In Three Minutes: The Lego Batman Movie v The Shack

Pixlr edited photo from trekearth.com: Cambridge

Wikipedia: The Shack (Book)

Cited

'The Shack is a novel by Canadian author William P. Young, a former office manager and hotel night clerk, with no theological experience; published in 2007.[1]'

Cited

'The title of the book is a metaphor for "the house you build out of your own pain", as Young explained in a telephone interview.[5]'

Cited

'The main character is Mackenzie Allen Phillips...'

Cited

'Two of his children are playing in a canoe when it flips and almost drowns Mack's son. Mack is able to save his son by rushing to the water and freeing him from the canoe's webbing, but unintentionally leaves his youngest daughter Missy alone at their campsite. After Mack returns, he sees that Missy is missing. The police are called, and the family discovers that Missy has been abducted and murdered by a serial killer known as the "Little Ladykiller". The police find an abandoned shack in the woods where Missy was taken. Her bloodied clothing is found, but her body is not located. Mack's life sinks into what he calls "The Great Sadness".'

Cited

'Mack's family leaves to visit relatives and he goes alone to the shack, unsure of what he will see there. He arrives and initially finds nothing, but as he is leaving, the shack and its surroundings are supernaturally transformed into a lush and inviting scene. He enters the shack and encounters manifestations of the three persons of the Trinity. God the Father takes the form of an African American woman who calls herself Elousia and Papa (Papa is also the name of the mother goddess in Polynesian mythology); Jesus Christ is a Middle-Eastern carpenter; and the Holy Spirit physically manifests as an Asian woman named Sarayu.'

'The bulk of the book narrates Mack's conversations with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu as he comes to terms with Missy's death and his relationship with the three of them. Mack also has various experiences with each of them. Mack walks across a lake with Jesus, sees an image of his father in Heaven with Sarayu, and has a conversation with Sophia, the personification of God's wisdom. At the end of his visit, Mack goes on a hike with Papa, now appearing as an older white male, who shows him where Missy's body was left in a cave.'

Cited

'Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll criticized The Shack, saying "it misrepresents God"[12] and called William P. Young "a heretic".[13] Evangelical author Chuck Colson wrote a review called "Stay Out of The Shack," in which he criticizes the attribution of "silly lines" to characters representing the three Persons of the Trinity, and the author's "low view of scripture".[14] R. Albert Mohler, Jr. called The Shack "deeply troubling" on his radio show, saying that it "includes undiluted heresy".[15] Apologists author Norman Geisler and William C. Roach published a critique in 2012 detailing their 14 points of theological disagreement with the book (including "unorthodox", "false", "classic heresy", "non-rational", "psychologically helpful ... doctrinally harmful", and "very dangerous").[16]'

'Theologian Randal Rauser has written a generally sympathetic guide to The Shack in his companion volume Finding God in the Shack (Paternoster, 2009). In the book Rauser responds to many of the objections raised by critics like Colson and Mohler.'

Wikipedia: The Shack (Film)

Cited

'The tragedy shatters Mack's faith and life until he receives a mysterious telegram signed by "Papa" (which is Nan's name for God) inviting him to come to the cabin. Reluctantly accepting, Mack travels there and is overcome with rage and suicidal thoughts, until he meets a mysterious trio of strangers who seek to help him understand, heal and forgive. In the book, Missy's kidnapper is caught. In the movie, he is not. There also is a opening scene showing the father's horrid abuse of the family when Mack is a boy, thus giving us an idea of how the story started.'
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I have discussed online fictional themes and the problem of evil in other entries. However, it is not an academic focus and in the case of The Shack, the unorthodox Trinity, will confuse many persons. This is more troubling than for example, the problem of evil discussion from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where there is no attempt at Christian theology.

DC/Time Warner

BOICE, JAMES, MONTGOMERY (1981) Foundations of the Christian Faith, Downers Grove, IVP Press.

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

FEINBERG, JOHN S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.

Sleep on it? (For better writing)

King's College Cambridge: trekearth, pixlr edited

I have new academic advisement work for an experienced, aspiring PhD science student, with essay writing and editing in English. Therefore, I add the following text for review. This was an English textbook for my undergraduate work. Yet another review for this website:

HAIRSTON, MAXINE and RUSZKIEWICZ, JOHN (1991) The Scott, Foresman Handbook For Writers, 2nd Edition, HarperCollins Publishers, New York.

In regard to a secret formula for writing English, effectively, the text opines that 'no such formula exists' (5). I agree, and for example, academic thesis writing differs from academic website writing. The former having far more citations, typically.

However, a process menu (5) is suggested:

Preparing

The desired topic is considered as well as generating ideas. (5).

Example: The problem of evil.

Planning

Organizations of materials, outline, summaries, charts. (5).

Based on both my Canadian and British academic training, in regard to the problem of evil, I could theoretically provide the following within an outline.

Definitions of the problem of evil.
My methodologies and assumptions.
My reasons for writing on the problem of evil.
Atheistic and agnostic views.
Evangelical views.
Reformed views.
Universalistic views.
Eastern religious views.
Survey questions and results.

Incubating

A writer should let ideas 'simmer' (6) with time away from the writing project.

I have to agree that this is essential. I had many thesis assisting ideas while lying in bed and apparently even while asleep, awakening with an idea.

I found that undergraduate and seminary course work often took more hours to complete than did my later theses writing. This was largely because of so many subjects to complete with course work; but thesis only research work was more complicated and required more difficult and complex thoughts. Theses writing requires a level of expertise, course work writing, typically, does not.

Sleep on it, for better writing.

Drafting

The author composes a first draft. (6).

On this point, I likely differ from many writers. One tutor at Trinity Western University suggested that my first Chapter draft be completely covered by outline, as in point by point. I found that the amount of citations, especially with British MPhil and PhD work became far too great for that approach. Instead, I would prepare a rough draft outline and fill in the blanks with ideas and many, many, required citations as a Chapter was completed.

Revising

Review and consider rewriting. (6).

This is inevitable. At times an idea may seem fascinating to pursue, but in the end, according to tutors and my own common sense (!), it may be potentially too controversial to pursue in light of future review at the academic viva (verbal examination). More importantly, with all the citations required, I found that some less than central issues were simply not worth investing in, and were therefore abandoned in the editing and revising process.

In my work on the problem of evil and theodicy, I only briefly discussed eastern concepts within my MPhil thesis degree, and this was in regard to a book review. Eastern religious approaches to the problem of evil, in addition to the work I had to accomplish already, was far too large of a topic to briefly cover, and if my work was judged as insufficient, I could face sanctioning from reviewers, especially with the PhD viva.

Editing and Proofreading

This includes editing and proofreading (6) for review by the degree awarding institution.

As I was a distance learning student, I asked two local ministers with Doctorates to unofficially review my Chapters before I emailed them off to Wales.

The authors state that this is a general outline only. (6). That no pattern works for all writers. (6). I agree with the authors that a general plan (6) needs to be developed. A general system of writing that is academically acceptable for that writing context. PhD thesis writing is a different context than Blogger or website entry writing.

In Three Minutes: A Reformed View On Prayer

Lunapic and Pixlr: Photo I took last summer, now painting

So far, in my opinion, these two paintings are gems. The late Bob Ross would likely call them 'fantastic.'

But every other photo of mine I have tried to translate to a painting this week looked horrid.

Especially any profile photos (i.e. Elephant Man). On the bright side, I now have artistic profile picture options, if I wish to repel unwanted interest...

Lunapic: Recent photo to painting

From my Facebook business page

Russell Norman Murray

Ms. Tatyana Voronkova requested an entry on prayer. Request granted. Thank you.

A New Testament example of the Lord's Prayer. 

Matthew 6:9-13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day [a]our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [b]evil. [c][For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

Footnotes:

Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one
Matthew 6:13 This clause not found in early mss



BOICE, JAMES, MONTGOMERY (1981) Foundations of the Christian Faith, Downers Grove, IVP Press.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 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.

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

FEINBERG, JOHN S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

SMED, JOHN with HWANG, JUSTINE (2016) Engage: The Conversation with God, with believers, with seekers, Vancouver, Prayer Current.

Half a case is not a case

Lunapic Vincent van Gogh version of my walk home

Half a case is not a case

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

Edited with additions 20241109.

Half-concealed qualification 

'The words themselves express a limited claim, but the stress and construction is such that the qualifications are glossed over.' (117). 'Practically every single case of monetary expansion is followed within 16 months by an attendant general price rise of the same proportions.' (118). Pirie explains that from this example, that qualifying the word 'practically' is half-concealed (118) by the importance placed on the words 'every single case'. (118).

Qualification describes an attribute/quality to a subject. Half-concealing a word is not describing it accurately. It can also be stated that the qualified statement is a limited statement. The word 'practically' here has limitations in meaning which are glossed over by stating 'every single case'.

Should an exception take place instead of the rule, the person making the claims can state that there are indeed exceptions. (118). 'There is a fallacy inherent in making a restricted claim and then engaging in it as if it were a general claim.' (118). 'The fact that the limitation is expressed does not remove the fallacy. It is the fact that the qualification is half-concealed which causes it to be unnoticed, and which excludes relevant information', that makes it an informal fallacy (118). Based on Pirie's definition of this fallacy, limited claims made in premises should only lead to a limited conclusion. This fallacy occurs when assertions and arguments provided are presented in a way that are not clearly limited. 

Quizlet

Cited

Appeals to Pirie

'Half-Concealed Qualification

the words express a limited claim, but the stress and construction is such that the qualifications are glossed over. ex: "Practically every single case..."'

To avoid informal fallacy, limited claims, assertions and premises must clearly be described and lead to a limited conclusion. Half a case (118) is not a case. Pirie opines that 'Science and philosophy do not admit unexplained exceptions.' (118). Explained exceptions are reasonable when presented as limited premises leading to a limited conclusion. A formal fallacy is concerned with presenting a logical form to avoid being fallacious, and an informal fallacy occurs when there are errors in reasoning with a premise (s) and conclusion.

From (119)

Palm trees do not grow in England, so these must be a different type of tree.

Pirie points out there are exceptions.

It would be reasonable to state that typically palm trees do not grow in England, but there are exceptions.

From (119)

Just about every Cambridge man from the foreign office in the 1940s was a spy. Fire them all.

In reality it was only a few of these Cambridge men that were spies.

This should be presented as a limited statement, not a general one.

The fact that half a case is not a case means that a limited premise needs to be identified as such and not presented as a general premise.

Half-concealed qualification: Namuwiki

Cited

'This is an error that occurs when you subtly use a partially limiting qualifier like 'almost' or 'most' while speaking, and push it to a general situation and use it as a basis by making it seem like the whole thing. In this case, most people will not recognize that you are using incomplete information as a basis. Since few people will try to find cases that are not included in 'most' when making such incomplete claims, it is suitable for making it seem like you are decorating a flawed claim to the other person as if it were a perfect claim. It also has some similarities to the fallacy of hasty generalization and partial remarks.' 

Reflections

Paraphrased loosely based on past events...

Tutor at a British University to me: Practically, everyone with your biblical views is a fundamentalist.

Me: I am not a fundamentalist, I am Reformed, but there is some biblical and theological agreement.

End

The tutor tried to build a full case with half a case. With the qualification of the word 'Practically' it half-conceals the view from the tutor that I was a fundamentalist. Qualification describes an attribute/quality to a subject. Half-concealing a word (s) is not describing it accurately. It can also be stated that the qualified statement is a limited statement. The word 'practically' here has limitations in meaning which are glossed over by stating next 'everyone'.

Because it was not qualified correctly, according to the tutor, if it was practically true, in regards to those that believed in biblical doctrines and theology, from what the tutor stated, it must have also been true in my case, which was fallacious. While 'everyone' fallaciously places me in the camp with fundamentalists that hold to biblical doctrines and theology. Disagreements my Reformed doctrines and theology had with views within fundamentalism and evangelism were ignored. I deduce that if I had embraced the program of the academia, then in agreement with the explanation of Pirie, 'practically' would also provide an exception for my tutor in regards to some of my views.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

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

GOODMAN, M. F. (1983) First Logic, University Press of America, USA.

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy). 

PAPINEAU, DAVID (Gen. Ed) (2016) Philosophy: Theories and Great Thinkers (2016), New York, Shelter Harbour Press.

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London. 

SZUDEK, ANDY & TORSLEY, SARAH (2018) The Little Book of Philosophy, Landau Cecile (Ed), London, DK Publishing.

WALTON, DOUGLAS (1996) ‘Informal Fallacy’, in Robert Audi, (ed), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.