Questions&Answers

I don’t know, maybe life isn’t as much about finding the answers. It’s about having the questions and seeking for the answers. And it’s about having faith and hanging on to what you know and believe even when it’s difficult. Still give it your best and don’t slack. I have so many questions, things that I feel like I don’t know and am confused about. What about this, why that, what should I do about blank, how should I go about doing this, etc., etc. I’ve looked for answers, I’ve thought and prayed and wondered. I feel like time has passed and I feel the same about a lot of the questions. Is it a test of patience? Do I need to be more worthy for answers? Although I will strive to exert patience when that’s necessary, patience doesn’t mean sitting around on my douche waiting to get an answer. No, in the mean time I need to do the best with what I’ve got. Who knows? Maybe I will never get an answer to some of these questions in this life? But if that’s so, I need to live in the meantime and act on what I know and act on what I have faith in. I think that’s a huge part of faith – putting your trust in Heavenly Father, keeping His commandments, and then just doing things. Well, do what kinds of things? I don’t know, just things; don’t do nothing. First and foremost I should be living the commandments and principles of the gospel to the best of my ability. Once I am doing that, there are so many little daily choices and things to do in life. Just do it. Just act. Is that what faith is? I don’t have the answers to all my questions – not by a long shot – but just do things in the mean time! Stay close to the Spirit and watch for when those answers will come, whether it be while I am on my knees or while I’m just going about my day (when most answers come), but have faith that they’ll come when you need them to and pray that you’ll recognize them when they come. I believe that God doesn’t speak a language that we don’t understand. If I am doing my best to keep His commandments, I can’t believe that He wouldn’t find a way to get something He needs to into my thick-headed skull.

Geometric #1

This is more than just black lines and blocks on white with a random yellow square. For those of you that have read 1 Nephi 11, take a closer look at the piece. Do you recognize it? It is a depiction of the vision of the tree of life. For those of you that have not read 1 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon, please do.

(Disclaimer: I KNOW that this is a terrible copy. If I knew people seriously viewed my blog, then I would consider investing in a scanner or something. For now, an iPod Touch works just fine. :) )

Philosophy Essay 1

Argument

1. If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent, then there is no moral evil.

2. There is moral evil.

Therefore,
3. It is not the case that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent.


In order to evaluate the truth of the first premise one must have a clear understanding of what the words ‘omnipotent’, ‘omniscient’, and ‘omni-benevolent’ are. ‘Omnipotent’ means, in essence, is to have unlimited power. ‘Omniscient’ is to have a perfect knowledge of all things, and ‘omni-benevolent’ is to be completely kind. What the first premise is claiming is that if God had all of these qualities mentioned, then moral evil would not exist. Or wrongness in ethicality would not exist. One might ask, if God had all power, then how could he allow humans to do evil things? If He had all knowledge, then couldn’t He stop such things from happening? And if He was a completely kind being, wouldn’t He want to keep evil things from happening? Therefore, if he Had those three qualities, moral evil MUST not exist. But, don’t evil things happen every day? All someone needs to do is glance at a newspaper, watch 10 minutes of the news, talk to the neighbors or in some places, take a stroll down the street to see that moral evil is rampant. There are constant accounts of murders, rapes, wars, theft, cruelty, dishonesty, and the list goes on. It is not difficult at all to deduct that moral evil exists, indeed, it is quite prevalent worldwide. With this knowledge, is must seem like a perfectly kind God who has power to do anything and has a perfect knowledge of everything (what’s going on and how to prevent things from happening) either does not exist, or is lacking in at least one of those qualities.

However, in the premise “if God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent, then there is no moral evil” a flaw can be detected. This premise seems to presuppose that God’s omniscience is within human comprehension. Suppose that with God’s perfect knowledge, He sees a needfulness or fundamental requisite for moral evil that cannot be seen by people on earth. By therefore choosing not to exercise His omnipotence, He is displaying His omni-benevolence. The most effective example that may be given may be that of a parent and their child. Very young children that are nourished by their parents often have the impression that their parents know everything. To them, they are omniscient. Let’s say that their parent loves the child (as most parents do). Because the parent loves their child, they have given specific rules that will protect him or her; perhaps through an employ of their knowledge of experience and physics the parent has instructed that child to not jump on the couch. The child obeys that but one day the desire and curiosity of the child overcomes itself and they begin jumping on the couch. The parent tells them not to, but the child ignores. In consequence, the child falls, receives a bruise from bumping its head on the coffee table and cries. In the parent’s great love for their child they had used their vastly superior knowledge to give instruction to them. Their authority and power to act was employed in the giving of the instruction and in the warning, but suppose that they withheld their physical force because, knowing that the child was not in fatal danger, they knew that it was through the child’s experience that they would learn a more powerful lesson. If the child grew up with constant authority being exercised over them, how could they ever learn how to exercise their OWN authority and power? They would be sheltered from experience and not know how to act for themselves. Furthermore, if pain or evil did not exist in their world they would never know what comfort or goodness was. The omni-benevolence is exercised in the constraint of omnipotence because of their omniscience. Or who’s to say that a parent bringing seemingly ‘evil’ upon their cancerous child in having them receive chemo therapy is demonstrating a lack of knowledge, love, or power? The omni-benevolence is displayed in the employ of omnipotence and omniscience to bring about what may appear to the child to be moral evil.

God may be omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent and moral evil exist. What’s more, moral evil may confirm those three qualities in God and His existence. The first premise is fallacious, therefore the argument is unsound.

Untitled (Study of Color)

A completed assignment in an art class. It reminds me of either a sunset or droplets of paint. I had created several swatches of color by combining the primary colors to varying degrees, and then used them for this work.

Why not choose to be happy? Why not choose to do the right thing? It brings so much more enjoyment out of life and so much more fulfillment. It's okay to feel poorly sometimes, that's part of life - but don't let that bring you down. Bring those poor times to the Savior and He will lift you up.

My Posts

I like posting on here sometimes because it gives me a sort of channel to express my thoughts from time to time (on the occasion when I feel like I need a channel), but I don't think anybody ever reads these. I'm used to expressing myself but remaining unnoticed.

Random Thoughts on Life Today

Today hasn't been easy, but despite that, it has been okay. It has left me feeling a little lonely but okay, and has left me reflecting on deep and pertinent things like Life...

There is so much in Life. This is not an easy journey. It is an intense, severe battle that takes every last ounce of strength and endurance and perseverance. It is a happy journey with so many people to love, so many beautiful things to experience, so much humor to enjoy. It is a sad journey with so much heartache and sorrow for those around you, for the struggles in every soul for spiritual life and happiness, for the personal battles against foes seen and unseen. If you are told that ‘all is well’ and it is easy, that is a lie. One must never let down their guard. The spirituality that one has for today, is not enough for tomorrow, just like the spirituality they had yesterday is not alone enough for today; it must grow. But those that are heeding the small whispers of the Spirit over the loud yelling and screaming of the adversary know that God is on their side and that with Christ they can conquer the foes of this world. They will know, within the deepest reaches of their soul, that there IS hope and that there is true and pure love. And this is all because of Jesus Christ, the Master of Salvation, the true Prince of Peace, the Giver of Joy. He has given us the GREATEST GIFT, the most tremendous tool, the wondrous and merciful sacrifice of Himself – the Atonement.

Grey Matter

If it seems grey, it is a polluted white. Black is just plain wrong.

My thoughts on things that make a difference

Just thinking about all the wonderful people around me, and all the good examples in my life. I am so grateful to have known the people that i have, and i look forward to the people that i have yet to meet. I used to wonder how i could make a difference in the world around me unless I deliver powerful speeches to millions of people or build a hospital in Zimbabwe or discover the cure for mysterious yet prevalent diseases. But then as I saw the kind deeds done around me, I got to thinking that the small things really are big. There is really so much that one single person can do to change the world around them. Standing for goodness and acquiring Christlike attributes can strengthen lives that you touch, people that you know, in a much more powerful way than I think we can understand right now. Love, forgive, have patience, faith, hope, diligence, cultivate your testimony - these things will lead to immeasurable service and worth to the sphere around you. I think about the Prophets of God and the faithful lives they led before their great calling, and the faithful lives they continued to lead throughout their lives. The pure heart and intentions of Mother Teresa and Ghandi. The kind, tender, infatigable and caring spirits of Betsie Ten Boom, Eric Liddell, and even the fictional character Melanie Wilkes. I see a beautiful sister from church each week that has gained such a strong testimony of Christ, and I see that radiate from her actions, words, and lovely face. I see the cosistant and compassionate service given by the church leaders around me. I think of the beautiful and aged sister that I've seen almost every Saturday working hard to serve others and who keeps a smile on her face and sincere concern for others' well-being despite her age and the arthritis I see in her hands; she also never passes up an opportunity to praise someone and offer confidential and loving correction when she knows it's necessary. There are so many others that come to mind. I stand awestruck when I'm able to just take a step back and realize how precious, beautiful, and amazing each person is and what a difference they can make to those around them, including themselves.
How wonderful and blessed and holy it is to have a change of heart wrought by the Savior. What a beautiful, beautiful thing to keep that change and allow it to become who you are and encompass your very being.