This morning at 7 AM, I appeared on the Rob Sherman show on WJJG-AM 1530 (Chicago).
He is a liberal atheist activist who is also a lawyer...I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion.
One of the topics concerned God and geometry.
A line has no beginning and no end.
A ray has a beginning and no end.
A line segment has a beginning and an end.
Rob Sherman said if tangible matter has always existed, then there can't be a God because reality would have to be a ray and God is a line.
God is definitely a line...He has always existed and He will never end.
If tangible matter always existed, Rob Sherman would be right.
However, tangible matter is a ray.
This means it came into existence as an effect of intangible causes.
These intangible causes could be traced back to a First Cause that is intangible and causeless. As we've seen before, the only thing that fits this description are principles.
The principles of right and just have always existed and will always exist...they can't be created or cease to exist.
God the Father is always completely right and always completely just...
...this is the only non-contradictory model for God.
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7 comments:
Hello! I heard parts of your interview yesterday on KKMS live with Jeff and Lee. I am looking forward to relistening to the whole thing when it is put online later.
My questions that I have never really heard answered are How do we really know there was a first cause? Couldn't the universe exist eternally as an infinite line of cause and effect?
The universe technically does exist eternally as an infinite line...AND the first cause ALWAYS existed.
There HAD to be a First Cause BECAUSE we have effects now and they eventually have to boil down to a First Cause because the list of causes gets smaller as you go backwards.
This is the proof that our world is MORE complex than EVER...it has MORE effects than ever.
Principles are the ONLY Causes that can be causeless AND exist forever...specifically: right and just.
Michael, thank you for the post and please feel free to comment after listening to the interview!
JG, thankyou for your response to my questions! I appreciate it immensely!
You wrote:
The universe technically does exist eternally as an infinite line...AND the first cause ALWAYS existed.
Wow! this answer was totally unexpected. I never thought the Christian faith might be compatable with an infinite universe. My definition of universe is: all that God has created. Perhaps you have a more clarifying definition that would help my get my brain around these things.
Then ....
There HAD to be a First Cause BECAUSE we have effects now and they eventually have to boil down to a First Cause because the list of causes gets smaller as you go backwards.
Wow, again, I hardly believe you answered this, and in such a way I could understand it! I am surprised now that I have not heard this arguement before, because it seems like almost well, duh! I have to admit my mind is resistant to this for some reason and already conjuring up objections like, couldn't things just keep getting smaller forever in the past or mabye the universe is being re created every zillion years or what ever, but that would still need a first cause , only over again!LOL! at myself!;-)
More...
This is the proof that our world is MORE complex than EVER...it has MORE effects than ever.
Yes! that would be true! the universe would be more complex now than before I began this reply even!
More..
Principles are the ONLY Causes that can be causeless AND exist forever...specifically: right and just.
I am going to have to think about this one more, what are principles? and how many are eternal, besides these two?
..
Michael, thank you for the post and please feel free to comment after listening to the interview!
Thank you! I will gladly take you up on that offer, look for my comments in the comming days!
MT
Michael,
I need to do a post about the difference between Laws and Principles because it really explains one of the main effects of the New Testament.
A Law tells you what not to do and promises a punishment. (Notice, there are no U.S. Laws that give you ANYTHING when you follow them.) The Law treats everyone the same and focuses on the DO and HAVE.
A Principle identifies a profitable goal (doesn't include a "don't") and promises a reward. A principle accounts for uniqueness and focuses on the ARE.
Love the Lord thy God...
Love your neighbor as...
These are principles.
Thou shalt not...
This is a law.
Jesus FULFILLED the Law by accomplishing the ARE...this would lead to EVERY DO and HAVE (result) of the Law.
I believe Right and Just are the only two causeless principles. These principles don't depend on ANYTHING. They are the ultimate measures and would exist even if things weren't right and just. Think about math...EVERYTHING begins with numbers having a right (specific/unique) value and an equal sign.
I believe the immediate effects of these principles are: Non-contradiction and Contrastive (for Right) AND Causality and Growth (for Just).
Thanks for the reply! I ordered your book today, mabye reading it will help me understand more where you are coming from!
Michael,
Thanks for ordering the book!
Please feel free to contact me after reading the first five chapters (Part I). These chapters are foundational and actually take on a deeper dimension once the book is finished.
I usually tell people to read a chapter every day during the week and reread/digest on the weekends.
If you have questions, the answers are usually in the following chapters.
Cool! I will do that, thanks for the tips!
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