Book number 5 drops next month. My goal was to write 4 books by the age of 40. I am now 41 and somehow managed to get 5 done. This is the culmination of many years of research. An utter game changer for debates over the nature of God. Destruction in its purest form.
A couple months ago Jake told me privately about the diagnosis. He was understandably upset. He asked me to say a prayer for him. I immediately said a prayer. I wonder if Cameron has said a prayer for Jake.
Today I had a wonderful lunch with Jake
@MMetaphysician
. He gave me a copy of this new book! Look forward to some publications from me on Ibn Taymiyyah. I'm slowly reading more about him for my work on God, time, and creation.
Did you know that a Thomist can defend their position without saying "You don't understand Aquinas"? I know it sounds shocking, perhaps unthinkable. Yet today I had a delightful dialogue on providence with a Thomist who stuck to the arguments and the actual views. 1/2
In case you are wondering, this makes no sense. As Gassendi and Charleton pointed out during the Scientific Revolution, no one has explained how a timeless God can act in time, and they will continue to fail till Christ returns.
It is important to teach young kittens about great thinkers like Alvin Plantinga. I can already tell that Constantine is developing properly basic beliefs in an appropriate epistemic environment.
In my last episode, I cited an Aquinas scholar saying that Thomas did not always believe in divine simplicity. Some people couldn't handle this. In the episode I am recording today, I will read a letter from Aquinas at the end of his life expressing doubt about immutability. 1/3
I've been thinking about demons lately for a paper I am writing on Christianity and heavy metal. One of the common objections I heard growing up is that I should not listen to metal because it sounds like demons singing. I'm sorry, but how do you know what a demon sounds like?
Aristotelian statements on time. Time is the collection of instants. Wait, no, time is an accident inhering in change. Wait, no, time is the measurement of motion. Motion is change. Change is things being in contrary ways at different times. So time is the measurement of times.
This was loads of fun, and intellectually stimulating. Ramon and I put a lot of thought into this one. It should be very interesting when the video is released.
I have just hosted a fascinating dialogue between two distinguished philosophers, Dr
@RamonIHarvey
and Dr
@theRTMullins
. One is a Muslim and the other a Christian. They discussed God and Time in Islamic Thought. The video will be published on Blogging Theology later this week.
I've got some more exciting news. I'm joining the philosophy team at Palm Beach Atlantic! If you want to do some high level philosophy of religion with me, look into this master's program.
This was so much fun, and I got to discuss arguments that I don't normally talk about on YouTube. It is the first of several dialogues I plan on doing with Muslim philosophers.
At the recent British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, Linda Zagzebski presented on "Mullins' Problem of Creepy Emotions." It is reported that Richard Swinburne was seen giggling during the horny God objection. I count this as a win.
If and only if Gavin is interested, then I am in. As I have said before, Gavin disagrees well. I really admire that about him. I think we could have a fruitful dialogue.
Like and retweet this post if you want to see
@gavinortlund
and
@theRTMullins
debate "Is Divine Simplicity Biblical?" together.
We want them to be our first on "Black Sheep Theology"
"the Bible has no conception of an atemporal “eternity"... No biblical texts that have the term “eternal” (in English translation) ever mean atemporality (being outside of time). This isn’t just my opinion; it is the view of every reputable biblical scholar I have encountered."
At the end of Thomas's life, he wondered if Peter was right about the nature of God. Thomas said his previous work was straw, and expressed hope that God is movement instead of immutable. If Aquinas can doubt classical theism, so can we. 3/3
American Christianity is facing an unprecedented crisis. Many views that I dislike are dangerous, and threaten the foundation of the faith. Evangelicals need to wake up before an entire generation is lost. People need to immediately turn away from views that I personally dislike.
I just finished writing my final report for
@HCollegium
. In 2 years I have written 30 articles, 2 & 1/2 book manuscripts, done more interviews than I can remember, and more. If you are looking for a research fellowship, I highly recommend the Collegium for Advanced Studies.
Divine Simplicity is the heart of the Christian faith. The fact that Bible believing Evangelicals have never even heard of this doctrine is a sign of spiritual decay. Americans need to repent now.
#ChristianityInCrisis
I was recently at a theology conference, and Aquinas was only mentioned once in passing. I know, I know, that sounds like heresy to certain Baptists right now. "How can theology be anything other than Aquinas studies?!" It's almost as if there are other thinkers to discuss.
I'm taking on a larger role at the University of Lucerne. If you want to study with me regularly, you should check out the MA program in Philosophy, Theology, and Religions. Lots of medieval Jewish, Christian, and Muslim philosophy this semester.
A new review of my debate with
@gavinortlund
on
@jderosa1990
show. Lots of slogans and posturing, and little engagement with arguments. Here are my initial thoughts. 1/
I think it is important to see Aquinas as a brilliant thinker, but as one among many brilliant minds trying to figure out the nature of reality. Aquinas' teacher, Peter of Ireland, was not a classical theist. Peter denied immutability and impassibility. 2/3
This morning my feed is nothing but angry internet Thomists telling me that I am brain dead, I never believed in God, I don't understand Aquinas, etc. The usual. Why? I quoted an Aquinas scholar saying that Aquinas changed his mind. 1/3
Look, Ed, I get it. You and David Bentley Hart have not been fighting lately, and you are looking for someone who can fill that Hart shaped void in your soul. But I can't be that person for you. Sorry, but I am just not that into you.
Self-awareness, thy name is not Ryan Mullins. Dismissing Thomists' complaints that he has misrepresented them as sour grapes – while still going on, for three years now, about how I once allegedly misrepresented him! (I hadn't.) The facts:
al-Ghazali says that there is no virtue in writing too many words. He says this after writing 4 introductions to his "Incoherence of the Philosophers." 4 introductions!!!
My inflight reading today. I'm heading to Helsinki for a bit, and then Sicily for my speaking tour. The next 6 months are going to be jam packed with speaking engagements.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
This book comes out next month. Today, I recorded an episode where I give a dramatic reading of a section of the book. As I was recording, Constantine insisted on meowing incessantly. Just meow this and meow that. He didn't help write this book, but he wants his voice heard.
I just finished teaching an intensive masters course on God, time, and creation at
@pba_mapr
. It was intellectually and spiritually rewarding. What's next this month? A dialogue with William Lane Craig on God and time. Details soon!
@majestyofreason
I wake up to see some of the responses to my recent episode with Owen Strachan. I've noticed something interesting. No one has even attempted to address Owen's argument. Everyone is just trying to find an excuse to dismiss him. Not seeing a lot of intellectual virtue today.
Me: What physical age will my body be at the resurrection?
Augustine: 30, your prime.
Me: But I was skinny when I turned 30, but fat when I was about to turn 31.
Augustine: Don't worry. You will look amazing. Not too skinny, and definitely not fat. You will be beach ready.
Divine Simplicity is True - Debate Opening Statements -
@gavinortlund
vs
@theRTMullins
Tune in tomorrow, Friday April 12 @ noon EST! Get your questions in & also hit the notification for the upcoming live discussion April 18th @ 8pm EST.
I am going to do an episode on Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and other Christian schools who have mistreated professors. Unsurprisingly,
@TEDS
has not responded to my messages. So if anyone has info that might be good for the episode, DM me.
Here is a good Italian phrase for you. "Hai cagato fuori dalla tazza." Translation: You have pooped outside of the toilet. Meaning: you screwed up. The Italians have such a beautiful way with words.
My Lucerne student Nicholas Noyola just defended his masters dissertation on omniscience and the liar paradox. Dr Tyron Goldschmidt and I were very impressed, and agreed that it deserved a perfect score. Very proud of my Lucerne students right now!
I had a phone conversation earlier with
@DaleTuggy
where he denied that cats have souls. My fellow Americans, look into the eyes of Constantine, and tell me that he doesn't have a soul. (But don't look too close because he might steal your soul)