Petra
Puritan Board Freshman
Some random thoughts:
If there is no God, then can there really be evil?
If there has to be a common consensus to determine what is good and what is evil, then why is it not consistent over time? Why are some virtues lost as a whole in the past? Why are some virtues gained in the future?
There is only one book on this that has stood the test of time.
And what about the laws of logic in order to determine what is good and what is evil?
Did man create the laws of logic? Or were the laws of logic there before humans were held in contempt under them, as humans have tried to abide by them?
And what about the notes of music on a scale? There are seven major keys. Even minor diminished chords abide by musical theory that existed before humans recognized its existence.
Alas, some chord progressions transcend the current musical theory from time to time. The Beatles procreated some illogical music theory at times. But there is some kind of transcendent truth in all of it. These things must have been preexistbefore an artist created something somewhat original.
If you play in minors with a slow tempo, then it may appear intense or sad. Maybe reflecting the truth of darkness?
If you play minors in uptempo, then you may be celebrating like in Jewish songs that use minor keys.
And there are only in this manner that many keys and chords of the notes to use when creating or producing music.
In the end, all is going to be music. All is going to be art.
Anyway, point is that Maslow's hierarchy of needs didn't evolve the perfect standard of God's holiness that preexisted.
Musical notes and chords didn't come into existence because some people later acknowledged them.
The laws of logic didn't come into existence because some people later acknowledged them.
Without God in the worldview, how can anyone account for the connection of the preexistence of transcendental truths like these three examples?
They just have to believe that they magically appeared out of thin air or something?
Colossians 1:15-20 ESV (Apostle Paul)
"15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
This could be seen as Paul's teleological for everything, including evil. ^
Christ died and rose again to do all that he will accomplish. "That in everything he might be preeminent"...."...and through him to reconcile to himself all things." "...and in him all things hold together."
I would just like to add a reflection on the first and second commandments. "I am the Lord your God" is the first. "No other gods before me" is the second.
Even good things can become idols or other gods before God.
Morality is so powerful in us as imago dei that we can make our good works, which are required, a god.
The deists were moralists, but denied the resurrecting power that creates good works in us from the motives of gratitude for what Christ has done. It was a mere external righteousness that Jesus called a white washed tomb, so to speak.
The laws of logic are so powerful that many people worship reason as their god. God gave us brains....true. But the mind of the Spirit is greater than the mind set on the flesh that cannot please God. We are commanded to renew our minds in Romans 12 and renew our minds in the Spirit in EphesiansRomans 8 teaches us that to be naturally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. We give credit to God. For all knowledge is from above. If we trust in our mental vigor, while studying to show ourselves well approved, then we have thrown the baby out with the bath water.
Music is so powerful that many people claim that music is their god. Even Lucifer fell from heaven and became known as Satan with the other fallen angels. Lucifer was basically the worship leader in heaven. The ancient Jews had some great wisdom on the dangers of music because it is that beautiful or good.
People by nature are homo religionus, which means that our soul/heart (mind, will, and emotions) is a perpetual idol factory. The word religion comes from the Latin root word to adore or give adoration to.
It's no coincidence that all three of these transcendental occurrences occur outside of the realm of the role of the scientific means to explain how they came into existence, nor is science able to give an educated account of why these three existed before evolution (to those who believe in it).
Are we worshipping the law or the law giver?
Are we worshipping the logic or the divine logos?
For how can a finite ever completely comprehend an infinite?
Are we worshipping the music or the one whom only gave us so many chords and notes on a scale.
"For in him we live and move and have our being."
Acts 17:28
The beauty of women is also a good thing. Writers of songs throughout history have compared them to angels. Sometimes the female worship is such a lure that it becomes redundant. But it too reflects God's beauty as image of God bearers. Both the Greek and Roman writers feared the dangers of the beauty of women. Hellen of Troy comes to mind by Homer. But there are also examples of the warnings in Virgil.
Also, we all know the stereotype of how pretty people can be inclined to become conceited.
Now for the bride of Christ, we have these struggles as well. We may be attracted to Christ at first by his outward beauty. Then when years go by, our marriage grows in a greater inward love as gravity, wrinkles, hair loss, or grey hair occurs.
The bride of Christ doesn't exactly make a blind leap of faith. It is a leap of faith. Reason isn't exactly checked at the door of entrance. It is reformed.
And as the bride of Christ, we exchange lovers from that of ourselves and Lucifer, which can come as an angel of light.
When we exchange lovers and have our disordered loves reordered, we don't swing from the vine of another tree, unless we can see that the platform is more secure than the one we are currently standing upon.
And the bride doesn't let go of the vine, until both of her feet have landed on a more solid and secure foundation.
If there is no God, then can there really be evil?
If there has to be a common consensus to determine what is good and what is evil, then why is it not consistent over time? Why are some virtues lost as a whole in the past? Why are some virtues gained in the future?
There is only one book on this that has stood the test of time.
And what about the laws of logic in order to determine what is good and what is evil?
Did man create the laws of logic? Or were the laws of logic there before humans were held in contempt under them, as humans have tried to abide by them?
And what about the notes of music on a scale? There are seven major keys. Even minor diminished chords abide by musical theory that existed before humans recognized its existence.
Alas, some chord progressions transcend the current musical theory from time to time. The Beatles procreated some illogical music theory at times. But there is some kind of transcendent truth in all of it. These things must have been preexistbefore an artist created something somewhat original.
If you play in minors with a slow tempo, then it may appear intense or sad. Maybe reflecting the truth of darkness?
If you play minors in uptempo, then you may be celebrating like in Jewish songs that use minor keys.
And there are only in this manner that many keys and chords of the notes to use when creating or producing music.
In the end, all is going to be music. All is going to be art.
Anyway, point is that Maslow's hierarchy of needs didn't evolve the perfect standard of God's holiness that preexisted.
Musical notes and chords didn't come into existence because some people later acknowledged them.
The laws of logic didn't come into existence because some people later acknowledged them.
Without God in the worldview, how can anyone account for the connection of the preexistence of transcendental truths like these three examples?
They just have to believe that they magically appeared out of thin air or something?
Colossians 1:15-20 ESV (Apostle Paul)
"15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
This could be seen as Paul's teleological for everything, including evil. ^
Christ died and rose again to do all that he will accomplish. "That in everything he might be preeminent"...."...and through him to reconcile to himself all things." "...and in him all things hold together."
I would just like to add a reflection on the first and second commandments. "I am the Lord your God" is the first. "No other gods before me" is the second.
Even good things can become idols or other gods before God.
Morality is so powerful in us as imago dei that we can make our good works, which are required, a god.
The deists were moralists, but denied the resurrecting power that creates good works in us from the motives of gratitude for what Christ has done. It was a mere external righteousness that Jesus called a white washed tomb, so to speak.
The laws of logic are so powerful that many people worship reason as their god. God gave us brains....true. But the mind of the Spirit is greater than the mind set on the flesh that cannot please God. We are commanded to renew our minds in Romans 12 and renew our minds in the Spirit in EphesiansRomans 8 teaches us that to be naturally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. We give credit to God. For all knowledge is from above. If we trust in our mental vigor, while studying to show ourselves well approved, then we have thrown the baby out with the bath water.
Music is so powerful that many people claim that music is their god. Even Lucifer fell from heaven and became known as Satan with the other fallen angels. Lucifer was basically the worship leader in heaven. The ancient Jews had some great wisdom on the dangers of music because it is that beautiful or good.
People by nature are homo religionus, which means that our soul/heart (mind, will, and emotions) is a perpetual idol factory. The word religion comes from the Latin root word to adore or give adoration to.
It's no coincidence that all three of these transcendental occurrences occur outside of the realm of the role of the scientific means to explain how they came into existence, nor is science able to give an educated account of why these three existed before evolution (to those who believe in it).
Are we worshipping the law or the law giver?
Are we worshipping the logic or the divine logos?
For how can a finite ever completely comprehend an infinite?
Are we worshipping the music or the one whom only gave us so many chords and notes on a scale.
"For in him we live and move and have our being."
Acts 17:28
The beauty of women is also a good thing. Writers of songs throughout history have compared them to angels. Sometimes the female worship is such a lure that it becomes redundant. But it too reflects God's beauty as image of God bearers. Both the Greek and Roman writers feared the dangers of the beauty of women. Hellen of Troy comes to mind by Homer. But there are also examples of the warnings in Virgil.
Also, we all know the stereotype of how pretty people can be inclined to become conceited.
Now for the bride of Christ, we have these struggles as well. We may be attracted to Christ at first by his outward beauty. Then when years go by, our marriage grows in a greater inward love as gravity, wrinkles, hair loss, or grey hair occurs.
The bride of Christ doesn't exactly make a blind leap of faith. It is a leap of faith. Reason isn't exactly checked at the door of entrance. It is reformed.
And as the bride of Christ, we exchange lovers from that of ourselves and Lucifer, which can come as an angel of light.
When we exchange lovers and have our disordered loves reordered, we don't swing from the vine of another tree, unless we can see that the platform is more secure than the one we are currently standing upon.
And the bride doesn't let go of the vine, until both of her feet have landed on a more solid and secure foundation.
Last edited: