, accurately.

4. An aspect of loving one's neighbour (Mathew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10) is to share biblical doctrine, accurately, in context, despite when it differs from modern, secular, standards. At the same time, within a democracy, within law and order, supporting the rights of others to live as they please.

Monday image from Hades

Image I: The Norwegian Benny Hill, promoting my website, which is promoting the petrol station near Arne's house, which promotes Arne's daily nutritional needs, more often than one might presume.

Image 2: A neighborhood squirrel I found on my roof, this evening. It may be hiding from the coyotes and the homeless, street people. 

Image 3: On a more serious note, when one looks at the Hades account in Luke 16, it appears that in agreement with the Far Side image; primarily, many ontological needs and wants of post-mortem citizens are not met. This accepting that Luke 16 may be a figurative literal as opposed to plain literal account, but in the New Testament context it is considered an account of a real place. 

Luke 16: 25-26 New American Standard Bible (NASN) 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And [w]besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ 

w) Luke 16:26 Lit in all these things