Monday, March 20, 2023

Bullets: Brief philosophical reply to Bruce Arthur

Bullets: Brief philosophical reply to Bruce Arthur

• Image from IconsDB 

 • I have listened to Bruce Arthur over the years and appreciate much of his hockey commentary. 

• A brief philosophical reply to... 


• The LGBTQ community and Brian Burke deserved better from James Reimer: By Bruce Arthur Columnist Sun., March 19, 2023 
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• Quoting Arthur: 'I feel bad for James Reimer. He’s had a decent NHL career, especially for someone from the tiny town of Morweena, Man. He was a sheltered evangelical Mennonite kid whose belief in Scripture was so profound that he would apologize to someone for saying unkind things about them in private; things that person would never have known about had Reimer not apologized. In his own words, Reimer believes in loving everyone. We should all aspire to that. But Reimer can’t quite get there, and it’s a shame.'

• Bruce, based on this story, how can you reasonably opine that Reimer is...

a) Sheltered?

b) Not loving everyone?

• Bruce, from the start here, philosophically, a person does not have to agree with the worldview and/or philosophy of another person, to love that person.

• As well, loving people with different worldviews and philosophies is a very New Testament perspective as well, as Jesus stated:

• English Standard Version (ESV) Matthew 5: 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...

• Quoting Reimer: “But the counter side, or the other side, is I just can’t publicly or personally endorse something that goes against my beliefs. That’s kind of where I’m at so far.” 

• Right. One should not publicly ethically and morally endorse a view he/she is opposed to.

• Quoting Arthur: 'Hockey is for everyone, they say, and in the NHL that includes bigots and it can’t be helped, or won’t, depending.'


• Quoting: Bigot: a person who has very strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions about race, religion or politics and who will not listen to or accept the opinions of anyone who disagrees

• Bruce, who here is viewing the opinions of others as unreasonable?



• Quoting Reimer: “I strongly believe that every person has value and worth, and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey,” the statement concludes.

• But Bruce, based on your article, you seem displeased with Reimer publicly embracing his Christian worldview on this issue.

• Philosophically, Reimer here is not being a bigot.



• Quoting Arthur: Religion has been used as a skirt for bigotry for an awfully long time, and if you want to selectively pick from Biblical teachings, you’re allowed.

• Bruce, if you knew the Hebrew Bible and New Testament reasonably well, you would know that Reimer is taking a contextual, biblical, theological, philosophical, position.

• Add poor biblical reasoning to poor philosophical reasoning, on this issue, Bruce.

• Quoting Arthur: Jesus, of course, never mentioned homosexuality and preferred to hang out with society’s marginalized people, but some people choose a different version of their faith. Again, that’s their right.

• Bruce re: to selectively pick from Biblical teachings...

• Jesus chose Saul/Paul as an Apostle in Acts, Chapter 9.

• Paul is the key theological apostle in the New Testament...

• Sanctioned by God the Son (the resurrected Jesus Christ), God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul stated that homosexuality was sinful.
 
• From my website archives below...

• As I noted in my previous article on this subject, Romans 1:26-27 discusses the issue of homosexuality. James D.G. Dunn states that Paul's attitude to homosexual practice is unambiguous. Dunn (1988: 74). For Paul this practice is a passion not worthy of respect and is unnatural. Dunn (1988: 74). 

 • Cranfield notes from the Biblical text an abandonment of natural intercourse with the opposite sex, for same sex intercourse. Cranfield writes that Paul is explaining that homosexual acts are contrary to nature and the creator's intention. Cranfield (1992: 35). It is perversion that is condemned. Cranfield (1992: 36). 

• Mounce states that Paul views homosexual practice as shameful, unnatural, indecent, and a perversion. Mounce (1995: 82). Mounce traces it back to the Old Testament condemnation in Leviticus 18:22. Mounce (1995: 82-33). Mounce further writes that in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul notes that homosexual offenders will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God. Mounce (1995: 82-83). These offenders are 'soft ones' who allow themselves to be used as women. Mounce (1995: 83). Mounce makes the very reasonable deduction that there is no room for the allowance in the Christian Church of homosexual practice since it is clearly condemned in both Testaments. Mounce (1995: 82-83). 

• Quoting Arthur: Indeed, Reimer’s confused explanation of how he couldn’t wear an Islamic-themed jersey despite being a friend of former Leafs teammate Nazem Kadri showed a man who has chosen a fundamental and fundamentalist insularity.

• No Bruce, Reimer is not confused here.

• Reimer is a man that is demonstrating philosophical and religious, worldview consistency and integrity.

• Reimer is not obliged to wear any jersey that embraces a philosophy and/or religious worldview, such as Islam, that he does not agree with it.

 • Obviously, a person can be friends with someone of another worldview without embracing that worldview.

• The gospel message includes the theology that divine regeneration (John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1) enlightens the human being. 

• All humanity being universally sinful, homosexual or not.

• In regeneration to instead embrace the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ for salvation, while turning from sin, by grace through faith, alone.

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BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

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.

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. 

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

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

DUNN, JAMES D.G. (1988) Romans, Dallas, Word Books 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1847-1848)(1955)(1966) On Authority and Revelation, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Harper and Row, Publishers, Incorporated.

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1848-1849)(1961) Christian Discourses & The Lilies of the Field and The Birds of the Air & Three Discourses at The Communion on Fridays, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Oxford University Press. 

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

MURRAY, JOHN (1937-1966)(1977) Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. 2: Select Lectures in Systematic Theology, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust. 

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

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