The University of Wales, Bangor
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.
Sorry, loyal readers there are no pretty graphs like with the PhD survey.
Please forgive me, or blame my advisor and reviewers for not insisting on them.
It did save me a ton of work. My PhD graphs took a month.
This is edited work from my MPhil thesis:
The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives, 2003, The University of Wales, Bangor.
MPhil survey section edited:
Some Anglican and Baptist perspectives will be compared.
4. My Format
This is a work of Empirical Theology. I have chosen Anglican and Baptist because I attended an Anglican church for two years while living in Manchester, England, and I attended a Baptist Seminary for my Master of Theological Studies Degree in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I am therefore somewhat familiar with the views of both denominational groups, and both have had writers which have dealt with the problem of evil as recently as post World War II.
CHAPTER SIX
Conclusion
1. The Survey
For my surveys, I have received fifty each, completed of Anglicans and Baptists who have attended a post-secondary denominational college, University or seminary, or are members of one of those denominations who have studied religion at a post-secondary level. There were no other stipulations I set in drawing up the survey. I was not concerned with age, sex or theological position. I was simply looking for people who met the educational and denominational requirements. I used both regular mail and email to send out the questionnaires, and received back forms via both formats.
Statement four:
The fourth statement was perhaps the most controversial. God wills evil for the greater good.
I do take this viewpoint, and I am in agreement with the writings of John Calvin on this matter within The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, as well as in Institutes of the Christian Religion, and has been documented throughout the thesis. This idea has been discussed through this thesis. I am not stating that God sins in any way by willing evil for the greater good, nor does he force people or fallen angels to sin. People sin by nature and choice, and God uses this evil for the greater good. Since he is infinite and dealing with finite creation, all things work under the subjection of his will and I humbly, and without complete understanding, state that he manages the Universe in a far more controlled manner than to simply allow evil to take place. By not preventing all evil, and by using it for the greater good, he is in a sense willing it. The difference between God’s will and the sinful will when evil takes place, is that God’s will and motives alone remain pure and consistent within God’s good purposes.
The idea of human free will alone does not demonstrate why God has to allow evil, as opposed to willing it. God knew there would be a fall, and in a sense willed the results of that fall by not preventing it from taking place, but it was within his right to have evil flourish in his creation for a time until the Kingdom of God culminated. It must be stated again that God did not coerce human beings into sinning and thus causing the fall, but he knew that this fall would take place and did not willingly prevent it. It can be deduced that God thought the evil and suffering in a corrupted creation, willed in sinful disobedience, was a tolerable situation for a time. Jesus Christ would, through his work, restore that creation and culminate a Kingdom of God filled with resurrected human beings who had experienced evil, and now through the Holy Spirit willingly rejected evil completely.
There are, as well, many instances in our creation where God could
have prevented evils from taking place, for instance the American bombings of September 11, 2001. Some may argue that God must allow human free will and that is why these events took place. However, God could have prevented this from taking place, as it can be shown that many evils are prevented and certainly God would have his hand in this. Many times evil plans are thwarted, such as Nazi Germany’s plans to conquer Europe. In that case, Adolph Hitler’s free will was not allowed to completely flourish. It was not that God forced Hitler to think differently, but rather the Fuhrer’s plans were defeated by the Allies.
I do not think free will is the ultimate answer in the matter of the problem of evil, rather it is largely God’s will that determines what will ultimately take place, at the same time not forcing his creation to sin against him. This sin is achieved by people who are in the sinful biological line of Adam and Eve, and thus possess sinful nature which leads to sinful choices.
With Anglican 10% agreed, 18% were not certain, 72% disagreed.
With Baptists 20% agreed, 6% were not certain, 74% disagreed.
Statement seven:
This statement stated: Relative Dualism, a universe containing an eternal, infinite, good God, and a finite created Devil, is permissible within a Biblical world-view.
Some observers of Christianity like to think of Satan and his fallen angels as a metaphor for evil and wish to deny that these beings exist. Professor David Pailin, who was my advisor for a short time, criticized me for believing in these beings as there was no proof of their existence. I think that Scripture is historical and it certainly accepts their existence. As well, and this was a point that I made to Professor Pailin, if theists believe that God, who is spirit (John 4:24) created human beings who are of a physical nature, why is it more difficult to believe that God made angels who were of spiritual nature?
To me, it is a more difficult task for God to create matter and physical beings when he is spirit, as opposed to creating spiritual beings who are much like him except finite. I do not have a philosophical problem believing in angels and fallen angels, however, I do not base my belief in angelic beings primarily on my experience but in Scripture and reason.
Here 74% of Anglicans agreed, while 14% were not certain, with 12% disagreeing.
With the Baptists, 86% agreed, 4% being not certain, and 10% being in disagreement.
The eleventh statement read: Free will itself is not the main factor in the human rejection of God.
Here 40% of Anglicans agreed, while 30% were not certain, and 30% disagreed.
With Baptists, 62% agreed, 8% being not certain, and 30% being in disagreement with the statement.
Statement nineteen:
The earth will be perfected only when Christ returns.
With Anglicans, 70% agreed, 12% were not certain, 18% disagreed.
The Baptists were more emphatic as 88% agreed, 8% were not certain, and 4% disagreed.
Statement twenty:
The statement was: Satanic beings are a major force of evil.
There was much more skepticism concerning these beings within the Anglican camp in comparison to the Baptist group; however, the ministry of Jesus and his Apostles interacted with Satanic beings and there is no scriptural indication that these beings would not exist today.
With the Anglicans, 62% agreed, 18% were not certain, 20% disagreed.
With the Baptists, 92% agreed, 6% were not certain, and 2% disagreed.
Statement thirty-five stated:
Ultimately evil will be confined to an everlasting hell.
I think this is the best position to take from a Biblical perspective, as it appears in Revelation 20:14, that death and hades are thrown into the lake of fire. Some argue that this is describing annihilationism, however, verse 10 describes this as a place of everlasting torment for the devil, beast, and false prophet. It would be too presumptuous, in my view, to assume that human beings thrown into this lake would simply be annihilated.
With this statement there is a substantial difference in opinion between the two groups.
With Anglicans, 54% agreed, 24% were not certain, and 22% disagreed.
With Baptists, 86% agreed, 6% were not certain, and 8% disagreed.
AUGUSTINE. (388-395)(1979) De Liberto Arbitrio (On Free Will), in Earlier Writings on Free Will, Translated by J.H.S. Burleigh, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
AUGUSTINE. (421)(1998) Enchiridion, Translated by J.F. Shaw, Denver, New Advent Catholic Website.
BLACKBURN, S. (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
CALVIN, J. (1543)(1998) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
CARSON, D.A. (1981) Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, Atlanta, John Knox Press.
CARSON, D.A. (1990) How Long, O Lord?, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
FEINBERG, J.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
MACKIE, J.L. (1971)(1977) Evil and Omnipotence, in The Philosophy of Religion, in Alvin C. Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids,
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
PAILIN, D.A. (1999) Enlightenment, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Limited.
PLANTINGA, A.C. (1977) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
POJMAN, L.P. (1995)(1996) Atheism, in Robert Audi (gen.ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Sorry, loyal readers there are no pretty graphs like with the PhD survey.
Please forgive me, or blame my advisor and reviewers for not insisting on them.
It did save me a ton of work. My PhD graphs took a month.
This is edited work from my MPhil thesis:
The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives, 2003, The University of Wales, Bangor.
MPhil survey section edited:
Some Anglican and Baptist perspectives will be compared.
4. My Format
This is a work of Empirical Theology. I have chosen Anglican and Baptist because I attended an Anglican church for two years while living in Manchester, England, and I attended a Baptist Seminary for my Master of Theological Studies Degree in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I am therefore somewhat familiar with the views of both denominational groups, and both have had writers which have dealt with the problem of evil as recently as post World War II.
CHAPTER SIX
Conclusion
1. The Survey
For my surveys, I have received fifty each, completed of Anglicans and Baptists who have attended a post-secondary denominational college, University or seminary, or are members of one of those denominations who have studied religion at a post-secondary level. There were no other stipulations I set in drawing up the survey. I was not concerned with age, sex or theological position. I was simply looking for people who met the educational and denominational requirements. I used both regular mail and email to send out the questionnaires, and received back forms via both formats.
Statement four:
The fourth statement was perhaps the most controversial. God wills evil for the greater good.
I do take this viewpoint, and I am in agreement with the writings of John Calvin on this matter within The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, as well as in Institutes of the Christian Religion, and has been documented throughout the thesis. This idea has been discussed through this thesis. I am not stating that God sins in any way by willing evil for the greater good, nor does he force people or fallen angels to sin. People sin by nature and choice, and God uses this evil for the greater good. Since he is infinite and dealing with finite creation, all things work under the subjection of his will and I humbly, and without complete understanding, state that he manages the Universe in a far more controlled manner than to simply allow evil to take place. By not preventing all evil, and by using it for the greater good, he is in a sense willing it. The difference between God’s will and the sinful will when evil takes place, is that God’s will and motives alone remain pure and consistent within God’s good purposes.
The idea of human free will alone does not demonstrate why God has to allow evil, as opposed to willing it. God knew there would be a fall, and in a sense willed the results of that fall by not preventing it from taking place, but it was within his right to have evil flourish in his creation for a time until the Kingdom of God culminated. It must be stated again that God did not coerce human beings into sinning and thus causing the fall, but he knew that this fall would take place and did not willingly prevent it. It can be deduced that God thought the evil and suffering in a corrupted creation, willed in sinful disobedience, was a tolerable situation for a time. Jesus Christ would, through his work, restore that creation and culminate a Kingdom of God filled with resurrected human beings who had experienced evil, and now through the Holy Spirit willingly rejected evil completely.
There are, as well, many instances in our creation where God could
have prevented evils from taking place, for instance the American bombings of September 11, 2001. Some may argue that God must allow human free will and that is why these events took place. However, God could have prevented this from taking place, as it can be shown that many evils are prevented and certainly God would have his hand in this. Many times evil plans are thwarted, such as Nazi Germany’s plans to conquer Europe. In that case, Adolph Hitler’s free will was not allowed to completely flourish. It was not that God forced Hitler to think differently, but rather the Fuhrer’s plans were defeated by the Allies.
I do not think free will is the ultimate answer in the matter of the problem of evil, rather it is largely God’s will that determines what will ultimately take place, at the same time not forcing his creation to sin against him. This sin is achieved by people who are in the sinful biological line of Adam and Eve, and thus possess sinful nature which leads to sinful choices.
With Anglican 10% agreed, 18% were not certain, 72% disagreed.
With Baptists 20% agreed, 6% were not certain, 74% disagreed.
Statement seven:
This statement stated: Relative Dualism, a universe containing an eternal, infinite, good God, and a finite created Devil, is permissible within a Biblical world-view.
Some observers of Christianity like to think of Satan and his fallen angels as a metaphor for evil and wish to deny that these beings exist. Professor David Pailin, who was my advisor for a short time, criticized me for believing in these beings as there was no proof of their existence. I think that Scripture is historical and it certainly accepts their existence. As well, and this was a point that I made to Professor Pailin, if theists believe that God, who is spirit (John 4:24) created human beings who are of a physical nature, why is it more difficult to believe that God made angels who were of spiritual nature?
To me, it is a more difficult task for God to create matter and physical beings when he is spirit, as opposed to creating spiritual beings who are much like him except finite. I do not have a philosophical problem believing in angels and fallen angels, however, I do not base my belief in angelic beings primarily on my experience but in Scripture and reason.
Here 74% of Anglicans agreed, while 14% were not certain, with 12% disagreeing.
With the Baptists, 86% agreed, 4% being not certain, and 10% being in disagreement.
The eleventh statement read: Free will itself is not the main factor in the human rejection of God.
Here 40% of Anglicans agreed, while 30% were not certain, and 30% disagreed.
With Baptists, 62% agreed, 8% being not certain, and 30% being in disagreement with the statement.
Statement nineteen:
The earth will be perfected only when Christ returns.
With Anglicans, 70% agreed, 12% were not certain, 18% disagreed.
The Baptists were more emphatic as 88% agreed, 8% were not certain, and 4% disagreed.
Statement twenty:
The statement was: Satanic beings are a major force of evil.
There was much more skepticism concerning these beings within the Anglican camp in comparison to the Baptist group; however, the ministry of Jesus and his Apostles interacted with Satanic beings and there is no scriptural indication that these beings would not exist today.
With the Anglicans, 62% agreed, 18% were not certain, 20% disagreed.
With the Baptists, 92% agreed, 6% were not certain, and 2% disagreed.
Statement thirty-five stated:
Ultimately evil will be confined to an everlasting hell.
I think this is the best position to take from a Biblical perspective, as it appears in Revelation 20:14, that death and hades are thrown into the lake of fire. Some argue that this is describing annihilationism, however, verse 10 describes this as a place of everlasting torment for the devil, beast, and false prophet. It would be too presumptuous, in my view, to assume that human beings thrown into this lake would simply be annihilated.
With this statement there is a substantial difference in opinion between the two groups.
With Anglicans, 54% agreed, 24% were not certain, and 22% disagreed.
With Baptists, 86% agreed, 6% were not certain, and 8% disagreed.
AUGUSTINE. (388-395)(1979) De Liberto Arbitrio (On Free Will), in Earlier Writings on Free Will, Translated by J.H.S. Burleigh, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
AUGUSTINE. (421)(1998) Enchiridion, Translated by J.F. Shaw, Denver, New Advent Catholic Website.
BLACKBURN, S. (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
CALVIN, J. (1543)(1998) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
CARSON, D.A. (1981) Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, Atlanta, John Knox Press.
CARSON, D.A. (1990) How Long, O Lord?, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
FEINBERG, J.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
MACKIE, J.L. (1971)(1977) Evil and Omnipotence, in The Philosophy of Religion, in Alvin C. Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids,
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
PAILIN, D.A. (1999) Enlightenment, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Limited.
PLANTINGA, A.C. (1977) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
POJMAN, L.P. (1995)(1996) Atheism, in Robert Audi (gen.ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Looks like a juicy little poll. Was this a UK poll? It confirms my notion that Anglicans are squishier than Baptists!
ReplyDeleteI have a general sense that theodicy is considered a bigger problem for the wealthy than the poor - or that those who have been more blessed by God question His goodness more than those who have received less and suffered more. Just wondering if that would have any support in your data ... or if it is a notion I should discard.
Also illustrates that no denominational identity enjoys unanimity.
ReplyDelete'Looks like a juicy little poll. Was this a UK poll? It confirms my notion that Anglicans are squishier than Baptists!'
ReplyDeleteThere were many outright Anglicans from the UK, Canada and other. I included quite a few Episcopals from a US seminary.
The Baptists were mainly from North America.
'I have a general sense that theodicy is considered a bigger problem for the wealthy than the poor - or that those who have been more blessed by God question His goodness more than those who have received less and suffered more. Just wondering if that would have any support in your data ... or if it is a notion I should discard.'
That issue was somewhat dealt with...
PhD graphs 2
PhD graphs 1
Thanks, Looney.:)
'Also illustrates that no denominational identity enjoys unanimity.'
ReplyDeleteTrue, and I wanted to present some surveys that highlighted the differences between the two groups.
Cheers, David.
Evil is evil is evil. Everyone has an evil streak. Some more, some less but nevertheless everyone has, even if we don't think we do have it, we do. Full stop.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the poll.
I'm not very well educated, I left school at 14. Everything I know is from just being here, listening and watching. My grammar is also pretty bad. My maths is just terrible. I never was an academic and I never will be. X
Hello, Bertina.
ReplyDeleteWe were already linked previously.
My best regards to you and company in India.
Blogger comments kept including an error each time I published! The preview never matched the published version.
ReplyDelete'Evil is evil is evil. Everyone has an evil streak. Some more, some less but nevertheless everyone has, even if we don't think we do have it, we do. Full stop.'
Yes.
Romans 3 NASB
10as it is written,
"(S)THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13"(T)THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"
"(U)THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14"(V)WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15"(W)THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18"(X)THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
19Now we know that whatever the (Y)Law says, it speaks to (Z)those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and(AA)all the world may become accountable to God;
20because (AB)by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for (AC)through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now apart from the Law (AD)the righteousness of God has been manifested, being (AE)witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22even the (AF)righteousness of God through (AG)faith (AH)in Jesus Christ for (AI)all those who believe; for (AJ)there is no distinction;
23for all (AK)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24being justified as a gift (AL)by His grace through (AM)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God displayed publicly as (AN)a propitiation (AO)in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the (AP)forbearance of God He (AQ)passed over the sins previously committed;
26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 6
23For the wages of (AR)sin is death, but the free gift of God is (AS)eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
'Enjoyed the poll.'
Cheers.
'I'm not very well educated, I left school at 14. Everything I know is from just being here, listening and watching. My grammar is also pretty bad. My maths is just terrible. I never was an academic and I never will be. X'
Thanks for sharing your intellect on this blog.:) I have much to learn as well.
You have raised a theological point that I agree with: That God wills evil for the greater good. Thank you for your thoughts and all your many hours and years of study bringing your readers interesting views in theology.
ReplyDelete-blog reader-
For a light-hearted detour, here is an interview with Mr. T on Bloomberg TV, promoting a cash-for-gold "bidniss".
ReplyDeleteMr. T witnesses to a Mormon while playing "Pity the Fool".
ReplyDeleteMr. T preaches. My my my!
ReplyDelete'Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteYou have raised a theological point that I agree with: That God wills evil for the greater good. Thank you for your thoughts and all your many hours and years of study bringing your readers interesting views in theology.
-blog reader-'
A Reformed concept emphasized with my MPhil and PhD theses and questionnaires/surveys, and sadly misunderstood by most in the Christian Church.
God does this with pure and good motives as primary cause while secondary causes sin and will evil with bad motives.
Cheers.
Mr. T is a good promoter of certain commercial ventures.
ReplyDeleteMr. T is also a very sincere preacher of the gospel and as well the need for it to work practically in society.
Cheers, Chucklins.
Chuck, you were asking if the #94. track with the Spider-Man Jazz music on my satire and theology Playlist could be downloaded. The RealPlayer option did not become available and so I will record it for you with my Wav Editor application while I am away from my computer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should address the problem of evil Baptists. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis one had me cracking up:
ReplyDeleteLate Night - Mr. T Interview
'Maybe you should address the problem of evil Baptists. ;)'
ReplyDeleteLol.
Hey, I am still willing to 'kiss' and make right with anyone of Baptist or other persuasion that I may have got into a conflict with.
Please ask yourself this, if Russ is willing to confess his sins and admit imperfection and respect others and their desires while making up, what is the problem?
I agree, Jeff, thanks.
ReplyDeleteMr. T Snickers
World's largest religious statues
ReplyDeleteThe largest Christ statues in the world
I am fascinated by your scholarship, but come back to "Do unto others."
ReplyDeleteEvil, like all else is ultimately a mystery we cannot fully quantify and comprehend on this Earth. It has no substance of it's own, but lives by spoiling and perverting the (all) good creation. It serves our free will and God's plan; but woe unto him through whom it comes...
Keep up the sincere, good work, Brother.
Aloha from Hawaii
Comfort Spiral
><}}(°>
'I am fascinated by your scholarship, but come back to "Do unto others."'
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
From the New Testament we are to love God and others.
Mark 12 NASB
28(Q)One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and (R)recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"
29Jesus answered, "The foremost is, '(S)HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
30(T)AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'
31"The second is this, '(U)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
32The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that (V)HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;
33(W)AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, (X)is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Y)After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
Matthew 22
35One of them, [a](AB)a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,
36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
37And He said to him, " '(AC)YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, '(AD)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
40"(AE)On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
'Evil, like all else is ultimately a mystery we cannot fully quantify and comprehend on this Earth. It has no substance of it's own, but lives by spoiling and perverting the (all) good creation. It serves our free will and God's plan; but woe unto him through whom it comes...
Keep up the sincere, good work, Brother.'
Good point. Evil is privation of good and corruption of good.
It is a real privilege having this intellectual intercourse with such an erudite scholar as yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your teaching and your prayers
Thanks, Cloudia, you are appreciated.
ReplyDeleteRuss:)
Mr. T and Mr. C go apple-picking together.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is nice scenery of New York State.
ReplyDeleteYour blog entries are for the most part, completely over my head. You're just so very intelligent and wise on the topic at hand, and I really have to focus and sometimes read it twice, and when I do I always learn something about God and my relationship to Him, so I thank you for posting it. I too have never believed that Satan and the other fallen angels were a metaphor.
ReplyDelete'Your blog entries are for the most part, completely over my head.'
ReplyDeleteMany things are over mine. I just live and learn.
'You're just so very intelligent and wise on the topic at hand, and I really have to focus and sometimes read it twice, and when I do I always learn something about God and my relationship to Him, so I thank you for posting it. I too have never believed that Satan and the other fallen angels were a metaphor.'
Thanks. May we keep learning.
Its nice to see your humility in your comments to your readers Doc!
ReplyDeleteContinue to live and learn and live long and prosper.
- Mr. Sock -
(Science Officer on USS Foot)
Song parody:
ReplyDeleteOh, Lord, it is not hard to be humble, when one is not perfect in any way.