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Last Means Last Except . . .

Double Meaning & Continual Ending Tricks

Let’s get one thing out of the way. When you encounter a scripture passage with clearly literal elements mixed with symbolic or allegorical elements, you interpret the literal parts literally and the allegorical parts allegorically, not the other way around. Second, everyone recognizes symbols in scripture, including those who shout the loudest about not interpreting the scripture symbolically. Third, you interpret the bible’s symbols using the bible’s symbols, not your modern spin on those symbols. These three points will take you a long way toward interpreting the bible, not only correctly, but also much more intelligibly.

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Reasoned Discourse vs Exact Science

Science Was Born of Christianity

Reasoned Discourse vs Exact Science

Jaki explained that while Newton’s laws of motion could explain quantitative data, numbers could not place meaning on that data. Therefore, reasoned discourse “stands at the beginning and at the end of quantities, embedding science within it. Exact science depends on reasoned discourse.” Stacy Trasancos, Science Was Born of Christianity: The Teaching of Fr. Stanley L. Jaki (Click link above for Stacey Trasancos’ book). Jaki took to task those who advocated Scientism by pointing out the difference between science & religion:

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Matthew 24 – This Gospel Must Be Preached in All the World

This Gospel Must Be Preached in All the World, Then Shall the End Come

Most people reading the bible do not know how to interpret prophetic language. Instead of using the bible to interpret the bible, they use the newspaper or the most simplistic method. Here’s an example from Matthew 24. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.

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Covenant Aspects to Leviticus 18:1-5 & Deuteronomy 1:13-18

Covenant & Judgment

Leviticus 18:1-5 describes two aspects to the covenant – the covenantal authority who commands singular loyalty to Himself and to the one law issued by that authority. God, the authority, demands singular obedience to Himself, which is the essence of covenant loyalty to a higher authority. He is the ultimate authority, beyond whom there is no appeal. Therefore, because He is One, His law is also one and not to be mixed and mingled with another’s law. It is not to be taken from nor added to. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2.

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Last What?

“Last” means Last, right?

We could talk about the fact that the Hebrew and Greek can mean “last,” as in “final.” Same for the word “end.” But is that the way to study scripture? Or does scripture interpreter scripture? Is the context more important? By the way, that last question is really important. Did I just use the word “last” in a different way than last? The last question I asked was not the last question of this post or this blog or in history. It was simply the most recent sequential question before I said it was really important.

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Donnie Darko – 3rd Movie Post

Donnie Darko = Christ Figure?

Donnie, knowing all things, preparing to change time

It took me awhile to figure this one out. Normally one viewing is enough for me to get the Christian view of a movie. I find it in just about every movie I watch. It doesn’t matter whether the writer or directors intended a Christian view or not; I normally see it. It’s as if Christ is impossible to avoid in writing stories about humanity. Perhaps it was the complexity of Donnie Darko that kept me from seeing it until I’d watched it four times. Or better yet, it was the fact that the movie is full of so much that remind you of something thoughtful, something from your youth, something realistically or surrealistically engaging. The details of the movie are so good that you don’t readily see the theme that runs throughout.

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Stanley Jaki’s Thought

Science Was Born of Christianity

“Exact Science” vs “More or Less” Philosophy – Jaki

Jaki (click link below for Jaki book, The Savior of Science) was a relentless student of the history of science, and he analyzed just about every culture in history that has attempted science. His unique contribution to the history of science is his detailed explanation as to why “modern science” developed in Western, Christian Europe as opposed to anywhere else.  No matter the genius of their scientists, every other culture’s scientific development was “stillborn.”  And Jaki discovered a religio-cultural explanation for that historical fact. (Click link below for Jaki book.)

The Savior of Science

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