Reading for fun can be entertaining. Interdisciplinary reading can improve intellectual ability. In other words, reading several books on different topics is helpful. Reading to do research can also be enjoyable. Personally, I usually read two or three books at once. I try to have at least one of the books be strictly for enjoyment. When one reads to do research taking notes is necessary to help retain the material. Furthermore, when reading more advance material the reader may need to move slowly. While reading fiction it is vital for the reader to use visual imagery to picture what the scenes illustrated in the book. This gives the reader a feel for what is happening in the book. Also, it is important to understand the symbolism, metaphors, and allegories being used. This is especially true if its is ancient text such as Greek mythology or the bible. Characters or seemingly ordinary objects can symbolize something profound.
It is important for a writer to find a time of the day that it is most productive to write during. Also, its vital that when a writer has an idea to write without interruption until the idea is finished. Then take a break and get something to eat. The worst thing that could happen is that the writer forgets the idea. When conducting research writing its essential to add footnotes or some form of citation. When in doubt cite and I do not recommend using APA or MLA citations because these do not work for every source. If possible use primary sources. The website Arhive.org is a great source of primary texts. It is important to note that there are some subjects that there are very few or no primary sources for such as ancient Egyptian religion.
When writing fiction it is helpful to incorporate symbolism, metaphors, and allegories. Also, there should be things happening on multiple levels. Read books of the genre that intend to write in and ancient texts. It seems cumbersome to read ancient texts. However, Lord of The Rings, The Matrix, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Stars Wars were all inspired by the bible. I would recommend reading texts that are a couple years old. For example, if your writing a novel about getting lost at sea then read some of the nineteenth century Moby Dick novels.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Of The Rise of The Asian Consumer
Over the last two decades China, India, and parts of Southeast Asia have risen out of poverty becoming a manufacturing power house. This growth was driven by enormous investments in production by both state and private investors with China being the only country to have the government invest in industry. China has state owned banks that give loans to private industry and real estate developers. Also, these banks lend to state owned companies and some of them are infrastructure banks. Growth in manufacturing in Southeast Asia has mostly been driven by demand in the west for textiles. While in China the growth has been driven by a much wider variety of products including the IPhone which is designed and marketed by Apple. Manufacturing of high tech products has been outsourced to China. However, this growth has come at the cost of increased pollution and a private debt to GDP ratio of 225%. The public debt to GDP ratio in China is 47.6%. The government of China has pointed out the need to move to more serviced based consumer economy. This is where the Asian consumer comes in. The middle class in Asia has grown rapidly over the last two decades and this growth is expected to continue into 2035. China's One Child policy has allowed parents to be able to afford to send their children to school. Its is common for there to be four grandparents and two parents working with one child in the household. Eventually, this could lead to an excessive amount of retired people with not enough working people to pay for their social security. It could also result in a labor shortage and wages are rising as companies compete for a shrinking number of workers.
The demand for luxury goods is increasing in China as the number of wealthy people in China is increasing. Indeed, a more consumer based economy will require more small business that can cater to the individual wants of the middle class consumer. The tariffs Trump implemented on China over the summer will not hinder growth in China. The tariffs was simply a form of negotiating. I suspect that there will be a new trade deal struck between the U.S and China just as a new version of NAFTA was recently implemented. China is the U.S's largest trading partner, so as the Chinese consumer becomes wealthier America may export more consumer products to China. As wages go up in China it will become more expensive to manufacture there. Although, it could be decades before the cost of manufacturing in China matches that of the U.S. China has manipulated its currency by keeping the value of its currency down to make its good cheaper than American goods.
As I mentioned earlier, China's private debt to GDP ratio is 225% and its public debt is 47.6%. This could lead to a debt crises. Much of the debt is concentrated because state owned banks lend to state owned enterprises. The government could simply inflate its way out of the debt. In other words, China would print money and keep the debt at the same level. Then the debt will worth less in future yen. Also, China could bail out bankrupt institutions.
The demand for luxury goods is increasing in China as the number of wealthy people in China is increasing. Indeed, a more consumer based economy will require more small business that can cater to the individual wants of the middle class consumer. The tariffs Trump implemented on China over the summer will not hinder growth in China. The tariffs was simply a form of negotiating. I suspect that there will be a new trade deal struck between the U.S and China just as a new version of NAFTA was recently implemented. China is the U.S's largest trading partner, so as the Chinese consumer becomes wealthier America may export more consumer products to China. As wages go up in China it will become more expensive to manufacture there. Although, it could be decades before the cost of manufacturing in China matches that of the U.S. China has manipulated its currency by keeping the value of its currency down to make its good cheaper than American goods.
As I mentioned earlier, China's private debt to GDP ratio is 225% and its public debt is 47.6%. This could lead to a debt crises. Much of the debt is concentrated because state owned banks lend to state owned enterprises. The government could simply inflate its way out of the debt. In other words, China would print money and keep the debt at the same level. Then the debt will worth less in future yen. Also, China could bail out bankrupt institutions.
"2nd Quarter Wrap Up 2018: The Rise of the Asian Consumer"
https://home.solari.com/2nd-quarter-wrap-up-2018-the-rise-of-the-asian-consumer/
"Debt, Not Trade War, Is China's Biggest Problem"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/11/24/debt-not-trade-war-is-chinas-biggest-problem/#e9df0604c4d0
"China's debt crisis: Just how bad is it?"
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-37404838
Of The Decline of America's Infrastructure
America's infrastructure is being allowed to decay. Over the last six years America's infrastructure has consistently received a D from The American Society of Civil Engineers. Several major bridges have collapsed and many others are at risk of falling apart. Even major railroad bridges are being allowed to collapse. In most rural areas internet is slow and our electrical grid is several decades old. Also, California is lacking the water necessary to sustain its massive population. Perhaps, water will have to be pipe lined from the lower part of the Mississippi River to California. Localities are banned from installing their own fiber optics to get internet connection. In some northern European countries localities have done this successfully and dramatically increased the speed of the internet and reduced costs. Several damns and levees are about to collapse.
Many sewer systems are over a century old. Also, traffic jams on major highway interchanges is the norm. Spending on America's infrastructure is at the lowest level in more than half a century. This trend will cause America be less competitive in the global economy and compromise national security. Also, hundreds of billions of dollars of potential productivity could be lost. Productivity is being lost due to slower travel and less construction on infrastructure going on. Jobs would be created in order to do the work required to upgrade infrastructure.
Infrastructure is relied upon by ordinary people, businesses, and the government. Also, it is the life blood of the economy. Part of the reason that infrastructure is being allowed to decline is to limit our ability to travel. In the Roman Empire the government built many roads, bridges, and aqueducts. Then the government allowed its infrastructure to decline in order to limit the civilian population's ability to travel. I suspect that part of the reason that infrastructure is being allowed to decline is that eventually goods will be transported via large space ships or air ships. These vehicles would have to move at tremendous speed and have an extremely large carrying capacity.
Upgrading and expanding infrastructure could be funded by state and local governments. Also, it could be funded by an infrastructure bank. An infrastructure is a financial institution typically owned by the government. The infrastructure would get a certain amount of money deposited in it. Then when a certain group wants funding for an infrastructure project the bank would fund it. Then the bank would get repaid by toll and any increases in tax revenue resulting from increased economic activity resulting from the project. The toll would go away as soon as the bank is repaid. Typically, when an infrastructure project is completed the local economy improves as a result of increased efficiency. This usually leads to an increase in tax revenue. I will explain infrastructure banks in grater detail in later blogs.
Many sewer systems are over a century old. Also, traffic jams on major highway interchanges is the norm. Spending on America's infrastructure is at the lowest level in more than half a century. This trend will cause America be less competitive in the global economy and compromise national security. Also, hundreds of billions of dollars of potential productivity could be lost. Productivity is being lost due to slower travel and less construction on infrastructure going on. Jobs would be created in order to do the work required to upgrade infrastructure.
Infrastructure is relied upon by ordinary people, businesses, and the government. Also, it is the life blood of the economy. Part of the reason that infrastructure is being allowed to decline is to limit our ability to travel. In the Roman Empire the government built many roads, bridges, and aqueducts. Then the government allowed its infrastructure to decline in order to limit the civilian population's ability to travel. I suspect that part of the reason that infrastructure is being allowed to decline is that eventually goods will be transported via large space ships or air ships. These vehicles would have to move at tremendous speed and have an extremely large carrying capacity.
Upgrading and expanding infrastructure could be funded by state and local governments. Also, it could be funded by an infrastructure bank. An infrastructure is a financial institution typically owned by the government. The infrastructure would get a certain amount of money deposited in it. Then when a certain group wants funding for an infrastructure project the bank would fund it. Then the bank would get repaid by toll and any increases in tax revenue resulting from increased economic activity resulting from the project. The toll would go away as soon as the bank is repaid. Typically, when an infrastructure project is completed the local economy improves as a result of increased efficiency. This usually leads to an increase in tax revenue. I will explain infrastructure banks in grater detail in later blogs.
Refernces
"America's Infrastructure Is Slowly Falling Apart"
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8gdpkg/america-is-collapsing-a-brief-look-at-the-us-infrastructure-meltdown-130
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Of Alternative Research
Over the last fifteen years researchers like Richard Dolan, Jim Mars, and Dr. Joseph p Farrell have been writing numerous books on strange topics that the lamestream media ignores. This strange topics include UFOs, alchemy, and anything the lamestream media throws under the rug. A few years ago Catherine Austin Fits and The Dark Journalist joined this group of scholars. The Dark Journalist worked as a journalist before starting his own You Tube Channel and website to interview people such as Richard Dolan on strange topics. Catherine Austin Fits was the Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during George W.H Bush administration. She tried to balance the books and when she couldn't she blew the whistle. She subsequently left the government agency. She eventually started the Solari Report to inform investors of the implications of the UFO economy and The Breakaway Civilization on investment decision making. Joseph p Farrell and has written numerous books and blogs almost daily on topics ranging from UFOs to Nazis. Richard Dolan has also written books on those topics and blogs. However, he has his own You Tube Channel that he interviews people such as Dr. Joseph p Farrell. Jim Mars has written several books on Nazis and UFOs. He entered the field before Joseph p Farrell did and inspired much of his work. Graham Hancock is author that writes books on ancient history, He has a theory that he civilization has been going in circles. In other words, he believes that civilization has been collapsing and rebuilding over and over.
Linda Moulton Howe is a reporter that The Dark Journalist has interviewed on the topic of Gobekli Tepe amongst other topics in ancient history. Gobekli Tepe is a site in modern day Turkey that is over twelve thousand years old and was a city complete with a temple. The Dark Journalist has also interviewed Gigi Young on topics of the counter culture in the 1960's and various mystery schools. Young claims be successfully channeling spirits. Channeling spirits is when someone communicates with spirits. These spirits are not dead people, but rather spiritual entities. The problem with channeling is that you do not know what you are dealing with and we do not know with certainty if channeling is real. Walter Bosely has done research into UFOs and runs a small publishing company called Lost Continent Library. Dr. Scott D. de Hart has co authored a couple of books with Joseph p Farrell including the book "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas".
There are a couple of different approaches to alternative research. One approach is academic in which one would write several books, interview on different You Tube Channels, and maintain a community driven blog. The other approach is journalistic. You would interview many different people to explore different topics within alternative research. Or one could combine both methods. Catherine Austin Fits does a great deal of interviewing and writing. Every quarter she does "quarterly wrap ups" in which she travels to interview several different people and she writes a one hundred plus page report. As I mentioned earlier, Richard Dolan has a talk show and books written. These two researchers combine both methods, so that their readers get the best of both worlds. I intend to enter the alternative research community by writing my own books on UFOs and hidden finance.
Linda Moulton Howe is a reporter that The Dark Journalist has interviewed on the topic of Gobekli Tepe amongst other topics in ancient history. Gobekli Tepe is a site in modern day Turkey that is over twelve thousand years old and was a city complete with a temple. The Dark Journalist has also interviewed Gigi Young on topics of the counter culture in the 1960's and various mystery schools. Young claims be successfully channeling spirits. Channeling spirits is when someone communicates with spirits. These spirits are not dead people, but rather spiritual entities. The problem with channeling is that you do not know what you are dealing with and we do not know with certainty if channeling is real. Walter Bosely has done research into UFOs and runs a small publishing company called Lost Continent Library. Dr. Scott D. de Hart has co authored a couple of books with Joseph p Farrell including the book "Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas".
There are a couple of different approaches to alternative research. One approach is academic in which one would write several books, interview on different You Tube Channels, and maintain a community driven blog. The other approach is journalistic. You would interview many different people to explore different topics within alternative research. Or one could combine both methods. Catherine Austin Fits does a great deal of interviewing and writing. Every quarter she does "quarterly wrap ups" in which she travels to interview several different people and she writes a one hundred plus page report. As I mentioned earlier, Richard Dolan has a talk show and books written. These two researchers combine both methods, so that their readers get the best of both worlds. I intend to enter the alternative research community by writing my own books on UFOs and hidden finance.
The Dark Journalist Website
https://www.darkjournalist.com/
The Giza Death Star
https://gizadeathstar.com/
The Solari Report
https://home.solari.com/
Graham Hancock's Website
http://grahamhancock.com/
Jim Mar's Website
http://www.jimmarrs.com/newsviews/
Gigi Young's Website
https://gigiyoung.com/about/
Linda Moulton Howe's Earthfiles
https://www.earthfiles.com/
Richard Dolan's Website
https://richarddolanmembers.com/
For information on Scott D. Dehart
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/guest/de-hart-scott-d/60577/
Walter Bosely's You Tube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/AdventureMan6399/featured
Of Reviving and Owning The Culture
As I've mentioned in previous blogs, traditional western culture is under attack. So, the question remains. How do we protect our culture from these vicious attacks? We own the culture in our daily lives. That means listening to classical music, reading old literature, coping/translating old literature, producing new literature, and perhaps, if your musically inclined, composing your own music. I will discuss how to translate/copy old literature in later blogs and I will also lay out methods for reading old literature. Furthermore, I will explain how to compose literature that utilizes an ancient method of writing that incorporates symbolism, metaphors, and things happening on multiple levels. It may be a while before I am qualified to teach other how to compose music. I will have to start by playing instruments again. Perhaps, I will be able to find my old clarinet if I still have it.
As I discussed earlier, owning the culture would also mean treating others with more respect and being able to have civil discussions with those we disagree with. Indeed, the way that we treat each other can have a profound impact on the culture. I would recommend avoiding music or television that has an anti human or nihilistic message. Also, celebrate the rich history of our culture and appreciate Renaissance art. Exposing children to the works of philosophers such as Plato would have an impact on the culture within a couple of generations. Young children would be fascinated by Plato's Atlantis. Having children learn cursive handwriting would also help preserve our culture. Try to use cursive handwriting yourself. If you can't then that's fine.
As I discussed earlier, owning the culture would also mean treating others with more respect and being able to have civil discussions with those we disagree with. Indeed, the way that we treat each other can have a profound impact on the culture. I would recommend avoiding music or television that has an anti human or nihilistic message. Also, celebrate the rich history of our culture and appreciate Renaissance art. Exposing children to the works of philosophers such as Plato would have an impact on the culture within a couple of generations. Young children would be fascinated by Plato's Atlantis. Having children learn cursive handwriting would also help preserve our culture. Try to use cursive handwriting yourself. If you can't then that's fine.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Of The Problems With Political Correctness
Freedom of speech is a hot topic on college campus. That is because some people are trying to limit speech that may be offensive to some people. For example, one speaker was not allowed to give a talk on a college campus on the differences in the type of intelligence amongst the races. Also, conservative speakers are frequently told that they cannot give a talk at liberal college campus and it has became offensive to talk about the differences between the two sexes. Research is being suppressed by political correctness. Researchers risk losing funding or even their job if they research a topic that may be deemed offensive. This limits intellectual development and stifles our understanding of the world. Also, it limits the flow of ideas and hurts the ability of people to have civil discussions with people they disagree with. Intellectuals need to be free to ask questions and explore different subjects. Lack of research on the differences between the races will limit the medical fields understanding of how to develop medicine and treatment for people of different ethnicities.
In Philadelphia a number of teachers resigned due to excessive violence committed against them by their own students. If the behavior is not properly punished early on then it can continue until adulthood. This could lead to someone spending their life in prison rather than learning a different path early on. Also, some students may freak out if things are too violent as we have seen with recent school shootings. This is not to say that the high schools themselves are responsible for the school shootings. Gangs can use students that they know are willing to commit violent actions to perform their dirty work.
I mentioned in my last blog that secular Calvinism can be found in political correctness. The reason for lies in the ideology that all white people are racist. It is arrogant to state that all white people are racist. One would think that if someone were to make this statement especially in a TV series such as "Dear White People" then the person making that statement would not consider the possibility of being wrong. People put too much emphasis on race. Its a distraction from class and traditional western culture.
Political correctness has been used to justify attacking traditional western culture especially in America. Symbols of traditional western culture such as texts and monuments are being labeled symbols of racism and a patriarchal power structure. These texts and monuments have a much deeper meaning and they do perpetuate any form of racism or patriarchal power structure. The political class is trying to separate people from those texts and monuments. This results in people being uprooted from traditional western culture and be grounded in something that would allow them to be easily manipulated. I've said this many times, we have to own the culture in our daily lives. That means listening to classical music, reading old literature, appreciating art, and understanding the rich history of our culture. Also, it means treating people with more respect and conducting ourselves with dignity.
In Philadelphia a number of teachers resigned due to excessive violence committed against them by their own students. If the behavior is not properly punished early on then it can continue until adulthood. This could lead to someone spending their life in prison rather than learning a different path early on. Also, some students may freak out if things are too violent as we have seen with recent school shootings. This is not to say that the high schools themselves are responsible for the school shootings. Gangs can use students that they know are willing to commit violent actions to perform their dirty work.
I mentioned in my last blog that secular Calvinism can be found in political correctness. The reason for lies in the ideology that all white people are racist. It is arrogant to state that all white people are racist. One would think that if someone were to make this statement especially in a TV series such as "Dear White People" then the person making that statement would not consider the possibility of being wrong. People put too much emphasis on race. Its a distraction from class and traditional western culture.
Political correctness has been used to justify attacking traditional western culture especially in America. Symbols of traditional western culture such as texts and monuments are being labeled symbols of racism and a patriarchal power structure. These texts and monuments have a much deeper meaning and they do perpetuate any form of racism or patriarchal power structure. The political class is trying to separate people from those texts and monuments. This results in people being uprooted from traditional western culture and be grounded in something that would allow them to be easily manipulated. I've said this many times, we have to own the culture in our daily lives. That means listening to classical music, reading old literature, appreciating art, and understanding the rich history of our culture. Also, it means treating people with more respect and conducting ourselves with dignity.
References
"Teachers Resign Due To Student Violence"
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/11/21/teachers-resign-due-to-student-violence/
Of The Problems With Calvinism and Secular Calvanism
John Calvin was a pastor, theologeon, and reformer that lived in Geneva during the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The reformation started when Martin Luther issued his ninety- five thesis's most of which criticizing the Catholic practice of selling indulgences. Indulgences were sold by the Catholic Church to people, so that they could get a relative out of pergatory (hell) sooner. The practice does not exist in the modern era. Martin Luther was still Catholic and he did not believe that it was neccessary to seperate into different churches. However, John Calvin disagreed with the basic teachings of Catholicism and perpetuated two main ideas. These ideas being "total depravity" and "predistination". Some modern calvanist say that predistination merely means that it is predetermined that humans will eventually die. However, others believe that it is predetermined whether we become good or bad people. This means that some Calvanist believe that if an infant dies before it can live out its life then God will send the infant to heavan or hell. People cannot be punished for a crime that they did not yet commit even if the person was planning to commit the crime. For instance, if someone was on their way to rob a store, but got hit by a bus on the way there. He would be rushed to the emergency room not a jail cell. Even after he recovers from his injuries he would not go to jail assuming he doesn't have a weapon on him and did not make any threat prior to being hit. According to Catholic teachings, God desires the salvation of every man, woman, and child. While some Calvanist beleive that God predetermined some individuals to recieve salvation. In other words, if God had intended for everyone to receive salvation it is illogical to assume that he would predetermine some individuals to be evil and thus unworthy of salvation.
The idea of total depravity means that humans have no good qualities in them from the time they are born and that they are incapable of performing good acts apart from God. Many Calvanist will assert that if someone who is an athiest were to help someone else it would be solely to glorify himself. Although some people may do good to glorify himself, one has to admit that when someone goes out of their way to help someone that person is sacrificing any possible gains attainable by using that time to do something that would increase his or her material gains. Also, this assumes that athiests or people that are not Christians lack human qualities such as care for others. Another probem with the idea of total depravity is that the "spark of the devine" is in each and every one of us. This means that because we are created in the image of God and God is everywhere, a small part of the devine is in everyone. This does not mean that humans are devine, rather that everyone has some goodness within them. The spark of the devine has its origins to mysticism.
Some Calvanist believe in total incapibility which means that people unable to receive gospel truth or believe that God is real. The bible does not state this, nor does it sugges that even non Christians are incapable of recieving information about God. However, it does say that people who are dead in their sin may not be able to believe gospel truth at first. This leads to efficacious grace which is the belief that God approaches the sinner and changes them, so that they can recieve gospel truth. This happens before someone hears any biblical information and the person involved is entirely passive throughout the whole process. These three bible verses suggest a different process.
"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23). Jesus says, "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
According to these versus, when someone is begining to believe in God and become a Christian he or she must hear or read the scripture. In order for the scripture to have any effect the person involved must process the verse in his or her mind. In the last verse, when Jesus says, "unless he is born of water." He is referring to baptism. Baptism is not a passive process for the beleiver. It requires the new Christian to understand the profound implications of being baptized and the meaning of becoming part of the church.
After the last three centuries secular calvinism has emerged in western culture. This is evident in the work of Roseau. Roseau suggests that mankind began in a "state of nature" in which there was shared goodness and equality. When humans started living in a society together they become corrupted by materialism and competition for spouses. He believed that a collectivist system in which everyone submits to the "general will" was needed. I am by no means a collectivist I believe that individual freedom is neccessary to allow people to reach their full potential. Thomas Hobbes had a similiar theory. He believed that mankind was basically selfish and had to kept in line by a monarch. Within several decades, John Locke argued that because God gave humans the ability to reason then mankind should utilize it to govern themselves. Trasncendentalist, Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson like Roseau believed that mankind was good in its "state of nature" then was corrupted once society develop. Also, they were environmentalists who believed that humans were a threat to nature. I disagree with the official narrative on climate change. The climate is always changing and there are natural cycles within the Earth's atmosphere. Humans are not helping the situation, but they are not the cause of global warnming as this is the result of a natural cycle. The most recent form of secular calvanism can be found in political correctness and GMOs but I will not go there in this rant.
The idea of total depravity means that humans have no good qualities in them from the time they are born and that they are incapable of performing good acts apart from God. Many Calvanist will assert that if someone who is an athiest were to help someone else it would be solely to glorify himself. Although some people may do good to glorify himself, one has to admit that when someone goes out of their way to help someone that person is sacrificing any possible gains attainable by using that time to do something that would increase his or her material gains. Also, this assumes that athiests or people that are not Christians lack human qualities such as care for others. Another probem with the idea of total depravity is that the "spark of the devine" is in each and every one of us. This means that because we are created in the image of God and God is everywhere, a small part of the devine is in everyone. This does not mean that humans are devine, rather that everyone has some goodness within them. The spark of the devine has its origins to mysticism.
Some Calvanist believe in total incapibility which means that people unable to receive gospel truth or believe that God is real. The bible does not state this, nor does it sugges that even non Christians are incapable of recieving information about God. However, it does say that people who are dead in their sin may not be able to believe gospel truth at first. This leads to efficacious grace which is the belief that God approaches the sinner and changes them, so that they can recieve gospel truth. This happens before someone hears any biblical information and the person involved is entirely passive throughout the whole process. These three bible verses suggest a different process.
"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23). Jesus says, "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
According to these versus, when someone is begining to believe in God and become a Christian he or she must hear or read the scripture. In order for the scripture to have any effect the person involved must process the verse in his or her mind. In the last verse, when Jesus says, "unless he is born of water." He is referring to baptism. Baptism is not a passive process for the beleiver. It requires the new Christian to understand the profound implications of being baptized and the meaning of becoming part of the church.
After the last three centuries secular calvinism has emerged in western culture. This is evident in the work of Roseau. Roseau suggests that mankind began in a "state of nature" in which there was shared goodness and equality. When humans started living in a society together they become corrupted by materialism and competition for spouses. He believed that a collectivist system in which everyone submits to the "general will" was needed. I am by no means a collectivist I believe that individual freedom is neccessary to allow people to reach their full potential. Thomas Hobbes had a similiar theory. He believed that mankind was basically selfish and had to kept in line by a monarch. Within several decades, John Locke argued that because God gave humans the ability to reason then mankind should utilize it to govern themselves. Trasncendentalist, Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson like Roseau believed that mankind was good in its "state of nature" then was corrupted once society develop. Also, they were environmentalists who believed that humans were a threat to nature. I disagree with the official narrative on climate change. The climate is always changing and there are natural cycles within the Earth's atmosphere. Humans are not helping the situation, but they are not the cause of global warnming as this is the result of a natural cycle. The most recent form of secular calvanism can be found in political correctness and GMOs but I will not go there in this rant.
References
"Calvinism Critiqued
by a Former Calvinist"
by Steve Jones
http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/openhse/calvinism.html#Grace
"The Problem of Predistination: Reformed and Catholic Theology In Dialogue"
by George Aldhizer
https://conciliarpost.com/theology-spirituality/the-problem-of-predestination-reformed-and-catholic-theology-in-dialogue/
"Secular Calvinism?"
https://losthunderlads.com/2010/02/26/secular-calvinism/
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