Hello,
I am new to the discussion and to your blog. The arguments above are very interesting. I have a few points to pose.
Premise 2 seems strange to me for three reasons.
1. In biology, the development of organisms is a natural function of their existence. In order to appear as a mature organism, said organism goes through a series of stages to reach maturity. Therefore, in all those stages, it is the organism that it's DNA programs it to be.
2. There are concepts of active and passive potential. A heap of scrap metal has passive potential to become a car. An agent outside the boundary of the scrap metal must do work to create a car.
A lit match and dry wood that are in physical contact have active potential to become a bonfire. In just letting the lit match and dry wood "do what they do", so to speak, the bonfire naturally matures.
The zygote, if left in the correct environment has active potential to become a fetus, baby, toddler, child, teenager, and adult. A skin cell has passive potential to become a zygote.
3. In terms of engineering, a car does not become a car because an internal stereo is added. The modified car still functions as the original car.
(In general I like the SLED test.)
Let me know what you think.
20 September 2008
18 September 2008
Abortion for Capital
It just struck me today that abortion has a stake in the economy of the world just as slavery was part of it, especially of the US South before the civil war. The South went to war for succession from the union, but for what reason? History tells us that a slave was worth everything for the South and that if that body was lost or turned free, the South’s wealth would be lost. Lives were being used as labor and as a capital good in multiple industries by almost everyone.
The same goes for abortion today.
No wonder Democrats like Senators Ted Kennedy (D) and Joe Biden (D) switched their view on the topic. (Yes, they used to be pro-life, or OTAAAC.)
Today we don’t have borders to differentiate the sides. It takes a culture war to fight and outlaw abortion as slavery was in the Constitution (Amendments 13-15).
Do I want a zygote to be protected by the Constitution? You bet. Yes, it will also outlaw in-vitro implantation (IVF), test-tube babies, and “The pill” (etc.). It’s what is right, just as outlawing slavery was.
Abortion will continue but so has slavery. Outlawing abortion -- as slavery has been -- is the right thing to do for justice for all.
We all have a right to life from the moment we come into existence as a zygote.
That's why I can be called a zygote emeritus. You and I were once zygotes; we are now people who can read.
The same goes for abortion today.
- Abortion mills such as Planned Parenthood provide abortions and contraception that fails in order to create the “need” for abortion. (not to mention lobbies for sex-ed that leads to more abortions)
- Aborted fetuses are sold to pharmaceuticals and biological industries for vaccines (including MMR), drugs (including “The Pill” and other abortifacient), and bio-products' creation and testing. (big, big bucks folks)
- Abortion providers, pharmaceuticals, and biological industries give politicians lots of money.
- The abortion topic helps political candidates win political offices (goes for both sides).
- Men want abortion to keep them from becoming fathers and loosing money towards child support.
No wonder Democrats like Senators Ted Kennedy (D) and Joe Biden (D) switched their view on the topic. (Yes, they used to be pro-life, or OTAAAC.)
Today we don’t have borders to differentiate the sides. It takes a culture war to fight and outlaw abortion as slavery was in the Constitution (Amendments 13-15).
Do I want a zygote to be protected by the Constitution? You bet. Yes, it will also outlaw in-vitro implantation (IVF), test-tube babies, and “The pill” (etc.). It’s what is right, just as outlawing slavery was.
Abortion will continue but so has slavery. Outlawing abortion -- as slavery has been -- is the right thing to do for justice for all.
We all have a right to life from the moment we come into existence as a zygote.
That's why I can be called a zygote emeritus. You and I were once zygotes; we are now people who can read.
Violent and Degrading Passions
One of P.Z. Myers’ Atheist minions emailed the following to “Mike Koelzer, a member of American Life League Associate group Pharmacists for Life International.”
This reminds me of Romans 1, Sodom & Gomorrah, and a blog series I wrote for Ales Rarus regarding a homosexual bible study I attended at Pitt.
This email is almost a case study of what happens to someone when they don’t believe in God: they want to have “unnatural” “intimacies” with those of the same sex. Instead of holy and loving “intimacies” in marriage, they are traded for “shameful” and violent and degrading ones.
May God have mercy on us all.
‘And..... the rumor is you have quite a nice looking butt and if you play your cards right ... well, let's just say, I can be awfully grateful.’
http://www.lifesitenews.com/
This reminds me of Romans 1, Sodom & Gomorrah, and a blog series I wrote for Ales Rarus regarding a homosexual bible study I attended at Pitt.
Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.
Romans 1:24-28
The two angels reached Sodom in the evening, as Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he got up to greet them; and bowing down with his face to the ground, he said, "Please, gentlemen, come aside into your servant's house for the night, and bathe your feet; you can get up early to continue your journey." But they replied, "No, we shall pass the night in the town square."
He urged them so strongly, however, that they turned aside to his place and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking cakes without leaven, and they dined.
Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom, both young and old--all the people to the last man--closed in on the house.
They called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them."
Genesis 19:1-5
This email is almost a case study of what happens to someone when they don’t believe in God: they want to have “unnatural” “intimacies” with those of the same sex. Instead of holy and loving “intimacies” in marriage, they are traded for “shameful” and violent and degrading ones.
May God have mercy on us all.
17 September 2008
Happy Constitution Day!
On this day in 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was signed. May everyone at least read it once in their life.
Apparently, Whoopi hasn't.
This is my point: Has McCain read it? If he is such a maverick, why didn't he stand up to Whoopi with the truth of the document in history? It would've been a great teaching moment for all of us, especially for women watching "The View". In order to lead, one has to tell it as it is.
(Goes for Ellen about gay "marriage", too.)
I guess it's that he wants to get elected. Will he take up the teaching role as President?
I hope he has the guts to tackle the big people in the White House. They're a little more powerful.
He needs to be more than a Super-Senator.
Apparently, Whoopi hasn't.
This is my point: Has McCain read it? If he is such a maverick, why didn't he stand up to Whoopi with the truth of the document in history? It would've been a great teaching moment for all of us, especially for women watching "The View". In order to lead, one has to tell it as it is.
(Goes for Ellen about gay "marriage", too.)
I guess it's that he wants to get elected. Will he take up the teaching role as President?
I hope he has the guts to tackle the big people in the White House. They're a little more powerful.
He needs to be more than a Super-Senator.
12 September 2008
By It’s Fruit
The abortion and gay issues may be coming to a head. They first have to hit rock bottom before the Truth comes around and exposes the falsehoods. After sin is exposed to the light, it can be purged.
I think with the candid admissions below, it’s the time in history when respective policies may turn around in democratic or semi-democratic countries. My wife is not too sure. She thinks the worst is yet to come. We’ll see.
The admissions come from Camille Paglia and Simon Fanshawe, respectively. (See LifeSiteNews.com)
The woman who is pro-abortion as a choice (PAAAC) is an atheist and libertarian who admits that “Abortion is Murder” but is nonetheless justified. “I believe that government must stay completely out of the sphere of personal choice. Every individual has an absolute right to control his or her body.” She says later that “[abortion] results in the annihilation of concrete individuals and not just clumps of insensate tissue.” This clearly contradicts her position: since each individual has a right to control his or her own body, or to have life, the ”concrete individual” must be free to live.
The man who is gay says that the "Gay Lifestyle a 'Sewer' of Casual Degrading Sex, Drug Abuse and Misery”. In other words, the gay lifestyle makes human persons into animals: it degrades their human dignity in a truly concrete way. I would argue even “sexually committed gay relationships” do this since they contain the same humanly degrading sex as those that are not committed.
From the two people, I see that the fruit of both positions is death: infanticide (actually it’s back now in, of course, the Netherlands) and the annihilation of society into the ways of the sexually active gay person (by having no children and being self-destructive and degrading) are only a step away.
I think with the candid admissions below, it’s the time in history when respective policies may turn around in democratic or semi-democratic countries. My wife is not too sure. She thinks the worst is yet to come. We’ll see.
The admissions come from Camille Paglia and Simon Fanshawe, respectively. (See LifeSiteNews.com)
The woman who is pro-abortion as a choice (PAAAC) is an atheist and libertarian who admits that “Abortion is Murder” but is nonetheless justified. “I believe that government must stay completely out of the sphere of personal choice. Every individual has an absolute right to control his or her body.” She says later that “[abortion] results in the annihilation of concrete individuals and not just clumps of insensate tissue.” This clearly contradicts her position: since each individual has a right to control his or her own body, or to have life, the ”concrete individual” must be free to live.
The man who is gay says that the "Gay Lifestyle a 'Sewer' of Casual Degrading Sex, Drug Abuse and Misery”. In other words, the gay lifestyle makes human persons into animals: it degrades their human dignity in a truly concrete way. I would argue even “sexually committed gay relationships” do this since they contain the same humanly degrading sex as those that are not committed.
From the two people, I see that the fruit of both positions is death: infanticide (actually it’s back now in, of course, the Netherlands) and the annihilation of society into the ways of the sexually active gay person (by having no children and being self-destructive and degrading) are only a step away.
10 September 2008
Live Music MP3's
Below are two of my (composed) motets that I recorded for a competition. Enjoy and let me know if you want a copy of the sheet music (or any other music of mine).
Tantum Dic Verbo
Mt 8:8
Domine, non sum dignus,
ut intres sub tectum meum:
sed tantum dic verbo
et sanabitur anima mea.
Lord, I am not worthy
that Thou shouldest enter under my roof:
but only say the word,
and my soul shall be healed.
Justorum Animae
Wisdom 3:1-2a,3b
Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt,
et non taget illos tormentum malitiae:
visi sunt oculis insipientium mori:
illi autem sunt in pace.
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and the torment of malice shall not touch them:
in the sight of the unwise they seemed to die,
but they are in peace.
© 2008 Musique de McClain
© 2008 Wondering Zygote Emeritus
Tantum Dic Verbo
Mt 8:8
Domine, non sum dignus,
ut intres sub tectum meum:
sed tantum dic verbo
et sanabitur anima mea.
Lord, I am not worthy
that Thou shouldest enter under my roof:
but only say the word,
and my soul shall be healed.
Justorum Animae
Wisdom 3:1-2a,3b
Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt,
et non taget illos tormentum malitiae:
visi sunt oculis insipientium mori:
illi autem sunt in pace.
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and the torment of malice shall not touch them:
in the sight of the unwise they seemed to die,
but they are in peace.
© 2008 Musique de McClain
© 2008 Wondering Zygote Emeritus
06 September 2008
Open Letter on "A Vote for Sarah Palin"
The following is a response to this inquiry:
The nomination of Sarah Palin brings one word to mind: courage. No wonder you and other people are “not sure what to make of the nomination” since the observation of apparent courage prompts the observer to interpret the action as real courage or real stupidity. The interpretation may take a short term or long term to develop. In the nomination of Sarah Palin, it will probably take the outcome of the election to tell if it was a courageous or stupid act.
I suggest that the nomination was a truly courageous act for two main reasons. First, it showed that if Senator McCain becomes President, he will be able to make decisions with courage, determination, and with the nation’s interest at heart. He showed that even though safe choices can be made without the threat of reprisals, such as picking an obvious person such as Governor Romney or Mayor Giuliani to be Vice President, there are better choices to be made that will probably be looked upon as foolish by the self-labeled experts.
Second, he chose a running mate that personifies courage. Governor Palin carried to term a down-syndrome baby who, statistically, most other people would kill by abortion. She showed her courage by bucking most of society in making the right decision not to destroy her son. She demonstrated courage by supporting her daughter in making the right decision to bring her child and grandson to term. How many other woman and mothers would give in to fear and abort all their unexpected children?
It will only be a short few weeks before all of us know if President or Senator McCain made a courageous or stupid decision in choosing Governor Sarah Palin for the next Vice President of the United States of America.
A Vote for Sarah PalinThe response is here:
Posted by Joseph Bottum on September 3, 2008, 12:27 PM
Has everyone read “A Vote for Sarah Palin,” the Daily Article here at First Things this morning? I’m not sure what to make of the nomination and would be interested in your thoughts. Email us here [ft@firstthings.com].
The nomination of Sarah Palin brings one word to mind: courage. No wonder you and other people are “not sure what to make of the nomination” since the observation of apparent courage prompts the observer to interpret the action as real courage or real stupidity. The interpretation may take a short term or long term to develop. In the nomination of Sarah Palin, it will probably take the outcome of the election to tell if it was a courageous or stupid act.
I suggest that the nomination was a truly courageous act for two main reasons. First, it showed that if Senator McCain becomes President, he will be able to make decisions with courage, determination, and with the nation’s interest at heart. He showed that even though safe choices can be made without the threat of reprisals, such as picking an obvious person such as Governor Romney or Mayor Giuliani to be Vice President, there are better choices to be made that will probably be looked upon as foolish by the self-labeled experts.
Second, he chose a running mate that personifies courage. Governor Palin carried to term a down-syndrome baby who, statistically, most other people would kill by abortion. She showed her courage by bucking most of society in making the right decision not to destroy her son. She demonstrated courage by supporting her daughter in making the right decision to bring her child and grandson to term. How many other woman and mothers would give in to fear and abort all their unexpected children?
It will only be a short few weeks before all of us know if President or Senator McCain made a courageous or stupid decision in choosing Governor Sarah Palin for the next Vice President of the United States of America.
01 September 2008
Paradoxical Truth
For me, one of the proofs for the Truths of Christianity is its paradoxical nature. What I mean is that what seems to be apparent is actually not true. For example, in order to gain happiness for ourselves, we must deliver happiness to others and deny ourselves. If we try to make ourselves happy by indulging ourselves, we can never grasp happiness. It is only in giving that we receive. In order to live, we must die, etc.
This makes most sense to me for two reasons. Since no one had fully known the truth about God, the origin of our happiness, until the revelation and incarnation of Christ, paradoxes must have existed that keep humanity from the full Truth. Buddha said that escaping from physical reality was necessary to reach nirvana, but he was not correct. We must be redeemed in our bodies to be connected to the Communion of Saints at the resurrection.
Second, intellectuals have a great difficulty in grasping the Truth of the gospel because of their logical hang-ups. Why would someone become lowly to be exalted? It is the unwanted and destitute that see the illogicalness of life and embrace the paradoxical Truth of the Gospel for hope.
“He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
This makes most sense to me for two reasons. Since no one had fully known the truth about God, the origin of our happiness, until the revelation and incarnation of Christ, paradoxes must have existed that keep humanity from the full Truth. Buddha said that escaping from physical reality was necessary to reach nirvana, but he was not correct. We must be redeemed in our bodies to be connected to the Communion of Saints at the resurrection.
Second, intellectuals have a great difficulty in grasping the Truth of the gospel because of their logical hang-ups. Why would someone become lowly to be exalted? It is the unwanted and destitute that see the illogicalness of life and embrace the paradoxical Truth of the Gospel for hope.
“He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
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