Discussion With Student

“Anthony, you seem to be very negative and antogonistic with our government and for whatever reason, I don't blame you. Afterall, that's your prerogative. Let me respond however with your questions.”

I am only antagonistic to this government because it has overstepped its bounds set by the constitution and therefore it is in error and must be corrected. Unfortunately, most people refuse to see this and so the government continually oversteps its bounds. However that is okay because it is their prerogative to ignore that fact.

“Of course, the entrepreneur has all the rights to hire the workers he needs whether effective or not in his business and he has the right to fire them too. No doubt about it. But these rights have corresponding responsibility.”

I agree totally to keep his contract with his employees. What would you say these corresponding responsibilities are?

“ When this employer abuses, discriminates, and is irresponsible to his employees, and disputes arise, who is being asked to give justice and demand payment for damages done?”

Abuses, I agree totally that would be criminal law. Discriminates, the employee can leave and find a different work atmosphere it is the employers business. Irresponsible to his employees, if he is not keeping his contract with them I agree it would fall to the state to enforce the agreement. Disputes arises, well the employer has every right to fire the employee if the employee does not like this he may start his own business.

“With the next question, yes he owns it. But remember, a lawful business needs to be licensed and be registered with the government, otherwise, he cannot operate his business.”

I definitely do not agree with this there is no reason for the government to involved in this matter.

“This is a first step of knowing if the business to be established is legal and good for the economy.”

If it is illegal the industry should not exist and if it is not good for the economy then the business will fail.

“ Again, if something is not right in running his business, like selling hard drinks and cigars to minors,”

I do not agree with the laws preventing selling hard drinks and cigars to minors that is the family sphere of authority.

“ where does one go to complain this malpractice and correct the situation?”

If it is criminal law then they go to the government. Otherwise all they can do is stop supporting the business financially.

“I believe that when a businessman is swayed in the wrong direction,”

What exactly is the wrong direction?

“ the government is necessary to give him the right way.”

Who corrects the government when it sways in the wrong direction?

“Nobody is perfect so businesses either private or public is subject to error.”

Yes however if it is not criminal then all it will hurt is themselves. Also the government is just as much subject error as the business.

“ Hence, in a civil society, a guiding principles, laws, and policies are essential to guide its people and minimize the errors or crimes”

I believe that people are perfectly capable of knowing what is good or bad for them, if they do not they will fall under criminal law.

“If our government is very ineffective at running business, what do you think should be done?”

The government should not run business.

What can we do?”

We can elect people who will keep government out of business.

Winter Snow

Night has conquered, days are shortening.
Leaves have fallen, frost is whitening.

Then lightly falling on the forest,
Softly floating o’er the fields,
Fiercely masking mountains steep
Slowly freezing mighty lakes.

Out of the gray and cloud-filled heavens
From the powerful Lord afar
Pure clean whiteness glaring bright
Blinding men with a glorious sight.

Swirling and whirling while floating and coating,
Dancing round then drifting down.
Quickly covering every dwelling,
A blanket white laid on the realm.

Each flake lovely by itself,
Skillfully harmonizing to create
The earth so strikingly radiant
The earth so dazzlingly brilliant.

Soaring intricacies, marvelous complexities,
Glinting and gleaming, frosting and freezing.

Swiftly snowing o'er the world,
Dancing to a song unsung.

Introduction--A Review of the Book "A Christian View of Men and Things" by Gordon H. Clark C1S3

"Christianity is a comprehensive view of all
things: It takes the world, both material
and spiritual, to be an ordered system."
Gordon H. Clark

The Unity of Truth

One might be encountering despair at this point, because of the amount of answers needed to make sense out of life. However, from asking these questions there has been a gain, for one suspects that all these questions are interrelated. This view of philosophy that all questions are interrelated accords with a Christian worldview. For, "Christianity is a comprehensive view of all things: It takes the world, both material and spiritual, to be an ordered system." The reason for this is that if there is an Omniscient God who created everything in orderly fashion as the Christian believes, all problems would fit together like a puzzle.

However, this does not mean that we cannot learn anything from the particulars or that the particulars do not affect the whole. For if a man was to have a piece of the puzzle but not the whole thing he could still understand that one piece to a certain extent and therefore the whole to a certain extent. In addition if the particular is not necessary for the whole, there would be no way to start solving the puzzle. Therefore, to understand the particulars, you need the whole and to understand the whole, the particulars are needed. Everything is interrelated.

"Each system proposes to interpret all
the facts; each system subscribes to the principle
that this is one world." (Gordon H. Clark.)

The One and Only
Anthony J McAtee

Introduction--A Review of the Book "A Christian View of Men and Things" by Gordon H. Clark C1S2

"Whether we try our skill or not, every one
of us has a great puzzle on our hands.
It is the world of men and things."
Gordon H. Clark

The Questions of Philosophy

Philosophy is like a puzzle and a truly difficult puzzle can be dispiriting but yet at the same time it can accentuate the interest. For one wonders if a philosophical problem can defeat him. Unfortunately, in these days, many people chose to ignore difficult problems they encounter instead of solving them. However, "Whether we try our skill or not, every one of us has a great puzzle on our hands. It is the world of men and things." (Gordon H. Clark.) In other words all men have the choice to attempt to solve the questions of philosophy.

However, part of the reason people choose to ignore (as much as possible) the questions of philosophy is because they fail to fully understand how they affect the world in which they live. People fail to see the affect it has on their world is because they do not fully understand the answer and this stems from the problem of not knowing the questions. The questions of philosophy are numerous but when some that are easier to apply to the world are clearly stated, it is easier to see how they affect a particular person (and from there understand how the more abstract questions affect a person's thinking); "Should the party favoring the strictest regulation be elected? Which Party would give the best government? Which is the best kind of government? Which can actually work under the present conditions? Or can none work? Where is history taking us? Does history repeat itself? Is civilization on the verge of collapse? What causes, if any, control history? Is history a haphazard and unintelligible sequence of events, or does history have meaning? Has God revealed any answer or any partial answer to these questions? Is it necessary to believe in God to order to answer these questions? Or is atheistic Communism the true solution?"

These questions seem simple, but each answer leads to another question which requires an answer. Many people have the simple answers but they do not know the why or how, of the answer and therefore do not fully solve the puzzle. Additionally there are so many wayward answers that it is hard to believe that there is truth. When a person comes think this, he wonders if it worthwhile trying to solve such problems.

The One and Only
Anthony J McAtee

Introduction--A Review of the Book "A Christian View of Men and Things" by Gordon H. Clark C1S1

Added for the reader benefit. What is Philosophy? An academic discipline that is often divided into five major branches: logic; metaphysics; epistemology; ethics; and aesthetics; A comprehensive system of belief; A general principle (usually moral.)

The Purpose and Limits of this Book
(This is the Review of the first subsection of the book)

In the nineteenth century, the philosophy of the West was mostly Christian. However, with the advent of the twentieth century, many people started to see God as an impersonal being so that even if he does exist he has no effect on the "problems of society." Therefore, many Christians and practically all Atheist believe that Christianity as a prevailing philosophy will never again bring unity to our nation. Unfortunately this could be true, but it is unwise to assume such things without knowledge of how and why civilization has risen or fallen; without a philosophy of history.

Part of the problem is that there is no comprehensive system of philosophy for the Christian. "A God, or a belief in God that had no repercussions either in sociology or epistemology would be of little philosophic import. Therefore what is needed is a theistic philosophy that applies to every area of learning. However, since philosophy integrates all areas of study this would be impossible task except for a “modern Augustine.”

Therefore the attempt of this book will be, “To give some prospect of what a theistic worldview would be."; "Enable the reader to estimate how much of his intellectual capital is the result of reflective choice and how much is the result of imperceptible and desultory social absorption."; "And if I succeed in none of these this book will at least serve as an introduction to philosophy.”

The One and Only
Anthony J McAtee

My Second Sermon

Beginners luck is what they say, but I have always found the
second easier than the first. However that could be because I don't
believe in luck. Anyways I started my second sermon with a wholesome, "good morning" and then abruptly went on to the main subject.

"Do wisdom and knowledge mean the same thing?" I received in response the tentative head wagging. But I stumped them with the next question, "What are the definitions for wisdom and knowledge?" After a little while of trying to decipher hints from the background, the children finally said that they didn't know.

Illustrating to them the difference, I explained, "Knowledge is knowing the facts, for example if you read the Ten Commandments you have the knowledge of them. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, for example you know the Ten Commandments but to have wisdom you would have to apply the Ten Commandments to every area of your life."

Then I continued on by declaring, "However God gives us a different definition of Wisdom and that is in Deuteronomy when Moses was speaking to Israel before they crossed the Jordan, "Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." (Deuteronomy 4:5-6.) Extrapolating on this passage, I presented the idea that wisdom is the obedience to our Lord God and that God clearly says in both James and Proverbs that he will grant wisdom to those who ask for it.

Ending the sermon, I prayed, "Heavenly Father, we ask that we would remember that You are the holder of all wisdom and that you will grant it to those that who ask. We ask that we would apply it to every area of life so once again people would see what a great nation we are and then understand it is not because we in ourselves are great but that we are great because we have a Great Lord who is the Lord of Lord and King of Kings. In Your Son's name, Amen"

The One and Only
Anthony J McAtee

The Reason for the Quote

"These are not great days: these are dark days - the darkest days our
country has ever lived."
Anthony Justin McAtee

No, I have not forgotten about The War for the Confederacy or the Great Depression or any other of the numerous hard times in American history. These are not the darkest days because of the amount of sadness or obstacles which America is currently facing; these are the darkest days because we have lost everything but the embers of the faith which allowed America to surmount the sadness and obstacles it has encountered.

These are the darkest days because America no longer supports liberty and justice for all. In spoken words, yes, but not in deeds. Consider the unborn whom are murdered everyday. Think about the murderer who instead of having the electric chair as justice calls for, he lives off the taxpayer dollars in a state prison for the rest of his life. Reflect upon the amount of money the government steals from its people every year and bestows to illegal immigrants and the sluggards. (As Thomas Jefferson said, "A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.") (And as James Madison said, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.") Where has freedom and liberty gone to? Not too the unborn, not too the wife who's husband was murdered, not to the people of these United States of America, it has gone to the abortion clinics, the murderers, and people who do not support this Nation.

These are the darkest days because people no longer stand up and speak out for the truth. "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." (Thomas Jefferson) Why have people of good conscience remained silent? They have been silenced by force--The War for the Confederacy--or by threat--Roosevelt's Court Packing Scheme--and now since the government has taken over the Educational System they’re silenced by ignorance. The few who escape this petri dish and speak up are thought to be nutcases or radicals and therefore they remain silent and tyranny grows.

Lastly and most importantly these are the darkest days because we are no longer "one nation under God". For our faith has been picked away piece by piece and inch by inch until all that is left are small candles in various corners. And now "under God" refers, to "under Government". This lack of faith is the mortal blow which we can recover from in only one way.

The way to once again be a great nation is by once again teaching our own children and not letting the state imbibe them with falsehoods and half truths. To once again speak out for the right instead of supporting the lesser of two evils with our votes. To once again resist and, "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." (Winston Churchill.) And above all to once again know what we believe and why we believe it, if we do this.and stand firm in our Christianity there will be no stopping us. "One man with courage is a majority." (Thomas Jefferson.) "And Jesus looking on them said, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27.) Then I will and only then will I agree with Winston Churchill; "These are not dark days: these are great days--the greatest days our country has ever lived."

The One and Only
Anthony J McAtee