A friend gave me a Paranormal Encyclopedia

I live here and my friend Walter Thomas Franklin lives that way...

As noted on my other blog, thekingpin68, I am recovering from a vitrectomy, and have a temporary gas bubble in my eye. So my vision is 'abstruckted' obstructed.

The other day, my good friend and frequent blog commenter, Bobby Buff/Walter Thomas Franklin and various other aliases, gave me a gift, a castoff book given to him that he wanted to get rid of. However it may suit our purposes.


What an attractive cover. I could take a picture of myself with black eye presently, with my Blackberry and still be prettier than Wolfgang in the bottom right corner. And I have the alien freak beat, no problem.

MATTHEWS, RUPERT (ed.) PAUL ROLAND, KAREN FARRINGTON, LUCY DONCASTER, ANDREW HOLLAND, (2009) The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal, London, Arcturus.

Blackburn states that paranormal is phenomena supposedly beyond the powers of the mind. These phenomena are attempted to be understood scientifically. Blackburn (1996: 277).

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

So, I suppose I can discuss a section, at least, of this book and see what the public response is.

Ouija Boards

The volume suggests the word ouija comes from a combination of French and German words for yes. (p. 26). The board was produced as a parlour game in 1898 by the Field brothers of Baltimore. (p. 26). Today there are various versions of the game.


U.S. Patent D056449 (PDF). Design patent for toys (D21/813) which was filed May 26, 1920. Issued Oct 26, 1920. Patentee was Clifford H. McGlasson.
From: New World Encylopedia

The board has numbers, the letters of the alphabet and some 'mystical symbols' to make it look scary. (p. 27). Participants place a finger on the pointer/planchette which moves on casters. (p. 27). It is supposedly moved by spirits. The participant asks a question and the answer is spelled out as the planchette moves on the board.

The ouija is seen as a channel for a person that is not a medium, in order for that person to make contact with the spirit world. This is seen as the case whether a spirit or person is actually primarily moving the pointer. (p. 27).

Now, quite obviously, this game could be used by someone who psychologically makes the board state what is desired. The game could also be used in order for a participant to deceive observers.

The occult as with religion can be used for psychological purposes which leads to unintended deception. The occult as with religion can also be used for the purposes of intended deception.

I would not assume that every use of this game/tool will lead to a paranormal experience. I would not assume that it would be a regular occurrence with the game. However, I am not an expert on the topic.

The text states that detractors suggest that supposed spirit messages could come from a participants unconscious. (p. 27).

Demonic Forces

The book states there have been an alarming number of violent attacks and teenage suicides involving certain disturbed impressionable persons who claim to have been following the instructions of demonic forces contacted via a ouija board. (p. 29).

The game can become dangerously addictive and a problem for those that are psychologically disturbed. (p. 29).

The book postulates the board may not be itself 'intrinsically bad' but should not be used by the irresponsible and immature that cannot handle what they receive. (p. 29).

I doubt deceased persons are taking part with the ouija board as deceased persons/spirits are disembodied by nature and should not be a threat to living persons.

I have doubts that disembodied spirits would even have the natural control or ability to respond to such a game. God had Samuel respond to a medium (1 Samuel 28), but that was a rare case.

So, the demonic forces suggestion is a reasonable one made by the text.

Further:

Demonic beings are opposed to God and are very evil.

They can Biblically harass all persons and in some cases heavily influence persons which is seen in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

Therefore, no person is responsible or mature enough to reasonably be dabbling with any kind of ouija board.

Further:

I am not some 'crazed fundamentalist' that the mainstream media can reasonably mock, but I reason that if a person is interested in spiritual life, the paranormal, and the supernatural, it is far more reasonable to have dealings with the infinite triune God of Scripture than his finite evil fallen demonic creations which serve his purposes, even as they oppose him (Job).

Guru Chucky lives that way...

Guru Chucky arrives this evening. The glowing guru.

Classic statements (If I were famous)

Bristol, England (photo from trekearth.com) My good friend and basically neighbour Bobby Buff, also known as Walter Thomas Franklin, has stated that I should put together a post with some of my statements/quotes. Jeff Jenkins has stated he keeps track of some of my statements. So, yes this is like a television episode where they use a lot of footage from old episodes.

 

However, since my readership is slowly growing, much of the material should be new to the reader.

And comments are a huge part of my two blogs, and they almost always contain new content.

My blogs posts are never ever really duplicated. There is some new content with this post, in the main body, as well. From satire and theology:

How to blow-up your blog without thinking too much

'When someone leaves a comment on your blog, either completely ignore the comment, or better yet erase it later after it has been published. Make sure you come across to your readers with that 'What the hell do you want', type of attitude. Treat your blog commenters like they are telemarketers while your favourite television show is on.'

Remember, 'Stranger Danger'! (June 4, 2010) 'Use plenty of ad hominem personal attacks in all your articles and comments. If someone disagrees with you make sure you state that they must hate you and what you stand for with your blog. Imply you are the Blogosphere's Mother Teresa/Gandhi/non-resistant Mennonite as you use vicious ad hominem attacks against your readers that disagree with you in any major way. Reason that it is okay for you to viciously attack your critics, because you are 'right' and since they are 'wrong' as they disagree with you, and they obviously must hate you.'

From satire and theology

Theocracy

'I am not suggesting theocracy, but the need for more rational common sense ways of looking at humanity and therefore how government should be run.'

'I would not desire for one religion to be favoured as those citizens outside of the religion could face persecution, and in the extreme case of a state church be considered to be committing treason.'

'I do not support any primarily human attempt at establishing theocracy. A primarily human attempt at theocracy does not guarantee Biblically based rule through the guidance of the true God.'

'In the present age, I favour democracy over theocracy.'

From satire and theology

The non-conformist of the year awards

'Mr. Jackson is wisely not a supporter of the theory of macroevolution, however, if he saw my hairy friends Chucky and Deeaaaan, he may reconsider.'

From satire and theology

Recent comments on other blogs (because that is how I roll)

'Is gay the new black?

Biblically, it is natural to be black, but not natural to be homosexual.

Blacks are not condemned for being such, but homosexual acts are condemned.'

So, no gay is not the new black. (June 4, 2010.)

From thekingpin68

No surprise this is Canada

'I would have preferred to see the court state the obvious, that marriage traditionally has encompassed a man and a woman, and for good reasons. The union of a man and woman can, if normal health (and if they are of childbearing age (June 4, 2010)) is present, lead to the sexual production of a family. Homosexual marriage cannot lead to the production of a family unit, even if both partners are completely healthy. This is clearly a difference between heterosexual and homosexual unions, and as one critic argued, the latter are really homosensual unions.'

From thekingpin68

Arminianism and Free Will

'

Pelagianism It must be noted that Arminianism is not Pelagianism. Pelagianism believes that human beings can achieve salvation from their own powers. It is believed that human beings can choose in free will, good or evil. Original sin was a bad example, and not inherited. Yarnold (1999: 435).' 'Arminianism holds to original sin and human corruption and that people are not able to do good without prevenient grace. Grider (1996: 80). Prevenient grace could be explained as preceding grace.'

'In my understanding the fallen human being has a limited free will that freely rejects God, and through the salvation process God enables the believer to freely follow Christ.

By limited free will I accept the idea that a fallen human being is free in the sense that he/she can be restored by God if elected (and regenerated (June 4, 2010)), but not free in a way the he/she could be saved through prevenient grace.' 

From thekingpin68 Begging the question 

'Begging the question would be if a person specifically argued the conclusion of an argument within a premise.' 

Here are some additional sayings of mine:

'Life is fatastic'.

'Life is flabulous'.

'My floaters are a real problem of evil' (They will be gone very soon).

'Bloggers that do not want to reciprocally link can enjoy writing their own personal online diaries, unless they are already well-known in the field they are blogging about.'

'Excuse me, this is the web and you have a public blog, this means strangers can read your posts and comment.'

'Stranger Danger!'

'You can always turn comments off, and/or make your blog private'. 'You are a gentleman and a skull hair'. 'The radical fundamentalists and radical liberals tend not to support my work. My support mostly comes from moderate conservatives and moderate liberals. Mostly conservatives.' 'I am a moderate conservative.' 'I am so muscular I have a twelve pack.' 'Let's see, here in BC, we do not have a lot of police, do not have a large military, do not have a lot of hospitals, do not have a lot of freeways, and do not have a lot of rapid transit. Yet we pay close to half of money earned to governments for taxes, plus sales taxes and other fees. Where does all this money go? I think something is wrong.' 

GRIDER, J.K. (1996) 'Arminianism', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.). Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

YARNOLD, E.J. (1999) 'Pelagianism', in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

Happiness is a spice from Rick Beaudin. Below is some of Jeff Jenkins' work for my blogs over the last few years.

Quotes: Infamous, satirical and inspirational

Moezel, Germany

Since my MPhil/PhD theses topics are theodicy/the problem of evil, I thought I would take a few infamous quotes and look at them through the lens of my academic study.

Please feel free to provide your own quotes/citations in comments.

Infamous quotes:

Stalin1

Stalin2

Death solves all problems - no man, no problem.

Joseph Stalin

My comment and take on what is meant:

Human opposition to Stalinist communist political philosophy is a problem.

Death for such persons is preferred.

Stalin3

Stalin4

Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.

Joseph Stalin

My comment and take on what is meant:

Thinking intellectuals could be a threat to Stalinist communist political philosophy.

Non-intellectual citizens are preferred.

Mao1

Mao2

Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.

Mao Tse-Tung

My comment and take on what is meant:

Communism is rule by dictatorial, totalitarian force.

No one must be allowed to be a serious threat to the State.

Mao3

Mao4

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive.

Mao Tse-Tung

My comment and counter to what is stated:

Communism is a threat to democracy.

Political freedoms should be maintained through diligence.

Hitler1

Propaganda must not serve the truth, especially as it might bring out something favorable for the opponent.

Adolf Hitler: Mein Kampf.

Below appears to be a more full citation:

Hitler2

Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, in so far as it is favourable to the other side, present it according to the theoretical rules of justice; yet it must present only that aspect of the truth which is favourable to its own side. Mein Kampf, Chapter VI War Propaganda

My comment:

Propaganda uses persuasian.

Propaganda appeals to emotion.

Propaganda uses filtered information.

It is not necessarily truth.

A few years ago I came up with the idea of putting the words promotion and propaganda together.

Promoganda.

I am not stating that I am the originator of the word. But at that point I had never heard of it or seen it. I have since then seen it on the web elsewhere.

Satirical quotes:

Wilde1

Wilde2

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde

On a British comedy T.V. program in 2004, Jonathan Ross stated that a Muslim extremist suicide bomber was expecting to be taken to heaven where he would be rewarded with 72 virgins. Instead he was given a 72 year old virgin.

Inspirational quotes:

My comment:

The way of Biblical salvation and the ultimate benefits.

John 14:1-6 (New American Standard Bible)

1"(A)Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me.
2"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for (B)I go to prepare a place for you.
3"If I go and prepare a place for you, (C)I will come again and receive you to Myself, that (D)where I am, there you may be also.
4"And you know the way where I am going."
5(E)Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
6Jesus said to him, "I am (F)the way, and (G)the truth, and (H)the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Revelation 21:1-9 (New American Standard Bible)

1Then I saw (A)a new heaven and a new earth; for (B)the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2And I saw (C)the holy city, (D)new Jerusalem, (E)coming down out of heaven from God, (F)made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, (G)the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will (H)dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them[a],
4and He will (I)wipe away every tear from their eyes; and (J)there will no longer be any death; (K)there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; (L)the first things have passed away."
5And (M)He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am (N)making all things new " And He said, "Write, for (O)these words are faithful and true."
6Then He said to me, "(P)It is done I am the (Q)Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (R)I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the (S)water of life without cost.
7"(T)He who overcomes will inherit these things, and (U)I will be his God and he will be My son.
8"(V)But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in (W)the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the (X)second death."
9(Y)Then one of the seven angels who had the (Z)seven bowls full of the (AA)seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "(AB)Come here, I will show you the (AC)bride, the wife of the Lamb."

Short audio post: fideism (too much reliance on faith)

Fiji

This is an audio post version of some text last provided on my thekingpin68 blog in October 2008.

I will add some further comments within the audio.

Thanks. The short mps3 audio post is below and I provide some of the related text.

fi.mp3

Definitions

Blackburn writes that fideism takes a pessimistic view concerning the role of reason for achieving divine knowledge. The emphasis is instead on the merits of acts of faith. Blackburn (1996: 139).

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Stanford

'The term itself derives from fides, the Latin word for faith, and can be rendered literally as faith-ism.'

'Fideism” is the name given to that school of thought—to which Tertullian himself is frequently said to have subscribed—which answers that faith is in some sense independent of—if not outright adversarial toward—reason. In contrast to the more rationalistic tradition of natural theology, with its arguments for the existence of God, fideism holds that reason is unnecessary and inappropriate for the exercise and justification of religious belief.'

According to R.K. Johnston, fideism is a term used by Protestant modernists in Paris in the late 19th century. It is often used as a pejorative term to attack various strands of Christianity as forms of irrationalism. Johnston (1999: 415).

Johnston explains that the concept of fideism has little value as most theologians would not deny the use of reason. The term fideism is useful when it describes an excessive emphasis upon the subjective aspects of Christianity. Johnston (1999: 415).

My propositions/premises:

Fideism can be religious and non-religious

It appears to me that many persons with both religious and non-religious worldviews at times concerning certain subjects are fideists. They operate with an over reliance on faith, as they rely heavily on the understanding of their own worldview and perspective at the expense of other views and evidence which may challenge their own ideas.

Fideism in an unorthodox fashion could be defined as faith over reason in the rejection of religious truth.

The my team is best (comfort as truth) approach is problematic

To use figurative language, just because someone is born onto the green team, or has had an intellectual and/or emotional experience with the green team and joined it, does not make the green team the team with the most truth in comparison to the blue, red, yellow, black, or white teams, etc.

Whether or not the green team is essentially correct in worldview is dependent on reason and evidence, and faith can be involved.

Faith has its place

I am not against faith. Christianity is dependent on reasonable faith, as God revealed himself historically through scribes, prophets, apostles and Christ himself. This took place over 1500 years and through various persons and in various regions. It was documented in Scripture and individual books were copied many times. There was also oral tradition. Christianity also relies on philosophy, as in, for example, the concept of first cause, and archaeology to verify that places described in the Bible actually existed as described.

There is not complete objectivity

I do not claim complete objectivity. In many ways we are made up of what we read, hear, and experience. But, in a sense all things are intellectually up for grabs, and up for intellectual challenge. We hold the primary doctrines of Christianity as essential and they can be defended well with Bible, theology and philosophy and at times other disciplines. We trust that God has revealed himself and is guiding his own through the Holy Spirit.

Lack of significant objectivity is intellectually deadly

In a fideistic approach human beings that insist something must be true will likely find an intellectual way for it to be true, no matter what the evidence. One should make as certain as possible that evidence is guiding one to conclusions concerning truth. Being guided by God in the process of finding truth is of course of primary importance.

Conclusion

I would therefore conclude that proper reasonable religious philosophy needs a heavy dose of rational thought that works with faith. In other words, it presents itself reasonably in order that more faith is warranted.

An example would be the documented Biblical, historical resurrection of Christ that is clearly presented in Scripture. It lends itself (1 Corinthians 15) to the theological concept that believers shall likewise one day too be resurrected within a reasonable faith.

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

JOHNSTON, R.K.(1996) ‘Fideism’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.) Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

Magic Island, Hawaii

Classic video revisited with more explanation


I saw this on the Tonight Show. Staged.

Hoax