Saturday, November 07, 2009
"Collision" DVD Review
"Collision" recounts several debates between atheist Christopher Hitchens and Christian pastor Douglas Wilson.
This production suffers from all the worst of the postmodern sensibility and aesthetic. While billed as a "debate," there is no linear presentation of ideas in a classic debate forum. Rather, the video jumps from one setting to another. Now it's a TV exchange; then it's a debate at a seminary; next they are in a bar. I lost track of how many settings there were. It is maddening to anyone trained in linear logical thinking and analysis. All the actual arguments between the two men are clipped and lack sufficient context. Moreover, the camera angles, set conditions, and lighting are deeply annoying. There are strange high-glare closeups, jiggling cameras, as well noisy backgrounds. It is unnerving. Call it videographic ADHD.
Despite all this unnecessary clutter and chaos, a few arguments stand out. For example, Wilson claims that Hitchens has no philosophical grounding for his moral pronouncements, and Hitchens admits as much while denying God as a foundation for morality. Those trained in apologetics, will note that Wilson uses the Van Tillian presuppositional method (with some help from C.S. Lewis on objective moral law). This approach, while helpful for critiquing non-Christian worldviews, has deep limitations in apologetics, since it can marshal no genuine constructive arguments based on natural theology, science, and history. At several points, Wilson seems to concede that he and Hitchens inhabit different thought worlds entirely. If so, how can you build a logical or evidential bridge with the unbeliever? The cumulative case approach--used by William Craig, J.P. Moreland, Douglas Geivett, (if I may) myself, and many others--is the far better method. See Craig's debate with Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, God: A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist (Oxford, 2003).
Unlike Hitchens, Wilson is not that articulate. However, he is knowledgeable, civil, courageous, and funny at times. He reduces Hitchens worldview to this at the end: "There is no God: s--t happens." We need more Christians, who, like Wilson, are willing to engage in meaningful debates with unbelievers. However, we need less DVDS in which the original debate form is debauched through the insane postmodern insistence on fragmentation and incoherence.
This production suffers from all the worst of the postmodern sensibility and aesthetic. While billed as a "debate," there is no linear presentation of ideas in a classic debate forum. Rather, the video jumps from one setting to another. Now it's a TV exchange; then it's a debate at a seminary; next they are in a bar. I lost track of how many settings there were. It is maddening to anyone trained in linear logical thinking and analysis. All the actual arguments between the two men are clipped and lack sufficient context. Moreover, the camera angles, set conditions, and lighting are deeply annoying. There are strange high-glare closeups, jiggling cameras, as well noisy backgrounds. It is unnerving. Call it videographic ADHD.
Despite all this unnecessary clutter and chaos, a few arguments stand out. For example, Wilson claims that Hitchens has no philosophical grounding for his moral pronouncements, and Hitchens admits as much while denying God as a foundation for morality. Those trained in apologetics, will note that Wilson uses the Van Tillian presuppositional method (with some help from C.S. Lewis on objective moral law). This approach, while helpful for critiquing non-Christian worldviews, has deep limitations in apologetics, since it can marshal no genuine constructive arguments based on natural theology, science, and history. At several points, Wilson seems to concede that he and Hitchens inhabit different thought worlds entirely. If so, how can you build a logical or evidential bridge with the unbeliever? The cumulative case approach--used by William Craig, J.P. Moreland, Douglas Geivett, (if I may) myself, and many others--is the far better method. See Craig's debate with Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, God: A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist (Oxford, 2003).
Unlike Hitchens, Wilson is not that articulate. However, he is knowledgeable, civil, courageous, and funny at times. He reduces Hitchens worldview to this at the end: "There is no God: s--t happens." We need more Christians, who, like Wilson, are willing to engage in meaningful debates with unbelievers. However, we need less DVDS in which the original debate form is debauched through the insane postmodern insistence on fragmentation and incoherence.
On Not Speaking Truth to Power
Obama refuses to meet with the Dali Lama and figures opposed to tyranny. This is typical of the hard left. They refuse to support those who speak truth to tyrannical power; instead they curry favor from the powerful, as long as they are hostile to the West. This is unjust, perverse, and ungodly in the extreme. Wake up, America. Your president is a no friend of freedom, democracy, or "hope."
Beyond the shiny spectacle of this "historic" president is an empty suit, political mantras (meaningless), a magic teleprompter, and a man who is putting America and its deepest ideals at risk for the sake of his neo-Marxist ideology.
Beyond the shiny spectacle of this "historic" president is an empty suit, political mantras (meaningless), a magic teleprompter, and a man who is putting America and its deepest ideals at risk for the sake of his neo-Marxist ideology.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Whence Mind? No Matter!
In a recent issue of The Philosophers Magazine, atheist philosopher Raymond Tallis admits that Darwinism cannot explain the human mind. Of course, Christianity can.
#$%^*(_*)_
I posted one obscenity (from a Darwinist) for illustrative purposes. No more will be published.
Defining Terrorism Down
The mainstream press and Obama are very reluctant to admit that the homicidal rampage of a Muslim psychiatrist and General were the result of Islamic terrorism, although the evidence is mounting. Call it defining terrorism down. CAIR and their cronies (the political left) will chalk it up to mental illness or somehow blame the US armed forces. As a good friend of mine from Africa has been saying for yours, "Political correctness is killing your country." This is literally true.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Spiritual Warfare: The Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness
My sermon on Ephesians 6:14 is available at the Wellspring Church web page. It was given on 10-11-09. Scroll down to find it. I can send you sermon notes if you'd like.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Another Obama-nation
Obama Manufacturing Czar agrees with Mao's power politics. Mao Tse Tung was the greatest murderer of the 20th century. My God, what is happening to my country, its Constitution, and its heritage?!
Rule: Publication of the Civil
There is some new activity on this blog in light of comments about and participation in the recent conference on Darwinism and ID. As is typical, Darwinists insult, condescend, and label anyone who disagrees as an ignoramus. The policy of this blog is to not post insults and invective. If you have an argument, make it without assassinating any one's character. For some strange reason, Darwinists usually have difficulty doing this. Richard Dawkins is the poster boy on this, and serves as a model for many. I know from long experience.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
"Live and Love as We Like"--Sounds like a 1960s Pop Song
Read Albert Mohler on Obama's sexual relativism and endorsement of the homosexual lobby's Trojan Horse on "hate crimes."
Twitter Query
How do people--I mean non-celebrities--get these huge numbers of Twitter followers? I only have about 140.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Berklinski on Darwinism (thanks to Sarah Geis)
"'Swimming in the soundless sea, the shark has survived for millions of years, sleek as a knife blade and twice as dull. The shark is an organism wonderfully adapted to its environment.' Pause. And then the bright brittle voice of logical folly intrudes: 'after all, it has survived for millions of years.' This exchange should be deeply embarrassing to evolutionary biologists. And yet, time and time again, biologists do explain the survival of an organism by reference to its fitness and the fitness of an organism by reference it its survival, the friction between concepts kindling nothing more illuminating than the observation that some creatures have been around for a very long time." - excerpt from pp 43-44 of The Deniable Darwin by David Berlinski
The Legacy of Darwin and Intelligent Design
I attended and participated in this conference in Castle Rock, CO, last night and today. It was superb--a world-class conference in every way.
Steve Meyer present the essence of his information argument the first night, covering a huge range of material in an approachable, but challenging way. He thus outlined the major argument of his magisterial work, Signature in the Cell. (Amazingly, we had met in 1986 in Dallas. I forgot; he remembered!) On Saturday morning, Michael Behe winsomely explained the nature of ID and illustrated it with material from Darwin's Back Box and (to a lesser degree) The Edge of Evolution. Then Steve Meyer interviewed the inimitable David Berlinski on Berlinski's life and his take on Darwinism. (I was able to give Dr. Berlinski a copy of my book, On Pascal.) John West gave a stellar presentation on the social and political implications of Darwinism. The conference ended with a panel discussion moderated by Craig Smith that included myself (the minor leaguer), Mike Behe, Steve Meyer, and John West. We discussed how to take the ID message to "the next generation."
Despite the attacks on the web page and the attempts to jam their phone lines, the conference was very well attended. The Douglas County Events Center was perhaps 70% filled, not counting the bleachers. There were perhaps 1000 people. I was heartened to see many Denver Seminary students. Many books and DVDs were available and seemed to be selling well.
I encourage you all to visit Shepherd Project web page (when it is de-hacked) and pick up these DVDs or audio files. All the presenters did an excellent job. I was honored to play a small part in this and to get to hang out with these folks for two meals and some other informal time. It was a near-heaven experience for me.
Steve Meyer present the essence of his information argument the first night, covering a huge range of material in an approachable, but challenging way. He thus outlined the major argument of his magisterial work, Signature in the Cell. (Amazingly, we had met in 1986 in Dallas. I forgot; he remembered!) On Saturday morning, Michael Behe winsomely explained the nature of ID and illustrated it with material from Darwin's Back Box and (to a lesser degree) The Edge of Evolution. Then Steve Meyer interviewed the inimitable David Berlinski on Berlinski's life and his take on Darwinism. (I was able to give Dr. Berlinski a copy of my book, On Pascal.) John West gave a stellar presentation on the social and political implications of Darwinism. The conference ended with a panel discussion moderated by Craig Smith that included myself (the minor leaguer), Mike Behe, Steve Meyer, and John West. We discussed how to take the ID message to "the next generation."
Despite the attacks on the web page and the attempts to jam their phone lines, the conference was very well attended. The Douglas County Events Center was perhaps 70% filled, not counting the bleachers. There were perhaps 1000 people. I was heartened to see many Denver Seminary students. Many books and DVDs were available and seemed to be selling well.
I encourage you all to visit Shepherd Project web page (when it is de-hacked) and pick up these DVDs or audio files. All the presenters did an excellent job. I was honored to play a small part in this and to get to hang out with these folks for two meals and some other informal time. It was a near-heaven experience for me.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Attend, Learn--Despite the Attacks
Atheists have disabled the web page for the ID conference in Castle Rock this weekend. They are also calling the 800 number and trying to tie up the lines so others cannot get through. This is really ugly. I am re-posting the information on this event info below. They will take people at the door, but get there early. Despite the opposition, several hundred have already signed up. If so inclined, pray for the vicious souls doing this and for the success of the event itself.
Colorado-Based Shepherd Project Ministries Announces the Legacy of Darwin Intelligent Design Conference for Oct. 30-31, 2009.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his culture-shaking book, The Origin of Species. What has been the impact of a century and a half of the theory of naturalistic evolution dominating our universities and secondary education systems? As even secular researchers have discovered, the answer is frightening. Recent films like Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed have contributed to a growing awareness in the non-Christian world that the implications of embracing naturalistic evolution as a culture have been destructive and far-reaching.
On October 30-31 at the Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock, CO, Shepherd Project Ministries will offer a revolutionary conference featuring scientists, researchers and speakers from the Discovery Institute. The conference will explore the cultural impact of Darwinism and the ground-breaking new evidence for Intelligent Design that is changing the shape of this crucial conversation today.
With presentations by some of the world's foremost Intelligent Design experts, this conference will equip Christians to understand the key issues and be able to speak effectively into a culture that is foundering in the sea of meaninglessness that is Darwin's most lasting legacy.
The world-class line-up of presenters includes Dr. Stephen Meyer (author of The Signature in the Cell), Dr. Michael Behe (author of Darwin's Black Box), Dr. David Berlinski (featured prominently in the recent film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed), Dr. John G. West, Dr. Craig A. Smith, Dr. Douglas Groothuis and more!
Presentations will include:
· Signature in the Cell: DNA Evidence for Intelligent Design
· Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
· Darwin Day in America: The Impact of Darwinism on Our Culture
· Training the Next Generation: Practical Strategies & Resources
Because Shepherd Project Ministries is dedicated to touching both the head and the heart, we have also asked nationally known singer/songwriter Danny Oertli to lead times of worship before each main session.
No scientific background is necessary! This conference is designed to equip ordinary Christians to have an extraordinary impact on our culture.
Space is limited.
Conference Details:
Oct. 30-31 (7-9:30 pm Friday & 9:15 am – 3:30 pm Saturday)
Douglas County Event Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80104
Cost: $10 (single), $20 (family), $5 (student)
Colorado-Based Shepherd Project Ministries Announces the Legacy of Darwin Intelligent Design Conference for Oct. 30-31, 2009.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his culture-shaking book, The Origin of Species. What has been the impact of a century and a half of the theory of naturalistic evolution dominating our universities and secondary education systems? As even secular researchers have discovered, the answer is frightening. Recent films like Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed have contributed to a growing awareness in the non-Christian world that the implications of embracing naturalistic evolution as a culture have been destructive and far-reaching.
On October 30-31 at the Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock, CO, Shepherd Project Ministries will offer a revolutionary conference featuring scientists, researchers and speakers from the Discovery Institute. The conference will explore the cultural impact of Darwinism and the ground-breaking new evidence for Intelligent Design that is changing the shape of this crucial conversation today.
With presentations by some of the world's foremost Intelligent Design experts, this conference will equip Christians to understand the key issues and be able to speak effectively into a culture that is foundering in the sea of meaninglessness that is Darwin's most lasting legacy.
The world-class line-up of presenters includes Dr. Stephen Meyer (author of The Signature in the Cell), Dr. Michael Behe (author of Darwin's Black Box), Dr. David Berlinski (featured prominently in the recent film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed), Dr. John G. West, Dr. Craig A. Smith, Dr. Douglas Groothuis and more!
Presentations will include:
· Signature in the Cell: DNA Evidence for Intelligent Design
· Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
· Darwin Day in America: The Impact of Darwinism on Our Culture
· Training the Next Generation: Practical Strategies & Resources
Because Shepherd Project Ministries is dedicated to touching both the head and the heart, we have also asked nationally known singer/songwriter Danny Oertli to lead times of worship before each main session.
No scientific background is necessary! This conference is designed to equip ordinary Christians to have an extraordinary impact on our culture.
Space is limited.
Conference Details:
Oct. 30-31 (7-9:30 pm Friday & 9:15 am – 3:30 pm Saturday)
Douglas County Event Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80104
Cost: $10 (single), $20 (family), $5 (student)
Silence Dissent, Don't Refute It
Darwinists play dirty pool in trying to disrupt ID conference (at which I will speak as a minor player).
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Debate information
Intelligent Design: Is It Viable?http://isintelligentdesignviable.com/
Welcome to the official website of the event Intelligent Design: Is it Viable? A debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig. Moderated by Dr. Bradley Monton. The debate will occur on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST at Indiana University Auditorium. This debate is sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ at Indiana University.
Welcome to the official website of the event Intelligent Design: Is it Viable? A debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig. Moderated by Dr. Bradley Monton. The debate will occur on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST at Indiana University Auditorium. This debate is sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ at Indiana University.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Crying to Jesus: Urgency in Prayer
Here is a tremendous short meditation on urgency in prayer, "Crying to Jesus," by the great Puritan divine, Samuel Rutherford (author of Lex Rex).
How many of us throw our entire personality intro prayer? Most put more effort into rooting for sports teams or television programs or other lesser goods.
How many of us throw our entire personality intro prayer? Most put more effort into rooting for sports teams or television programs or other lesser goods.
Debate on God's Existence at ACC
The Arapahoe Community College Philosophy Club, The Think Tank, presents:
A Philosophical Debate about God
Questions include:
Is morality possible without God?
Is proof of God’s existence evident?
Robert Casteline: Denver Seminary
and Mark Gowan: ACC philosophy faculty
Thursday, November 5, 7-9:30 p.m.
ACC Cafeteria
Admission Free!
A Philosophical Debate about God
Questions include:
Is morality possible without God?
Is proof of God’s existence evident?
Robert Casteline: Denver Seminary
and Mark Gowan: ACC philosophy faculty
Thursday, November 5, 7-9:30 p.m.
ACC Cafeteria
Admission Free!
Goodbye to TV Cable
We just cancelled out our very minimal Comcast cable TV subscription. My wife called and spoke to a startled functionary, who couldn't believe her ears. "You are cancelling?!" My wife retorted, "Television is boring and stupid. We never watch it." The functionary said, "You won't even be able to watch the news!" My wife said, "We never do, anyway. There are other ways to get the news."
This is good. I savor it. And we save $200 a year. Follow us.
This is good. I savor it. And we save $200 a year. Follow us.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Call to Anguish
Rev. David Wilkerson on "the call to anguish." It is seven minutes of audio and text only. Like Francis Schaeffer and Brother Yun, there is no fluff in this man: only fire. Pray for fire from heaven, fire against hell.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Epaphras Today
"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis."--Colossians 4:12-13
Friday, October 23, 2009
Calm, Rational Discourse
The organizers of the October 30-31, Castle Rock ID conference (The Shepherd Project) have had their web sit hacked and atheist groups are threatening to protest the event. What basis could there be for protesting a voluntary event that raises scientific challenges to Darwinism? I would never consider protesting a pro-Darwinist event.
In any event, we may be in for a wild ride.
In any event, we may be in for a wild ride.
What "Banned" Means
Mr. Stockwell:
It matters not what you post; it will be deleted unread--as I have been doing for months now. Do not waste your time sending anything in, please.
It matters not what you post; it will be deleted unread--as I have been doing for months now. Do not waste your time sending anything in, please.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Invitation
I will seriously consider any opportunity to present Christianity as true, rational, and pertinent to life before any audience of unbelievers. Of course, I have a day job (and work part-time above that), but this is my calling and passion. Thus, I make this appeal. Contact me if you have any ideas. I have no agent and often speak for no pay if it is appropriate.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
What an Image
I know almost nothing about this group, except that they are progressive metal. What I like is the album cover.
Someone Listened
In the summer of 2005, I preached a hard message called, "Television: Agent of Truth Decay," to a very young congregation in Englewood, Colorado, pastored (then) by Dave Anderson. I blogged about it here, in fact. The message was difficult to give, not well received, and left me exhausted. I felt old (and that was four years ago). Don't ask how old I now feel most of the time.
Today, out of nowhere, a young woman at my church told me that she heard that sermon from 2005 and had since then banished TV from her life. She now has a young family and was thankful that her home is a TV-free environment. "It clicked for me," she said, after I told her how challenging the message was to give in that environment.
Once in a while, a weary and battle-scarred old curmudgeon needs to hear things like that.
Today, out of nowhere, a young woman at my church told me that she heard that sermon from 2005 and had since then banished TV from her life. She now has a young family and was thankful that her home is a TV-free environment. "It clicked for me," she said, after I told her how challenging the message was to give in that environment.
Once in a while, a weary and battle-scarred old curmudgeon needs to hear things like that.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My Abortion Essay Published in Anthology
My essay "Why I am Pro-Life: A Short, NonSectarian Argument," was just published in Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Human Sexuality, 11th edition. This is edited by William Taverner and Ryan McKee and published by McGraw Hill. This essay is a revised version of what first appeared at The Constructive Curmudgeon.
From the Metro State Philosophy Club
Metro State Philosophy Club Presents
"Christianity and Gender
On The Equality of Women and Men
in Marriage and Ministry"
"Some claim Christianity is male-centered and
oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim
and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics
of gender equality and identity."
-Dr. Doug Groothuis, Ph.D.,
Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary,
Affiliate Faculty in Philosophy at Metro State College of Denver
Thursday, October 15th @ 7pm
Tivoli 329,
Senate Chambers
Refreshments will be served.
"Christianity and Gender
On The Equality of Women and Men
in Marriage and Ministry"
"Some claim Christianity is male-centered and
oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim
and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics
of gender equality and identity."
-Dr. Doug Groothuis, Ph.D.,
Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary,
Affiliate Faculty in Philosophy at Metro State College of Denver
Thursday, October 15th @ 7pm
Tivoli 329,
Senate Chambers
Refreshments will be served.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wake Up, Please
Watch Brigette Gabriel on the Islamic threat. This woman is a dynamo of needed truth and courage.
Veiled and Influential
A Muslim Obama advisor says sharia law is good for women. Read the handwriting on the veil. Obama either does not understand or welcomes the Islamic threat to the West and the world. I say this on the basis of many factor, not just this piece of damning evidence.
As Francis Schaeffer said thirty years ago, don't pray for justice for America. Pray for mercy (and revival).
As Francis Schaeffer said thirty years ago, don't pray for justice for America. Pray for mercy (and revival).
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Who to Trust?
Against Emanuel and Biden stand David Petraeus, the world's foremost expert on counterinsurgency (he saved Iraq with it), and Stanley McChrystal, the world's foremost expert on counterterrorism. Whose recommendation on how to fight would you rely on? -- Charles Krauthammer
"Christianity and Gender"
I will be giving a lecture and answering question on "Christianity and Gender" for the Metro State College of Denver Philosophy Club on Thursday, October 15th at 7pm in Tivoli 329, Senate Chambers.
Some claim that Christianity is male-centered and oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics of gender equality and identity. Those attending will receive a detailed lecture outline and a short article by me called, "Is Christianity Sexist?"
Some claim that Christianity is male-centered and oppressive to women. I will challenge this claim and sketch out a Christian view of the metaphysics of gender equality and identity. Those attending will receive a detailed lecture outline and a short article by me called, "Is Christianity Sexist?"
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Neil!
"To be unaware that a technology comes equipped with a program for social change, to maintain that technology is neutral, to make the assumption that technology is always a friend to culture is, at this late hour, stupidity plain and simple." -Neil Postman
Friday, October 09, 2009
We are at War!
I will be preaching at both services at Wellspring Anglican Church this Sunday. The text is Ephesians 6:14: "Spiritual Armor for Spiritual Warfare"
Troy Nunley on Fine Tuning of the Universe for Life
Dr. Troy Nunley's excellent video lecture on "The Fine Tuning Argument: Some Reflections on the Work of Elliot Sober" is available on YouTube. He will be presenting this material at a philosophy conference in Durago, Colorado, toward the end of the month.
From The Discovery Institute
Support Free Speech: Tell California Science Center to Reinstate Screening of Intelligent Design Film
Let your voice be heard! In a clear act of government censorship, the California Science Center-a "department of the State of California"-has canceled the Los Angeles premiere of the pro-intelligent design film Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record. A private group, the American Freedom Alliance, had rented the California Science Center's IMAX theater for the screening. But after the screening attracted public attention, the Science Center decided to pull the plug on the event in clear violation of the freedom of speech and equal protection. Please contact the Science Center immediately to respectfully urge the Center to support free speech and allow the original screening to go forward.
Contact the California Science Center now:E-Mail: 4info@cscmail.org
Phone: 323-724-3623
Stay tuned to Evolution News & Views as this story develops.
Let your voice be heard! In a clear act of government censorship, the California Science Center-a "department of the State of California"-has canceled the Los Angeles premiere of the pro-intelligent design film Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record. A private group, the American Freedom Alliance, had rented the California Science Center's IMAX theater for the screening. But after the screening attracted public attention, the Science Center decided to pull the plug on the event in clear violation of the freedom of speech and equal protection. Please contact the Science Center immediately to respectfully urge the Center to support free speech and allow the original screening to go forward.
Contact the California Science Center now:E-Mail: 4info@cscmail.org
Phone: 323-724-3623
Stay tuned to Evolution News & Views as this story develops.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Two Sermons on Spiritual Warfare
This week I gave two different message on spiritual warfare at the Denver Seminary chapel services. The first is "Finding Power Over Error" (Acts 13:1-12); the second, "Spirituality: True and False" (Acts 19:1-10). The podcasts are available here.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Comment on Part of "Jesus Manifesto"
This is my comment on part of "A Jesus Manifesto." Last I checked, it was comment #83.
You write:
–Jesus does not leave his disciples with CliffsNotes for a systematic theology. He leaves his disciples with breath and body.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with a coherent and clear belief system by which to love God and others. Jesus gives his disciples wounds to touch and hands to heal.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with intellectual belief or a “Christian worldview.” He leaves his disciples with a relational faith.–
These sound bites or factoids, while catchy, are misleading at best and just false at worst.
Jesus called us to love God with all our minds. To do that, we need to work our entire lives to develop a biblical theology, worldview, and morality. Yes, the living Christ is at the center; but to put the living Christ at odds with intellectual sanctification and the desire for intellectual consistency, coherence, and cogency is nothing less than a travesty.
You write:
–Jesus does not leave his disciples with CliffsNotes for a systematic theology. He leaves his disciples with breath and body.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with a coherent and clear belief system by which to love God and others. Jesus gives his disciples wounds to touch and hands to heal.
Jesus does not leave his disciples with intellectual belief or a “Christian worldview.” He leaves his disciples with a relational faith.–
These sound bites or factoids, while catchy, are misleading at best and just false at worst.
Jesus called us to love God with all our minds. To do that, we need to work our entire lives to develop a biblical theology, worldview, and morality. Yes, the living Christ is at the center; but to put the living Christ at odds with intellectual sanctification and the desire for intellectual consistency, coherence, and cogency is nothing less than a travesty.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Viola: Not So Sweet
I posted a comment at "A Jesus Manifesto" by Viola and Sweet. It was not favorable. See comment #82.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Diversion
Pascalian thought: Humans face an incorrigible mortality that drives us to distractions designed to overcome the inevitable by means of the impossible: finding satisfaction and release through empty activity that masquerades as worthwhile.
Unreality Alert: You are Like None of the Apostles
Facebook, whose virtues are becoming increasingly dubious to me, features various quizzes to determine what other person you are: "What dead rock star are you?", and so on. It recently eclipsed all sanity and propriety with a game called, "What Apostle are you?"
These questions trade on the pseudo-participatory phantasms of popular culture. It is like "air guitar." You don't play, but pretend--to stir a feeling. So, what person "are you"? None of them, of course--and nothing like any of them; but we like the fleeting feeling of association (I suppose).
But consider the apostolic question. Who among us, in God's name, even approaches the faith, courage, and cross-bearing virtues of any of the Apostles?! The best church planter or missionary is a pale shadow of the Apostles Paul or Peter, for example. Yes, the Apostles were flawed (consider Peter's initial unwillingness to associate with Christian gentiles--Acts 10), but their submission to Christ, their embracing of suffering for the Cross of Jesus Christ and the furtherance of his kingdom puts all of us, I wager, to deep shame.
I challenge you with what Paul challenged his readers with: Follow Paul as Paul follows Christ. If we do, then there will be no more idiotic and blasphemous Facebook trivia about Apostles.
These questions trade on the pseudo-participatory phantasms of popular culture. It is like "air guitar." You don't play, but pretend--to stir a feeling. So, what person "are you"? None of them, of course--and nothing like any of them; but we like the fleeting feeling of association (I suppose).
But consider the apostolic question. Who among us, in God's name, even approaches the faith, courage, and cross-bearing virtues of any of the Apostles?! The best church planter or missionary is a pale shadow of the Apostles Paul or Peter, for example. Yes, the Apostles were flawed (consider Peter's initial unwillingness to associate with Christian gentiles--Acts 10), but their submission to Christ, their embracing of suffering for the Cross of Jesus Christ and the furtherance of his kingdom puts all of us, I wager, to deep shame.
I challenge you with what Paul challenged his readers with: Follow Paul as Paul follows Christ. If we do, then there will be no more idiotic and blasphemous Facebook trivia about Apostles.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Need More Intellectual Seriousness
"Is Conservativism Brain Dead?" by Steven Hayward laments the lack of intellectual muscle and stamina in the contemporary conservative movement, which is more populist and spectacular than it is substantive and philosophical. The author, however, is a conservative, not a liberal. I concur with many of his judgments.
My conservatism was formed by the like of folks that are lamentably absent from the scene, William F. Buckely, Ronald Reagan, Richard John Neuhaus, Francis A. Schaeffer, and others. My reading of Commentary, The Freeman, National Review, and First Things nurtured my judgments and sentiments. The new populist conservatives, while far more correct than contemporary liberals, do leave something to be desired. Part of the problem is the nonstop news and entertainment cycle.
The conservative movement needs some large, solid, and much-read treatises (and shorter manifestos) sparkling with intelligence, wit, and wisdom. (I do like Liberty and Tryany by Mark Levine as a smart manifesto.) Protracted study time in the woodshed is the order of the day. Then go on stage and show your chops. After that, go back and study some more, instead of posing for photographs.
My conservatism was formed by the like of folks that are lamentably absent from the scene, William F. Buckely, Ronald Reagan, Richard John Neuhaus, Francis A. Schaeffer, and others. My reading of Commentary, The Freeman, National Review, and First Things nurtured my judgments and sentiments. The new populist conservatives, while far more correct than contemporary liberals, do leave something to be desired. Part of the problem is the nonstop news and entertainment cycle.
The conservative movement needs some large, solid, and much-read treatises (and shorter manifestos) sparkling with intelligence, wit, and wisdom. (I do like Liberty and Tryany by Mark Levine as a smart manifesto.) Protracted study time in the woodshed is the order of the day. Then go on stage and show your chops. After that, go back and study some more, instead of posing for photographs.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Unsafe World of Barack Obama
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;"
(Isa 5:20 NKJ)
who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;"
(Isa 5:20 NKJ)
As I survey the wreckage of the Obama landscape, I fear that my predictions before the election may sadly come true. Although some dismissed me (even people I thought would give me a fair hearing), I predicted that, if elected, Obama would lose the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and that the US would be hit hard by more terrorist attacks.
It is obvious that Obama does not stand against evil internationally. He failed to denounce the rigged elections in Iran; he chums around with Hugh Chavez, a Marxist dictator; he does not even mention international terrorism when he "speaks to the Muslim world" in Egypt (although he does speak of the Koran as being "revealed.") Our General on the ground in Afghanistan tells him that only a troop surge will prevail against "mission failure" there, yet he refuses to immediately act and considers troop withdrawls. I doubt he has the nerve to make the victory stick in Iraq, especially given his gutless approach to Iran, which has sponsored terrorists in Iraq.
An unprecedented four major terrorist plots have been thwarted in recent days. (The Denver conspirator was arrested, but it is not known how much damage he may have done already by making bombs). Yet the Patriot Act is coming up for renewal. It is unlikely that the Obama-esque Democrats will vote to renew it. If so, more terrorist conspiracies will continue fail to be broken up. The results would be catastrophically deadly.
As I said, months ago before the election, contemporary Democrats do not understand the forces of evil in the world or how to confront them. They are Utopians, thinking that kind talk and kid gloves will dissolve ill feelings, especially when accompanied by much apologizing for (supposed) American evils worldwide. It is likely that we will soon discover the results of such foolishness and reckless irresponsibility.
It is obvious that Obama does not stand against evil internationally. He failed to denounce the rigged elections in Iran; he chums around with Hugh Chavez, a Marxist dictator; he does not even mention international terrorism when he "speaks to the Muslim world" in Egypt (although he does speak of the Koran as being "revealed.") Our General on the ground in Afghanistan tells him that only a troop surge will prevail against "mission failure" there, yet he refuses to immediately act and considers troop withdrawls. I doubt he has the nerve to make the victory stick in Iraq, especially given his gutless approach to Iran, which has sponsored terrorists in Iraq.
An unprecedented four major terrorist plots have been thwarted in recent days. (The Denver conspirator was arrested, but it is not known how much damage he may have done already by making bombs). Yet the Patriot Act is coming up for renewal. It is unlikely that the Obama-esque Democrats will vote to renew it. If so, more terrorist conspiracies will continue fail to be broken up. The results would be catastrophically deadly.
As I said, months ago before the election, contemporary Democrats do not understand the forces of evil in the world or how to confront them. They are Utopians, thinking that kind talk and kid gloves will dissolve ill feelings, especially when accompanied by much apologizing for (supposed) American evils worldwide. It is likely that we will soon discover the results of such foolishness and reckless irresponsibility.
Doug Groothuis Podcast
RealApologetics did a short informal interview with me that is now posted. It is about 25 minutes long.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
"Christianity and Gender"
I will be giving a lecture and answering question on "Christianity and Gender" for the Metro State College of Denver Philosophy Club on Thursday, October 15th at 7pm in Tivoli 329, Senate Chambers.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Arguing with Idiots
Glen Beck's new book strikes me as pathetic and silly. The cover is infantile, as is the title. The text (what there is of it) is littered with silly graphics and call-outs everywhere. It is more of a picture book than a piece of prose. To oppose the dangerous Obama statist/internationalist/defeatist agenda we need something much more serious than this.
Or am I missing something?
Or am I missing something?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Isaiah 64:1-9
Consider praying through this passage:
1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.
8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.
1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.
8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.
Letter to Chronicle
I just discovered that The Chroncile of Higher Education published a letter of mine earlier this year. Here it is:
January 30, 2009
Intelligent Design vs. New Age Philosophy
To the Editor:
In the Nota Bene section of the December 12 issue ("Science and Spirituality," The Chronicle Review), Evan R. Goldstein refers to intelligent design as "anti-rational and anti-intellectual" and lumps it in with New Age philosophy. (He is agreeing with the claims made in The Constant Fire: Beyond the Science vs. Religion Debate, by Adam Frank.) This commits the fallacies of ad hominem fallacy and guilt by association. On ad hominem: The leading thinkers of the intelligent-design movement have doctorates in science and/or philosophy and appeal to empirical evidence and proved means of design detection. This is hardly anti-intellectual (although their conclusions cut against the grain of much of the intelligentsia). On guilt by association: I have written several books critical of New Age philosophy. Its approach to reality (magical thinking) and its conclusions (pantheism) are a million miles from those of intelligent-design scholars.
Douglas Groothuis Professor of Philosophy Denver Seminary Littleton, Colo
January 30, 2009
Intelligent Design vs. New Age Philosophy
To the Editor:
In the Nota Bene section of the December 12 issue ("Science and Spirituality," The Chronicle Review), Evan R. Goldstein refers to intelligent design as "anti-rational and anti-intellectual" and lumps it in with New Age philosophy. (He is agreeing with the claims made in The Constant Fire: Beyond the Science vs. Religion Debate, by Adam Frank.) This commits the fallacies of ad hominem fallacy and guilt by association. On ad hominem: The leading thinkers of the intelligent-design movement have doctorates in science and/or philosophy and appeal to empirical evidence and proved means of design detection. This is hardly anti-intellectual (although their conclusions cut against the grain of much of the intelligentsia). On guilt by association: I have written several books critical of New Age philosophy. Its approach to reality (magical thinking) and its conclusions (pantheism) are a million miles from those of intelligent-design scholars.
Douglas Groothuis Professor of Philosophy Denver Seminary Littleton, Colo
Friday, September 25, 2009
Dan Brown, Science, and Christianity
Dan Brown from the September 25, 2009 Parade interview:
-----------------
Are you religious?
I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the universe. I remember saying to a minister, "I don't get it. I read a book that said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?" Unfortunately, the response I got was, "Nice boys don't ask that question." A light went off, and I said, "The Bible doesn't make sense. Science makes much more sense to me." And I just gravitated away from religion
------
This underscores how important it is to present a scientifically credible Christian worldview. Of course the universe was not created in seven days, but six. The seventh day was the Sabbath. And, of course, the Big Bang supports creation ex nihilo. And we need not insists that each "day" was 24 hours. One could go on--and I do in my next week--sure to be a blockbuster best-seller. It is called The Apologetics Code.
-----------------
Are you religious?
I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the universe. I remember saying to a minister, "I don't get it. I read a book that said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?" Unfortunately, the response I got was, "Nice boys don't ask that question." A light went off, and I said, "The Bible doesn't make sense. Science makes much more sense to me." And I just gravitated away from religion
------
This underscores how important it is to present a scientifically credible Christian worldview. Of course the universe was not created in seven days, but six. The seventh day was the Sabbath. And, of course, the Big Bang supports creation ex nihilo. And we need not insists that each "day" was 24 hours. One could go on--and I do in my next week--sure to be a blockbuster best-seller. It is called The Apologetics Code.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Book Review: The Signature in the Cell
One could not ask for more in a philosophy of science treatise that what we find in The Signature in the Cell. The book is no less than magisterial, an adjective that curmudgeons such as myself seldom use. At every level--philosophical, scientific, historical and literary--it is a superb treatise.
Reading every word of its 508 pages of text (not counting end notes)--as I did--repays the reader greatly. Meyer thoroughly examines a most significant topic--how life came about--and does so in an engaging, warm, and philosophically rigorous fashion. (Few books ever do such a thing.) In fact, I have never read a book that goes so deep while remaining so welcoming to the reader. It does do by using a minimal narrative structure--there is no obtrusive autobiography here--to guide us through the issues and arguments pertaining to the nature and origin life at the genetic level. The reader is lead step-by-step into the question of the origin of biological information, and so receives a hearty education in the history of science in general and the scientific question to understand life itself.
Meyer doggedly pursues all the possible explanations for the informational nature in DNA and RNA. He carefully explores the philosophy of scientific explanations with respect to unrepeatable events in the past (such as the origin of life on earth). It is a search for clues in the present to explain the past. One needs a causally adequate explanation for past events relies on known features to produce the state of affairs in question.
Having found all the materialistic explanations desperately wanting, he concludes that intelligence is the best explanation for the highly concentrated, amazingly complex, and carefully specified information in the DNA and RNA of the cell. Neither chance nor natural law nor a combination of both are remotely plausible explanations. Yet everyday we perceive that intelligence produces information (such as the words of this review). Nothing else can. Meyer argues convincingly that materialism cannot survive when biology enters "the information age," as it did in 1953 when the double helix structure of the DNA was discovered by two atheists, Crick and Watson.
Critics who dismiss this book as merely religiously motivated should themselves be dismissed. Meyer appeals to no uniquely religious assumptions in his philosophy of science and uses principles broadly employed in the historical sciences. Moreover, while his conclusion--life is best explained by a designing intelligence of some kind--is friendly toward theism, he grants that it does not give us a full Christian account of existence.
This short review cannot praise adequately all the philosophical, scientific, and (yes) literary values of this magnificent work. Its publication may prove to be a decisive moment for the Intelligent Design movement.
Reading every word of its 508 pages of text (not counting end notes)--as I did--repays the reader greatly. Meyer thoroughly examines a most significant topic--how life came about--and does so in an engaging, warm, and philosophically rigorous fashion. (Few books ever do such a thing.) In fact, I have never read a book that goes so deep while remaining so welcoming to the reader. It does do by using a minimal narrative structure--there is no obtrusive autobiography here--to guide us through the issues and arguments pertaining to the nature and origin life at the genetic level. The reader is lead step-by-step into the question of the origin of biological information, and so receives a hearty education in the history of science in general and the scientific question to understand life itself.
Meyer doggedly pursues all the possible explanations for the informational nature in DNA and RNA. He carefully explores the philosophy of scientific explanations with respect to unrepeatable events in the past (such as the origin of life on earth). It is a search for clues in the present to explain the past. One needs a causally adequate explanation for past events relies on known features to produce the state of affairs in question.
Having found all the materialistic explanations desperately wanting, he concludes that intelligence is the best explanation for the highly concentrated, amazingly complex, and carefully specified information in the DNA and RNA of the cell. Neither chance nor natural law nor a combination of both are remotely plausible explanations. Yet everyday we perceive that intelligence produces information (such as the words of this review). Nothing else can. Meyer argues convincingly that materialism cannot survive when biology enters "the information age," as it did in 1953 when the double helix structure of the DNA was discovered by two atheists, Crick and Watson.
Critics who dismiss this book as merely religiously motivated should themselves be dismissed. Meyer appeals to no uniquely religious assumptions in his philosophy of science and uses principles broadly employed in the historical sciences. Moreover, while his conclusion--life is best explained by a designing intelligence of some kind--is friendly toward theism, he grants that it does not give us a full Christian account of existence.
This short review cannot praise adequately all the philosophical, scientific, and (yes) literary values of this magnificent work. Its publication may prove to be a decisive moment for the Intelligent Design movement.
Dawkins Video
In the short video promotion of his new book, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, Dawkins rather remarkably admits that while all his previous books have been about evolution, none of them gave evidence for it. The previous books assumed it. Well, well, then all that railing against opponents of Darwinism as insane, ignorant, or evil was made without giving any arguments for evolution.
This is false. His books have tried to refuted design explanations and have advocated Darwinism. Yes, Dawkins assumes naturalism, so Darwinism must follow. He also tells many "just so" stories which pose as explanations. But has attempted to defend Darwinism in these books.
But given the sustained critique of Darwinism by ID, Dawkins and others, such as Coyne, believe they need to give the definitive refutation (yet again). While I have not yet read the book, I predict that when Dawkins engages serious critics of Darwinism (if he does at all), he will misrepresent them them and fail to take their arguments seriously--just as he did in The God Delusion.
This is false. His books have tried to refuted design explanations and have advocated Darwinism. Yes, Dawkins assumes naturalism, so Darwinism must follow. He also tells many "just so" stories which pose as explanations. But has attempted to defend Darwinism in these books.
But given the sustained critique of Darwinism by ID, Dawkins and others, such as Coyne, believe they need to give the definitive refutation (yet again). While I have not yet read the book, I predict that when Dawkins engages serious critics of Darwinism (if he does at all), he will misrepresent them them and fail to take their arguments seriously--just as he did in The God Delusion.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sen. McConnell For Free Speech--Against Obama
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has spoken out truly and courageously about an atrocious strong arm tactic used by Obama to try to silence critics of his socialized health care. McConnell said in his speech:
The federal government has now told all companies that provide Medicare Advantage to seniors to stop communicating with their clients about the effects of that legislation — even telling them what they can and cannot post on their websites. This gag order, enforced through an agency of the federal government at the request of a Senator, is wrong.
Read his entire speech here.
The federal government has now told all companies that provide Medicare Advantage to seniors to stop communicating with their clients about the effects of that legislation — even telling them what they can and cannot post on their websites. This gag order, enforced through an agency of the federal government at the request of a Senator, is wrong.
Read his entire speech here.
How Not to Think About Science and Christianity
See my reply to this silly post on faith and science. Scroll down to comment #62.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Speech
Here is Jane Norton's speech given last week when she announced that she was running for US Senate in Colorado. Her husband told me that she wrote it! She told me she decided to run because of Obama's ill effects on the country.
Tips for Writing Philosophy Papers
Here are the standards I give my students for their papers for me. Perhaps some of the advise may be of help to your writing. Of course, each professor has his or her own particularities regarding stylistic matters.
ESSENTIALS FOR WRITING PAPERS FOR A PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION CLASS
I have long held that any philosopher who takes the trouble to master the art of writing clearly and is at pains to exercise it, can explain most of the things that matter in philosophy to any reader of intelligence and goodwill, provided that the philosopher understands what he is writing about—C.E.M. Joad, The Recovery of Belief (1952).
A. The mechanics of your papers
1. Use a title page that includes your name, your campus box, the class, the assignment, the date due, and the date turned in. Do not use any computer-generated graphics, weird text fonts, or other distracting images or special effects, please.
2. Double-space all papers. Use normal margins (approximately 1.25 inches on each side), leaving me room for me to make written comments. Use 12-pitch setting on your printers. Stay within the assigned number of pages for the papers unless you receive permission otherwise.
3. You must use page numbers! It is time-consuming for me to have to number the pages for you in order to find out if you have written the assigned amount. The title page is not page 1. Your first page of writing is page one. Papers without page numbers will be downgraded one half grade.
4. Use subtitles where appropriate. They give order and structure to your paper.
5. If you use a Scripture verse, put the reference in parenthesis within the text along with the translation: (John 3:16, TNIV). If you quote or otherwise refer to a biblical text, give the reference.
6. Carefully check spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, paragraphing, and documentation. Underline or italicize book titles, magazine, and journal titles. Beware of incomplete sentences. Like this. Root them out with relentless and religious determination. Use the Turabian or APA standards for documentation. If you don’t know what this means, please find out.
7. Beware of redundancy, vagueness, convolution, and incoherence in sentences.
8. If English is not your primary language, and you have difficulty writing in English, please have someone proofread your papers before handing them in.
9. Do not plagiarize! Plagiarism is intellectual theft and is a sin. Any idea that you owe to someone else (that is not general knowledge) must be documented. Any direct quote must be put into quotation marks and cited. Any paper showing signs of plagiarism will receive an “F” grade.
10. The Denver Seminary Student Handbook stipulates that you must use inclusive language. Do not use “mankind,” “man,” etc., when you are referring to both women and men. Papers not consistently using inclusive language will be downgraded one-half grade. For help in this matter see “Guidelines for Non-sexist Use of Language” from the American Philosophical Association web page: http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/publications/texts/nonsexist.html
11. Do not be overly autobiographical. Do not write, “I think that X is true because of Y.” Simply write “X is true because of Y.” Any personal references must directly relate to the substance of your paper.
12. Periods, commas, etc., go inside quotation marks—“Like this.”—not outside of them—“Like “this”. Semicolons do not go inside quotation marks. Please figure out the difference between a colon and a semicolon. They are not identical or exchangeable in sentences.
13. Be careful to identify pronouns such as “this.” Often the reader does not know what “this” stands for. It can give graders a headache—and students lower grades.
14. The upshot is this: sloppy papers will not get good grades.
B. The form of your papers
1. Be very sure to answer the question you have been asked to answer and not something of your own invention (however brilliant that may be). If there is a choice of questions to answer, stipulate which question you are answering in the body of your paper. I don’t want to have to guess what question you are addressing. For the short papers, use materials from class primarily, not outside sources. Do not cite my lecture notes when they are addressing points in your required reading. That shows that you probably haven’t done the reading!
2. Good papers begin with an engaging, clear, and pertinent introduction, which draws the reader into the paper, outlines what the paper will do, and points to the first topic to be discussed.
3. Be sure to end the paper with a conclusion, which summarizes the main points of your paper. Some papers end very abruptly. This is bad.
4. Paragraphs should contain only one main idea. They should not go on for several pages, nor should they be only one sentence.
5. Do not overuse direct quotations from sources. Stay away from long citations. I want to know how you summarize and interpret the material. The paper is your work, not a compendium of other sources.
6. Never apologize about the quality of your work in a paper or on a note attached to the paper. Let me decide. That’s what professors are for (among other things).
7. For general help in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and good taste, see William Strunk and E.B. White, Elements of Style, 4th ed. (Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 2000). It is still a classic.
ESSENTIALS FOR WRITING PAPERS FOR A PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION CLASS
I have long held that any philosopher who takes the trouble to master the art of writing clearly and is at pains to exercise it, can explain most of the things that matter in philosophy to any reader of intelligence and goodwill, provided that the philosopher understands what he is writing about—C.E.M. Joad, The Recovery of Belief (1952).
A. The mechanics of your papers
1. Use a title page that includes your name, your campus box, the class, the assignment, the date due, and the date turned in. Do not use any computer-generated graphics, weird text fonts, or other distracting images or special effects, please.
2. Double-space all papers. Use normal margins (approximately 1.25 inches on each side), leaving me room for me to make written comments. Use 12-pitch setting on your printers. Stay within the assigned number of pages for the papers unless you receive permission otherwise.
3. You must use page numbers! It is time-consuming for me to have to number the pages for you in order to find out if you have written the assigned amount. The title page is not page 1. Your first page of writing is page one. Papers without page numbers will be downgraded one half grade.
4. Use subtitles where appropriate. They give order and structure to your paper.
5. If you use a Scripture verse, put the reference in parenthesis within the text along with the translation: (John 3:16, TNIV). If you quote or otherwise refer to a biblical text, give the reference.
6. Carefully check spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, paragraphing, and documentation. Underline or italicize book titles, magazine, and journal titles. Beware of incomplete sentences. Like this. Root them out with relentless and religious determination. Use the Turabian or APA standards for documentation. If you don’t know what this means, please find out.
7. Beware of redundancy, vagueness, convolution, and incoherence in sentences.
8. If English is not your primary language, and you have difficulty writing in English, please have someone proofread your papers before handing them in.
9. Do not plagiarize! Plagiarism is intellectual theft and is a sin. Any idea that you owe to someone else (that is not general knowledge) must be documented. Any direct quote must be put into quotation marks and cited. Any paper showing signs of plagiarism will receive an “F” grade.
10. The Denver Seminary Student Handbook stipulates that you must use inclusive language. Do not use “mankind,” “man,” etc., when you are referring to both women and men. Papers not consistently using inclusive language will be downgraded one-half grade. For help in this matter see “Guidelines for Non-sexist Use of Language” from the American Philosophical Association web page: http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/publications/texts/nonsexist.html
11. Do not be overly autobiographical. Do not write, “I think that X is true because of Y.” Simply write “X is true because of Y.” Any personal references must directly relate to the substance of your paper.
12. Periods, commas, etc., go inside quotation marks—“Like this.”—not outside of them—“Like “this”. Semicolons do not go inside quotation marks. Please figure out the difference between a colon and a semicolon. They are not identical or exchangeable in sentences.
13. Be careful to identify pronouns such as “this.” Often the reader does not know what “this” stands for. It can give graders a headache—and students lower grades.
14. The upshot is this: sloppy papers will not get good grades.
B. The form of your papers
1. Be very sure to answer the question you have been asked to answer and not something of your own invention (however brilliant that may be). If there is a choice of questions to answer, stipulate which question you are answering in the body of your paper. I don’t want to have to guess what question you are addressing. For the short papers, use materials from class primarily, not outside sources. Do not cite my lecture notes when they are addressing points in your required reading. That shows that you probably haven’t done the reading!
2. Good papers begin with an engaging, clear, and pertinent introduction, which draws the reader into the paper, outlines what the paper will do, and points to the first topic to be discussed.
3. Be sure to end the paper with a conclusion, which summarizes the main points of your paper. Some papers end very abruptly. This is bad.
4. Paragraphs should contain only one main idea. They should not go on for several pages, nor should they be only one sentence.
5. Do not overuse direct quotations from sources. Stay away from long citations. I want to know how you summarize and interpret the material. The paper is your work, not a compendium of other sources.
6. Never apologize about the quality of your work in a paper or on a note attached to the paper. Let me decide. That’s what professors are for (among other things).
7. For general help in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and good taste, see William Strunk and E.B. White, Elements of Style, 4th ed. (Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 2000). It is still a classic.
Book Writing
"Writing a book is an adventure; to begin with it is a toy, then an amusement, then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then it becomes a tyrant, and the last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude you kill the monster and strew him about to the public." -Sir Winston Churchill.
Indeed. I have been working on a books since 2003.
Indeed. I have been working on a books since 2003.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Meaning of Blog Banishment
Comments by Kevin Winters and John Stockwell will be neither read nor posted. Please give up and move on.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Not in the National Interest
The injustices and inequities of nationalized health care are explained by Charles Colson. This is reform we do not need in the United States. There are far better ways.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Public Speaking by Doug Groothuis
I will be speaking at the Denver Seminary chapel on October 5 and 6 , at 11:00 AM, on spiritual warfare, addressing material in Acts 13:1-12 and Acts 19:1-20. I will also be preaching on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) at Wellspring Anglican Church on October 11. Services begin at 9:00 and 10:35.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
From Christians for Biblical Equality--Denver
Dear Friends,
Please join us for the next meeting of the Denver Chapter of Christians for Biblical Equality.
We will meet Monday, September 28, 11:30-1pm in the Executive Board Room at Denver Seminary.
A complimentary light lunch will be served at 11:30am. The program will take place from 12:00 to 1:00pm.
Dr. Doug Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, will speak on “Egalitarianism and the Witness of the Gospel.”
We hope to see you there,
Janet George
Mary Hanson
Vaun Swanson
Lindsey Widstrom
Please join us for the next meeting of the Denver Chapter of Christians for Biblical Equality.
We will meet Monday, September 28, 11:30-1pm in the Executive Board Room at Denver Seminary.
A complimentary light lunch will be served at 11:30am. The program will take place from 12:00 to 1:00pm.
Dr. Doug Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, will speak on “Egalitarianism and the Witness of the Gospel.”
We hope to see you there,
Janet George
Mary Hanson
Vaun Swanson
Lindsey Widstrom
Groothuis in Francis Schaeffer
You will find a very unfair view of Francis Schaeffer written in The Christian Standard. If you click "Letters to the Editor," you will find my response.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Jane Norton for Senate
Jane Norton, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, announced that she is running for the United States Senate in Colorado. I attended her event this morning and was very impressed with her speech and her demeanor. I was already appreciative of her political philosophy. Please visit her web page and consider supporting her.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Cyber Church?
I am quoted in "The Art of Cyber Church" by Sarah Pulliam in the September, 2009 issue of Christianity Today. It does not appear to be on line as yet.
Do the Math
Well over a million attended a rally in Washington, DC on Saturday, although The New York Times said it was only "tens of thousands." For the Times, the numbers shrink when the crowds are opposing Obama's plan to take over health care, European style.
Slaughter of the Dissidents
Dr. Jerry Bergman, a long-time critic of Darwinism and prolific author, has written an important book called, Slaughter of the Dissidents, which reports on and documents the unfair persecution experienced by academics that dare to doubt Darwin. For those who think the stories related in the film "Expelled" were untrue or overstated, this book will demonstrate that the stories of the film only scrape the ideological surface.
Dan Brown, the Icky Poo, and Rapid Cultural Response
The Lost Symbol will be released Tuesday. It has already been reviewed by The NY times. It is one of the "icky poo" books I must read given my line of work and calling, just as I read The Da Vinci Code. I encourage Christian thinkers and writers to take this book seriously and present a logical and Christian response to it wherever you can. Brown will present a pop-occult worldview that will further deceive and confuse people who do not know how to address it (which includes most American Christians, sadly). I hope to write a review of it when I can (sooner rather than later, given the lightning-fast nature of culture these days).
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Brigitte Gabriel at Colorado Christian University
Brigette Gabriel was bought up in Lebanon when it was peaceful and democratic. Her life was shattered with Muslims bombed her Christian city. She was severely injured and lived for several years in a bomb shelter. She eventually left her beloved country when Muslims took over and made life for Christians impossible. She spent several years in Israel as a television news anchor (she is stunningly attractive as well as articulate) before making America her adopted country.
On Friday, September 11, Colorado Christian University brought Ms. Gabriel to their campus to speak on Islamic terrorism. As a Fellow of the Centennial Institute, I was invited to a reception in which she passionately spoke of her commitment to expose the goals that Islam has on America through her organization, ACT for America.
She later addressed several hundred people, telling her story, the history of Islam (a masterful summary in about five minutes), and explained the Islamic strategy to impose sharia (Islamic) law worldwide and, yes, in America. She claimed that many mosques has terrorist ties and that they were actively advocating the gradual imposition of sharia law. This is well advanced in Europe and in some parts of the US, such as Dearborne, Michigan, where the Muslim call to prayer is blasted over loudspeakers in public streets. Muslims have developed state school curriculum to proselytize for Islam.
I could go on, but suffice to say that Ms. Gabriel is a compelling and courageous figure. She sports a remarkable personal story, speaks nearly flawless English with a distinguishing Lebanese accent, is gifted with boundless energy, and is a true patriot for her adopted country. I hope you will visit her web page, join her organization (which lobbies for national security with respect to the Islam threat from within and without), and read her two books: Because they Hate and They Must be Stopped, both New York Times bestsellers. I plan on using one of these when I teach Christian Ethics next term at Denver Seminary.
Police protection was provided for her talk at Colorado Christian University. You can imagine why. She needs your prayers as well. I provided the concluding prayer the night that she spoke and prayed Psalm 91:1-2 on her behalf, among other things.
On Friday, September 11, Colorado Christian University brought Ms. Gabriel to their campus to speak on Islamic terrorism. As a Fellow of the Centennial Institute, I was invited to a reception in which she passionately spoke of her commitment to expose the goals that Islam has on America through her organization, ACT for America.
She later addressed several hundred people, telling her story, the history of Islam (a masterful summary in about five minutes), and explained the Islamic strategy to impose sharia (Islamic) law worldwide and, yes, in America. She claimed that many mosques has terrorist ties and that they were actively advocating the gradual imposition of sharia law. This is well advanced in Europe and in some parts of the US, such as Dearborne, Michigan, where the Muslim call to prayer is blasted over loudspeakers in public streets. Muslims have developed state school curriculum to proselytize for Islam.
I could go on, but suffice to say that Ms. Gabriel is a compelling and courageous figure. She sports a remarkable personal story, speaks nearly flawless English with a distinguishing Lebanese accent, is gifted with boundless energy, and is a true patriot for her adopted country. I hope you will visit her web page, join her organization (which lobbies for national security with respect to the Islam threat from within and without), and read her two books: Because they Hate and They Must be Stopped, both New York Times bestsellers. I plan on using one of these when I teach Christian Ethics next term at Denver Seminary.
Police protection was provided for her talk at Colorado Christian University. You can imagine why. She needs your prayers as well. I provided the concluding prayer the night that she spoke and prayed Psalm 91:1-2 on her behalf, among other things.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Abortion, Paid by Your Taxes
Obama lied again tonight about public funding of abortion under this health plan. Get the facts here.
Monday, September 07, 2009
A Lament Over Defection
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.--2 Timothy 4:9-10; emphasis added.
I lament that so many have "loved this world" at the expense of living for Jesus Christ. Instead of keeping their hearts and minds on eternity, and thus being willing to suffer in various ways for the suffering Savior and the good of the world, they have made provisions for the flesh, to gratify its lusts. They found the fleeting fleshpots of postmodernity more appealing than denying themselves, taking up their crosses daily, and following Christ into Kingdom endeavors--come what may. (I am not thinking of those who address their doubts and continue to seek God. That is another story.)
Some are only visiting the spectre world of sin's allures; they will be chastened by God and return to Christ. Others have given themselves over to this present world, having never truly left it to follow the lamb of God in time and eternity.
The Bible warned us of this in advance, but seeing it played out through real people still breaks one's heart.
I lament that so many have "loved this world" at the expense of living for Jesus Christ. Instead of keeping their hearts and minds on eternity, and thus being willing to suffer in various ways for the suffering Savior and the good of the world, they have made provisions for the flesh, to gratify its lusts. They found the fleeting fleshpots of postmodernity more appealing than denying themselves, taking up their crosses daily, and following Christ into Kingdom endeavors--come what may. (I am not thinking of those who address their doubts and continue to seek God. That is another story.)
Some are only visiting the spectre world of sin's allures; they will be chastened by God and return to Christ. Others have given themselves over to this present world, having never truly left it to follow the lamb of God in time and eternity.
The Bible warned us of this in advance, but seeing it played out through real people still breaks one's heart.
Dan Brown's Erroneous World
With Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol, due out September 15, everyone should be up to speed on his basic worldview and MO. This New York Times editorial is helpful to explain his message and popularity.
Doug Groothuis Sermon in Centennial
I will be speaking on a biblical and scientific view of the origin of life at Grace Chapel on September 13, 2009. Their service times are 9:00, 10:45 and 6:00. Hope to see you there.
The Arrogance
Obama's messianic arrogance is unparalleled and appalling. He now wants to cast his spell on the children of America by imposing this personality and socialist worldview on the state-run schools. I have never seen anything like it in my life time. However, Italy and Germany saw similar things in the 1930s...
Sunday, September 06, 2009
The Outrageous Imposture of Contemporary Television as a Medium of Knowledge
As many of you know, I do not watch television. But occasionally, I watch a segment on YouTube. I just did and it appalled me deeply. This is a four-minute "story" on the teaching of science in Texas. I favor "teaching the controversy" over Darwinism. Darwinists typically do not. However, you will not learn anything of substance from this special-effects laden, image-mongering, sound-bit crazed, and factoid-frenzied hyperactive hodgepodge. Since I do not watch TV, when I see something like this it is jarring, startling, and intellectually offensive. It frightens me to think that people live in this world--on an average of four hours a day, according to the new Nielsen ratings.
There is simply no way to gain any meaningful knowledge about this issue from this format. They took hours of interviews and used no more than 10 second sound bites. They tried to distill (and dramatize) important scientific, pedagogical, and legal issues into four minutes of rapid-fire image explosions (with musical background where needed, of course).
Friends, stop watching TV for just ten days. Then go back and watch. You will be stunned. You will be better for it. Leave the cave and ascend to reality.
There is simply no way to gain any meaningful knowledge about this issue from this format. They took hours of interviews and used no more than 10 second sound bites. They tried to distill (and dramatize) important scientific, pedagogical, and legal issues into four minutes of rapid-fire image explosions (with musical background where needed, of course).
Friends, stop watching TV for just ten days. Then go back and watch. You will be stunned. You will be better for it. Leave the cave and ascend to reality.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
If you didn't know, I am experimenting with Twitter. My name on it is DougGroothuis. I use proper grammar, no abbreviations, and avoid trivia. So, what am I doing there? Subverting it.
Air Apologetics
You have heard of "air guitar" or "air drums." One imitates playing a musical instrument, usually with histrionic excess (rock style). But, of course, one cannot play these instruments (typically). One merely pretends, usually with narcissistic abandon.
Sadly, many Christians play "air apologetics"--they pretend to defend Christianity in the face of unbelief, but really only pretend to do it by relying on cliches or talking superficially only among themselves.
What can be done? Repent and strengthen the things that remain, for the Kingdom is at hand and were are audited by Eternity.
Sadly, many Christians play "air apologetics"--they pretend to defend Christianity in the face of unbelief, but really only pretend to do it by relying on cliches or talking superficially only among themselves.
What can be done? Repent and strengthen the things that remain, for the Kingdom is at hand and were are audited by Eternity.
Friday, September 04, 2009
C.S. LEWIS ON OBJECTIVE VALUE
The doctrine of objective value [is] the belief that certain attitudes are really true, and others really false, to the kind of thing the universe is and the kind of things we are. . . . Because our approvals and disapprovals are thus recognitions of objective vale or responses to an objective order, therefore emotional states can be in harmony with reason (when we feel liking for what ought to be approved) or out of harmony with reason (when we perceive that liking is due but cannot feel it). No emotion is, in itself, a judgement: in that sense all emotions and sentiments are alogical. But they can be reasonable or unreasonable as they conform to Reason or fail to conform.--The Abolition of Man (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975), 31-32.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Brigitte Gabriel in Denver
From John Andrews, Director of the Centennial Institute (of which I am a Fellow):
Centennial Institute is honored to host Brigitte Gabriel, the brilliant author and organizer courageously working to waken America to the threat of radical Islam, for a free public lecture in the Colorado Christian University Event Center on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m.
We invite you attend, bring friends, and forward this e-mail widely.
Ms. Gabriel’s remarkable story, from her Christian girlhood in Lebanon through her public leadership today as an American by choice, is spelled out in two best-selling books, Because They Hate (2006) and They Must Be Stopped (2008). Membership is booming in her citizens movement, ACT for America.Brigitte Gabriel's topic on 9/11 will be "America Confronts Radical Islam." The issue is of unsurpassed importance. The date, a somber anniversary in world history, speaks for itself.
All are welcome, but space is limited. Please make your reservations today.Please RSVP to Centennial@ccu.edu or call 303-963-3424. Provide your name and the number in your party.
Sincerely,
John Andrews
Director, Centennial Institute
http://centennialccu.org
303-963-3424
Centennial@ccu.edu303-963-3424
The Centennial Institute sponsors research, events, and publications to enhance public understanding of the most important issues facing our state and nation. By proclaiming Truth, we aim to foster faith, family, and freedom, teach citizenship, and renew the spirit of 1776
Centennial Institute is honored to host Brigitte Gabriel, the brilliant author and organizer courageously working to waken America to the threat of radical Islam, for a free public lecture in the Colorado Christian University Event Center on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m.
We invite you attend, bring friends, and forward this e-mail widely.
Ms. Gabriel’s remarkable story, from her Christian girlhood in Lebanon through her public leadership today as an American by choice, is spelled out in two best-selling books, Because They Hate (2006) and They Must Be Stopped (2008). Membership is booming in her citizens movement, ACT for America.Brigitte Gabriel's topic on 9/11 will be "America Confronts Radical Islam." The issue is of unsurpassed importance. The date, a somber anniversary in world history, speaks for itself.
All are welcome, but space is limited. Please make your reservations today.Please RSVP to Centennial@ccu.edu or call 303-963-3424. Provide your name and the number in your party.
Sincerely,
John Andrews
Director, Centennial Institute
http://centennialccu.org
303-963-3424
Centennial@ccu.edu303-963-3424
The Centennial Institute sponsors research, events, and publications to enhance public understanding of the most important issues facing our state and nation. By proclaiming Truth, we aim to foster faith, family, and freedom, teach citizenship, and renew the spirit of 1776
From the Summer-Fall, Denver Seminary Magazine
Endowed Graduation Award in honor of Dr. Gordon Lewis and Dr. Doug GroothuisIan Colle (‘09 M.A. in Philosophy of Religion) has established an endowed graduation award to honor Gordon Lewis, senior professor of Christian philosophy and theology, and Doug Groothuis, professor of philosophy. Colle says, “Some of the greatest moments of inspiration I received as a student at Denver Seminary were in classes taught by Dr. Lewis and Dr. Groothuis. At first glance, we knew students might have easily overlooked these seemingly mild-mannered professors of philosophy. Little did any of us know that we were about to begin learning at the feet of battle-hardened warriors in the fight against the powers of evil. They taught us that ideas have consequences and that intellectual warriors must join the fight by being able to defend their faith with sound arguments. Holing up in our Christian compound and ignoring what was going on in the world around us was never an option. Both men teach with a passion for the objective truth of Christianity and for equipping future leaders to defend that truth. By creating this endowment, I hope to ignite that passion in future generations of philosophers from Denver Seminary and ensure they remember the great shoulders upon which they are standing.”
This award will be given at graduation to an outstanding philosophy of religion student. Colle encourages all students and alumni impacted by these two professors to make additional gifts to support this award fund. To make a gift, please contact Brian Fort at 303.762.6924 or brian.fort@denverseminary.edu, or send a gift directly to the Office of Advancement, noting that your gift is for the Lewis/Groothuis graduation award fund.
This award will be given at graduation to an outstanding philosophy of religion student. Colle encourages all students and alumni impacted by these two professors to make additional gifts to support this award fund. To make a gift, please contact Brian Fort at 303.762.6924 or brian.fort@denverseminary.edu, or send a gift directly to the Office of Advancement, noting that your gift is for the Lewis/Groothuis graduation award fund.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Endowed Award
Ian Colle (M.A., Philosophy of Religion, 2009, Denver Seminary) has endowed an award in the philosophy of religion in honor of Dr. Gordon Lewis and myself. I am deeply honored by this. Go to page 17 of the on line Denver Seminary Magazine.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Combat the Lies and Killing
Obama is lying (again). The Democrat bills coming up for votes in the Senate and House, if passed, would provide federal funds to pay for abortion. See Charles Colson's article and contact your representatives.
Groothuis on Cyberspace and Scholarship
One of my peer-reviewed articles, "Christian Scholarship and the Philosophical Analysis of Cyberspace Technologies," is now in cyberspace. This is from JETS.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Victor Davis Hanson on Obama's Worldview
Rather, he is a statist. The president believes that a select group of affluent, highly educated technocrats — cosmopolitan, noble-minded, and properly progressive — supported by a phalanx of whiz-kids fresh out of blue-chip universities with little or no experience in the marketplace, can direct our lives far better than we can ourselves.
Read the entire article.
Read the entire article.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
How Do I Know?
Curmudgeons call me a well informed ignoramus. But I do know stuff, dude, and here's how:
1. Wikipedias. So many people adding so much just makes it "true." And I chose which Wikis to believe.
2. Perception is reality. What else is there?
3. Subjective satisfaction does the trick. It feels good, so it works, so it is "true."
4. Oprah said it.
5. Truth is what my social networking site lets me get away with, which is just about anything.
6. All absolutes are false!
7. All restrictions on my free-flowing, ever-evolving self are false.
There's my epistemology, you curmudgeons! Deal with it.
1. Wikipedias. So many people adding so much just makes it "true." And I chose which Wikis to believe.
2. Perception is reality. What else is there?
3. Subjective satisfaction does the trick. It feels good, so it works, so it is "true."
4. Oprah said it.
5. Truth is what my social networking site lets me get away with, which is just about anything.
6. All absolutes are false!
7. All restrictions on my free-flowing, ever-evolving self are false.
There's my epistemology, you curmudgeons! Deal with it.
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