Pre-existence

Theoretical Framework Peirce (1931-1958) defines the sign (in the form of a representamen). This representamen or representative actuates and functions according to Peirce as a tool or something used in the representation of something else to somebody in some respect or capacity. Thus, it is not actually represent that think or its object directly or verbatimly and it lacks the liability to present or add extra knowledge of that thing or its object to somebody by itself. It rather addresses a…

The interwovenness of kindness in the book of Ruth is unparalleled in any other book of the TaNaKh (aside from the "hesed" or "chesed" of the LORD). Although it appears that Ruth's kindness results in positive rewards, which it certainly does, that is not what the Book of Ruth is about, though. Further, it would be faulty to attribute Ruth to being simply a story of a cause and effect relationship between kindness and positive things. Such as the cause being kindness with results in the effect…

In “Space”, Thomas A. Tweed characterizes sacred space as differentiated, interrelated, and kinetic. All of these characteristics can be used to justify Jerusalem as a sacred space. The “Holy Land” does not have the qualities of a “great city”. It is not on route to any important place, it does not have a trading market, nor is it on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. However, it does have a small source of water, the Gihon Spring, which is reason enough to settle anywhere. Additionally, it…

Adam put his first question that where are we Eve? Because they do not recognize this place properly and consequent upon, Eve replies that she also does not recognize this very place. That is the symmetry both of their understanding as they both have same feelings and understanding. (Nathanial Hawthorne, Tales and Analysis, 747). Lawrence’s Eve and Adam feel lonely and frustrated due to their own personal reason, inter-subjectivity or intimacy while Hawthorne’s Eve and Adam are also having same…

My Crucible Experience No one knows what will happen to anyone else in the near future except the God. Although, you may have heard about some people who could control their destiny without interference with God’s will. Maybe they are able to control their destiny, but it can happen due to a wish of the Creator because the God has already planned what happens or will happen with all of us. Sometimes dreams or future plans come true and sometimes not, but when they come true, no one knows what…

Epicurus was one of the first philosophers to consider the problem of evil and his question; “if He is both willing and able (to take away all evils), which alone is suitable to God, from what source then are evils? Or why does He not remove them?” , summarises concisely the issue which has been at the forefront of philosophical argument for thousands of years. To explore this question I will first consider what God is. In this essay I will refer to God in the orthodox monotheistic sense of the…

In his book, ‘Pensées’, Blaise Pascal raises a wager which seeks to prove that it is more rational to believe in God rather than to not believe because you gain more by believing. In this paper, I will provide support to this wager in showing that you acquire a greater reward by believing in God. I will primarily outline Pascal’s Wager, then respond to one criticism raised that attempts to refute premise two (the expected results of belief and disbelief). This criticism states that there are…

Dan Lange Dr. Peppers-Bates Paper #1 November 3, 2017 Malebranche: Occasional Causation Nicolas Malebranche, a French Catholic theologian, was a philosopher who was both highly admired and criticized. His works, which stemmed and expanded upon his mentors St. Augustine and Descartes, attempted to demonstrate and explain the active role God plays in every aspect of the world. Malebranche is best known for his doctrines: Occasionalism - which states that God is the only genuine causal agent in…

2.2. Theistic Evolution and the “Anthropic Thermodynamic” Principle For Russell, the broadened notion of contingency based on creatio ex nihilo makes metaphysical room for theology to speak of the creative presence of God in the beginning of the fine-tuned universe and in the development of the self-organizing universe through the 2nd law of thermodynamics within the context of contemporary quantum cosmology. Those categories of contingency based on creatio ex nihilo and creatio…

Attributes of God Discussion The two groups discussed in Packer’s Knowing God are the incommunicable and communicable groups of God’s attributes. In the incommunicable group is a short list of God’s attributes consisting of His immutability, His infinity, His omnipotence, His omniscient, His omnipresence, His sovereignty, His transcendence, His eternal and immanent attributes. According to Packer (1993), “The theologians called these qualities incommunicable because they are characteristic of…