Is God dead?
A discourse36 total reviews
Comment from D. Longo
Hello, Alvin . . . I'll not engage the philosophy espoused in this article; but, I'm willing to critique a bit of the organization presented.
Transitions, generally, need improvement. For example: between the first and second paragraphs, segue is non-existent. The reader is taken from "most people" to "Professors." If these two paragraphs are, indeed, one paragraph, we seem to have two separate groups being discussed. What links "most people" and "Professors"?
In the next paragraph, we're given a description of employment prospects for academics who embraced the "God is Dead" movement. How does that support your first paragraph? "Most people" haven't attended radically secular universities.
Support is disjointed in the third paragraph. "In the light of two world wars;" description of the second world war is provided; and, the recognition of spousal and child abuse. Were spousal and child abuse significant factors in either war?
What happened in the first world war that supports your argument?
My respected friend, selfishly, I end my critique at the third paragraph. May I suggest that you edit this article with an eye towards structured argumentation ( State, re-state, support, support, transition )? With the goal of publishing in mind, I believe a classic approach might assist the endeavor.
The best of luck to you, Alvin, in contest and marketing.
D.
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Hello, Alvin . . . I'll not engage the philosophy espoused in this article; but, I'm willing to critique a bit of the organization presented.
Transitions, generally, need improvement. For example: between the first and second paragraphs, segue is non-existent. The reader is taken from "most people" to "Professors." If these two paragraphs are, indeed, one paragraph, we seem to have two separate groups being discussed. What links "most people" and "Professors"?
In the next paragraph, we're given a description of employment prospects for academics who embraced the "God is Dead" movement. How does that support your first paragraph? "Most people" haven't attended radically secular universities.
Support is disjointed in the third paragraph. "In the light of two world wars;" description of the second world war is provided; and, the recognition of spousal and child abuse. Were spousal and child abuse significant factors in either war?
What happened in the first world war that supports your argument?
My respected friend, selfishly, I end my critique at the third paragraph. May I suggest that you edit this article with an eye towards structured argumentation ( State, re-state, support, support, transition )? With the goal of publishing in mind, I believe a classic approach might assist the endeavor.
The best of luck to you, Alvin, in contest and marketing.
D.
Comment Written 16-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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I edited the article. I would appreciate it if you look at it again and tell me if it is more to your liking.
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Solid work, Alvin. Your revision encourages ethos via clarity. I salute the thought, research, and process required to pen this article; while not in agreement with the conclusion, I find your arguments to be persuasive. D.
Comment from Scribbelini
Very well said and theologically accurate. You did you homework well. The points are well articulated and presented. Well done. Wouldn't an article on choice be a fireball. Gret one here.
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Very well said and theologically accurate. You did you homework well. The points are well articulated and presented. Well done. Wouldn't an article on choice be a fireball. Gret one here.
Comment Written 15-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Thanks for your very kind review.
Comment from cooljules
Great write. So basically what you are saying in a tactful, erudite, and analytical way, with historical examples, is that a helluva lot of protestants have it all wrong and are part of the problem rather than the solution. Tactfully, you have exposed the hypocrisy and fallacious ideas of many fundamentalist protestants who believe they are saved and everyone else is doomed - unless of course we accept unquestioningly their particular interpretation of the scripture and follow it to the letter. Very nicely done. You have captured the inherent conflict between loving your neighbor as Jesus taught and despising, condemning, and damning any neighbors who happen to be homosexuals, abortion supporters, non-Christians, or anyone else who disagrees with them.
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Great write. So basically what you are saying in a tactful, erudite, and analytical way, with historical examples, is that a helluva lot of protestants have it all wrong and are part of the problem rather than the solution. Tactfully, you have exposed the hypocrisy and fallacious ideas of many fundamentalist protestants who believe they are saved and everyone else is doomed - unless of course we accept unquestioningly their particular interpretation of the scripture and follow it to the letter. Very nicely done. You have captured the inherent conflict between loving your neighbor as Jesus taught and despising, condemning, and damning any neighbors who happen to be homosexuals, abortion supporters, non-Christians, or anyone else who disagrees with them.
Comment Written 15-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Thanks for catching the subtlety in the article. You understood exactly what I was trying to say.
Comment from Kingsland
here is why John Lennon said God was dead. it is the conceptual thinking of God as being Good. The world as it stands is evil and unjust, so therefore God is dead. For you see see God is a concept and not an actually being. He is the concept of good. Just as the mythical devil is the concept of evil. Mortal man has so much more power then he can conceive of. But we cannot get this power because we work against it.
It is sort of like the force that is spoke of in the movie Star Wars. For good or the God concept has the ultimate force in this universal plane. The more we seek and practice good the more power it has. Just as the opposite is true. For there is power that lies in good as well as evil. I enjoyed reading your essay as it was very well written... John
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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here is why John Lennon said God was dead. it is the conceptual thinking of God as being Good. The world as it stands is evil and unjust, so therefore God is dead. For you see see God is a concept and not an actually being. He is the concept of good. Just as the mythical devil is the concept of evil. Mortal man has so much more power then he can conceive of. But we cannot get this power because we work against it.
It is sort of like the force that is spoke of in the movie Star Wars. For good or the God concept has the ultimate force in this universal plane. The more we seek and practice good the more power it has. Just as the opposite is true. For there is power that lies in good as well as evil. I enjoyed reading your essay as it was very well written... John
Comment Written 13-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Thanks for a very analytic review.
Comment from rmdelta
Terrific article which shows a depth of understanding of your subject. The only problem that I had with it: You have such long paragraphs in the writing that, at least for me, it became more difficult to continue wanting to read more of it.
Nothing bad about what you are saying in it however, I had to work to get to the end. That's just me, I know. It seems that reading it was like reading a technical manual for me. I did enjoy it and it was very informative, so its difficult to critize anything in it.
Thanks for writing this
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Terrific article which shows a depth of understanding of your subject. The only problem that I had with it: You have such long paragraphs in the writing that, at least for me, it became more difficult to continue wanting to read more of it.
Nothing bad about what you are saying in it however, I had to work to get to the end. That's just me, I know. It seems that reading it was like reading a technical manual for me. I did enjoy it and it was very informative, so its difficult to critize anything in it.
Thanks for writing this
Comment Written 13-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Yes, I fear sometimes my old career as a college professor comes through. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from RenieReader
Very interesting discourse, Alvin. I can now understand where this outlandish idea came from. You have explained it succinctly and with clarity. I do have a few questions for you.
What does this mean?
The Sho'ah was horrific, no doubt, but so was Roosevelt's decision not to bomb the trains going to Auschwitz
Why wouldn't Roosevelt make this decision? Weren't those trains full of Jewish people headed for annihilation?
I'm of the belief that God is all goodness AND omnipitent. Why would we come to earth and obtain a mortal body, plus gain freedom of choice, if God was going to save us from all our poor or evil choices? It sort of defeats the purpose in my book.
Christ died for our sins to give us the opportunity to recognize our sins and ask Him for His forgiveness. That is the only way we can overcome death and return to live with Him. That's where the faith comes in. If we don't believe and have faith that this is true, we can't be saved.
Thanks for this remarkable discourse. I'm looking forward to your responses.
Renie
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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Very interesting discourse, Alvin. I can now understand where this outlandish idea came from. You have explained it succinctly and with clarity. I do have a few questions for you.
What does this mean?
The Sho'ah was horrific, no doubt, but so was Roosevelt's decision not to bomb the trains going to Auschwitz
Why wouldn't Roosevelt make this decision? Weren't those trains full of Jewish people headed for annihilation?
I'm of the belief that God is all goodness AND omnipitent. Why would we come to earth and obtain a mortal body, plus gain freedom of choice, if God was going to save us from all our poor or evil choices? It sort of defeats the purpose in my book.
Christ died for our sins to give us the opportunity to recognize our sins and ask Him for His forgiveness. That is the only way we can overcome death and return to live with Him. That's where the faith comes in. If we don't believe and have faith that this is true, we can't be saved.
Thanks for this remarkable discourse. I'm looking forward to your responses.
Renie
Comment Written 13-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Nov-2008
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I have edited the poem to say that Roosevelt should have bombed the train TRACKS. I appreciate your faith statement. However, I would like more explanation of your understand of the blood atonement, if you would be so kind. Thanks for a great review.
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That's a tall order, Alvin. I believe that Christ knew from the first breath Adam took that He would be required to atone for ALL mankinds sins, and experience all our pain, evil deeds, thoughts that were abhorrant to Him, and the complete human experience. He was the only perfect person who could provide this gift for us.
His blood washed us clean from inequity--a gift that only He could give. Then, because He had experienced all, He knew all the things each and every one of us would face. Now, He is the only one who can fairly judge us and forgive us of our sins IF we come to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit and repent. We have to sincerely ask for His gift to save us from living eternity in outer darkness.
I don't know if I've answered your question or not. If you'd like some more explicit details, you'll have to ask me about specific concepts. It might be best to PM me if that is the case.
Thank you for asking. I really liked your article.
Hugs,
Renie
Comment from Vladilynn
WOW!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!
I loved this write!
Excellently written!!!!!!!!!!!
No words to say...well actually no six to prove too! sorry...
But a God of goodness, of love, who suffered for us (in Whitehead's words, the fellow sufferer who understands) is with us and will remain with us always. That God and that God only is worthy of worship, praise, and prayer.
I loved these last words....
perfect!
Thank you for sharing
Lynn ( ^ ________________ ^ )}}
Good luck!
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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WOW!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!
I loved this write!
Excellently written!!!!!!!!!!!
No words to say...well actually no six to prove too! sorry...
But a God of goodness, of love, who suffered for us (in Whitehead's words, the fellow sufferer who understands) is with us and will remain with us always. That God and that God only is worthy of worship, praise, and prayer.
I loved these last words....
perfect!
Thank you for sharing
Lynn ( ^ ________________ ^ )}}
Good luck!
Comment Written 13-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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Thank you. I liked that ending, too, even if I did write it in the wee hours of the morning! Thanks for a great review.
Comment from Lady & Louis
This is probably the finest piece of your work that I've read, Alvin. I have heard of the Death of God movement, though I thought of it mostly in the idea that Christ was God, and died. (Whether this is totally misunderstanding the encyclopaedia article I read on it is another matter, lol.)
You've pinpointed some of the things I dislike most about evangelical Protestantism - the literal this-is-history-and-don't-you-dare-question it reading of the Bible, the we're-saved, you're-damned attitude (I cannot abide Calvin, horrible man!) and the whole shebang. And all this in a clear and restrained piece of writing, which nonetheless makes its heartfelt plea for rethinking the concept we have of God, and our behaviour along with it.
Spag-wise I didn't see anything, save one thing I'd like to ask about. I know that in US usage, a full stop goes inside the quotation marks if a quote comes at the end of a sentence. Is it the same with parentheses? I noticed it twice here, and I don't think I've seen it before, so I'm curious. We'd write the final parenthesis and then the full stop.
Anyway, thank you for posting this excellent essay, and good luck in the contest!
Warm best wishes,
Louise
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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This is probably the finest piece of your work that I've read, Alvin. I have heard of the Death of God movement, though I thought of it mostly in the idea that Christ was God, and died. (Whether this is totally misunderstanding the encyclopaedia article I read on it is another matter, lol.)
You've pinpointed some of the things I dislike most about evangelical Protestantism - the literal this-is-history-and-don't-you-dare-question it reading of the Bible, the we're-saved, you're-damned attitude (I cannot abide Calvin, horrible man!) and the whole shebang. And all this in a clear and restrained piece of writing, which nonetheless makes its heartfelt plea for rethinking the concept we have of God, and our behaviour along with it.
Spag-wise I didn't see anything, save one thing I'd like to ask about. I know that in US usage, a full stop goes inside the quotation marks if a quote comes at the end of a sentence. Is it the same with parentheses? I noticed it twice here, and I don't think I've seen it before, so I'm curious. We'd write the final parenthesis and then the full stop.
Anyway, thank you for posting this excellent essay, and good luck in the contest!
Warm best wishes,
Louise
Comment Written 13-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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Thanks for the superb compliment, Louise. I can never remember the rules about parentheses and periods, so if I submit a work for publication, I let the editor(s) sort it out.
The "Death of God" movement was an academic philosophy in the sixties and was so controversial for a while that Time Magazine made it its feature story. It is best exemplified by the writings of Thomas Altizer, with whom I agree somewhat. Thanks again for a great review and the huge compliment of six stars--coming from such an excellent writer as yourself, that means the world to me.
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My pleasure on all counts, Alvin. You've a clear lead in the contest, too, btw, and well deserved!
Louise :)
Comment from Juleeann
This was extremely informative as well as a powerful viewpoint. Good job, and good luck in the contest. Carry on and God bless.
Juleeann
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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This was extremely informative as well as a powerful viewpoint. Good job, and good luck in the contest. Carry on and God bless.
Juleeann
Comment Written 12-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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Thank you for your very kind words.
Comment from skye
Excellent essay on the pros and cons of is God alive or dead?
As humans, we seek for answers. But when the answers are given, then we argue and need proof.
Faith -- sustains believers. Sceptics need only intellect -- or so they think.
I will be happy to say, when we meet at the gates of heaven -- Welcome -- I win because I always believed He lives.
I enjoyed learning new things from your essay.
Very well done.
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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Excellent essay on the pros and cons of is God alive or dead?
As humans, we seek for answers. But when the answers are given, then we argue and need proof.
Faith -- sustains believers. Sceptics need only intellect -- or so they think.
I will be happy to say, when we meet at the gates of heaven -- Welcome -- I win because I always believed He lives.
I enjoyed learning new things from your essay.
Very well done.
Comment Written 12-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2008
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Thanks for a good review; I truly appreciate it.
