Following Soren Kierkegaard and other existential philosophers, some have insisted that the truth is what is relevant to our existence or life and false if it is not. Truth is subjectivity, Kierkegaard said; truth is livable. As Martin Buber stated, truth is found in persons, not in propositions.
However, even if truth is existential in some sense, not all truth fits into the existential category. There are many kinds of truth, physical, mathematical, historical and theoretical. But if truth by its very nature is found only subjectively in existential relevance then none of these could be true. What is true will be relevant, but not everything relevant is true. A pen is relevant to an atheist writer. And a gun is relevant to a murder. But this does not make the former true nor the latter good. A truth about life will be relevant to life. But not everything relevant to one's life will be true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWY-6xBA0Pk
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Evolution a fact of science? Part Two
When we deal with the issue of origins, we must realize that no people were there to observe and record the events. When scientists discuss the origins of the universe, the earth, or life on earth, we must realize that the discussion is based on assumptions. These fallible assumptions make the conclusions of the discussion less valid than if the discussion were based on actual observation. Almost all biology books and textbooks written in the last two generations have been written as if these presuppositions were true.
Proponents of the evolutionary worldview expect everyone to accept evolution as fact. This is a difficult case to make when the how, why, when and where of evolutionary history are sharply contested or unknown by the scientists who insists evolution is a fact.
Evolutionists often claim that creation is not scientific because of unprovable assumptions that it is based on. The fact that evolution is based on its own set of unprovable, untestable, and unfalsifiable assumptions is recognized by many in the scientific community.
Within the scientific literature, the mathematical and chemical impossibilities of the origin of the universe and life on earth are recognized. Many notable scientists, including Sir Fred Hoyle and Sir Francis Crick, have gone so far as to suggest that life originated om other planets or was brought to earth by an intelligent being. These ideas are no less testable than special creation but avoid invoking God as our Creator.
Proponents of the evolutionary worldview expect everyone to accept evolution as fact. This is a difficult case to make when the how, why, when and where of evolutionary history are sharply contested or unknown by the scientists who insists evolution is a fact.
Evolutionists often claim that creation is not scientific because of unprovable assumptions that it is based on. The fact that evolution is based on its own set of unprovable, untestable, and unfalsifiable assumptions is recognized by many in the scientific community.
Within the scientific literature, the mathematical and chemical impossibilities of the origin of the universe and life on earth are recognized. Many notable scientists, including Sir Fred Hoyle and Sir Francis Crick, have gone so far as to suggest that life originated om other planets or was brought to earth by an intelligent being. These ideas are no less testable than special creation but avoid invoking God as our Creator.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Suffering when doing good
Many and various afflictions united against the early Christians, and
they had a great conflict. The Christian spirit is not a selfish spirit;
it puts us upon pitying others, visiting them, helping them, and
pleading for them. All things here are but shadows. The happiness of the
saints in heaven will last for ever; enemies can never take it away as
earthly goods. This will make rich amends for all we may lose and suffer
here. The greatest part of the saints' happiness, as yet, is in
promise. It is a trial of the patience of Christians, to be content to
live after their work is done, and to stay for their reward till God's
time to give it is come. He will soon come to them at death, to end all
their sufferings, and to give them a crown of life. The Christian's
present conflict may be sharp, but will be soon over. God never is
pleased with the formal profession and outward duties and services of
such as do not persevere; but he beholds them with great displeasure.
And those who have been kept faithful in great trails for the time past,
have reason to hope for the same grace to help them still to live by
faith, till they receive the end of their faith and patience, even the
salvation of their souls. Living by faith, and dying in faith, our souls
are safe for ever.
Hebrews 10:32-39
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
Hebrews 10:32-39
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
38 And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Truth is not "what is comprehensive"
Another idea is that the view that explains the most data is true. And those that are not as comprehensive are not true- or not as true. Comprehensive is one test for truth, but not the definition of truth. Certainly a good theory will explain all relevant data. And a true worldview will be comprehensive. However, this is only a negative test of whether it is true. The affirmations of that view must still correspond with the real state of affairs. If a view was true simply because it was more Wikipedia, then a comprehensive statement of error would be true and a digested presentation of truth automatically would be in error. Not all long-winded presentations are true and concise ones are all false. One can have a comprehensive view of what is false or a superficial or incomplete view of what is true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUohtd2hP78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUohtd2hP78
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Evolution a fact of science? Part One
In the media, textbooks and scientific blogs the occurrence of evolution has become a "fact".
The definition of the word evolution has also taken on two different meaning that are not equal. Evolution can be used in the sense of change in a species by natural selection. This is often referred to as microevolution and is accepted by evolutionists and creationist alike as good observational science. This type of evolution allows change within groups but not between groups.
The other meaning of evolution involves the idea that all organisms on earth share a common ancestor by descent with modification. This idea is commonly referred to as macroevolution.
The definitions are often used interchangeable. Typical, textbooks show that new species can form-evolution has occurred- so they argue that is obvious that evolution, in the molecules-to-man sense, must have occurred. The problem is that just because natural selection and speciation have occurred (and there is strong evidence to support such claims) the claim that all life has evolved from a common ancestor is based on many assumptions that cannot be proven.
People believe the ideas of the evolutionary development of life on earth for many reasons: it is all that they have been taught and exposed to, they believe the evidence supports evolution, they do want want to be lumped with people who do not believe in evolution and are often considered to be less intelligent, evolution has the stamp of approval from real scientists and evolutionary history allows people to reject the idea of God and legitimize their own immorality. Evaluating the presuppositions behind belief in evolution makes for a much more productive discussion. Two intelligent people can arrive at different conclusions using the same evidence; so their starting assumptions is the most important issue in discussing historical science.
The definition of the word evolution has also taken on two different meaning that are not equal. Evolution can be used in the sense of change in a species by natural selection. This is often referred to as microevolution and is accepted by evolutionists and creationist alike as good observational science. This type of evolution allows change within groups but not between groups.
The other meaning of evolution involves the idea that all organisms on earth share a common ancestor by descent with modification. This idea is commonly referred to as macroevolution.
The definitions are often used interchangeable. Typical, textbooks show that new species can form-evolution has occurred- so they argue that is obvious that evolution, in the molecules-to-man sense, must have occurred. The problem is that just because natural selection and speciation have occurred (and there is strong evidence to support such claims) the claim that all life has evolved from a common ancestor is based on many assumptions that cannot be proven.
People believe the ideas of the evolutionary development of life on earth for many reasons: it is all that they have been taught and exposed to, they believe the evidence supports evolution, they do want want to be lumped with people who do not believe in evolution and are often considered to be less intelligent, evolution has the stamp of approval from real scientists and evolutionary history allows people to reject the idea of God and legitimize their own immorality. Evaluating the presuppositions behind belief in evolution makes for a much more productive discussion. Two intelligent people can arrive at different conclusions using the same evidence; so their starting assumptions is the most important issue in discussing historical science.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Only way and no other
The exhortations against apostasy and to perseverance, are urged by many
strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling
away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and
reject Christ, the only Savior; despise and resist the Spirit, the only
Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of
salvation, and the words of eternal life. Of this destruction God gives
some notorious sinners, while on earth, a fearful foreboding in their
consciences, with despair of being able to endure or to escape it. But
what punishment can be sorer than to die without mercy? We answer, to
die by mercy, by the mercy and grace which they have despised. How
dreadful is the case, when not only the justice of God, but his abused
grace and mercy call for vengeance! All this does not in the least mean
that any souls who sorrow for sin will be shut out from mercy, or that
any will be refused the benefit of Christ's sacrifice, who are willing
to accept these blessings. Him that comes unto Christ, he will in no
wise cast out.
Hebrews 10:26-31
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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