Reason and Capitalism » Philosophy
Part 1: Legislating Morality Refutation
As you might now, Jason over at Logical Consistency and I are currently waged in a life or death debate on legislating morality. Or something like that. Anyway, we’ve both posted a case for our position, and now we get to the good part — the refutation. This should be both fun and educational, so I’m looking forward to it. This refutation will be written in a very casual style. In order to understand what exactly I’m refuting, it might be best to open up Part 1: The Enforcement of Morality Debate by Jason, and read my responses to his points right after reading his essay. This will make the discussion much more coherent. Also, before reading the refutation, it would be incredibly helpful to read my original case against legislating … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Religion
For unto us a Savior is born
I was reading Will’s blog today, and discovered the following story, a story the the Wall Street Journal has published every Christmas since 1949. It’s simply fantastic. Enjoy. “When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar. Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so. But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Politics, Religion
The Courtroom Speech
Now you will receive us. We do not ask for your poor or your hungry. We do not want your tired and sick. It is your corrupt we claim. It is your evil that will be sought by us. With every breath, we shall hunt them down. Each day we will spill their blood til it rains down from the skies. Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal, these are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. These are not polite suggestions — these are codes of behavior. And those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost. There are varying degrees of evil, we urge you lesser forms of filth not to push the bounds and cross over into true corruption, into our domain. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy
Stop Legislating Morality
Make no mistake — I proudly claim the title of a follower of the Christ. My single purpose in life could be summarized as to “live as Christ did.” My belief in freedom is founded upon an attempt to live in the image of Christ, the Great Emancipator — the One who came to set the captives free. Christ is my rock and my foundation, and his teachings are the code of my life. My friends and family often hear me discuss “honor” — I believe that we must do the right thing no matter what the cost, no matter how hard of a decision it might be. Always do the right thing. However, this has led to strange discussions with fellow believers. I am an ardent supporter of peaceful persuasion … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Politics, Religion
We’re the Lucky Ones
Every once and a while, I get a strange feeling. I wish I’d been born in another era. Sometimes I feel like what I’m saying is simply foreign to what everyone wants to hear. Sometimes saying that state action is unjustified isn’t the greatest way to gain respect. Sometimes saying that violence isn’t the answer makes you some “radical”. I can’t help but remember the words of Jeff Meyer’s in his speeches of encouragement. Remember the story of Esther and her conversations with Mordecai. “Who knows but for such a time as this you have been created.” How true. Right now, the libertarian point of view looks like the minority. It is. One side of the political spectrum wants to use the gun to force morality. They want to put homosexuals in cages, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Politics
Image of the Creator
If I had to describe myself in two words, both would begin with “C”. I’m a Christian-Capitalist. These two words describe everything about what I believe and who I am as a person — my philosophy about reality, life, God, violence, people — everything. Unfortunately, many, if not most, people are starting to view Christianity as being at odds with capitalism. After all, how could a philosophy of self-interest and profit mesh with a religion of selflessness? The answer is simple: Christianity isn’t a religion of selflessness and pointless-sacrifice — at least not to any literal extent. I’ll focus on just one aspect of the Christian religion, and make several stipulations based upon one of the most over read stories in the Bible: The Creation story. It’s more than about the chronological … Read entire article »
Filed under: Capitalism, Philosophy, Religion
Cold Reason
Many times I have been called cold. Most people view a strict and rigid belief in the rational and logical to be of a non-emotional nature. One individual literally told me, “it just ain’t got any soul.” I have been called “uncaring”, “uncompassionate”, “boring”, “eccentric” and “heartless”, because I do not abandon my mind during times of social or cultural conflict. However, I propose the opposite to be true: logic is the basis of the greatest of all feelings — respect for the human condition. Without reason and logic, our actions become incoherent. Rather than doing something because it follows a proper order in reality, because it “makes sense”, we do things on the basis of whim — chaotic actions. Look to all the problems of the world: Violence, war, war, poverty, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Politics
The Best That He Could Be
There was once a man named passion, preoccupied with perfection. They said they wanted to be happy, he said he wanted to be free. So they laughed themselves to sleep, sitting in trash, and he read all the night, being all that he could be. And secretly they wished that they were more. Life was a restless fool, they tried not to want more. But she saw just what he was, and she knew that it was good. No matter what they said, she fell up to his life, wanting the best that he could be. And she knew that it was good. He was a student of study, but a teacher of life and of love and all. And she knew that it was good. College to congress, life and victory. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Philosophy, Religion
The Shortest Case for Predestination. Ever.
Up to this point, I’ve only posted one theological argument, that being an explanation for what “authority” means in Romans 13. Well, I’m going to break my tradition of purely secular philosophy, and dive a bit into doctrine. This, interestingly enough, is going to be a cause for predestination through logical deduction. I could post a plethora of scriptures, but we’ve all seen those before. I want to discuss the controversy, but I don’t want to beat a dead horse. The shortest case for predestination, ever: Cause and effect guide all of reality. This is why reason is important. God does nothing without cause (He even died for a cause). Man can do nothing without a cause. Cause and effect guide all of reality. Since cause and effect guide God as well as … Read entire article »
Filed under: Religion