Lex Luthor's Problem Of Evil

Time Warner

1. Lex Luthor's Problem Of Evil

Special thank you to my good friend Darren Morrey, for the idea for section 1, via a phone call, Sunday evening.

IMDB

'Lex Luthor: See, what we call God depends upon our tribe, Clark Joe, 'cause God is tribal; God takes sides! No man in the sky intervened when I was a boy to deliver me from daddy's fist and abominations. I figured out way back if God is all-powerful, He cannot be all good. And if He is all good, then He cannot be all-powerful. And neither can you be.'

Clark Kent/Superman in the fictional Time Warner universe is finite and therefore is not infinite and all-powerful.

I will deal with the God question in the context of the non-fictional, actual universe.

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter

Edited

C.E.B. Cranfield (1992) comments that although God can will grievous and evil things to occur, God in Christ works these things towards the greater good, in particular in the context of salvation for those that know Christ. Cranfield (1992: 204). Evil and sin are not to be confused with goodness and obedience within Reformed traditions, but as God willingly allows evil things to occur, his purposes and motives are pure.

David Ray Griffin (1976) critically disagrees with this concept of John Calvin and others, but correctly defines the idea that God’s will must be regarded as righteous, even when we as human beings cannot fully understand the rightness of his judgments, since God is the definition of righteousness. Griffin (1976: 129).

Wright (1997) reasons the problem of evil can be solved in a straightforward manner by proposing that God predestines evils to occur for a particular purpose, and that persons do not have an answer back for God. Wright (1996: 197). This comment from Wright is accurate from a Reformed perspective. I can interject and state that academically solving the logical and gratuitous problems of evil by tying them back to God is an ultimate intellectual solution, but there are still practical ramifications to deal with, such as why certain evils occur.

The fact that a sovereignty theodicy can logically and reasonable solve its problem of evil, does not mean that suffering often comes with an explanation. This is where practical and empirical theology can be very helpful when they offer practical assistance to those suffering under the problem of evil. I reason that free will theodicy in the case of Augustine and Plantinga (reviewed within Chapter 2 of my PhD and in Dr. Russell Norman Murray website archives) can logically and reasonably solve their problems of evil, but more difficulties remain than with a well-constructed sovereignty theodicy which accepts compatibilism. Concepts of free will and libertarian free will, are connected to concepts of incompatibilism.

drrnm.blogspot.ca

I can understand the dismissive and negative attitudes towards theodicy of some within academia, but do not think that all theodicy are equal, or should they be necessarily all judged as failures. Theists and atheists debate the problem of evil, and it is safe to state that no particular theodicy will ever be accepted by all theists and atheists, or even acknowledged as logical or reasonable by all critics. I see no conclusive reason to abandon theodicy as an intellectual practice. I rather agree that a theodicy needs to be supported by Biblical revelation and must be for it to be theologically sound.

Within a sovereignty perspective human sin does oppose God, but God will use sin for his purposes and regenerate and mould those he chooses towards salvation. As long as one can accept the idea that a perfectly moral God wills and allows evil within his plans for the greater good, Calvin (1543)(1996: 37-40). Edwards (1729)(2006: 414), there is a degree of intellectual certainty with sovereignty theodicy that free will theodicy lacks.

God could inevitably bring about, through the use of the regeneration and the resurrection of elected human persons, the end of human corruption, and even Plantinga’s concept of transworld depravity. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 53). If God willed and created a finalized Kingdom of restored persons that had experienced the problem of evil and were saved from it, then it could be reasoned that with God’s constant persuasion through the Holy Spirit and human experience and maturity, transworld depravity would never take place again. No human wrong decision would need to occur as God always determines otherwise, without force and coercion; restored human beings do not lack experience as did the first humans (Adam and Eve) who rebelled against God causing corruption. I speculate that theological praxis of sovereignty theodicy is more certain and comforting than free will theodicy, as transworld depravity is overcome by taking the primary choice (secondary human choice remains as simultaneously caused by God) of human belief in God away from corrupted human beings. Augustine (421)(1998: Chapter 13: 8). Plantinga (1982: 184-189). Calvin (1539)(1998: Book II, Chapter 2, 7). Luther (1516)(1968: 31). Feinberg (1994: 126-127).

It is placed in the hands of a sovereign God.

AUGUSTINE (388-395)(1964) On Free Choice of the Will, Translated by Anna S.Benjamin and L.H. Hackstaff, Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.

AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

AUGUSTINE (400-416)(1987)(2004) On the Trinity, Translated by Reverend Arthur West Haddan, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One, Volume 3, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.

AUGUSTINE (421)(1998) Enchiridion, Translated by J.F. Shaw, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.

AUGUSTINE (426)(1958) The City of God, Translated by Gerald G. Walsh, Garden City, New York, Image Books.

AUGUSTINE (427)(1997) On Christian Doctrine, Translated by D.W. Robertson Jr., Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.

AUGUSTINE (427b)(1997) On Christian Teaching, Translated by R.P.H. Green, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

AULEN, GUSTAV (1950a) Christus Victor, Translated by A.G. Hebert, London, S.P.C.K.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

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

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books.

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

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

EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1729)(2006) Sovereignty of God, New Haven, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards Center, Yale University.

EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1731-1733)(2006) Law of Nature, New Haven, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards Center, Yale University.

EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1754)(2006) Freedom of the Will, Flower Mound, Texas. Jonathanedwards.com. http://www.jonathanedwards.com

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.

LUTHER, MARTIN. (1516)(1968) Commentary On The Epistle To The Romans, Translated by J.Theodore Mueller, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.

LUTHER, MARTIN. (1518)(1989) ‘Heidelberg Disputation’, in Timothy F. Lull (ed.), Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings, Minneapolis, Fortress 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.

PLANTINGA, ALVIN C. (1977)(2002) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

PLANTINGA, ALVIN C. (1982) The Nature of Necessity, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

PLANTINGA, ALVIN C. (2000) Warranted Christian Belief, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

WRIGHT, R.K.McGREGOR (1996) No Place for Sovereignty, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

Vancouver

2. Review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

From my Facebook Personal Blog

Edited

Preface

My bias is I have been looking forward to this Batman v Superman since it was originally cancelled years ago and I thought many reviews were likely more negative than mine would be.

I do not expect superhero films to be real world realistic and reasonable. This is the same for Star Wars, Harry Potter and so on.

Negatives:

I agree with my friend that I viewed the film with that it was too long. A half hour could be deleted. There was no need for Batman origins once again. As well, Doomsday following Luther in violence just because Luther was his semi-creator is far-fetched. There is no certain motive.

Positives:

I thought the action, again agreeing with my friend was very good and I agree with him that Ben Affleck was very good in the film. The film fused, from my limited knowledge of comics, the 1986 comic, 'The Dark Knight Returns' story with the 1992 Superman comic story featuring Doomsday (title would be a spoiler) and with the formation of the Justice League.

The film was as entertaining with action and story as the Marvel Cinematic Universe/Avengers films, but many critics would not agree, I reason based on the reviews.

I thought it was very good. The three heroes from Batman v Superman will be back in the quote 'DC Extended Universe'.

Mac Sabbath Scalds McDonalds

The Piratescove.us

After viewing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice for a second  time, Saturday night courtesy, Jamie,  Mr. Zombie mentioned the band Mac Sabbath to me and Pope Chuckens. I am neither a fan of Black Sabbath or McDonalds, but the captioned lyrics in regard to McDonalds we found humourous, as well as the costumes. 'Ronald/The Joker', substantially creepy. A musical, philosophical and satirical scalding of a fast food chain.

.

Inherit The Earth?

NASA/Google

The philosophical question of the day from my Facebook Personal Blog page is...When a Facebook Personal Blog article is no longer 'quote' an 'Engaging Post', does it become a 'Divorced Post?'

Just wondering.

I watched on Knowledge Network, roughly the last half of the following program:

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

I could not remember Mr. Thompson being mentioned in the media and news recently and remembered his name mentioned in what seemed classic contexts. I knew he was a famous writer of a sort. This reasoning and his documented lifestyle had me awaiting the train wreck.

Wikipedia

Cited

(Thompson my add) 'was an American journalist and author, and the founder of the gonzo journalism movement.'

Wikipedia

Cited

'Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story via a first-person narrative. The word "gonzo" is believed to have been first used in 1970 to describe an article by Hunter S. Thompson, who later popularized the style.'

Back to first Wikipedia article

'He was also known for his lifelong use of alcohol and illegal drugs, his love of firearms, and his iconoclastic contempt for authoritarianism. He remarked: "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."

After a bout of health problems, Thompson committed suicide at the age of 67. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes were fired out of a cannon in a ceremony funded by his friend Depp...'

Cited

'On August 20, 2005, in a private funeral, Thompson's ashes were fired from a cannon. This was accompanied by red, white, blue and green fireworks—all to the tune of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man".[50] The cannon was placed atop a 153-foot (47 m) tower which had the shape of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button, a symbol originally used in his 1970 campaign for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado.'

End citations

I reasoned this interesting person was probably critical of religion and so I briefly researched his name and found the following.

Goodreads

Cited

'Hunter S. Thompson

Quotable Quote Hunter S. Thompson

“I have never seen much point in getting heavy with stupid people or Jesus freaks, just as long as they don't bother me. In a world as weird and cruel as this one we have made for ourselves, I figure anybody who can find peace and personal happiness without ripping off somebody else deserves to be left alone. They will not inherit the earth, but then neither will I...'

Hunter S. Thompson, The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time'

'They will not inherit the earth, but then neither will I...'

That statement intrigued me as classic secular empirical (the senses) reasoning. In other words, Christians and religious people cannot empirically and scientifically demonstrate that they will inherit the earth, and no one can demonstrate thus empirically.

Therefore no one will ever inherit the earth.

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

From Oxford

Scientism: 1 a a method or doctrine regarded as characteristic of scientists b the use of practice of this. 2 often derogatory, an excessive belief in or application of scientific method. Oxford (1995: 1236).

I admit not knowing Mr. Thompson's work in-depth, but the reasoning in regard to the comments may be using a form of empiricism and scientism.

In regard to the apparent type of reasoning presented (non-exhaustive):

Empiricism, scientism and like approaches are limited epistemological and academically, even as empiricism and science are essential for gaining types of  knowledge, including academic.

Rationalism/deductive reason, theology, religious studies and philosophy of religion are limited epistemological and academically, even as these are essential for gaining types of knowledge, including academic. But these disciplines are not being considered as reasonable sources of knowledge.

Documented scriptural revelation within the religious studies discipline is dismissed.

Therefore, I do not find the statement, 'They will not inherit the earth, but then neither will I...' as conclusive epistemologically and academically against a proposition that Christians in Jesus Christ through the trinitarian, Biblical God, shall (ultimately) inherit the earth.

Further, empirically in the present realm, humanity has inherited the earth. It is a finite, temporal realm where human death is extant, but in a sense humanity has already inherited the earth gaining dominion and rule.

Therefore, it is not rationally, theologically and philosophically unreasonable that God, the philosophical first cause creator (Genesis 1-3) gave humanity dominion/rule over the earth (Genesis 1: 26). This almighty deity can also recapitulate creation, the universe and planet earth (Matthew 5: 5, 2 Peter 3, Revelation 21-22)..

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

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

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY (1995) Della Thompson (ed.), Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Warpednerdversity: ???

Hyper-social status Christianity, a new theological term.

Supposed Pictures From Heaven & Matthew 23-24

Engaging Post

Russell Norman Murray

Yesterday at 1:59pm · 

http://newssa.co.za/…/mboro-go-heaven-hes-got-pictures-pro…/ Quote: 'The pictures will be made available to the public on his Facebook page later next week and can now only be accessed through a R5000 pledge.'

No $urprise. Matthew 23 and Matthew 24. What he will be able to back up and document is the pursuit of cash. ‪#‎Heaven‬ ‪#‎Mathew23‬ ‪#‎Matthew24‬

11 people reached

Russell Norman Murray http://dailypost.co.za/.../i-went-to-heaven-and-i-have.../
This is not a matter of pre-set philosophical and theological assumptions that God cannot reveal himself or does not reveal himself; but is rather in this case the obvious financial considerations being central, even without being able to exactly know motives.

I went to heaven and i have pictures to prove it: says Pastor Mboro

DAILYPOST.CO.ZA

South Africa: trekearth

April 18, 2016 Edit

I have had to edit some of the original post because the website article was removed at source.

March 31

The embarrassing Facebook promotional text, usually viewed only by website administrator is included for satirical content, and because it is problematic to edit Facebook HTML format and maintain presentable Blogger HTML format.

This brief article is an extension of the pasted Facebook Personal Blog post. The first link is now at the time of posting available, but was unavailable when I began my last edit.

Considering the online sources, I am in no way verifying that the story is for certain non-fiction, but I document that websites are sharing the story.

It would not surprise me if this kind of story was entirely fictional. But I am finite with limited knowledge and so this is a disclaimer.

Two additional links

VenasNews March 31

Cited

'Mr. Nkuna, a spokesperson of the church confirmed that the incident happened at around 10:30 am, and the entire church witnessed as the controversial Pastor ascended to heaven.

“The prophet did go to heaven during the service, and he came back later that day. While there, he took pictures using his Samsung Galaxy S5 so he can show them to the people on earth if they do not believe he was captured to heaven. The pictures will be made available to the public on his Facebook page later next week and can now only be accessed through a R5000 pledge.'

Buzz Uganda March 31 

Cited

'Now those who wish to see the photos of Prophet Mboro in heaven, chances are now made wider for you as you have to choose whether to sure you pay ZAR5000 (South African Rand 5000, which is around UGX 1.1 Million or $334) and get yourself a copy of Prophet Mboro in Heaven or to wait next week on his Facebook page'

The field: trekearth

Matthew 23 New American Standard Version (NASB)

From Matthew 23 and in regard to Pharisaism, without claiming to know motives, but based on actions, from my perspective, verses that particularly relate to the 'pastor' in this story,.

Again, I am not verifying the story as non-fiction.

'5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men;' '

'6 They love the place of honor at banquets'

'7 (b) and being called Rabbi by men'

'10 Do not be called [b]leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

'11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant.'

A religious leader and his associates committing publicised, sensationalistic, supposedly supernatural deeds to be noticed by people. These religious leaders committing these deeds to be given honour among the local African observers. As well, committing these actions to be called a leader (s) among the people.

There are financial considerations from being noticed, honoured and being held up as a leader (s), There is money to made from public pledges to view the supposed heaven pictures. Financial considerations documented in the story from more than one source.

Where is the servant attitude in asking for pledges from followers in order that these followers can see supposed pictures of heaven? Contrasted by the 'pastor' and associates pledging to serve the congregation with reasonable Biblical doctrines and theology.

In Matthew 23, Jesus Christ called the Pharisees 'blind guides' which would apply to a religious teacher and his associates that blindly and deceptively lead a congregation with false, hyper-speculative teaching and theology.

Matthew 24 New American Standard Version

'23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the [l]Christ,’ or ‘[m]There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will [n]show great [o]signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the [p]elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.'

A false teacher and his associates seeking to mislead with supposed signs and wonders is relevant from this story.