Practical Everyday Theodicy

Ohara Lake, BC (trekearth.com)

November 2, 2010 

I decided to email Wales early this morning. I have just received two confirmation emails that the Research Degrees Committee has signed off on my PhD and so it is official. They accepted the Examining Board's recommendation. I was emailed a copy of the official letter and will be sent a hard copy version. End 

October 25, 2010 

1. Apparently today there was a very standard research committee meeting to consider the two pass recommendations from my examiners for my Doctorate. So obviously I am expecting my final letter and degree in the post soon. Prayers appreciated. 

2. I reason that many of my linked bloggers have stopped blogging or slowed down in blogging. I am sympathetic to these bloggers and realize blogging can be quite tough, as in finding support, and as well time consuming. I am a little disappointed the comment numbers have dropped slightly, but thank you for some others that have stepped in. I support others where I can. As one can deduce I aim for honesty and transparency, although I do not believe in sharing my entire soul online and have not. My transparency, I suppose, offends some at times and I am also willing to fix, when I am allowed the opportunity.

However, controversy is the cost of doing this type of business. My page view numbers are now visible on the bottom right side of my blog. Site Meter has returned after being thrown into 'Blog Hell' by me for missing too many page views relative to Stats Counter which I loaded next on my computer. But, alas, Stat Counter misses some traffic as well, as when someone has just left a comment and there is no record of that blogger being on my blog! So, I brought Site Meter back and it is catching almost as many page views as Stat Counter. Blogger stats credits me with more traffic than both applications individually and I deduce is probably the most correct as it is domestic software made specifically by Blogger. It only provides the numbers. 

The Site Meter stats are a deduction of what I remember my stats being prior to deleting the program combined with the Stat Counter stats, so that is why the Site Meter stats are higher because they go back to when I started each blog. Satire and theology has received more traffic even though the blog is two years newer. The stats on this blog are for thekingpin68 only. If one 'cannot' or will not comment I still appreciate he or she visiting my blogs and boosting my page view numbers, even if just for a minute. It gives me encouragement and confidence that the Lord is leading me in this ministry and project which may parlay into future media ministry and business. 

Please realize, via Site Meter, Stat Counter, and Revolver Maps I can only know the general area of some visitors. Site Meter and Stat Counter can provide IP addresses but I have no definite idea whom they belong to and no way of finding out. I can only sometimes deduce that someone was on my blog with much certainty if he or she leaves a comment, and as stated someone left a comment the other day, before I reinstalled Site Meter, and Stat Counter did not catch the page view and never catches that commenter visiting. But anyway, as noted by visiting my blogs and generally increasing my page views you are supporting me even if you do not comment, link or follow me. And for that I thank you. 

3. A friend the other day challenged me on the practicality of my PhD thesis work. Well, that was a mistake as the thesis is 'Theodicy and Practical Theology'.;) Here are two examples of Practical Everyday Theodicy.

Example one, is when a person is suffering and a suggestion/solution is provided by another that things could be worse. Plantinga from my PhD: No matter how wonderful a world appears to be, no matter how many incredibly happy people there are, it is always possible there is an even better world containing more people who are even happier. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 34). Plantinga’s reasoning appears sound as any finite world God would create could always be better. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 34). Only an infinite world would be the best possible world, and it is debatable and unlikely God could create such a world. The fact that a world is created means it is not infinitely old or eternal, and so this would seemingly make the concept of a created infinite world untenable.

Things could always be better.

Things could always be worse.

The present realm is fallen (Genesis 3, Romans 1-3).

The fact things could be worse does not necessarily mean things are good enough that one is not significantly suffering under the problem of evil.

Example two, is the often rather evangelical way of trying to deal with suffering as in putting the local church and universal Church in the place of something else.

So, trying to replace a potential wife or husband with church/Church related activities, even if a person does not have contentment from the burn of 1 Corinthians 7.

Significant suffering may still occur.

As well, trying to replace the needs of an elderly widow, widower, divorcee or someone that is virtually single because he or she has a very ill elderly mate, with church care.

The local church and universal Church may meet some of these needs but as they are corporate bodies and not the missing individual, some needs cannot be met and therefore significant suffering may still occur unless there is God given contentment with being a single elderly person.

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

Some more recent photos I found via trekearth.com

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