 |
Greetings and peace to all who enter. You are visitor  Net Flix
|
 |
|
|
|
Thursday, January 20, 2005
testetstdg;kjhdfj
Posted at Thursday, January 20, 2005 by ed2330
Permalink
Friday, December 17, 2004
Boy...I havn't posted in awhile have I?
Well, let me update you all. I just got straight A's in my college classes and have signed up for next semester. So, I am done with school until... January 11? It is something like that. Anyway I plan to post quite a bit during the break. As soon as I find myself a good subject and get some batteries for my mouse (I hate this stupid scroll pad on my laptop) I will be sure to write.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. " Mathew 7:7,
Ed
PS:
I just added a link to a page about Saint John Vianney. Some of his writtings are posted there and they are quite interesting....
Posted at Friday, December 17, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Saint Thomas Aquinas on the existence of God
I must say first that the following is completely copied from another person on a forum. I want to give credit where it is due, but I also think these are really cool so I am posting them.
On the Existence of God....(still me)
(Another person from now on)
First Way: The Argument From Motion
St. Thomas Aquinas, studying the works of the Greek philsopher Aristotle, concluded from common observation that an object that is in motion (e.g. the planets, a rolling stone) is put in motion by some other object or force. From this, Aquinas believes that ultimately there must have been an UNMOVED MOVER (GOD) who first put things in motion. Follow the agrument this way: 1) Nothing can move itself. 2) If every object in motion had a mover, then the first object in motion needed a mover. 3) This first mover is the Unmoved Mover, called God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second Way: Causation Of Existence
This Way deals with the issue of existence. Aquinas concluded that common sense observation tells us that no object creates itself. In other words, some previous object had to create it. Aquinas believed that ultimately there must have been an UNCAUSED FIRST CAUSE (GOD) who began the chain of existence for all things. Follow the agrument this way: 1) There exists things that are caused (created) by other things. 2) Nothing can be the cause of itself (nothing can create itself.) 3) There can not be an endless string of objects causing other objects to exist. 4) Therefore, ther must be an uncaused first cause called God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Third Way: Contingent and Neccessary Objects
This Way defines two types of objects in the universe: contingent beings and necessary beings. A contingent being is an object that can not exist without a necessary being causing its existence. Aquinas believed that the existence of contingent beings would ultimately neccesitate a being which must exist for all of the contingent beings to exist. This being, called a necessary being, is what we call God. Follow the argument this way: 1) Contingent beings are caused. 2) Not every being can be contingent. 3) There must exist a being which is necessary to cause contingent beings. 4) This necessary being is God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth Way: The Agrument From Degrees And Perfection
St. Thomas formulated this Way from a very interesting observation about the qualities of things. For example one may say that of two marble scultures one is more beautiful than the other. So for these two objects, one has a greater degree of beauty than the next. This is referred to as degrees or gradation of a quality. From this fact Aquinas concluded that for any given quality (e.g. goodness, beauty, knowledge) there must be an perfect standard by which all such qualities are measured. These perfections are contained in God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fifth Way: The Agrument From Intelligent Design
The final Way that St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of has to do with the observable universe and the order of nature. Aquinas states that common sense tells us that the universe works in such a way, that one can conclude that is was designed by an intelligent designer, God. In other words, all physical laws and the order of nature and life were designed and ordered by God, the intellgent designer.
Posted at Saturday, December 04, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Monday, October 18, 2004
How quick we are to complain of the blessings we don't have and think we deserve. How eager we are to accept the blessings we don't deserve, but have.
I have been hearing a lot of "why doesn't God do this" lately. Perhaps instead of looking at what we want, we should focus on how God has given us what we need.
Just a thought,
-Ed
Posted at Monday, October 18, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Monday, October 04, 2004
Whenever a disagreement occurs, whenever a stand is taken against immoral behavior, the word tolerance is used as a deffense. Now, in America, it appears to be the case that anything one does is ok as long as everything another does is ok too. Tolerance has become more prized a virtue than Faith or Honesty.
To tolerate is to put up with; to endure. What people really mean when they speak of tolerance is acceptance. Those commiting immoral acts want acceptance from others to alleviate their guilt. They feel justified if others say it is ok, or even join them. It is a Christians duty to always speak against immoral behavior. This may mean social backlash, being called prejudiced or even violence. It is necessary to tolerate this backlash, but never to accept immoral behavior.
-Ed
Posted at Monday, October 04, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Faith AND Works are the key
"You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called "the friend of God." See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2: 19-24
It has become a common practice for many Christians to believe they are "saved" simply by acknowledging God. As if a casual nod to the divine creator, our Lord, will be remembered in the end. A small "if you are there remember me" will not do. An earnest seeker of the Lord will find Him. Those who are not earnest and have too much love for carnal things to relinquish them will not.
Those who wrap themselves in the glory of this world will find none in the next. I realize this is a bleak message for some, but it is something I feel very strongly about. If we as Christians don't start accepting our cross, including exile, violence, hate and a multitude of other things from those not willing to accept the truth, we will not make it to Heaven. We can't.
Christ is our redeemer. His sacrifice can heal us, but only with our faith and acceptance of God's law.
Praying for this acceptance by all (as I hope you would please do for me),
Ed
Posted at Tuesday, August 31, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Friday, August 13, 2004
I was having a discussion with some friends about the upcoming presidential election. They were shocked to find that many Bishops have issued letters stating that those who vote for pro-abortion candidates, or any candidate supporting any of the five non-negotiables, could not recieve Holy Communion.
The non-negotiables are five issues that are ALWAYS considered morally wrong by the Church and so cannot be endorsed by any individual without incurring serious sin. This includes the politicians and the voters. The non-negotiable issues are:
1.Abortion
2.Euthanasia
3.Fetal Stem Cell Research
4.Human Cloning
5.Homosexual "Marriage"
Some of my friends were astounded that the Church would "manipulate politics". This is not the case at all. It is a grave sin in our Catholic Church to accept Communion with Mortal sin on ones soul. This has always been true. It is also true that to encourage or make easily available an action that is against God's law is the SAME as performing that action. That sin is also on the soul of the one encouraging (voting) for it because he has allowed a brother or sister to fall.
How is this accomplished, you may ask? How does the Church know how people have voted? They don't. It is on the individual to act correctly and follow God's will. Furthermore, if they do not act correctly, the Church may never know, but God will. God will know and He will judge.
The Catholic Voters Guide can be found through the link on the top right of this page. I encourage all to look at it. Also, I ask that everyone exercise their right to vote and research the issues.
God Bless,
Ed
Posted at Friday, August 13, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments." -Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin makes a great point about our behavior, especially in todays world. Everyone gets a Christmas present (even atheists....funny), but how many follow his teachings the rest of the year? How many say the bible is just a "guideline"? (Ed shudders) How many actively seek him in their everyday life? How many actually research his (God's) law to find out how to best serve him?
i am not perfect. Do not take these writings as looking down my nose at others or considering myself better than anyone. i sin. i have believed the same lies others use to justify their actions. The ONLY reason i write these posts is to help others realize the same thing i have.
There is a God. He is just and loving. He wants all to be with him, no matter what their past. It is the purpose of all humans to seek him and serve him. Your actions can seperate you from him.
God Bless,
Ed
Posted at Friday, August 13, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Well, my first year of college is about to start. I may or may not have time to write as much as I have this summer, but I will try to keep updating the blog. This is just to let everyone know. Also, I am having some trouble deciding what my next topic should be....
Should anyone have an idea, a question, or ANYTHING, please post a comment about it on this or my most recent post and I will look into it.
Peace,
Ed
Posted at Wednesday, August 11, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
Friday, August 06, 2004
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." John 3: 5
Baptism serves several purposes. It removes original and actual sin (the sin we are born with due to Adam and Eve and the sins we commit by our own will). It also brings us into the Church as followers of Christ, as it is Christ that allows this spiritual cleansing.
Baptism can only be performed once for the remission of sin as it "opens the door" so to say. Think of it this way. When you are born, the power cable connecting you and God is disconnected. After Baptism, the cord is plugged back in. When you sin after Baptism, the plug is still in, but by your actions the power is cut off. Confession combined with acts of repentance turn the power back on.
Recently I had a conversation with a protestant friend of mine who was adament that infants could not be Baptized. The reasoning for this is that the infant cannot make a choice in the matter.
In the Old Testament, Abraham was told to have everyone in his household circumcised. This included the infants. Any infants born later were to also have this done shortly after birth. The newborns being circumcised had no choice in the matter, rather it was their parents choice to raise their children in accordance with God's law. The act of circumcision was not only a sign of God's covenant with Abraham, but a sign of the allegiance of the circumsized as a follower of the one true God.
Indeed, Paul says in Col. 2: 11 "In Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ." This passage shows Baptism as the "new" circumcision. The thought and rights of these two traditions is very similar. If an adult wished to convert to Judaism, he/she must have faith and be circumcised because they are making the choice to accept God. In the Old Testament, infants, who are incapable of showing faith, could be circumcised because they were to be raised in the religion and so would become Jewish. In Christianity, adult converts must have faith and be baptised. The infants born into Christian households will be raised Christian and so are able to be baptised.
I would be happy to find the answer to any questions readers of this post may have, but would encourage anyone that doesn't understand to follow the following links as they explain the Sacrament of Baptism and the ideas I have described very well.
On Baptism
Posted at Friday, August 06, 2004 by ed2330
Permalink
|
|
|
