(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. :) )
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
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. :) )
(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. :) )
Monday, February 21, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
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.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
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.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
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.
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.
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