Aslan,

When it comes to moral purity I would be called right wing in politics as I believe the best practise is founded in absolutes. I uphold the moral purity of traditional Christian values as a demonstration of devotion to God and sexual relationship is exclusive between husband and wife. In both these issues we have thousands of years of human history that proves these are the best practise in society.

It has been in this generation that we have again realised the importance in maintaining good environment practice. The ancient generations that followed the Biblical wisdom of the land were able to maintain a sustainable life. This principle can be carried to all aspects of life and behaviour. In long discussions with gays they acknowledge same sex is not their ideal, but merely sublimates their emotional and sexual need. All their creational purpose remains unfulfilled, as well as an increase in disease.

God is the God of an ordered creation, so it is important to understand his ideal purpose in every created thing. Though every misuse is forgivable it is not to be ignored and must be turned away from so its purpose is fulfilled. If we have made an environment saline by removing trees it is obvious the best practise is not remove trees, though we can lower salinity by decellenation ponds.

Aslan.

SABBATH

:-). I agree with your interpretation. Also, I feel comfortable about my speculation.

ASTRONOMY

Previously, I was using Ancient Chinese Astronomy Lite. Actually, the Chinese saw the Moon as a small star, which is interesting, because this shows a knowledge of absolute and relative size of celestial bodies.

Had Joshua’s prayer been answered by the Earth stopping, the Chinese would have likely noticed, because it would have messed-up their plotting of convergences. Given divine intervention, Philo's account seems more sound to me.

In China, unification technologies tended to be retained to sustain dynasties. I have discussed this last point at lunch with the Director of Asian Studies at an HK university. The Sinic calendar based on astronomy is a unification technology, which buttresses the Emperor’s power.

LOCUS OF POWER

Locus of Power is the true value, not majority rule. It only just happens majority rule is the form the Locus of Power takes in The West at this time in history.

LUTHER

A definitive position is difficult, without resorting to constructionism for both our positions. Perhaps, Kenny can add more information to direct discourse.

Heliocentrism was a topic of discussion around the time of Luther. The informality of table-time seems to me to relate to the setting, not the scholarship.

Philo,

JOSHUA

I have found your posts very interesting. My basic position is that it is hard to discuss, “How the chicken crossed the road”, when I feel the chicken did not cross the road in the first place. Time restraints would make it hard for me to research the background underlying your personal interpretations and insights, which are certainly respected.

THE POLITICS OF GOD

Do you feel that the God of Moses, Abraham, and, Jesus, and, the Pauline representations are aligned politically. Relatedly, it would seem to me there is some God Cop, Bad Cop, here. If you are familiar with Lawrence Kohl berg, do you see consistencies or inconsistencies with respect to the moral outlook of these representations of the Judeo-Christian God?

ABOVE BREVITY

Busy.

Oliver,
Quote" Do you feel the God of Moses, Abraham, and, Jesus, the Pauline representations are aligned politically. ... do you see consistencies or inconsistencies with respect to the moral outlook of these representations of the Judeo-Christian God?"

I believe God is revealed in the history of human thought. It has never been perfect in any generation, but we have insights into human frailty and divine wisdom revealed.

Terah, father of Abraham was polytheistic unlike Abraham who was monotheist and from his father's gods chose ElShaddai to represent God. Jacob while in Edom identifies God as Eloah (as in Job)these view God as essentially celestrial, but the hope of Job is she would be revealed in the Earth. When God is revealed to Moses as YHWH whose presence is demonstrated in the Earth by His miraculous acts, administering justice and mercy in every realm of political life; total obedience to Moses law was absolute.

Jesus demonstrated God could love and forgive those that had failed and give them new hope. God is revealed in acts of mercy, words of wisdom enhancing life, eternal salvation for even sinners. According to those administering the law they believed Jesus had violated, so this suggest that forgiveness and love motivate the heart of God rather than judgment and punishment. Paul outlines what is acceptable behaviour within the Church, and considers the world outside merely his mission.
1. The law of God is perfect (above Moses law)
2. No one has attained the perfection of divine character
3. God offers forgiveness and full reconciliation
4. State law of a democratic society should reflect a mean standard of that society. The battle is constant between the perfect character and the debauched, and this is moveable as the expected standard of social values change.

5. Christians are focused toward the divine character with values well beyond the social norm, so their aspirations will cause conflict. Those that advocate live and let live place no check on declining values in society.

Oliver,

You said: "Had Joshua’s prayer been answered by the Earth stopping, the Chinese would have likely noticed, because it would have messed-up their plotting of convergences. Given divine intervention, Philo's account seems more sound to me."

You're attributuing modern day science and hindsight to the ancient Chinese. They could not possibly know that something like this would mess up their plotting! In any case, it is an argument from silence. They may well have recorded it but most of the records were destroyed.

I'm having trouble making sense of Philo's view.

You said: "Locus of Power is the true value"

What do you mean by this? In your skeptical view how do you know what is "true"? I thought all we had were "opinions".

You said: "A definitive position is difficult, without resorting to constructionism for both our positions."

I don't need to resort to "constructionism" - that's what you are doing. I simply cite historical fact.

"Perhaps, Kenny can add more information to direct discourse."

Kenny can't help because he knows nothing about this (or about much else for that matter). He simply pointed to the oft-cited Tischreden comment with no knowledge of the circumstances.

You said: "The informality of table-time seems to me to relate to the setting, not the scholarship."

Scholarship implies reading and studying a particular topic from all sides. Luther could not read and study Copernicus' view because it had not been published nor did they have any known correspondence.

You appear to think that the Biblical picture of God varies substantially between Moses, Abraham, Jesus and Paul.

Why do you think this?

As I said Oliver it is impossible to have a reasoned discourse with religious fanatics. Aslan follows the well worn path of fanatics of any faith in that they will distort and twist anything. Their reveled truths change with the culture but they will not admit it. Aslan believes he is the greatest scholar the world has known because his source is the Christian bible. The bible time scales say the world is only around six thousand years old so therefore it is. All of modern sciences knowledge of this area must be wrong because it doesn't agree with the bible. I’m sure that Aslan thinks is it the work of the devil anything that does not appear to confirm biblical accounts. He must be in rude good health.

Just remember in Aslans world pi is equal to three now where’s the logic in that