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When does knowledge become knowledge?

College Orientation, Daily Thoughts, Science, knowledge No Responses »

Sep 062010

It would have to depend upon whether it is based upon reliable data, data which is properly organized about reliable presumptions, and whether it is provable by repeated testing, whether it is possible to prove it wrong, and whether there are contradictory conclusions which can be accounted for.

Knowledge is something which is knowable. It must be able to stand the test of time. In fact true knowledge is incontestable in the end.

We have been using radio active decay principles to date many of our artifacts. At first it seemed to be the basis for knowledge. But as more consideration has been made of its reliability, this method is failing a great many tests of ‘at least’ the application of its use without considering some serious variables.

Consider this link which brings serious doubt on one area of reliability and application. http://www.icr.org/article/5656/

They Don't Know What Truth Is?

Daily Thoughts, knowledge No Responses »

Aug 262010

Should it not be disturbing to a student if he were to learn that his professor seems to not know that truth is always is true? The meaning of truth references that which remains. It is something that does not deceive. The words “to know, knowledge, fact, and even information depend upon this understanding. Without truth, mathematics ceases to be understandable. Science becomes a myth. Logic is no longer logical. Truth cannot come from that which is random for random is fraught with inconsistencies. Except it come from the source of intelligence, the Creator of Heaven and earth, meaning ceases to exist.

How might theology affect politics and world events.

Daily Thoughts, World View Comments Off

Jul 092010

There is a common false belief by many that there is no nor should not be any relationship between politics and theology (they use the term religion). This may be a politically correct orientation of policy, but it is in conflict with reality. The two following links are very compelling. It will be especially so to those who read the Bible with any seriousness.

The first link deals with relationships of political policy and the building disaster in the gulf oil spill. The presumption of this YouTube video is that one policy decision, yielded the second event of the gulf oil disaster in progress. The presumption is that we have a living God who is clearly and actively and directly involved in human events. The implication is that according to what we do, we are accountable as to affect and consequence. As to government, what it does can readily affect a nation and the world in consequence. Correct theology matters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj5lm39XL_I

The Leader Times, Thursday, 07-08-2010 said that there were 27,000 abandoned gulf oil wells which are capped. Many of these wells are capped improperly. Many wells are greatly aged (going back to the 1950s-1960) such that the capping material is capable of failing. These capped wells provide the potential through normal changing geologic conditions of re-pressurization for multiplying the magnitude of this disaster almost exponentially.

The second link explains how that this event and also the growing activation of several volcanic potentials may really be a precursor to future and even more devastating events. Such events are outside of human control either in cause or control. The Bible gives reason, that physical catastrophic events, can be directly tied to individual actions. This applies to actions whether they are by persons, groups, or nations. All are accountable to make right decisions and act according to correct theology.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Prophecy-Today/111046618913042

The drift of information in this source is very sobering. It does not leave one with a fatalistic outlook. It does provide some perspective leading to a hopefulness toward the end of the article.

You say, "I am a pluralist agnostic?"

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Jul 012010

This is quite a declaration. It seems to be filled with apparent contradictions.

First, what is a pluralist? The Free Dictionary says,

“2. pluralist – a philosopher who believes that no single explanation can account for all the phenomena of nature”

Second, an agnostic is,

a. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.

b. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.

2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

There is a common theme that ties the two terms together. The term “noncommittal” is the key concept.

The pluralist will not commit to a single cause of nature.
The agnostic refuses to believe the record which is given concerning the nature of God. Based upon this willful frame of mind, such a person will never be settled and will be inclined to waffle on issue of science and morals.

One who holds to these two positions will likely never know the conclusion of any matter, no matter how much investigation will be done regarding any matter studied. Accomplishing goals will be unlikely, for they will never know if the goal is worthy, intellectually tenable, or achievable. In fact effective goal setting itself becomes a doubtful likelihood.

Before one can accomplish any effort, they must have some reasonable confidence in the objective, process and the end result of that effort. Is it worth the effort? Will I achieve the result I struck out to accomplish? Is it the right thing to do? Will I be able to build on the results?

As to the matter of God, we have many diverse god systems. To say that it is wise to accept a plurality of belief systems comes into question. Each system has its differing standards. A comparison of the systems also teaches that there is a high degree of contradiction between the fundamentals of each system. To say that the contradictions do not exist is to close one’s eyes to reality. It is also very illogical. Even to emphasize the commonness of tenants of belief is lacking in reason. The basis of why these common tenants exist will be different and therefore contradictory. Likewise the purpose of application will widely vary. Pluralism when it comes to religion is not a reasonable thing to claim. Is it really possible to ignore that many if not most claim to be the only true religion?

Agnosticism is the illogical process of those who either fail to make the effort to find the true answer or those who choose to ignore real truth when they do find it. Every person should have well studied this matter and determined truth before they enter into life as an adult. To raise a family with so much uncertainty is to place chaos before one’s heritage. Truth can be known and truth needs to be the guiding foundation for marriage, family, community interactions, and life vocations.

The Bible says that there is no excuse!

How Do We Get To Wisdom?

College Orientation, Daily Thoughts, Logic, Uncategorized, World View Comments Off

Jun 262010

There is a logical process by which intellectual thoughts rise from statistical observations to the level of wisdom.

Data - Data is collected statistical observation or a record of an instance or sequence of experiences.

Information - Information is data that is organized into some kind of form or shape. It must be sufficiently recognizable that one might be able to make meaningful sense of it.

Knowledge - Knowledge is the interpretive view of information. Therefore information plus a world view raises this intellectual concept to the level of knowledge. But if the wrong world view is referenced, the product becomes compromised. True knowledge is information which is evaluated according to the view and perspective of the Creator God. I.e. Are you looking at things according to God’s world view? This is the first manifestation of the proper exercise of intelligence. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Understanding - Understanding is the ability to evaluate or separate knowledge into its qualities. Is it good/bad; true/false; right/wrong; just/unjust; useful/vanity; pure/defiled; or holy/unholy? Proverbs 1:4 “…receive instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, equity…”

Wisdom - Wisdom is making right decisions which result in right actions which glorify God both as to the process (means) and goals (objectives). These decisions are morally correct.

If one understands the thought process of how to arrive at wisdom, then wisdom is not so hard to achieve. Life can be very straight forward. It is only really difficult when one does not think God’s thoughts after Him.

God's ways are better than our ways.

Daily Thoughts 1 Response »

Jun 242010

Genesis 22:14 “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

The providence of God is all provision, indeed. We need not fret nor worry.

With every command is full provision. We may not be able to see into the future. We are able to be assured that with God, He us sufficient for all.

We may not be able to see, ourselves, exactly how everything is to work out. We are to follow his every wish explicitly even though we do not understand fully. By this we show faith (faithfulness) and we show obedience. We show that we fear our Creator.

The end result is that we also will be able to look back. In looking back we realize that everything really does result in marvelous provision. Gods ways really are the best ways. Our heart is full because we could want no more or anything done in a better way. God’s ways are perfect. His provision and outworking of any event is greater than our ways.

The Word of God: Its Importance.

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May 042010

Too many people take lightly the Word of God. It is extremely important. It will impact your life whether you read it, believe it, or not. It is effective and affective.

Read the following article and gain some perspective.
Presuppositional Assumptions

Summer, a time of vulnerability.

College Orientation, Daily Thoughts Comments Off

May 032010

When times of change come, a person becomes most spiritually vulnerable.

Now that the study time of formal classes have come to an end, one needs to use this time to evaluate the year now past. This article is aimed particularly at the student who says, “I am a Christian.”

You have completed a series of courses in your college. You need to study the Bible and make comparisons. Did what I learn agree with or disagree with teachings of the Bible? If the Bible is the Word of God, and there is no other document which makes this authoritative claim like the Bible does, then the Bible is without error. If there are conflicts of contradiction between the Bible and your course material, you need to determine what these contradictions are. What is the scope of the contradicting material? Why is the course material in contradiction in subject matter? Is it really a contradiction? What will your response to all of this be?

Once you determine the issues at hand, consider that logic does not allow for contradiction nor allow for both to be true. God being not only the God of truth, He as Creator of all defines truth through his character and being. Therefore, if your course material is in conflict with the Word of God, then the course material in any particular instance of contradiction is in error.

It is important to discern this error. Your world view, and your practical working out of a life plan depend on your knowing the truth. If you do not know and understand both the truth and understand why it is truth, you will make devastating wrong judgments, missteps, and hurtful acts. Wrong is wrong and wrong committed will injure others in various ways and according to incremental degrees. You do not want to be accountable.

Therefore, take this summer break from studies to systematically study the Bible so you will be able to discern the differences. You need to be able to discern the reasons for the differences. Understanding is to take observations and to order them Biblically and logically. Wisdom provides that you then conduct yourself according to God approved conduct.

Your choice is at hand. Fail to make the right decisions now, and pay the consequences through subsequent failures and chastisements received at the hand of the living God in real time. Read Proverbs chapters 1-3.

SPRING BREAK AND Idolatry???

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Apr 012010

There is a particular link to the gross idolatry which is in the culture of the College situation. You as a student will be leaving shortly to go on spring break. The nature of your conduct will be a clear tell tale indicator of whether you are a practicing Christian or a practicing idolater [or atheist - same thing].

Idolatry and immorality are two views of excessive disobedience to the living God. If you become involved in one, it will be because you are also tied to the other in some way. You will be showing your true colors in the month ahead. (I could write this any time of the year.)

I close with this short video clip for your viewing.

When is knowledge attained?

College Orientation, Daily Thoughts, Logic Comments Off

Mar 222010

Because “the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge,” it can be logically presumed that those who buy into secularism and atheism never rise to the level of knowledge in their work. How can they when there are no absolute foundations by which they might reference their activities. A controlling presumption they hold comes from the principle of that which is random. Value cannot be established by a coin toss unless you believe a superior or outside power orders the outcome of the coin’s informational result.

Proverbs 1:7

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