Philosophers...

This is an exerpt from a comment paper on value theories:
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Initially I was going to say that it seems that philosophers could solve the issue of value very easily... with the premis that a Christian God exists. It seems to me a bit egotistical of philosophers to refuse to address such an issue... Tending to want to simplify the system, philosophers reject the premis on the assumption that 1. God does exist, and we cant know, or 2. God doesn't exist, and thus why complicate the system with the premis of a God? But this decision seems to bite the philosophers in the rear, leading to a tonne of other complications... i.e., value outside of Humanity's perception, Justice and other universals... it seems to me more evident each time I read the book that the premis of a God is much more elegant and seemingly more sensible... as it seems that philosophers like O'Neill are trying to clarify things so much so that things get even more confusing.
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I'm coming to a greater appreciation of how knowing a God exists unifies so much knowledge, and without a God, how much more difficult it is to know anything... it reminds me of Zeno's paradox about the Runner... (the runner to get to the end must first be able to get to the half point, but to get the half point, he must get to the half of the half point... eventually saying that for the runner to reach the end he mus cross an infinite amount of points, but that's impossible and thus running{or moving} is impossible.) The way I see it is the divisions are different knowledges... if you try to build a whole (reach the end) from all the divisions, it's not possible, because you have an infinite distance to cover... but say you have already reached the end of the distance, by not worrying about the divisions, just about the Goal (God). Once you've gotten to the Goal, you can look back and divide your path however you choose, and it will make sense, as to how it got you to your Goal.

I don't know if the analogy is well formed, but I'm typing fast, as It's dinner time... and I've got to go eat. I'll try to clear it up later.

Class

I looked a bit a head in my metaphysics book... and found that the Author (aka., my professor) comes to the conclusion in the section about God and Evil (theodicy?) that "therefore, there is no God"... so I'm going to need to rediscover refutations of this as the only solution... if anyone has any leads on ways of defending God and Evil, please send them...

One of my tactics will be to deny that the exisitence of evil is contradictory with the concept of an All-loving God...

Another I'm going to look into, is to state that if the view of evil is that it is only a finite thing, and God is infinite, then evil is not contrary to the all-powerful God.

But I'm far from even seriously starting into inquiry about how to defend it... so any help will be of great use.

Christian radio

Just had a thought earlier today about the radio spot that says that on the last day there will be people who tell jesus about all of their christian works... but he will say to them that he did not know them... (then it goes on talking about faith...)


If you have works, but no faith, then you are not saved. (as the above argument states)
If you have faith, but no works, then you are not saved. (as "faith without works is dead")
Lets say that it is only the case that you can have faith, but no works, or works, but no faith.
If these are your premises, then you are not saved OR you are not saved. Which is redundant, so we can reduce this to say: you are not saved (i.e., there is no possible way to be saved, if faith and works are mutually exclusive).

The problem with the argument is that faith and works are not mutually exclusive, but they are compatible. And it seems that it is only through both that we can be saved.

I thought of it this way today... if faith can be likened to God knowing us, then works seems able to be likened to us knowing God (knowing God calls us to action). And it seems the case that a relationship only occurs when both know each other.

So, a relationship with God requires Him to know us (give us the gift of faith) and for us to know Him (serve him through action), and not solely one or the other.

COLD

So I woke up early this morning to get some work done on the computers at the lab (I don't own one)... and enjoyed the nice iowa morning... and by nice I mean... downright evil... 6 BELOW! what DID THEY DO TO THE WEATHER! Okay... calm down... Anyhow... this weather is insane... but I got to the bus stop right when the bus came and joined the sardines... got to school and the lab was down... as were the other labs in the building I was in... as I was heading to another building I remembered I could check out a laptop, which I promptly did, and am now on... My classes are interesting... Philosophy of Physics, Logic, Buddhism, and Metaphysics... Phil Phys is interesting as I used to be a physics major, and it seems promising, as the teacher is affable. Logic... well yes... I took it last semester in san antonio, but it didn't transfer right, and though I could go and protest, I discovered that the class it did transfer in as, counts to my degree, and that it would be a good idea to start off my Iowa state career with a good GPA... also I still have several things I need to learn in logic, and I don't mind reinforcement of the teaching. Buddhism is interesting... it seems to have a very interesting teacher... and the subject matter is quite interesting... in fact for an oral report I'm going to work on the Catholic-Buddhist dialogue (so if any of you have info on that, please email me sirhair@gmail.com ), and Metaphysics is interesting... I think my teacher is pro-abortion and is an atheist... and so far my class seems to be hostile to faith... which will make this class an interesting cross... having to stand up amongst lions and defend the truth... already I know I'm going to have to decrease that He may increase... anyhow... I hope soon to post some pics but... as of now I don't have a permanent computer... so that may be a bit... also my classes are all intensive reading classes... (except logic) which is much different from my last few classes... which were only read the text book type classes... anyhow... I think its a bit odd that the best and brightest of the nation (or at least Iowa) are all so vehemenently opposed to truth and tradition... they want so much to be unique and novel that they accept any garbage that presents itself as gold... may the youth of our nation stop being such... such teenagers.

Iowa

Well... I am actually very okay, I've just been busy... I'm in the process of moving up to Iowa State university on the 6th. I'm currently in Des Moines... I've got a new red Parka with a comfy and detachable Fleece lining... I've got gloves, a hat and cold weather... but I miss the 81 degree weather of San antonio today! :-( it's 22 or something here... and it "feels like 11" according to weather.com... other than that I'm just getting administrative things done before school starts next week... and looking for a job Thanks for the concern Penitens!
I'll hopefully be posting more in the weeks to come...
God bless!