Gene Chapman, the Alliance Presidential candidate for whom I had been working as Intelligent Design Advisor, has withdrawn from the race. Unfortunately, he has deleted my blog as well. This site will thus now become my official home page. Here is my e-mail response I sent to him:
"In a message dated 3/29/2007 8:32:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, genechapman@hotmail.com writes:
I've carried the ball as far down field as I can. With 4 jobs and school starting in June, along with not having a truck to carry me to presidential debates, I see no way to continue the campaign.
Hi Gene!
Sorry to hear of your campaign's retirement. Keep up your courage though. The work is not really about who's President - it is too far away an office. In order to regain the Federal government, we will have to regain the county councils and city mayorships. Our Constitution Party here in Greenville is working right now on electing a wonderful candidate, Butch Taylor, in a Special Election May 8 for our County Council. Taylor has only one opponent, as there is no Demo(publican) in the race. :-) It's a great opportunity!
I wish you had given me prior notice of deleting my blog; while I have most of the really good articles saved at http://www.rjosiah.com/ (my Worldviews Revolution site), and have also printed out numerous articles and comments, I can never regain the vast majority of the comments or articles.
You may be interested to know that I had asked God, two days before you sent my Dad that e-mail in August '06 regarding me as Evolution Advisor, whether there were not something I could be doing which could have an impact somewhere. In essence I said, "What am I to do next?" I felt a response of simply, "Wait and see." So I was not quite surprised when my Dad handed me that e-mail. More like, awed.
Similarly, a week ago Tuesday, I asked God whether there were not something more I could be doing. As you may know, the visits to the AdvisorOnID site had plummeted, and the atheists who commented were becoming more and more irrational and the arguments were going in pure cycles. I furthermore felt that the AdvisorOnID site had accomplished the purpose for which God (and I believe you as well) wanted me to have it: to refine my views, define my key terms, and learn about blogs themselves. The answer I felt from God, even more strong than before (and nearly audible) was "Watch and see." So I was not quite surprised when I received this e-mail. More like, awed.
What I will do next (for now):
1. Finish the research paper for AiG
2. Work on the Taylor election bid
3. Launch the LibertyInLaw.com a.k.a. SC Liberty Alliance project in earnest
I am also going to try to recover the name "advisoronid.blogspot.com" for myself to use to re-direct what traffic I had to the more generalized Worldviews Revolution site.
I will be supporting Ron Paul for President.
Keep up the battle for Biblicism! Thanks for the great experience of blogging and campaigning for this wonderful cause of our supremely, actually "Intelligent" Creator. :-)
Your friend, R. Josiah Magnuson
http://www.libertyinlaw.com/"
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
LIL Update
I have been working today on a more official website for LibertyInLaw.com. It is coming along very well - the key now is to get it from the computer to online! :-) The look is a bright red with a parchment yellowish background. There is a large Statue of Liberty like that below in the bottom left corner of the new site design, looking upwards towards the "Law" in "Liberty In Law . com" at the top right.
A question under consideration is whether to adopt the title "South Carolina Liberty Alliance" for our work, or leave it at the less-official-sounding "LibertyInLaw.com." The SCLA idea comes from Cory Burnell of the Christian Exodus movement. It could help to gain the support of those in the Patriot, etc. community if we made this our name. However, we might also be expected to follow a pre-existing perspective on what such an organization should do and how it should be run. This state of affairs would not be desirable, since it would be in essence a handing-over of the very reference point which we as proponents of lawful government and pro-freedom-alliances will be attempting to provide.
Here is a summary of the LIL position taken from the website currently being constructed:
"We believe that liberty is not merely the ability to do what one chooses, but the fact that permanent, universal rights exist which allow one to have that ability protected.
"These rights or laws prevent the violation of liberty itself - e.g. the right to life is fundamental to the ability to choose, for one must be alive if one is to decide anything. And it is clear that the freedom of a murderous dictator is no freedom at all. As Constitutional Convention delegate James Wilson stated, "Without Liberty, Law loses its nature and name, and becomes oppression. Without Law, Liberty also loses its nature and name, and becomes licentiousness (anarchy)."
"A classic example of this concept is that of the stoplight. If all the cars at a given intersection tried to cross that intersection at once, none of them would get through. Instead, the stoplight exists as a collective standard to ensure that all the cars in fact cross the intersection and arrive at their respective destinations. Likewise, true liberty is inseparable from the Laws and absolutes given to us as a common standard by our Creator. "
-R. Josiah Magnuson
A question under consideration is whether to adopt the title "South Carolina Liberty Alliance" for our work, or leave it at the less-official-sounding "LibertyInLaw.com." The SCLA idea comes from Cory Burnell of the Christian Exodus movement. It could help to gain the support of those in the Patriot, etc. community if we made this our name. However, we might also be expected to follow a pre-existing perspective on what such an organization should do and how it should be run. This state of affairs would not be desirable, since it would be in essence a handing-over of the very reference point which we as proponents of lawful government and pro-freedom-alliances will be attempting to provide.
Here is a summary of the LIL position taken from the website currently being constructed:
"We believe that liberty is not merely the ability to do what one chooses, but the fact that permanent, universal rights exist which allow one to have that ability protected.
"These rights or laws prevent the violation of liberty itself - e.g. the right to life is fundamental to the ability to choose, for one must be alive if one is to decide anything. And it is clear that the freedom of a murderous dictator is no freedom at all. As Constitutional Convention delegate James Wilson stated, "Without Liberty, Law loses its nature and name, and becomes oppression. Without Law, Liberty also loses its nature and name, and becomes licentiousness (anarchy)."
"A classic example of this concept is that of the stoplight. If all the cars at a given intersection tried to cross that intersection at once, none of them would get through. Instead, the stoplight exists as a collective standard to ensure that all the cars in fact cross the intersection and arrive at their respective destinations. Likewise, true liberty is inseparable from the Laws and absolutes given to us as a common standard by our Creator. "
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Friday, March 23, 2007
Taylor candidacy
An article Mark Hackett requested I write for the Times Examiner newspaper:
Robert "Butch" Taylor was nominated Thursday at the Taylors Branch Library as the Constitution Party candidate for the District 20 County Council seat left vacant by Scott Case.
After being called to order and led in the anthem "My County 'Tis of Thee" by Chairman Mark Hackett, the group was addressed by Gene Papki, a community activist. Papki introduced Taylor as "a bowman, a watchman, and a man who will make up the hedge" noting that "We aren't here today to fill a vacancy. We're here to fill a void."
Taylor stated that he would "make one pledge, and one pledge only: I will strive to be worthy of your trust." He added that officials are elected to serve the people, not special interests. "Of course, we mostly serve God. In office, we do that through setting an example and being a Godly person," Taylor said. Taylor summarized his campaign as one for less taxes and more honest government. He was subsequently nominated by a unanimous vote.
Anderson Councilman Ron Wilson and Constitution Party State Chairman Ted Adams also discussed election strategy, calling for an energetic campaign. "If we can't win this one, we should quit - and I mean it" stated Adams. The Taylor campaign will be holding weekly meetings beginning Thursday, April 5 at The Scriptorium, 3501 Rutherford Rd. Ext. at 6:30 PM.
Taylor faces Republican Sid Cates in a special election May 8.
By R. Josiah Magnuson
Robert "Butch" Taylor was nominated Thursday at the Taylors Branch Library as the Constitution Party candidate for the District 20 County Council seat left vacant by Scott Case.
After being called to order and led in the anthem "My County 'Tis of Thee" by Chairman Mark Hackett, the group was addressed by Gene Papki, a community activist. Papki introduced Taylor as "a bowman, a watchman, and a man who will make up the hedge" noting that "We aren't here today to fill a vacancy. We're here to fill a void."
Taylor stated that he would "make one pledge, and one pledge only: I will strive to be worthy of your trust." He added that officials are elected to serve the people, not special interests. "Of course, we mostly serve God. In office, we do that through setting an example and being a Godly person," Taylor said. Taylor summarized his campaign as one for less taxes and more honest government. He was subsequently nominated by a unanimous vote.
Anderson Councilman Ron Wilson and Constitution Party State Chairman Ted Adams also discussed election strategy, calling for an energetic campaign. "If we can't win this one, we should quit - and I mean it" stated Adams. The Taylor campaign will be holding weekly meetings beginning Thursday, April 5 at The Scriptorium, 3501 Rutherford Rd. Ext. at 6:30 PM.
Taylor faces Republican Sid Cates in a special election May 8.
By R. Josiah Magnuson
"Evolutionary Worldview" Defined
The Evolutionary worldview, summarily defined:
Generally, the belief (whether in theory or practice) that everything existing or having existed has a naturalistic origin; i.e. an origin apart from any divine or otherwise hyper-dimensional creative activity. Specifically, the origins model based around the Darwinian biological system of random mutations selected according to benefit.
It should be noted that a refusal to accept this belief system is not a denial of science or logic; since science in the pure sense does not regard origins or pre-history, and logic has different outcomes depending on what one's axioms are at the outset. The idea of naturalistic or self-containing existence for the universe is such an axiom.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Generally, the belief (whether in theory or practice) that everything existing or having existed has a naturalistic origin; i.e. an origin apart from any divine or otherwise hyper-dimensional creative activity. Specifically, the origins model based around the Darwinian biological system of random mutations selected according to benefit.
It should be noted that a refusal to accept this belief system is not a denial of science or logic; since science in the pure sense does not regard origins or pre-history, and logic has different outcomes depending on what one's axioms are at the outset. The idea of naturalistic or self-containing existence for the universe is such an axiom.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
On the Law of Nature
How can we know fundamentally that gods such as Allah who command their followers to physically conquer the world, or Aztec or Hindu gods who often demand human sacrifice, are false? The reason is that such demands are against what some have called the "Law of Nature." The Law of Nature is interpreted various ways, but its' major tenets are forever imbedded in the soul of human beings.
The Law of Nature may be summed up as, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man" (Gen. 9:6). The Law of Nature is the idea of justice. God has placed in all of us an inner recognition of rights and morals. Religions which contradict these rights and morals are squandering the human conscience. Members of these religions are kept in them by psychological terror.
While various cultures have suppressed and attacked the concept of the Law of Nature, it still remains embedded in human thinking. No matter where one goes, the concept will reassert itself occasionally and there will be an attempt at, or at least a wish for, social reform.
Indeed, as C. S. Lewis argued, the very fact that quarrels can occur is evidence for some underlying sense of justice or morality.Of course, groups proclaiming peace between all religions, Universal Oneness, etc. (such as Ba'hai and some forms of Buddhism and New Age-ism) are false for the same reason. If some religions are false, then not all religions are true.
The Christian religion as expressed through the Bible is the only one which can satisfy all the needs of the human soul, including the "Law of Nature" craving for true justice and absolute rights.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
The Law of Nature may be summed up as, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man" (Gen. 9:6). The Law of Nature is the idea of justice. God has placed in all of us an inner recognition of rights and morals. Religions which contradict these rights and morals are squandering the human conscience. Members of these religions are kept in them by psychological terror.
While various cultures have suppressed and attacked the concept of the Law of Nature, it still remains embedded in human thinking. No matter where one goes, the concept will reassert itself occasionally and there will be an attempt at, or at least a wish for, social reform.
Indeed, as C. S. Lewis argued, the very fact that quarrels can occur is evidence for some underlying sense of justice or morality.Of course, groups proclaiming peace between all religions, Universal Oneness, etc. (such as Ba'hai and some forms of Buddhism and New Age-ism) are false for the same reason. If some religions are false, then not all religions are true.
The Christian religion as expressed through the Bible is the only one which can satisfy all the needs of the human soul, including the "Law of Nature" craving for true justice and absolute rights.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
The Three Big Problems
If we were to reduce the political science or civic objections to Evolutionary theory down to three points, they would be these:
1. Nature of government: Evolutionism includes no absolute morality or standard for laws. Right and wrong are variously determined by either what is socially acceptable, what is said to be right or wrong by a leading official, or what is most advantageous to the community. Thus, under such a philosophy, there are no unalienable rights which can limit governmental power over individuals.
2. Method of government: Since there are no unalienable rights under Evolutionism, there is no reason to limit government, and so no reason for checks and balances or wisdom in governmental officials. Countries adopting the Evolutionary worldview have thus become unlimited democracies, and in many cases, dictatorships. Never have they become constitutional representative republics such as the United States was designed to be.
3. Purpose of government: The traditional purpose for government, and that stated in the Bible in Romans 13, is for physical protection. The purpose under Evolutionary philosophy is one of two things: 1. To dominate and/or subdue a cultural heirarchy of "fit" and "less-fit." 2. To implement the desires of the Majority. The first purpose is the most historically famous, creating dictatorial regimes such as Hitler's. The second is less famous, but perhaps much more common. This purpose, too, often immediatly creates dictatorial regimes, such as Lenin's or Mao's. However, it often accomplishes its' logical end more sinisterly, slowly molding a grand socialist State through welfare programs, "common markets," and erosion of traditional values.
Battling the anti-American and anti-Christian forces is not easy. We must do it through the power of our Creator, since, after all, it is Him they are fundamentally attacking. Understanding this fact can enable us to rally to the cry of David, "Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26)
-R. Josiah Magnuson
You may also view this post. Or, for a more artistic-styled articulation, see here.
1. Nature of government: Evolutionism includes no absolute morality or standard for laws. Right and wrong are variously determined by either what is socially acceptable, what is said to be right or wrong by a leading official, or what is most advantageous to the community. Thus, under such a philosophy, there are no unalienable rights which can limit governmental power over individuals.
2. Method of government: Since there are no unalienable rights under Evolutionism, there is no reason to limit government, and so no reason for checks and balances or wisdom in governmental officials. Countries adopting the Evolutionary worldview have thus become unlimited democracies, and in many cases, dictatorships. Never have they become constitutional representative republics such as the United States was designed to be.
3. Purpose of government: The traditional purpose for government, and that stated in the Bible in Romans 13, is for physical protection. The purpose under Evolutionary philosophy is one of two things: 1. To dominate and/or subdue a cultural heirarchy of "fit" and "less-fit." 2. To implement the desires of the Majority. The first purpose is the most historically famous, creating dictatorial regimes such as Hitler's. The second is less famous, but perhaps much more common. This purpose, too, often immediatly creates dictatorial regimes, such as Lenin's or Mao's. However, it often accomplishes its' logical end more sinisterly, slowly molding a grand socialist State through welfare programs, "common markets," and erosion of traditional values.
Battling the anti-American and anti-Christian forces is not easy. We must do it through the power of our Creator, since, after all, it is Him they are fundamentally attacking. Understanding this fact can enable us to rally to the cry of David, "Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26)
-R. Josiah Magnuson
You may also view this post. Or, for a more artistic-styled articulation, see here.
Monday, February 26, 2007
LIL Update
We were finally able to get the technical difficulties with the LibertyInLaw site out of the way this afternoon. Praise God!
Also, something interesting which I realized is that my announcement of the launch of the LibertyInLaw site on AdvisorOnID took place on the Nineteenth of January - Robert E. Lee's 200th birthday exactly! I take this as a sign of approval from our Creator. :-)
Let's get to work.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Also, something interesting which I realized is that my announcement of the launch of the LibertyInLaw site on AdvisorOnID took place on the Nineteenth of January - Robert E. Lee's 200th birthday exactly! I take this as a sign of approval from our Creator. :-)
Let's get to work.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Video Games and Evolution
My family received the March issue of the magazine Popular Science the other day. A prominent article was regarding a new video game based on Evolution and designed to promote creativity, of all things!
The new game, called Spore, was developed by Will Wright, an atheist who also designed such anti-God productions as The Sims. Players will be able to pilot the cosmological, biological, and political development of their own universe. They will even be able to share their universe and its life-forms with other players, through use of the Internet.
While Wright admits that the game is more like Intelligent Design than Evolution, he insists that it is a "pretty accurate, though caricatured, representation of reality in the way life evolved from single cell to multicell to intelligence."
The picture on the first page of the article featured a large fanciful planet with green oceans and pink-and-purple-swirled mountains. Vegetation on the planet included what appeared to be cauliflower-like trees and bumpy pea-like objects. On the second page, a herd of red-and-yellow-striped dinosaur styled creatures with electric waves emanating from their tails grazed at the edge of a primeval-looking forest.
My evaluation of the launch of the game of Spore is that it is designed to produce confusion in the minds of the public as to what Evolution really is. There is a growing movement promulgating the idea that Evolution is not so un-designed or directionless after all. Some even believe that the existence of life is intrinsic in the Laws of nature, being put there by an unknowable mathematic "Force" (cf. Star Wars), thus following this idea to its logical conclusion.
Another thing which becomes obvious is that this video game will further convolute any perception the public still holds of the existence of unchanging scientific Law. Still more of our once-great civilization will thus go down the drain of relativism.
Of course, the new Spore game is only a small part in the struggle. Our goal must be to reclaim the "waste places" as the Bible says and demonstrate that Laws are good and the Bible can be trusted. After all, the Bible is the Word of a loving and powerful Creator who can make real worlds and actual people.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
The new game, called Spore, was developed by Will Wright, an atheist who also designed such anti-God productions as The Sims. Players will be able to pilot the cosmological, biological, and political development of their own universe. They will even be able to share their universe and its life-forms with other players, through use of the Internet.
While Wright admits that the game is more like Intelligent Design than Evolution, he insists that it is a "pretty accurate, though caricatured, representation of reality in the way life evolved from single cell to multicell to intelligence."
The picture on the first page of the article featured a large fanciful planet with green oceans and pink-and-purple-swirled mountains. Vegetation on the planet included what appeared to be cauliflower-like trees and bumpy pea-like objects. On the second page, a herd of red-and-yellow-striped dinosaur styled creatures with electric waves emanating from their tails grazed at the edge of a primeval-looking forest.
My evaluation of the launch of the game of Spore is that it is designed to produce confusion in the minds of the public as to what Evolution really is. There is a growing movement promulgating the idea that Evolution is not so un-designed or directionless after all. Some even believe that the existence of life is intrinsic in the Laws of nature, being put there by an unknowable mathematic "Force" (cf. Star Wars), thus following this idea to its logical conclusion.
Another thing which becomes obvious is that this video game will further convolute any perception the public still holds of the existence of unchanging scientific Law. Still more of our once-great civilization will thus go down the drain of relativism.
Of course, the new Spore game is only a small part in the struggle. Our goal must be to reclaim the "waste places" as the Bible says and demonstrate that Laws are good and the Bible can be trusted. After all, the Bible is the Word of a loving and powerful Creator who can make real worlds and actual people.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Comments on direction
I had a great time Wednesday night at a prayer meeting at South Pointe Baptist Church in which Dr. Edward DeVries, a board member of Christian Exodus, preached regarding "Hezekiahitis" from Isaiah 39. The one thing I regret is that it really wasn't a prayer meeting; no one prayed...
I received some good feedback regarding the AdvisorOnID site. The general concensus though seems to be that many of my posts are not easily understandable by the public. A prominently appearing suggestion was that more illustrations or examples be included in the posts. I get this, especially since I have recommended this same idea to others.
Pastor Romo mentioned that I should get a business card made with my AdvisorOnID.blogspot.com address. However, due to the fact that that site is really a subset of the Gene Chapman site, I would feel out of place to do so. Also, while AdvisorOnID is my primary site as of now, I am working to make this WorldviewsRevolution site (which reflects a more complete perspective, i.e. worldview) into such.
Of course, LibertyInLaw.com will in the future be the site which I hope to promote. But I do not wish for it to be seen as a project of my own monopoly, since it contrariwise is in favor of cooperation between God-fearing, freedom-loving groups.
Thanks to everyone who expressed appreciation for my work. :-) From Josiah
I received some good feedback regarding the AdvisorOnID site. The general concensus though seems to be that many of my posts are not easily understandable by the public. A prominently appearing suggestion was that more illustrations or examples be included in the posts. I get this, especially since I have recommended this same idea to others.
Pastor Romo mentioned that I should get a business card made with my AdvisorOnID.blogspot.com address. However, due to the fact that that site is really a subset of the Gene Chapman site, I would feel out of place to do so. Also, while AdvisorOnID is my primary site as of now, I am working to make this WorldviewsRevolution site (which reflects a more complete perspective, i.e. worldview) into such.
Of course, LibertyInLaw.com will in the future be the site which I hope to promote. But I do not wish for it to be seen as a project of my own monopoly, since it contrariwise is in favor of cooperation between God-fearing, freedom-loving groups.
Thanks to everyone who expressed appreciation for my work. :-) From Josiah
C. S. Lewis on Purpose
Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth "thrown in;" aim at Earth and you will get neither. It seems a strange rule, but something like it can be seen at work in other places. Health is a great blessing, but the moment you make health one of your main, direct objects, you start becoming a crank and imagining there is something wrong with you. You are only likely to get health provided you want other things more - food, games, work, fun, open air. In the same way, we shall never save civilization as long as civilization is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more.
-C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Chapter 10), 1952
-C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Chapter 10), 1952
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Quite a stir
One of the posts below, "Two or Three Witnesses," seems to be causing quite a stir over at my AdvisorOnID site. Turns out the atheists who frequent the site are becoming disturbed by my "refusal to look at the plain facts." One objection which was raised was that Evolution is actually not a random process; somehow it is intrinsic in the Laws of science! For this idea to be factual, the information in nature would have had to have been pre-determined at some point in the history (or maybe pre-history?!) of the universe. The atheists may as well be Creationists to argue such an anti-Evolutionary idea. Maybe they're on the way... :-) Hope so.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
-R. Josiah Magnuson
A gem of a quote
There is no liberty anywhere except under God. All history shouts that. ...The promising streams of freedom disappear in the sands of futility when there is nothing higher than the state. With a deified state in a godless realm, iron curtains but hide broken strands of rainbows which once arched the sky of those who imagined themselves the pioneers of a new freedom. Without God, unkept promises become the fetters of a worse thralldom at the hands of their alleged emancipators.
-The Senate of the United States, Congressional Record, June 22, 1954
-The Senate of the United States, Congressional Record, June 22, 1954
Compromise with Evolution doesn't work
(Taken from the Answers In Genesis Weekly Update)
Q: When someone rejects Genesis, will they then reject the whole Bible?
A: The following is a terrible warning for the church today as to what happens when one compromises on the Word of God.
In the 1950s, a famous evangelist named Charles Templeton received wide media attention across America. Great crowds flocked to hear him. Large numbers of people came forward when he challenged them to trust Christ.
But in 1994 he published a book called Farewell to God in which he totally rejected the Christian faith. He died a few years ago as a man embittered against the Christian faith.
What happened to Templeton is a warning for us all today. He went to Princeton University and was taught to believe in the evolutionary teaching of “millions of years.” He recognized that if this were true, then God used death, bloodshed, suffering and disease for millions of years as part of His creative process—and then called this very good.
All through his book, Templeton wrote that there can’t be a God of love because of all the death and suffering in the world. The teaching of “millions of years” destroyed Templeton. Don’t compromise, as he did, and destroy your faith.
For more information about Templeton, see The slippery slide to unbelief.
Q: When someone rejects Genesis, will they then reject the whole Bible?
A: The following is a terrible warning for the church today as to what happens when one compromises on the Word of God.
In the 1950s, a famous evangelist named Charles Templeton received wide media attention across America. Great crowds flocked to hear him. Large numbers of people came forward when he challenged them to trust Christ.
But in 1994 he published a book called Farewell to God in which he totally rejected the Christian faith. He died a few years ago as a man embittered against the Christian faith.
What happened to Templeton is a warning for us all today. He went to Princeton University and was taught to believe in the evolutionary teaching of “millions of years.” He recognized that if this were true, then God used death, bloodshed, suffering and disease for millions of years as part of His creative process—and then called this very good.
All through his book, Templeton wrote that there can’t be a God of love because of all the death and suffering in the world. The teaching of “millions of years” destroyed Templeton. Don’t compromise, as he did, and destroy your faith.
For more information about Templeton, see The slippery slide to unbelief.
Two or Three Witnesses
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." II Cor. 13:1
If God were the author of the Bible, and He expected us to believe in Him, he should have given us witness that he was the Creator. In other words, there should be evidence. Some believe that there is no evidence of God's existence. However, this is not the case.
This website has discussed extensively the incoherencies in Evolutionary theory. But now let us examine the "Big Three" witnesses to the existence of God and why they are viable.
1. Reason / Scientific Philosophy (Rational)
Although we have touched on this topic before, let us again summarize the argument for Design. The argument for Design is fundamentally a recognition of the existence of irreducible complexity and/or information in nature. Common sense will tell one that if a Morse Code signal was received from outer space, it would have had to have been designed by intelligence. Why then is the existence of much more complex information on Earth attributed to billions of years of mindlessness? Common sense will tell one that if a computer or TV was discovered on the Moon, it would have had to have been designed by intelligence. Why then is the existence of much more amazing systems on Earth attributed to billions of years of random relativism? Certainly, the simple fact that the latter in these two examples were living is no excuse!?! Certainly, the fact that the latter two were both vastly more complex provides no cover!
What about the technical aspect? Why, rationally, would information not form by random process? Information can never be formed by random process, because information requires a sender and a receiver. If one creates a predetermined result, as in the famous Dawkins METHINKSITISLIKEAWEASEL example, one is interfering with the process. The process is therefore non-random, and does not represent the progress of Evolution. On the other hand, if one does not interfere with the process, one will never know whether the outcome provides a message or not. Thus, as the outcome cannot be interpreted and conveys no meaning, it is not information. Random processes will always produce random results. Information and irreducible complexity must be designed by intelligence.
2. Martyrs (Empirical)
This argument is quite simple. There have been millions of people through history who have been tortured and killed due to their belief in God and the authority of the Bible. Christians still are persecuted in this manner to this day. Why? If we suppose that there is no God to die for, we are forced to believe that not only are these people delusional, but they are inventing their own metaphysical existence for themselves, since these people almost never show hatred or bitterness to their enemies. But even this idea implies the existence of the metaphysical! There is no naturalistic explanation for why millions would devote themselves to a cause which most of their friends and often all of their family despise, and then die for that cause after months of hideous tortures to "bring them around," forgiving their torturers to their last breath.
A classic attempted rebuttal of this argument is the fact that other religions also have martyrs. Islamists blow themselves up on buses; Catholics go on Crusades; and so on. However, these "martyrdoms" are generally for the purpose of killing others in the meanwhile. And do we ever hear of a Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist who was tortured by a Christian, or anyone else for that matter, and forgave his torturer? No. Christianity is the only religion which can claim martyrs as real witnesses to the truth of what they stood for.
3. The Bible Itself (Fidelic)
The very best evidence of God’s existence or the Bible’s accuracy is the Bible itself. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:1
7The Bible has hundreds if not thousands of prophecies. For instance, the Bible gives seven prophecies regarding Tyre in Ezekiel 26, written about 590 BC:
-Nebuchadnezzar will take the city of Tyre
-Several nations will participate in the fulfillment
-Tyre will be scraped flat like a rock
-There will be fishermen in that location
-The stones and timbers will be laid in the sea
-Surrounding cities will be terrified
-Tyre will never be rebuilt
A glance at one’s history book will prove the accuracy of every one of those statements.
The probability of all the Biblical prophecies regarding Jesus Christ having come true through natural phenomena has been estimated at 1 in 10 to the 157th power! (Professor Peter W. Stoner, Science Speaks, p. 111) Gasps, anyone? This probability is far greater than that one should pick at random a chosen atom out of all those in the universe!
But, of all the evidences, the best is that which one can experience by testing the Creator himself: an individual relationship with God. As the apostle Paul wonderfully wrote, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Speaking to the pagan gods and philosophies, the prophet Isaiah declared:
(Isaiah 41:21-24) “Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good; or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.”
Let us not choose evil systems of relativism and naturalism. Let us choose life and liberty, and a belief in a very real and living God.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
If God were the author of the Bible, and He expected us to believe in Him, he should have given us witness that he was the Creator. In other words, there should be evidence. Some believe that there is no evidence of God's existence. However, this is not the case.
This website has discussed extensively the incoherencies in Evolutionary theory. But now let us examine the "Big Three" witnesses to the existence of God and why they are viable.
1. Reason / Scientific Philosophy (Rational)
Although we have touched on this topic before, let us again summarize the argument for Design. The argument for Design is fundamentally a recognition of the existence of irreducible complexity and/or information in nature. Common sense will tell one that if a Morse Code signal was received from outer space, it would have had to have been designed by intelligence. Why then is the existence of much more complex information on Earth attributed to billions of years of mindlessness? Common sense will tell one that if a computer or TV was discovered on the Moon, it would have had to have been designed by intelligence. Why then is the existence of much more amazing systems on Earth attributed to billions of years of random relativism? Certainly, the simple fact that the latter in these two examples were living is no excuse!?! Certainly, the fact that the latter two were both vastly more complex provides no cover!
What about the technical aspect? Why, rationally, would information not form by random process? Information can never be formed by random process, because information requires a sender and a receiver. If one creates a predetermined result, as in the famous Dawkins METHINKSITISLIKEAWEASEL example, one is interfering with the process. The process is therefore non-random, and does not represent the progress of Evolution. On the other hand, if one does not interfere with the process, one will never know whether the outcome provides a message or not. Thus, as the outcome cannot be interpreted and conveys no meaning, it is not information. Random processes will always produce random results. Information and irreducible complexity must be designed by intelligence.
2. Martyrs (Empirical)
This argument is quite simple. There have been millions of people through history who have been tortured and killed due to their belief in God and the authority of the Bible. Christians still are persecuted in this manner to this day. Why? If we suppose that there is no God to die for, we are forced to believe that not only are these people delusional, but they are inventing their own metaphysical existence for themselves, since these people almost never show hatred or bitterness to their enemies. But even this idea implies the existence of the metaphysical! There is no naturalistic explanation for why millions would devote themselves to a cause which most of their friends and often all of their family despise, and then die for that cause after months of hideous tortures to "bring them around," forgiving their torturers to their last breath.
A classic attempted rebuttal of this argument is the fact that other religions also have martyrs. Islamists blow themselves up on buses; Catholics go on Crusades; and so on. However, these "martyrdoms" are generally for the purpose of killing others in the meanwhile. And do we ever hear of a Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist who was tortured by a Christian, or anyone else for that matter, and forgave his torturer? No. Christianity is the only religion which can claim martyrs as real witnesses to the truth of what they stood for.
3. The Bible Itself (Fidelic)
The very best evidence of God’s existence or the Bible’s accuracy is the Bible itself. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:1
7The Bible has hundreds if not thousands of prophecies. For instance, the Bible gives seven prophecies regarding Tyre in Ezekiel 26, written about 590 BC:
-Nebuchadnezzar will take the city of Tyre
-Several nations will participate in the fulfillment
-Tyre will be scraped flat like a rock
-There will be fishermen in that location
-The stones and timbers will be laid in the sea
-Surrounding cities will be terrified
-Tyre will never be rebuilt
A glance at one’s history book will prove the accuracy of every one of those statements.
The probability of all the Biblical prophecies regarding Jesus Christ having come true through natural phenomena has been estimated at 1 in 10 to the 157th power! (Professor Peter W. Stoner, Science Speaks, p. 111) Gasps, anyone? This probability is far greater than that one should pick at random a chosen atom out of all those in the universe!
But, of all the evidences, the best is that which one can experience by testing the Creator himself: an individual relationship with God. As the apostle Paul wonderfully wrote, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Speaking to the pagan gods and philosophies, the prophet Isaiah declared:
(Isaiah 41:21-24) “Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good; or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.”
Let us not choose evil systems of relativism and naturalism. Let us choose life and liberty, and a belief in a very real and living God.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Friday, February 09, 2007
Report on conference call
I was able to participate in a conference call last night regarding the Christian Exodus movement. The call went until 11:00 PM! We primarily discussed direction and the "how" side of things.
Christian Exodus is an organization seeking to concentrate existing Christian paleo-conservative or Constitutionalist families and bring them to South Carolina in order to obtain a springboard for evangelism and promotion of justice and liberty in America.
Cory Burnell, the President of this group, has shown interest in writing an article for the LibertyInLaw site regarding the necessity of a coalition or alliance of pro-freedom Christian organizations like that promoted here. We hope to feature that article for the month of March.
The Christian Exodus project is in general agreement with the LibertyInLaw idea itself, as well.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Christian Exodus is an organization seeking to concentrate existing Christian paleo-conservative or Constitutionalist families and bring them to South Carolina in order to obtain a springboard for evangelism and promotion of justice and liberty in America.
Cory Burnell, the President of this group, has shown interest in writing an article for the LibertyInLaw site regarding the necessity of a coalition or alliance of pro-freedom Christian organizations like that promoted here. We hope to feature that article for the month of March.
The Christian Exodus project is in general agreement with the LibertyInLaw idea itself, as well.
-R. Josiah Magnuson
Arrival
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
LibertyInLaw.com is now official. We have the name pointing to the correct site.
Now it's time to buckle down on the link problems.
LibertyInLaw.com is now official. We have the name pointing to the correct site.
Now it's time to buckle down on the link problems.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Link to Ken Ham's Blog
It seems like hardly a day goes by lately that the Creation Museum is not mentioned in a newspaper, magazine, TV news program etc. Today, The national newspaper USA TODAY, and our local CINCINNATI POST had articles reporting on the Creation Museum:
Read more here! http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/
Read more here! http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/
Research paper
I officially began the writing stage of a research paper I will be entering in an Answers In Genesis contest. The title, as of today, is Survival of the Fittest: How Natural Selection Kills Darwinian Evolution. It has to be completed by April 16.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
LIL Update
We've been having some technical difficuties with the Liberty In Law site. We made some progress on it today, though.
What's happening is that when we try to add links or sidebars (or change the names of those existing) it always comes up with a javascript error saying that "this page is unavailable."
It will be fixed in God's time.
What's happening is that when we try to add links or sidebars (or change the names of those existing) it always comes up with a javascript error saying that "this page is unavailable."
It will be fixed in God's time.
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