Missing the point on human nature?

Australia: Facebook

Missing the point on human nature?

Thanks to Richard McIntosh for posting on Facebook:

The Guardian November 19

Cited

'Facebook Opinion

How a half-educated tech elite delivered us into chaos

John Naughton'

'If our supersmart tech leaders knew a bit more about history or philosophy we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now'

Cited

'One of the biggest puzzles about our current predicament with fake news and the weaponisation of social media is why the folks who built this technology are so taken aback by what has happened.'

Cited

'So what else could explain the astonishing naivety of the tech crowd? My hunch is it has something to do with their educational backgrounds. Take the Google co-founders. Sergey Brin studied mathematics and computer science. His partner, Larry Page, studied engineering and computer science. Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard, where he was studying psychology and computer science, but seems to have been more interested in the latter.

Now mathematics, engineering and computer science are wonderful disciplines – intellectually demanding and fulfilling. And they are economically vital for any advanced society. But mastering them teaches students very little about society or history – or indeed about human nature. As a consequence, the new masters of our universe are people who are essentially only half-educated.

They have had no exposure to the humanities or the social sciences, the academic disciplines that aim to provide some understanding of how society works, of history and of the roles that beliefs, philosophies, laws, norms, religion and customs play in the evolution of human culture.'

Cited

'We are now beginning to see the consequences of the dominance of this half-educated elite.'
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I have been stating on this website and online for years that the majority of persons in Western society, significantly lack education and knowledge of philosophy, philosophy of religion, religious studies and theology. This is a serious intellectual problem in both embracing a reasonable worldview and analyzing, reasonably a worldview.

As well, a lack of a humanities education can limit the understanding of human nature.

Ontario: trekearth.com

Missing the point on Theology PhD's

Thank you to Ron Unrah for posting by email

Pete Enns 

November 28

Cited

'The Moral Irresponsibility of PhD Programs in Bible and Theology by Pete Enns'

Cited

'Folks, there are TOO MANY people out there with earned doctorates in Bible and Theology. There will never be enough jobs to accommodate the numbers. Schools are cutting or downsizing programs, but the PhD conveyor belt keeps moving along at a steady clip as if everything is just peachy.'

Years ago, the President of the Evangelical Theological Society told me by email that no Christian academic institution in North America would hire me because I had a Wales, PhD. So, intellectual laziness in vetting is also a huge issue.

I could be easily researched online and offline and found to hold Biblical views of the Reformed tradition. When working on my Master of Theological Studies degree at Trinity Western University, considering a PhD, the wisdom from professors to me was to if possible, earn a secular PhD. I was very interested in the thesis only approach of Europe/United Kingdom. I agree with this wisdom as far a accreditation. I am not stating that a secular education is necessarily superior in quality.

Philippians & Ephesians: Thankfulness

Mount Fuji: Facebook

At a TriCity Church bible study of Philippians, the following verse was provided in regard to the Christian walk and the need for thankfulness by the follower.

Philippians 4: 6

English Standard Version (ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Courson theologically connects staying at a place of joy in Christ with staying in prayer. (1292). In context he explains that prayer here is being in communication with God, while supplication is prayer made for specific requests. (1292).

Ephesians 5: 20 also came to mind.

Ephesians 5:18-21

English Standard Version (ESV)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Courson opines that the believer will be blessed and productive when giving thanks to God for all things in Christ. (1256).

In the last few month especially, I have focused on Matthew 6 and living one day at a time. I attempt to live a day at a time as far as problems are concerned, and I make certain that I focus on past and present blessings, which are substantial.

From a Reformed perspective (and personally my PhD/MPhil research forward) it can be understood that God wills all things as a primary cause, whether by perfect or permissible, divine will. Being thankful during suffering, especially, can be difficult. Biblically a believer needs to trust in the sanctification process as an aspect of salvation (Romans 6-8).

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

A Vicious Regress IV

McSween, British Columbia: trekearth.com

My friend John and I briefly discussed the concept of vicious regress on the phone last night, along with more typical subjects.

(I do not just talk theology/philosophy for those of you opining. If I was a betting man, which I am not, I would bet more than one person has stated that this is all I talk about, as fact.)

Vicious Regress: October 2 2006

Vicious Regress May 21 2016

Vicious Regress January 16 2017

Last night on the phone, I referenced in brief, the three examples below.

A god, is caused by a god, is caused by a god, is caused by a god, ad infinitum, is an infinite regress. It is a vicious regress, because it does not solve its own problem and requires a first cause, without a cause.

(In philosophy of religion, the first cause, can be considered what is necessary and exists by necessity. From a biblical perspective this is Almighty God, infinite and eternal.)

A choice is caused by a choice, is caused by a choice, is caused by a choice, ad infinitum, is an infinite regress. It is a vicious regress, because it does not solve its own problem and requires a first cause, without a cause.

(Human choice is traced back to human nature. Human nature is traced back to its creator, God, that has infinite, eternal nature and will/choice.)

Time is caused by time, is caused by time, is caused by time, ad infinitum, is an infinite regress. It is a vicious regress, because it does not solve its own problem and requires a first cause, without a cause.

(If there is an infinite distance between Maple Ridge and Vancouver, one will never arrive in Vancouver.)

In the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Simon Blackburn discusses ‘infinite regress’ and mentions that this occurs in a vicious way whenever a problem tries to solve itself and yet remains with the same problem it had previously. Blackburn (1996: 324) A vicious regress is an infinite regress that does not solve its own problem, while a benign regress is an infinite regress that does not fail to solve its own problem. Blackburn (1996: 324). Blackburn writes that there is frequently room for debate on what is a vicious regress or benign regress. Blackburn (1996: 324).

An example of a benign regress is infinite numbers both plus and minus, as they in reality represent conceptualized things as opposed to being real things. 'Problem' solved. Therefore: Based on my philosophical reading and Blackburn's explanation, it can be deduced that philosophers would debate whether a particular vicious regress is illogical and whether it is using a logical fallacy. Further: An argument can be logical and not sound, as sound arguments are not the only valid arguments but are those where 'all the premises are true'. (1997: 35).

Whether or not a particular vicious regress, and the examples I raised, are illogical and using a logical fallacy in the sense of invalid argument is of secondary importance. It is of primary importance when a vicious regress is not reasonable and does not solve its own problem and is fallacious as in faulty reasoning. That is the case with my three examples, I reason. Bradley (371) mentions that it is not illogical, and not a vicious regress that each act of free choice is caused by another act of free choice. I agree that it is not necessarily illogical, but disagree that the argument as described is not a vicious regress.

McSween, British Columbia: trekearth.com

BLACKBURN, S. (1996) ‘Regress’, in Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

BRADLEY, RAYMOND D. (1996) ‘Infinite Regress Argument’, in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

CONWAY DAVID A. AND RONALD MUNSON (1997) The Elements of Reasoning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York.

Fatal Appeasement?

Book review continues

WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.

Chapter Two: The Appeasers

Mr. Wallace opines that America is making the same mistake that the Allies made with Nazi Germany prior to World War II; that is appeasement. (15). The Allies did not match the Nazi Germany military buildup and were not prepared for war. (15).

The author reasons that Islam, like Nazi Germany, both 'preach a supremacy doctrine'. (15). Both movements favour a totalitarian system. Dissidents are killed and the Jewish people are opposed in both movements. (15). The appeaser is working from a weaker position, whereas the bully, by being appeased, can become strong enough to defeat the appeaser. (15-16).
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I can agree that Quranic Islam is seeking to dominate other worldviews.

Declared War? November 20

Again:

I reason that because of this very faulty State/Religion government model, Jihad/Holy War can easily be at times interpreted and implemented with varied degrees of force and coercion. This has been done throughout the history of Islam.

Critics have pointed out that much of the Qur'an has open-ended verses in regard to Jihad meaning that they are not necessarily restrained to an historical context. Radical forms of Jihad and aggressive martyrdom could be conceivably reasonably interpreted within today's Islam, for today's world.

Mr. Wallace does have some reasonable concerns...

However:

Nazi Germany was a national, political, movement under one umbrella.

Islam is a worldwide movement under many umbrellas.

My work has documented that those such as the Islamic Supreme Council of America, officially take a more moderate position in regard to Jihad/Holy War, claiming it was and is for primarily defensive purposes. Will there be a large enough, and more importantly powerful enough combined Islamic political and military force to overthrow the Western World, including the United States?

At this point in history, I state there is not and this seems doubtful to occur any time soon. Frankly, Islam is not even in what I would consider one of the four most powerful political, military blocks in the world. Those being:

The United States of America

(Western democracy)

Western Europe

(Western democracy)

Russia

(Semi-presidential federation via CIA)

The People's Republic of China

(Communist state via CIA)

CIA

I am not intellectually persuaded or convinced that any united form of Islam will challenge one of these power blocks, any time soon. Some may reason that Western Europe will fall to Islam, but will its Muslim residents be more like radical Islamists or liberalized, secularized Muslims? This is not certain enough to formulate the likely rise of an European Islamic Empire.

Time will tell...

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