What if William Lane Craig of Reasonable Faith wrote the lyrics to Panama by Van Halen? If he is right about Molinism and middle knowledge then there must have been a possible world where this happened. So I offer you what those lyrics might have looked like in some other world that we have not had the blessing to see actualized. Apologies to William Lane Craig, Van Halen and Luis de Molina.
Rock on!
Continue readingThis post is part 6 of a series that has explored the three essays on the topic Liberty and Necessity by John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and Lord Kames. This series started with this post Wednesday with Wesley: Thoughts Upon Necessity
In “Thoughts Upon Necessity“, John Wesley critiqued the Lord Kames’ views on Necessity, Liberty and Moral Obligation and highlighted its flaws. He then went on to admit that Jonathan Edwards avoids the problem Lord Kames found himself in.
But Mr, Edwards, has found a most ingenious way of evading this consequence …1
Through “deep, metaphysical reasoning”, Edwards has asserted that “the actions of men are quite voluntary; the fruit of their own will” while also claiming that the strongest motive “determin[es] the Will [causing] the choice to be thus, and not otherwise.” 2 Despite using words like “voluntary” and “choice”, Edwards’ Liberty of Necessity, according to Wesley, amounts to the acts of a moral agent being “irresistibly impelled.” 3
Through this series we have explored how Edwards understood a Liberty of Necessity as well as how he understood a Liberty of Contingency. In this post, we will explore Wesley’s claims about Edwards’ framework and his own perspective on these matters.
Continue readingAs part of the Passover celebration there are several steps. One of the steps is the Maggid. This is where the stories of the Exodus and Israel’s release from captivity in Egypt are retold. Before that happens this part of the evening is kicked off by asking four questions collectively known as Ma Nishtana. The main question is: What makes this night different from all other nights?
This villanelle tries to capture the mood on that first Maudy Thursday as Jesus’ closest followers eat the Passover meal without quite understanding that His hour had come nor how different this night was really going to be from all other nights.
Why is this night different we say
We prepare bread of yeast-less dough
Guarded by the lamb we did slay
Dead Heroes Don't Save 