Time Almanac 2013 Non-Exhaustive Review

Happy New Year 2013, and I hope the remainder of Christmas Season 2012 is a pleasant one.

I desired a blogging tool for Christmas and I received a reasonable one and so I shall review the 'Time Almanac 2013'.

As well, it provides an option for a different type of very short academic post which is worthy goal.

It is 'powered' by the Encyclopedia Britannica. In my undergrad I was told to never to use Encyclopedias as source for citations, but I found quite frankly with my MPhil and PhD theses writing that quite often, not that I used traditional Encyclopedias, but specialty dictionaries and academic encyclopedias, written by the top scholars were often the best sources for academic information. The sources as the academic books and journals.

Categories:
 
Year In Review
People Awards
Nature, Science, Medicine & Technology
World
United States
Business
Arts, Entertainment & Leisure
Sport

Sport

Examining the category of Sport, and something I have some knowledge about and what might be of interest of many Canadians and relatively speaking, philosophically, a minority of Americans, is 'Ice Hockey', and in particular, The National Hockey League. The text states the National Hockey was formed in 1917 in Canada with the first American team, the Boston Bruins arriving in 1924. Time (2012: 803). The text explains how the Stanley Cup is awarded in the National Hockey League and also mentions that the World Hockey Championships are sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Federation and have been since 1930. Time (2012: 803).

The text appears to do a fine presentation with the listed champions of the World Hockey Championships and also the history of Stanley Cup champions and the standings from the 2011-2012 season.

What is completely lacking is any mention or understanding philosophically of best versus best international tournaments such as the Canada versus Soviet Union 1972, the Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey tournaments and Olympic hockey which now at this point alternates with the World Cup of Hockey for presenting best vs. best competition. 

As the World Hockey Championships are played simultaneously with the Stanley Cup playoffs, they are not a true best versus tournament.

This intellectual, philosophical oversight is a major flaw with the text. 

Another flaw is a failure to at all mention the National Hockey League lockout which may derail the entire season.

I personally hope it does as the League has philosophically been off the rails since the 1967 expansion and needs to be fixed in several areas...

I deduce from sports websites, such as TSN.CA that many fans of clubs are addicted to their teams playing on television, various computers, and live and just want to watch hockey but philosophically there needs to be a fix.

There needs to be significant relocation and expansion into primarily traditional hockey markets, even if this means shared profitable markets such as in Southern Ontario. As Canada is a small country compared to the United States (and the European Union as an entity) there many not be enough good markets in Canada and the United States for 30 or more teams.

Player's salaries need to be lower on average, all teams need to be profitable after potential revenue sharing and salary capping.

Overall in regard to Ice Hockey, the text is adequate but not very in-depth.

World

On page 505 is the Religion section there is a quite useful 'Chronological List of Popes' which includes the theological assumption made by the Roman Catholic Church and denied by Protestants, in general, that Peter was the first Pope. John Calvin in 'The Bondage and Liberation of the Will' viewed the Papacy of the 16th century as beyond reform.  Calvin (1543)(1996: 18). He called the Pope of that era an Antichrist, mainly because of doctrine. Calvin (1543)(1996: 19). Calvin warned of the dangers of idolatry, superstition, and ritual. Calvin (1543)(1996: 19). However, Peter as noted here is listed as the first Pope. Time (2012: 505). The theological explanation provided is that according to the Roman Catholic Church the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter who was the head of the Apostles. The Pope is therefore viewed to have supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal Church in matters of faith and morals as well as in regard to Church government and discipline. It is further explained that up until the 4th Century Popes were stated to be 'Bishops of Rome' and from 1309-1377 the seat of the papacy was at Avignon, France. Antipopes from this era are listed in the text in italics, but are recognized interestingly. Time (2012: 505).

Seemingly, not a bad academic summary and with a very useful listing of Popes. 

As a Reformed theologian I would be in agreement with much of John Calvin's theology in regard to the nature of God, sovereignty, salvation, free will and determinism. He made many reasonable critiques about the Roman Catholic Church of his era, and was more knowledgeable than I on the subject. That being stated, I view the Roman Catholic Church as a Christian church with like any church, some Christians within it today, because of orthodox views on the nature of God, the Trinity and the resurrection and the atonement, in its basics, although not holding to their sacramental views. There is a classic Roman Catholic/Protestant divide here on whether, although salvation is through grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2), and it could also be stated, faith through grace alone as God provides both, the sacraments, within legal justification can provide the believer with merit.

Roman Catholic theologian Alan Schreck believes so as he notes that although the sacraments are a gift from God and are not magic, that they are natural signs that when properly administered provide the follower with the merits of Jesus Christ. Schreck (1984: 150).

In contrast from my Reformed perspective in light of Ephesians 2 and other Biblical references I would view merit as something not earned in the sacraments at all, instead believers are judged for their works good or bad in Christ at judgment, 2 Corinthians 5: 10-12.

Another point to be made is that Paul seems a more likely head of the Apostles, if there was one, being a Biblical scholar and he wrote or had written via scribes more New Testament works than any other Apostle.

I also see no need for a Papacy.

But then again, those that read my blogs realize I have plenty of 'critiques' some negative for the evangelical church and also for the liberal church.

The Time text also has a 'World Religions' section within the 'World' section with descriptions of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and other typically considered major world religions.

It has listed in the world (Selective by author)

The first three are in order

Christians 2, 319, 839, 000
Muslims   1, 609, 200, 900
Hindus         967, 164, 000
Atheists       136, 327, 000
Jews             14, 993, 000

I would deduce not surprisingly this text would be a good preliminary source for what it presents.

It is not an in-depth academic source.

But it is a useful blogging tool for some preliminary level citations.

Additionally, the maps look fairly detailed.

It is good to have maps of each country, however, it would to good to have United States State and Canada Provincial flags, and some for British Isles flags, basically more detailed information.

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

SCHRECK, ALAN (1984) Catholic and Christian, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Servant Books.

TIME ALMANAC 2013 (2012) Chicago.

Thanks to the Jeff via Facebook