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    Noah

    The biblical story of Noah and the Ark seems to be en vogue at the moment.
     
    I just read that another film is being planned around this story:
     
    • 'Noah was the first person to plant vineyards and drink wine and get drunk. It's there in the Bible - it was one of the first things he did when he reached land. There was some real survivor's guilt going on there. He's a dark, complicated character' (Read more)
    That's on top of that fact that this summer (2007) the film Evan Almighty is out (which is based around the story of Evan Baxter being 'called' by God to build an ark), and this guy has just completed building a smaller version of one in Holland, which he plans to set sail in complete with live animals...
     
    Is someone trying to tell us something?
     
    9:15 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月28日

    David Hume: 'Of Miracles'

    I had a bit of insomnia last night, so decided to finish and upload an article about David Hume's discussion of miracles (and the resurrection of Jesus). Maybe something to read over a bowl of Wheatabix this morning:
     

     

    5:33 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月26日

    Stats

    Why does the MSN Spaces counter include my logging into this blog in the counter stats? I mean, I know you (my loyal reader) logs in regularly, but it is a somewhat 'roller-coaster moment' to think that there is more than one person reading this blog, but then to find that it is in fact just me - editing and re-editing these blog entries to perfaction!
    13:21 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月25日

    Evil and suffering (Christian theology): A quick guide

    Another new lesson added to the site today:
     
    • 'This lesson explores the nature of the problem of evil and suffering in Christian theology, as well as some of the 'popular' approaches to understanding this. The basic 'problem' is explaining why God seems to allow evil and suffering to occur in the world, when God is said to be able to do something about this. The 'problem' is introduced by looking at the origins of evil and suffering from the point-of-view of the biblical teaching in Genesis 3, and considers the implications this has in terms of God being omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent. Two of the most well-known theodicies (Freewill Defence and Irenaean) are examined in detail, as well as some of the criticisms against these. The lesson ends with a brief consideration of the relationship between the Devil, evil and suffering, and how the Bible suggests that God is actually responsible for some 'bad things' occurring in the world.'

    Click here to order your copy of this lesson today!

    13:50 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月24日

    The price you pay...

    I had a very depressing day after posting the Dread Central interview yesterday. I was mulling over some site stats, when I noticed some people were finding this site via a blog... so I clicked on the link and arrived at Uncle Creepy's My Space page where he had posted a link to the interview we did. Here are some comments from people who read his blog entry:
     
    • 'Was this interview done face to face? If so, do you have pics of this holier-than-thou's reactions to your answers?' (Tracy)
    • 'You did great man - way to not take the bait, as most of those questions reeked of loaded, pretentious horseshit.' (Craig)
    • 'Excellent way to answer all the questions. His tone was disrespectful to say the least. You answered much more calmly than I believe I would have.' (Scott A Johnson)
    • 'Well from what I understand the interviewer was posing questions, "others" had asked.  Still, it reeks of agenda, no?' (Uncle Creepy)
    • 'Sounds like the guy was looking for quote for a thesis entitled, "Horror films and the downfall of western society."' (A verbal bloodletting)
    • 'Great job on ripping that guy a new one, he almost makes me not want to be a journalist. I don't know where he got the idea to put 2 and shit together and get 4. That guy is a serious douche bag for taking a real tragedy and spinning to serve another purpose.' (King Beeronidis)
    What depressed me about these comments, is that they are written by people who havn't an ounce of decency to actually find out what I and this site are all about... To be considered 'holier-than-thou', 'disrespectful', and a 'douche-bag' for having someone say exactly what I believe about the horror genre and extreemist religious views, is gutting. For one, I have less of a belief in 'something out there' than even Uncle Creepy has, but his 'fans' seem to be blind to that in their pseudo-religious worship of him (the irony was deliberate there). Also, far from being disrespectful the interview was in fact a joint effort. I posted some questions to Creepy and said he could add or subtract from them - he answered my questions - I showed him the page I was going to post - he offered revisions and suggestions for changes - I made those changes and then I posted the (agreed) final version... Everything in the interview was above board - he even had the chance to see that I was toning down some of his language, due to the age of some of my readership! How that reeks of agenda and is disrespectful is beyond me.
     
    Still, I have learnt a very big lesson from all this - no matter whether you are in this religious-lark because of faith, love or just the money, EVERYONE is tarred with the same brush. If you associate yourself in any way with the religious world, then you had better be ready to deal with all manner of narrowed-minded and fundamentalist points-of-view, from both believers and non-believers alike!
     
    11:29 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月23日

    A dread-full life!

    It's soooo great when you get to work with nice people!
     
    I just posted an interview on the site with Uncle Creepy at Dread Central, where he talks about his love of horror films, why he thinks they do not affect people adversely, and some reflections on the Virginia College shootings (read the interview here). He is such a great person to work with (gush, gush).
     
    You know the people over at Dread Central are true horror fans, writing about what they know and love! I have followed the development of DC ever since they launched it last year, having moved from the Horror Channel (where it seemed they were always trying to avoid 'selling their horror soul'). I visit DC AT LEAST half a dozen times each day to keep up-to-date with all that's new in the world of horror, and to contribute to the forums (see if you spot me there). It is great to see people at Dread Central making a living from what they know and love - something I would also like to achieve with this site. However, as Uncle Creepy says, it has taken them at least 10 years to get to where they are, and A LOT of hard work and perseverance in the process!
     
    I wish everyone at Dread Central all the best (and they ARE the best), and thanks again for supporting this site.
     
    And if you (my loyal reader) love the horror genre but have never heard of Dread Central, may I recommend you take a visit there today!
    3:59 | 添加评论 | 阅读评论 (2) | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月18日

    Evil and suffering from another point-of-view

    I would guess that most people think of evil and suffering in rather general terms. For example, the act of going into a college campus and killing 32 people is generally considered to be an evil thing to do (and rightly so). But for some people there are other specific acts which are deemed to be evil and cause suffering, particluarly to them and their race - for example, slavery! Blacks have for many years been the victims of major racial and and social abuses, and as such Black theologians have adopted a very different approach to the 'problem of evil and suffering' than say non-Black theologians have.
     
    In light of this, I have just added an article to the site on Black responses to the problem of evil and suffering. The views discussed in the piece are not the only ones available, but they will give you a taster for the way some Black theolgians have tackled the matter, and may inspire you to research the issue further:
     
    10:49 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月16日

    Update on Kant and...

    Actually, there will be no Immanuel Kant and the categorical imperative (Part 2). I have managed to get all I want to say in the one article here:
     

    A critique of Kant's views is available seperately as a lesson:
     

    As I write this, people in the US are learning about this dreadful incident:
     

    One cannot help but hear Kant's words echoing in the mind, as you read about this awful tragedy:
     

    • 'Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but at the same time as an end.'

    15:46 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志

    A little bit about me...

    I often take a break from my studies and writing about religious and moral stuff, to browse You Tube - my God, what on earth did we do before You Tube? You know, for an 'oldie' like me, it is soooo nice to be able to browse this fantastic catalogue of videos, and especially when I find musical gems from my latter growing up years:
     

    Enjoy!

    9:23 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志
    4月12日

    Capital punishment: Overview and critique

    I (finally) added another new lesson with teaching notes to the site this week, this one on the issue of capital punishment. Those of you getting ready to take exams on ethics in a few months, will find this lesson useful as it approaches the matter from several different moral perspectives (E.g. Religious, Utilitarian, Deontological). If you want to know more about this lesson, here's the blurb:
     
    • 'This lesson introduces and critically examines the issue of capital punishment and the death penalty. The presentation begins with some reflections (and responses) to the execution of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. From there we move on to review some of the ‘crimes’ people have been put to death for, before beginning a general discussion of arguments used both to support and oppose the death penalty. Despite being advocates of peace, many religions have actually been willing to use the death penalty to maintain social and religious order. As such, the range of religious teachings in Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam on the matter of the death penalty, are set out and discussed. In modern ethical theory, arguments for and against capital punishment are usually grounded in Utilitarian or Deontological principles. We explore some of these, but also explain why the chief architects of these positions (Mill and Kant respectively), somewhat surprisingly argue FOR the death penalty. The presentation ends with two critical thinking tasks, intended to provoke further discussion and reflection on the matter of the death penalty.'
     
    To order your copy of this lesson, click here.
     
     
    16:28 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志