Problem of Evil... what do I think...

One of the subjects that I have read more on than another - just in general - in the philosophy of religion is the problem of evil. Until recently though my interest has been purely academic. Last year, April 16 2003 my dad died, then about 4 weeks later one of my best friends from high school committed suicide. Now, about two days ago on Saturday at 2:15AM my brother, Adam, was found dead in his apartment. All the arguments that I know for the problem of evil have not made me feel better about any of these deaths. All I know is that I do not blame God but hate the fact that death is un-natural - it is not the way that God meant things to be. Death is the result of human sin, God did not create us as sinners. I HATE DEATH. Yet, the most positive thing that I can cling to right now is the hope I have that all of those close to me that have died will be resurrected in the future. This is an incredible hope to cling to... though death is difficult and it is quite final for a while, I know that eventually, I will see my dad again, and my brother, and my friend. --Right now, that is the only thing that I can say about God being Good, that we will be resurrected and have a hope of resurrection--

Philosophical Theology - The Trinity

The most recent Philosophia Christi - the journal for the Evangelical Philosophical Society - is mostly concerned with the Trinity. So I have been side-tracked from reading about ancient hermeneutics. But there are many interesting theories and topics of discussion concerning the Trinity. I am interested in proposing a model for God in time involving the Trinity. Mainly, there are two problems when attempting to explain the divine mystery of the Trinity - modalism and tri-theism - modalism consists of believing in one God with three different appearences (or parts) and tri-theism is believing in three Gods. So it is difficult to navigate between these two themes. Two things that must be upheld in any discussion of the Trinity, (1)there is only one God, and (2) the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons. Traditional creeds have asserted that it is three persons and one being, or may assert that the members of the Trinity are of one substance. So later on today I will probably post some more thoughts involving philosophical theology.

Guests in TX

My cousin, his wife, and two sons are visiting my mom & myself for a long weekend so I have not been able to read too much hermeneutics, but I will soon, and eagerly anticipate everyone's thoughtful feedback on my thoughts.

BTW, all friends are welcome to come to TX - it's a great state - The LONE STAR STATE. Though the waves aren't as big as those in Cali, they are bigger than the waves in Lake Michigan. It's also a great place to take a road trip ;) Well I know lotsa people would like to visit TX so if you do my house is usually available to stay in.

Something in that IL water... makes me want to go back

Well, IL is a great place for me to visit, there was one particular site that I saw everyday. In fact I enjoyed that site so much I think that I will need to go back to IL soon - I can't seem to take my mind off of that site :)

I am beginning A History of Biblical Interpretation: The Ancient Period, tomorrow. It is for a book review article in the Southwestern Journal of Theology. I get a free book for doing the book review, and since I lust after books, I decided that I would do a book review for a free book. So the next couple of posts will deal with and discuss much of hermeneutics of the Bible - a favorite topic of mine.