Special Report: From The Flat Earth Society

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Suggestion

Take a professionally guided boat ride in any ocean. Pay your guide (s) so that you keep sailing until you 'go over the edge' or arrive back at the original location. Of course, if the boat would eventually 'go over the edge', the professional guide (s) should refuse the trip. As should any guide (s) in the know.

This can provide one with personal, empirical proof. I know the result, based on reason, but if I state it, it will not be personally, empirical for someone that holds to the flat earth theory.

After all, I could still possibly be part of a conspiracy, even though I am not. 

This is my first post with the new Blogger template.

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Anti-clerical bias

Last evening

Anti-clerical bias

Preface

I found my MPhil reference concerning anti-clerical bias.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, MPhil Wales 2003

Monday, April 07, 2008, Non-Christian perspectives from Woods

Recent archives

Saturday, May 16, 2020, Deism and the distrust of the clergy

I noted on May 16, 2020:

One of my thesis tutors at the University of Wales, early in the process for my MPhil thesis, told me (paraphrased) that in Britain and Europe there was a distrust of the clergy. Researching this idea, I found that this distrust in the clergy gained much momentum in the enlightenment era and continues to the 21st century.

2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University

It should be noted that there exists an anti-clerical bias with some critics of Christianity in western society. There is a distrust of organized religion, and this viewpoint is likely a factor for many who choose Atheism as a philosophy.

This is a mistake because many in the Christian church can see the errors within it, including the failings of the clergy, but Christianity and a belief in God are primarily about Christ’s work on earth and in heaven. It is not primarily about the conduct of God’s representatives on earth.

In other words, instances of bad or even false representation of God and Christ on earth do not make Christianity invalid. Christianity should be examined by the words and philosophy in Scripture. Within the Bible it clearly points out that human beings cannot match God’s standards. This means that critics should judge the faith primarily by God’s standards in Scripture, and not by the standards of struggling Christians.

WOODS, B.W. (1974) Christians in Pain, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

Related work

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: Ph.D. thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter 

Consider

Matthew 7: 21-23 King James Version (KJV)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Paraphrased: Some insist on imposing their sense of righteousness on others

Jamie, John, Howard: Abbotsford

Paraphrased: Some insist on imposing their sense of righteousness on others. Howard, Charles Nelson Chuckles, The Red Skull (Ironically)

That is brilliant, Saint Chucklins.

We met up for the first time in two months, plus. The Four Stooges. Actually, Jamie and John had never met in person previously, only on Zoom recently,.

They alternated for years as the third stooge. I am the one not in the photo, and I am not a 'Trekkie'. It was very good to see John again, as he visits the Lower Mainland from Calgary. Perhaps there will be another event for us to attend this visit? It had been many months since our last visit.

Zombie, The Rage, The Red Skull: Abbotsford

Hoping not to be Zombified upon their visit...Abbotsford

Howard James Bartel: Abbotsford

Howard James Bartel: Mission

Howard James Bartel: Mission

Very good to see John as he visits from Calgary. Burnaby

The Orthodox Study Bible: A Chosen Generation: A Holy Nation

The Orthodox Study Bible: A Chosen Generation: A Holy Nation

Preface

From my academic review of this Orthodoxy Study Bible. This article was originally published on Blogger, 20200523. As of 20240915, it will be revised slightly with a version posted on academia.edu.

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 

Interpreting the Scriptures 

Jack N. Sparks-A Chosen Generation: A Holy Nation

Sparks explains that the Scriptures are centred on Jesus Christ and his Church. (836). It is not about nations, governments, societies, or about incidental themes which appear. (836). It is not about the earth, history, the sky, the heavens or any other thing. (836)  I agree with these comments from Spark, in that I view the Hebrew Bible and New Testament witness as not primarily world history, or simply history, but in context they offer specifically, religious history. Via progressive revelation, in my theology, the New Testament introduces the God-man, Jesus Christ that was the prophesied Messiah in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.

If the scriptures through manuscript evidence, offered primarily history, we might expect more biblical focus on early, pre-modern, science, as one example. But, the focus is not scientific, but rather, salvific. If the scriptures through manuscript evidence, offered primarily history, we might expect more focus on political history, but the focus is not political, but rather, salvific. In evaluating the Bible, the context in which biblical books are written, verse by verse, is always a key. I highly value science as an academic discipline, but do not use the Bible as a science textbook. I value the importance of politics and political science, as tainted as they are, in our present, imperfect realm, but I do not use the Bible as a political science textbook.

Sparks reasons that from 1 Peter 2:9, 10, those in the Church are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. (836). The Church is made up of all peoples, nations and tongues, in the one and only Christian nations (836). Sparks reasons this is the only 'Christian nation', the 'people of God'. Old Israel was a 'type' of the New Israel, the Church. (836). I will add that the subject of Israel and the Church is one of much theological debate. Sparks opines the scripture was not discussing the United States of America, present-day Israel, or any other nation, past, present or future. (836). In other words, the Hebrew Bible discusses Israel and in the New Testament, through progressive revelation, this culminates in Jesus Christ and his Church. (836). 

Bible Hub: ἅγιον

1 Peter 2:9 Adj-NNS 

GRK: ἱεράτευμα ἔθνος ἅγιον λαὸς εἰς 

NAS: PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, 

KJV: priesthood, an holy nation, 

INT: priesthood a nation holy a people for

ἅγιον Adjective, Nominative, Neuter, Singular

Bible Hub: ἔθνος 

Cited 

1 Peter 2:9 

GRK: βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα ἔθνος ἅγιον λαὸς (a royal priesthood a nation holy a people, my add) 

NAS: A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE 

KJV: an holy nation, a peculiar 

INT: a royal priesthood a nation holy a people 

ἔθνος Noun, Nominative, Neuter, Singular

Bible Hub: 1 Peter 2:9

Cited

ἅγιον, hagion, holy

ἔθνος ethnos, a nation

---

For clarity, I will add that the culminated Kingdom of God is not of this world (John 18: 36); it is not of this present world system within the fall (Genesis 1-3). Instead it is of a future culminated realm within the new creation (2 Peter, Revelation 20-22). The Kingdom of God is in a sense in the believer, as these people are in Jesus Christ (Luke 17: 20-21). Sparks explains that neither the United States of America nor 'Holy Russia' (please keep in mind that this is an Orthodox study bible) is accurately the culminated, Christian nation. The holy nation and priesthood of believers are the Church. (836).

Practical theology

Certainly, there is no theological room for racism or any kind of ethnic prejudice within biblical, Christian faith and philosophy. The theology of a holy nation and the priesthood of believers embraces the Kingdom of God, which progressed from the Hebrew Bible covenant with Israel, to the New Testament covenant with the Church. This Church contains various ethnic peoples as citizens. All citizens are equally covered by the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ for their sins as transformed resurrected citizens (1 Corinthians 15), regardless of ethic origins.

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

FEE, GORDON D. (1987) The First Epistle To The Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HAMILTON, VICTOR P. (1988) Handbook on the Pentateuch, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

LA SOR, WILLIAM SANFORD, DAVID ALLAN HUBBARD, AND FREDERIC WILLIAM BUSH. (1987) Old Testament Survey, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

MCDONALD, H.D. (1996) ‘Bible, Authority of', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

MCRAY, J.R. (1996) ‘Bible, Canon of', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

PAYNE. DAVID F.(1986) ‘2 Peter’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

PORTER, L.E. (1986) Luke, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan.

SCHULTZ SMAUEL J, AND GARY V. SMITH, (2001) Exploring the Old Testament, Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

The New American Standard Bible (1984) Iowa Falls, Iowa, World Bible Publishers.  

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.