Rush: December 10, 1976

New official video as replacement: July 20, 2016

I am a Rush music fan, not necessarily in agreement with lyrics.
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For fans of old Rush this may sound incredible, but for others it may range in sound from okay to worse.;) I enjoy the complex, innovative, nature of the music. Although Rush is a secular band I have learned from listening to them. I have tried to put complexity and innovativness into my writing. I am not necessarily in agreement with the lyrics of Anthem, although I have not broken them down philosophically.

Merry Christmas,

Russ

The supposed national sport

Denmark

This is a short follow up to my article that I originally posted on a former blog 'kingpinned' but reposted on here in September. The link below is to the original article on this blog:

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/09/why-i-gave-up-on-nhl.html

Just to be clear here, I am in general terms both pro-American and pro-Canadian. I disagree with some things with both countries but overall think that North America is the best place in the world to live. The above article and my related comments are in the context of professional sports and in particular the National Hockey League. Below are some comments I made on another blog yesterday. I think the post has merit, although the concept of hate is too strong.

http://hamiltontigers.blogspot.com/2006/12/its-official-bettman-hates-canadians.html

European Union

The map which can be clicked on shows European Union members. Candidates are Croatia, Macedonia, and Turkey.

I recently renewed by European Union and United Kingdom passport. I found this link and information helpful:

From

http://www.euimmigration.org/eu_passport.html


EU Passport

Myth I: It is a common misperception to believe that there is an "EU Passport" which cover all EU member countries. An "EU Passport" is only a term used to describe a passport from any EU country and does not exists in reality. Any citizen from any EU member country have same rights to travel visa free within EU / Schengen and to work in any EU country of their choice.

Myth II: Being and "EU citizen" and "EU resident" is the same. This is not the case. An EU citizen is an individual who has a passport from one of the EU countries. An EU resident can be an individual who has obtained the right to work and live in one of the EU countries, but who still holds the citizenship of his or her home country.

In order for an individual to take advantage of all the benefits of EU, he or she would want to become a citizen of any EU country by obtaining a second passport. The process of obtaining citizenship with an EU country is a formal process. Individuals most frequently obtain a second citizenship, also called "Dual Nationality", based upon family relationships, marriage, or investment. However, obtaining legal residency through work or studying can also make the citizenship process easier at a later stage. The advantage is that you are residing in the country you want to live in.

Visit the EU Resource Center to gain direct access to different countries' passport forms, immigration and work forms, information, and application procedures. All information provided is based upon you taking advantage of our research and start your own application process for an "EU Passport" or "EU residency" right now.

The benefit as a potential theology professor would be the possibility of working in any one of those countries. I therefore have more options than working in Canada or trying to immigrate to the United States. A question that would arise is if there are any Universities in the European Union that would employ a conservative philosophical theologian.

Recent comments

Some recent paraphrased comments:

a) thekingpin68 (me): "Well I need to go over my two chapters I have revised and add some more liberal sources perhaps".

Person X: "Oh come on you need to show some integrity".

Please see my article on my other blog on this subject:

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2006/12/theological-tension.html

As a conservative philosophical theologian I can accept the well meaning advice of this senior and well educated person. However, I do not think that in any way by following my secular University advisor's advice to add some mainline Christian perspectives to counter my conservative ones, am I risking not showing integrity. If I want to pass my dissertation I need to follow the rules of the institution I attend and their standards. By including liberal views in my work in no way means I sanction them. In a secular UK research degree I cannot create my own gospel orientated work. In the beginning with a different advisor I tried to write a dissertation with many somewhat original conservative philosophical arguments with little time spent on counter arguments, but this was deemed unacceptable. In my present situation I do not have the time and money to attempt to enter a theology program at a conservative Christian institution and I do not want to be working on a PhD in my forties. My theodicy (theory of dealing with the problem of evil) has not been challenged and I shall be pleased to succeed in passing my PhD with my own theodicy embedded within.

b) "It is better to be alone, than be with the wrong person". Co-host Jeff from the Doc Love program, a secular internet dating show:

I have been in the Christian community for a number of years and have never met someone special. Genesis 2:18 states that it is not good for a man to be alone and in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 7 it notes that each man should marry his own wife to avoid immoralities. The Apostle Paul was single and content as he wrote in 7:7 and therefore many Christians I have heard seem to assume that a Christian will either be blessed with a mate or be content. I think that is too simplistic of an idea. This is where theodicy is important and I reason that I am neither blessed with a mate, nor content and that is God's will, at least for now, and there is no guarantee things will change. I agree with Jeff that it is better to be alone than to settle for what will not fulfill me spiritually, intellectually, and physically as a Christian.