Soon, They Will Be Getting Welfare Checks

Socialists: Give apes human rights - The Spain Herald

Bush Approval

Proof that Bush is avenging his approval rating by fixing the prices of gas...or not. You'd think his approval rating had more to do with the price of gas than the war in Iraq.

How Now Shall We Live part 3

The main theme of the book can be summarized in the following:

This is how Chirsitanity is meant to function in society-not just as a private faith but as a creative force in the culture. The inner life of faith must shape our action out in the world. In every choice and decision we make, we either help to overcome the forces of babarism-whether midieval or modern-or acquiesce to those forces; we either help build a life-giving, peace-loving ethos, or fan the flames of egoism and destruction.(p.302)

Coleson and Pearcey discuss a destructive philosophy in the current method of education:

...education has been greatly influenced by a therapeutic model of redemption, in which teachers treat children's psyches while teaching hem the ABCs. The source of this widespread trend is the philosophy of existentialism, which casts each individual as an autonomous self. According to this worldview, people must create their own puropse by making choices, even though there is no standard to tell them whether or not the choices they are making are right...(p.335)

They also point out a theory as to how crime gets so bad, and how enforcing the little laws can greatly dimish the big crimes (this happens to demonstrate how a Christian worldview fits reality better than the others):

...in the early 1980's, a breakthrough came when social scientists George Kelling and James Q. Wilson advanced what became known as the broken-window theory. They discovered that if a broken window in a building is left unrepaired, soon all the windows are knocked out. Why? Because damage left untended sends a message that no on cares, that no one is in charge, and that further vandalism will incur no penalty. A single broken window soon attracts the kind of people who will smash more windows. Likewise, a city that allows pockets of public disorder, starting with graffiti and litter, sends a message that authorities are either unwilling or unable to enfore standards of behavior-to control their space and their citizens. And once a city sends that message, law abiding citizens leave, and the criminal element is attracted-exactly the cycle that has ravaged Amercia's major cities.(p.364)

The authors say that moral authority is greater than civil authority and that civil authority is grounded in moral authority. To this they make several points as to the effect of losing that moral authority:
1. "The loss of moral authority in the law removes restraints on individual behavior."
2. "The loss of moral authority in the law means government is reduced to utilitarisan procedures."
3. "The loss of moral basis for law means we can no longer engage in moral debate."
4. "The loss of moral authority in the law means we have forfeited the rule of law and reverted to arbitrary human rule."(p.409-410)
The authors expound these more, but we can see the effects of losing moral authority in our country based on how the meaning of law has been changing over the past decades.

Then they give the reasons why Chritiantiy set forth a worldview that made science possible.
1. "The physical world is real, not an illusion."
2. "Nature is good but not divine."
3. "Nature is orderly and predictable."
4. "Humans can discover nature's order."
5. "We need to experiment."

The ending of the book gives several examples of how Christians of the past century have been a creative force in culture. Some of the examples may show the Chrisitan worldview, but also shows the brokenness of our world, which is not always suitible for children. The concrete examples where helpful in understanding what the authors mean when they mean by influencing and transforming culture.

Consistent, but Sad

A logical result of the right to "Choose"

An old friend.

I recently got in touch with an old high school friend of mine, and it tuns out he is now a brother in Christ and has a blog here

Untitled No. 1

Here it is: a photo of one of my wife's sculptures. It is not my style, but perhaps it is yours.

It's not for sale, by the way.

New Blog Ideas

I am considering starting a new blog, one that is more focused. Less about my random thoughts, or my book comments, more about the news and research on a specific topic. I , of course, will still post the latter on this blog, but it would isolate the specific from the non-specific.

Perhaps I will watch a company and look at the products it develops or the law suits its involved in. Perhaps I will research spiders and report all that I can find about them (including Spiderman). Perhaps I will study an author, reading all that I can from that author and post about their lives and books.

I am open to any ideas, but I will quickly shoot them down if I don't like them.
Ready? Comment.

How Now Shall We Live part 2

The authors take time to discuss major views of Redemption that are competing in our society. One of these is Marxism. They write:

"...Marxism, though largely discrediteed as a political ideology, is still very much alive and well in Western intellectual life. Reborn as multiculturalism and political correctness, it remains one of the most widespread and influential forms of counterfeit salvation. Government-mandated group rights and other outgrowths of multiculturalism are even being read into the U.S. Constitution, so that though original Marxism never took over our nation, this reborn Marxism may yet do so."

I never thought of multiculturalism as a form of Marxism. But it makes sense.

How Now Shall We Live part 1

I am currently reading the Chuck Colson/Nancy Pearcey(not to be confused with Palose) book on the Christian Worldview and how it relates to culture. Here is a quick summary as to why we shall never reach utopia in our sinful state of being:

"Of course, nowhere has this vision of scientific utopinanism become a reality. And the reason it continually fails is lodged in the logic of the scientific method itself. If we turn human beings into objects for scientific study, we implicitly assume that they are objects to be manipulated and controlled, like scientific variables. That means we have to deny things like the soul, conscience, moral reasoning, and moral responsibility. And when we apply these assumptions to real social problems, we inevitably dehumanize and demoralize people, placing them at the mercy of social scientists in the employ of the technocratic state. The end result is not utopia but another form of despotism."

Holiday Picture

I am mainly just testing my ability to put pictures on here without picasa. This was our holiday picture. Heather has aspirations for me to post pictures of her art.

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Theological Blogs

Some new blogs on Theology.

Together for the Gospel - Various Theologians mingle, including CJ Mahaney.

Blog and Mablog The blog of Douglas Wilson

Crosswalk The blog of Albert Mohler

Today's Beef with Conservative Talk

Specifically with Laura Ingraham. She has her values mixed up a bit. Of course we are a nation of laws and this nation is not doing enough to enforce those laws. But she uses this line to criticize those who wish to save the lives of those who break the law. I think her main concern is that these maps will provide incentive for people to try to cross the border, that is, encourage people to break the law. That is a fair concern, but at what cost? It seems that she is suggesting that she would rather these people die than that they break the law. She should fight tooth and nail for stronger border patrol, but to trivialize the fact that people are dying trying to find their way to a better life where they can support there families is reprehensible.

I agree with Laura on a lot of things, but here she ends up sounding heartless and arrogant. She does not represent me here. I would hope there are enough conservatives to send a message that this opposition to life is inappropriate and helping people survive does not conflict with a desire to enforce our borders.

The maps, although intent on diminishing the number of deaths, may actually increase them by giving people hope, but not being detailed enough to actually help people. This is my concern with the maps.

Mexico, decided not to distribute the maps after deciding that the maps would give Border Patrol forces a lead as to where to find the illeagally immigrating people. I guess Mexico thinks its better that they die than get sent back.

But Laura praises Mexico for this decision. But, of course, they didn't change their mind for the reason they actually said, says Laura, but because the Bush administration criticized the maps.

By Laura's logic, we have no obligation to help someone in a car wreck if they were breaking the law (speeding) the midst of the accident. Helping them out would simply encourage more people to break our laws.

Intelligent Design Blog is Back and Kicking

Here. I happened to check in on it and sure enough, there were a lot of new posts. Apparently Bill Dembski is selectively letting other people moderate and add posts. I may put it back on my links sometime in the future.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Today is my first wedding anniversary!!!

Stephen Meyer on Michael Medved

Clip from one of Michael Medved's shows on Intelligent Design.

1hr mp3 format.

Finally

I never did post my thoughts on a book I finished. "The Gifts of the Jews" is Thomas Cahill's attempt to show the many ways that the Jews have influenced the world.

I have two objections. First, he picks and chooses what to believe from the Bible with out really substantiating it. It may be basic Theology for him, but he is not writing for Bible scholars. He fails to convince that if I am not going to believe all of the Bible, why I should believe any of it. But neither is he writing for Evangelical Christians, so most people who read it will probably take him at his word here. I don't.

Secondly, he tries to force the ancients into a box of repetition and cycles. I can buy this as typical, but there still seems to be some change, very slow change. Somebody invented a sword. Somebody invented a plow. These changed warfare and farming. His point still remains, that change was slow enough for people to not notice and if there was, they viewed it as a cycle. I am still in doubt.

So what are the gifts? I will try to spell them out.
1. A change from static repetition in cycles to an unmapped changeable future (ie Abraham went)
2. A change from ritual religions to personal relationship with God.
3. An understanding that one must go through the fire of God (either refining or wrath)
4. An expression of the joy and pain of real existence (like the Song of Songs)

He writes, "Most of our best words, in fact--new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, progress, spirit; faith, hope, justice--are the gifts of the Jews."

He then ends with a plea for "social justice." It doesn't really fit with the rest of book. It seems more like an addendum suggested by the publisher because they wanted a practical application.

Mocking Bird

I bought the new Derek Webb album. David will like the horns. I am very impressed. The only turn off for me is the "war is always wrong" message. I don't think its Derek's purpose to try to make anyone feel guilty for supporting a war. I think he is more interested in pursuading the Christian to take some issues more seriously. War hurts people and we as Christians could show a little more grief and love over those who might be killed, even the enemies.

Lyrics are available here.

Justin Taylor Blog

Justin Taylor has been working for Desiring God ministries for years. He updates his blog several time a day. There is a lot of Theological and Political information there. It is called "Between Two Worlds" and is linked under the Theological heading, right here, at my blog.

Intelligent Design Blog goes into Hibernation

Uncommon Descent will no longer have new posts. I will take it off my links.