Recent comments and some free promotion

Fire Lake, BC (photo from trekearth.com)

My friend from Manchester, England, Mr. Richard McIntosh recently interviewed Dr. Gary Habermas concerning the resurrection:

http://www.garyhabermas.com/audio/2008-03_manchester_radio.mp3

Richard's blog:

http://destructionofgog.blogspot.com/

Since I spend about half of my blogging time commenting on other blogs, here are some of my recent comments.

These are my comments and not the comments of the authors of the blog links.

This is free promotion for some of you. I am not favouring anyone's blog, but I am presenting my better comments from what I can remember.

Rick presented a letter from an ex-Mormon:

http://mormonismreviewed.blogspot.com/2008/07/letter-from-ex-mormon.html

For readers to ponder on...

The critic will get nowhere with an educated Biblical Christian or scholar if the critic denies the concept of the Trinity simply because the word is not in the New Testament. The concept is in the New Testament and the word describing it was formulated at a later date.

That is an aspect of systematic theology with many true Biblical doctrines.

Rick discusses Acts 7 and prophets:

http://mormonismreviewed.blogspot.com/2008/07/acts-chapter-7.html

Prophets with such a supposedly important message dealing with restoration LDS doctrine in its early stages should have been found in the Hebrew Bible. The message should be something that can be somewhat gathered from the current text, as in a misinterpretation by Hebrew and Christian scholars.

And polytheism, as in more than one true God in nature, in existence, cannot be theologically sustained in either the Hebrew Bible or New Testament. It has been heretical to believe that more than one true God exists.

Modern Christianity does not need restoration; It needs reformation as the essential truth is already in Scripture.

Jeff writes about Donatists and I need some satire for this article:

http://jeffjenkinsocala.blogspot.com/2008/07/donatists.html

I have heard of Donatists (at TWU), and the Doughnutists/Donutists that anonymous mentioned. Perhaps Jeff, you should arrange an academic debate between the two groups with the loser, if there is one, agreeing to change the sound of their name. This is far, far, far, too confusing.

Will the Doughnutists have holes in their reasoning? Or will they be very holy?

Jim presents an interesting perspective on the relationship between God and Satan:

http://deityquest-jeleasure.blogspot.com/2008/07/satans-relationship-with-god.html

From Revelation 20:10, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire, and punished forever. This seems to indicate conscious punishment. I can accept the fact that he will be destroyed in the sense of made powerless and his kingdom destroyed.

and:

As God wills all things within Biblical and Reformed theology, Satan is an instrument of God. But, Satan is not forced to commit evil and does this with a degree of freedom.

Robert responds to this:



http://sanctifusion.blogspot.com/2008/07/real-faith-or-realpolitik.html

What 'crap' are they talking about? They can imply that Christian groups that do not agree with them believe in 'crap', but it is rather meaningless to state this without further explanation. It risks simply appealing to persons that hate aspects of traditional Christianity (and others) and want to go to a church with doctrines more acceptable to modern thought.

Abbey presents some interesting history and philosophy:

http://abssoapbox.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-are-you.html

Nice art. I doubt these paintings could be completed in 27 minutes.

Within secular society many persons have an idea of how many things work, but do not have a reasonable handle on the philosophical underpinnings and assumptions that lead to a secular worldview.

and:

The will works through the spirit/mind. As persons are fallen and corrupt this would include the body and spirit/mind, and therefore the will would be corrupted. In my PhD, I speculate a Reformed based chain that starts with the human nature which is now corrupted, consciousness, desires and motives leading to wilful decisions and actions. All things are willed by God and therefore God in a sense is the first cause in this human chain and influences persons as he wills. The human will makes choices and persons commit actions influenced by God within one's corrupted nature. The Holy Spirit can regenerate and influence persons to do God's will obediently as opposed to disobediently when left to the corrupted nature alone. God can also influence the unregenerate for his purposes. The human will to have any freedom at all must make choices without being forced or coerced, and I reason persons have this type of freedom.

Drugs are an unfortunate cultural aspect of rock music. One cannot likely go to a major rock concert without smelling marijuana. Even still a minority of rock musicians are very skilled. As with studying philosophy and theology, one must be able to take the good from a person or group and filter out the rest. The Beatles have had some very good music, but an appreciation of their music should not equal an appreciation of their worldview. Sadly, too many fans do not separate musical appreciation from worldview and are sucked into wrong philosophy and at times religious thought. A Christian must be mature and educated enough to filter out the negative aspects of non-Christian culture. As a fan of the Beatles later music and someone who has studied secular philosophy and liberal theology, I must state the latter would have been potentially much more damaging to me if I was not guided by God. This is because the philosophy and theology was presented in a more convincing professional way than were the Beatles amateurish ramblings.

Vicki discusses healing:

http://vleasure.blogspot.com/2008/07/healing-is-possible.html

I would love to be healed of physical and spiritual problems today. No amount of money would be worth the value of this healing. But, as you mention true (lasting) healing is through Christ, as since we all die, everlasting healing is of primarily importance. God promises a restored Kingdom where suffering will not exist as Revelation 21 explains.

In regard to the naturalistic critics, if there is only death, this life has limited meaning as our suffering here ultimately culminates in death and nothingness. If life continues after death in some way it may have meaning, and definitely has meaning in the presence of the triune God.

GGM presents a project on the Sermon on the Mount:

http://shalomistheword.blogspot.com/2008/07/sermon-on-mount-1.html

I appreciate the overview. Jesus Christ being of the line of David, his virgin birth, his supernatural ministry, and resurrection, are four very important points that demonstrate he is the fulfilment of the Messiah of the Hebrew Bible.

Of course there are other points as well.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/theism-and-deism.html

Ad hominem (example in comments)

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/antichrist.html

Douglas Walton explains that argumentation ad hominem is an argument against the man. It is a personal attack against an arguer to refute the argument. In the abusive form the character of the arguer is attacked. These arguments are often used to attack an opponent unfairly. Walton (1996: 374). Simon Blackburn explains that ad hominem is attempting to disprove what a person is stating by attacking the person, or less commonly by praising the person. Commonly it is a way of arguing forcefully or not, against a view without advancing the counter argument. Blackburn (1996: 24). This latter concept would be that of arguing against a held perspective without making any reasonable counter-arguments.

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

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

I do not publish blog troll comments anymore, but in my view the most humourous one on my theology blogs was from a radical homosexual blogger that stated I was a legend in my own mind. Of course he did not stick around to debate me, he was a troll!

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2005/12/rough-notes-on-incarnation.html

I will not publish blog troll comments on satire and theology or thekingpin68 anymore. But just for fun and for example, I, Russ Murray of satire and theology shall have a phony ad hominem debate with my ‘evil twin’ Russ Murray of thekingpin68. Russ takes identical photos, has all the same ailments, and is doing the same PhD, on the same topic at the same University of Wales.

Please check the comments, thanks.

Russ:)

Appeal to Belief (Ad Populum)

Aurora Australis

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/fideism.html

Appeal to Belief (Ad Populum)

According to Conway and Munson, this fallacy consists in asserting that a claim is true because people generally believe it is. This type of inference is in error because there is no reason to take what most persons believe as a reliable indicator of what is true. Conway and Munson (1997: 127). The authors note that the most common use of this fallacy is to have the premise that most persons in the world believe in God. The conclusion being that it must be true that God exists. Conway and Munson (1997: 127).

Even if it is true that most persons in the world believe in God, it does not suffice for evidence for God’s existence. I can ask; ‘Which God'? Revelation from God in our actual world can serve as one indicator of God’s existence, and natural theology and philosophical deductions concerning God can serve as another indicator of God’s existence. These two indicators could serve as premises in a formulation of an argument with a conclusion that God exists, and these are not merely appeals to popular opinion. Within Christian tradition an appeal to revealed Scripture is an appeal to documented historical interaction between God and persons, and with natural theology and philosophy, the existence of God is reasoned through deduced concepts concerning reality, which are reasoned to point toward the existence of a first cause creator.

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

From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, California State University

http://www.iep.utm.edu/f/fallacy.htm#Appeal%20to%20the%20People

Appeal to the People

If you suggest too strongly that someone's claim or argument is correct simply because it's what most everyone believes, then you've committed the fallacy of appeal to the people. Similarly, if you suggest too strongly that someone's claim or argument is mistaken simply because it's not what most everyone believes, then you've also committed the fallacy. Agreement with popular opinion is not necessarily a reliable sign of truth, and deviation from popular opinion is not necessarily a reliable sign of error, but if you assume it is and do so with enthusiasm, then you're guilty of committing this fallacy. It is also called mob appeal, appeal to the gallery, argument from popularity, and argumentum ad populum. The 'too strongly' is important in the description of the fallacy because what most everyone believes is, for that reason, somewhat likely to be true, all things considered. However, the fallacy occurs when this degree of support is overestimated.

Example:

You should turn to channel 6. It's the most watched channel this year.

This is fallacious because of its implicitly accepting the questionable premise that the most watched channel this year is, for that reason alone, the best channel for you.

End

Some fun paraphrased statements

From a church acquaintance friend in the church eating area:

She: I am really concerned about you. If you do not %#@%&^ buy that CPAP machine soon for your sleep apnea, and you die, I will be angry with you forever in heaven.

She had asked me out for lunch a couple of times previously and I had said sure, but I did not follow up with it. I think I was on to something…

Two women my friend and I met in Manhattan on a date via Christian Cafe:

She: You (me) are quite normal, but your friend (Documentary Man from England) is like a talking Encyclopedia.

Chatting with a woman on Yahoo Messenger from Asia:

She: I want to spend more time with you.

Me: Sorry this is Yahoo Messenger and I have a PhD to finish, but I do like being friends.

Chatting on Yahoo Messenger and MSN with a woman in Africa:

She: You should move to my African country (she has asked me more than once over the years), as you will be treated like royalty here.

Me: Sorry, I am strictly a first world type of guy, especially after four degrees as a full-time student without full-time income. I am not going to live in the third world, God willing.

Chatting with a woman on MSN after one local date:

She: Now I require that you tell me five things you remember about me from our date. You must get these right.

Me (thinking): You are out of here…

On a date from someone from Vancouver Island :

Me: I collect some live bootleg albums of live performances.

She: I really hate more than one version of one song, ever.

She makes a big deal of this issue.

Me (thinking): We are done…hooray.

An email from a Eastern European scammer:

She (after I blew the whistle): I love you.

Me: Boy, I must be really special!

Happy little semiautomatic assault rifle, there.

Bob Ross, Mountain Retreat

From:

It is not well-written, and I did not write it.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=71972

Church Sponsored Teen Gun Giveaway Canceled

Windsor Hills Baptist Church of Oklahoma has canceled it's giveaway of a semiautomatic assault rifle at its weekend youth conference because one of the organizers injured his foot. The gun is a prize in the weekend's shooting competition.

The church’s youth pastor, Bob Ross, says “We have 21 hours of preaching and teaching throughout the week,I don’t want people thinking ‘My goodness, we’re putting a weapon in the hand of somebody that doesn’t respect it who are then going to go out.. and kill, That’s not at all what we’re trying to do.” The gun, which cost $800 will be given away next year.

Source: www.koco.com

http://www.koco.com/news/16860079/detail.html

I am not against someone in a home owning a gun for self-defence. But I have two points.

1. Why is a Christian church even considering giving a semiautomatic assault rifle to a teen which is not an adult and may not be responsible with the weapon? Why is a Christian church involved with distributing guns at all? That should be up to licensed gun shops and stores and the civil authorities.

2. The youth pastor's name is Bob Ross! There, a happy little gun for you, and when you shoot those happy little burglars as they break into your happy little house, if you shoot the wrong person during the burglary, remember, there are no mistakes just happy accidents.


Canaletto: An Allegorical Painting of the Tomb of Lord Somers 1722-29

I have viewed this painting.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/power-of-positive-linking-joy-of.html

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/these-are-my-terms.html

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/dangers-of-sentimental-theology.html

How do these people survive?

Note: Blogger spellchecker does not always work properly! It actually messes up some words! I had to republish this article as Blogger messed the original up.

July 1 and July 4 are gone for another year.

My birthday was yesterday. The fireworks were not for me.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/these-are-my-terms.html

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/dangers-of-sentimental-theology.html

The last two articles on this blog were time consuming, controversial, and blog trolled, and so I think this article will be short, sweet and entertaining, I hope.

I will not censor this blog of all potentially controversial material, however.



Bud Light 'Jammin'

My Mom sent this list to me by email:

How do these people survive?

ONE

Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets. 'We don't have half dozen nuggets,' said the teenager at the counter. 'You don't?' I replied. 'We only have six, nine, or twelve,' was the reply. 'So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?' 'That's right.' So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets (I'm gona try this.....)

Is the word dozen passé with the youngsters?

TWO

I was checking out at the local Woolworths with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those 'dividers' that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the 'divider', looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, 'Do you know how much this is?'
I said to her 'I've changed my mind, I don't think I'll buy that today.' She said 'OK,' and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened.

Hey, I would like to know how much those dividers cost now. Perhaps I can purchase one and take it to every grocery store I visit.

THREE

A lady at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM 'thingy.'

Yes, I pull cash out of my computer ATM all the time. I think this number three incident is misplaced and does not belong on this list. I do not go to my local bank anymore as I just use my computer ATM.

FOUR

I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. 'Do you need some help?' I asked. She replied, 'I knew I! should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?' Hmmm, I dunno. Do you have an alarm, too?' I asked. 'No, just this remote thingy,' she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, 'Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk..'

Does she stop watching her television when the batteries for the remote control run dry?

FIVE

Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, 'I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do? Just use copier machine paper, the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five 'blank' copies. Brunette, by the way!!

I hope that she was an exceptional typist.

SIX

A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, the kid was eating ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and he should be fine, the mother says, 'I just gave him some ant killer.....' Dispatcher: 'Rush him in to emergency!'

With the stories like this one, I realize why some suggest that potential parents should have to take a course and receive a licence before being allowed to have children.

I do not know if this story is fact or fiction, but I see it is on quite a few web pages. Theologically and practically I reason that parents should take the job of parenting very seriously. Parenting should not just be a result of unintentional procreation, but should consist of parents gaining knowledge in how to bring up their children in the best way possible. When Exodus 20: 12 tells one to honour your father and mother in order that your days be prolonged, this would largely require one's parents to possess a certain amount of common sense and wisdom that the mother in the story lacked. It would be difficult for a child to honour foolish parents that do not lead them to a prolonged life.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2008/0702/1214949282890.html

With Spain winning the 2008 European Championships, they are now rated the #1 national soccer club in the world by FIFA and these dubious rankings. Brazil and Argentina fall down in the rankings just because they do not play in the European Championships, being South American teams. It is too difficult to properly rank almost two hundred national teams that do not play games regularly.

Fifa Rankings (previous position in brackets):

1. (4) Spain
2. (3) Italy
3. (5) Germany
4. (2) Brazil
5. (10) Netherlands
6. (1) Argentina
7. (15) Croatia
8. (6) Czech Republic
9. (11) Portugal
10. (7) France
11. (24) Russia
12. (12) Romania
13. (13) Cameroon
14. (20) Turkey
15. (9) England
16. (17) Scotland
17. (18) Bulgaria
18. (8) Greece
19. (14) Mexico
20 (16) Ghana
33. (32) Northern Ireland
41. (42) Rep of Ireland
54. (53) Wales

© 2008 The Irish Times

Pick-up lines

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/07/dangers-of-sentimental-theology.html

Blogger posts a July 1 article on June 30...whatever.

I have never used pick-up lines, and will not use them. I think that they obviously lack sincerity. One is better off researching the subject of dating and relationships from professionals, rather than goofing around with this type of material. But, some of it is funny. This is my second attempt at a scheduled article for July 1 at 00: 00:01 and there will be another article on thekingpin68. I have had some problems with this article, including with posting images, and obviously the article has been posted a day early and so there are Blogger bugs. Please do not be too critical if there are mistakes. I will fix when I can.:)

I am no relationship expert, but I reason a healthy potential relationship should be based on sincerity, honesty, and integrity. If one finds someone attractive and there is not mutual attraction, one should move on...next! That is so simple, but can be difficult to accept.

http://saltnpepper.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/christian-pick-up-lines-a-collection-of-the-worst/

“nice bible.”

Perhaps you will be beaten with it.

“is this pew taken?”

Yes and her boyfriend in 6 foot 5, 250 pounds.

"i just don’t feel called to celibacy.”

She might after she sees you.

“you are so unblemished that i would sacrifice you.”

She may be willing to sacrifice you.

“i didnt believe in predestination until tonight.”

You have seen the light...well I hope so: Ephesians 1 and Romans 8.

“i believe one of my ribs belongs to you.”

Just go eat some chicken and ribs and don't speak.

“marry me.”

Women have told me that this is stated on Christian Cafe.com.

“if you say no, i will rip out my hair and my beard”

A few of my friends would have little to worry about.

“so, my parents are home, you wanna come over?”

Do not be tempted to use this one, even if Mommy is a good cook.

“you’re totally depraved but i’d still like to go out with you…”

Yes, you have seen the light, again.

http://www.christianpickuplines.com/

What do you think Paul meant when he said, 'Greet everyone with a holy kiss'?

How about a holy slap in return.

How about a hug, sister?

This is worthy of a two-handed, Incredible Hulk slap, perhaps.

Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?

Not as much as your ego is going to hurt in a few moments.

What are your plans for tonight? Feel like a Bible study?

No, I am not that stupid;)), I would not use that one.

Lines Christian Women Use to Break-up

I'm sorry, I've found someone more spiritual.

In the late 1980s, a young blonde told me that I did not have enough Christian friends to have a girlfriend, lame. Hmm, I probably knew more theology when I was 18 than she knows now.

I think we should just be prayer partners.

Thank you, please pray that I will meet women different than you.

You need someone with lower standards.

Now that you have said that, I realize I need higher standards.

Russ;)

I do not, and have never had an account with BMO, and have received many of these messages, supposedly from banks.



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