Citations!

Boethius, A. (524). Consolation of philosophy.

Bower, C. (2005). Ancius Manlius Severinus Boethius. Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Retrieved   November 5, 2010, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/boethius/

Coster, Charles. (1948). Procopius and boethius. Speculum, 23(2), 284-287.

NY Times, . (2010). Election results. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html

Sides, C.S. (2005). Boethius and free will . Retrieved from                 http://www.csspace.com/writings/boethius_and_free_will.htm

How Can God Exist in Three Forms?

                How can God exist in three forms: a question to which I have devoted much time and thought. My treatises on logic offer little hope for answer to this question, because I conclude that God must exist. Yes. However, I never was able to prove that a man can be his own father or else that he is his own son. Still more, that he could embody a third entity that is not corporeal? Impossible.  Logic cannot prove any these things. Yet, I believe that the trinity is so.

                Aristotle’s works on metaphysics- which I translated- tell us that God exists. If God exists, then we must accept that what the bible says is true, so God must exist and it must be in three forms – deductive reasoning.  A syllogism proves God’s existence in three forms a syllogism just is not able to prove how it could happen. There are so many things, though, that are incomprehensible to mankind and so this is the basis of my theory as to how God can exist in three forms.

                The trinity is a symbol of Christianity that represents one entity. To prove the existence of one God in several forms we must use only facts as a means of deductive reasoning to come upon a solution: Father is God, Son is God, and Holy Spirit is God. These three statements are true. They all also refer to the same God; therefore there are not three gods, but there is one who is made up of three parts. Once this has been decided we must ask ourselves: what is the purpose of having three forms of just one God? It is because the forms are different in their purposes. The Father is the source of everything and he is the divine ruler of all, the Son is the manifestation of God so that God was able to offer a physical body to humanity who was also a window to erase the sins of man, last the Holy Spirit is the form of communication and spreading the word of God; it is the will that drives Christians.

                This simple explanation has only one flaw: if things are different in purpose (like the forms of God) are not they different forms? The answer is no. “Different is said in respect to either genus, species or number. But it is variety among accidents that produces difference in respect to number. For three men differ neither in genus nor species, but in their accidents; for even if we mentally separate all accidents from them, there is still a different location for each and all of them, which we can in way imagine to be one… But divine substance is form without matter, and it is therefore one and it is what it is: but other things are not what they are.” Such is the way of the world only God can separate himself into three and yet still be one.

Election Results

                While I do not pretend to be an expert in the affairs of American Politics, I am familiar with the basis of the arguments of the two parties that currently receive the most support. First though I would like to point out some flaws that I see in this democracy favoring regime… Ever people in power are going to displease those who live under them, and ever elections will change the balance of power which will ever sway back and forth between two competitors (in this country the Democrats and Republicans). Recently I have been informed of the new Republican majority in the House.  To be honest, I have no surprise at this news, because the public is unhappy with the situation that Mr. Obama is dealing with. A country with the number of problems that the United States has is sure to collapse under political rules that switch nearly every year; it is for this reason that the current president has so many problems.

                These criticisms of American government set aside; I want to discuss the advantages of each party before adding my commentary to the wisdom of the results of this most recent election.  Democrats in charge means that it is more likely for workers to be treated fairly, which is something that I strived to do for Romans while I was serving as consul, this is something that I like about the Democratic Party. In addition to this they are also more likely to tax to support themselves, if it worked for thousands of years in my empire, I cannot see why it causes so much trouble when taxes are proposed. Those fundamentals of liberalism do not make up for the lack of respect for God that is common in Democrats. The Republican Party seems to follow Christian ideals more closely, like the banning of certain detestable practices. It is also typical of this party to punish more harshly and have a strong military, which served Romans so well, and for this the Republicans are commendable.

                With these advantages and disadvantages pointed out, it is easier for me to come up with a reaction to the election. I agree with the support of a Republican House for America, because when there is a Democrat as the head of the country his will needs to be counterbalanced by a Republican House. With Republicans in the House laws will be passed in favor of Christian beliefs that I support, but also their ridiculous beliefs of pure capitalism and little taxation will be limited by Mr. Obama in charge.

                The last observation of the methods by which the American government is run is of the strength that it has. After only 400 years this country is the most powerful in the world. This is a feat not even the Romans could have accomplished under my excellent assistance of rule. The country is primarily Christian, but they allow other religions (no matter the political party) which I believe is important because it emphasizes the free will that God allows us, and also it reminds us of the mistakes that a country can learn (no doubt from Roman times) about religious persecution, for once Christians were persecuted.  I do not fully understand how America is a functioning country but something is working for them, and because I approve of the results of the 2010 elections, everything will obviously work out well.

Jersey Shore

                As an educated Christian man, the topic of the “Jersey Shore” television series is not something that I am familiar with. However, I cannot pretend to have never watched it, and I must say that I do not agree with many of the things that they talk about or associate themselves with on that show! I see them influencing many people much like I did. But of course their influences on society are not as wonderful as mine were.                  

                 I always hear about Snookie, J-wow, the ‘Situation’, Vinny, Ronnie, Sammie, and Paulie D (all preposterous name if I do say so myself), doing certain things that I do very strongly disagree with. I disagree with their alcohol and drug use the most. Because of my faith, I believe that it is not right to abuse the privileges that you are given, however; I also believe that you have the free will to guide yourself in the direction that you want to go. If God gives us the privilege of free will then we should be appreciative not abuse it, as those hooligans do!

                Also, I disagree with what all the male members of the group do at these so-called “clubs”. They treat women terribly and give them strange nicknames like ‘grenades’ if they don’t fit their own specific what they call beautiful qualifications. They take different women back to their home each night and partake in an action of which I do not approve or wish to speak. Because of my Christian faith, again, I don’t believe that this is appropriate at all. I have two children and I feel that everyone should have families and treat women with the respect do of their positions. I do not wish to put down these behaviors in all forms, for it is only natural that a man should be satisfied, but only for those who are contributing to society! The methods by which these men go about wooing mates are simply wrong.  

                There are few things I must commend the Jersey Shore members like their independent nature that I also have. They leave their home towns for three months over the summer and go to a new location with new people. I feel as though that would not be an easy task for anyone, and I acknowledge them on their effort to engage in such an independent act, which I know first-hand from my frequent travels for my studies, can be difficult indeed. Also, despite their detestable behavior I know some of the cast to be Catholic Christians who probably follow my fundamental, philosophical, and theological Latin traditions from my texts. Maybe, once they are finished with their wild behaviors, they will study me to learn about their Catholic heritage which will, as I believe, lead them to repent.

Free Will vs. God’s Plan

                This question of predestination versus free will of human kind has always sort of puzzled me. In my fifth book, I actually dedicate the whole thing to my pondering on the subject. I strongly believe that we are not bound by predestination, and that we have the free will to control our own lives. I do believe, along with many other prominent Christian religious figures, that God knows the future.

                In my book, I said “if predestination were a fact, then there is no point in punishing the wicked and rewarding the good.” If we had no choice but to sin in a certain situation and to remain strong and faithful in another situation, what would be the point of God’s testing out faith as He did with the Job? There would be no point. I also said not only that, but “if vice and sin depended on God’s providence and not the choices and intentions of men, would not that make God, not man, responsible for our sins?” I believe that Jesus took responsibility for our own sins because he loved us, not because he had to do it.

                If predestination were true, there would be no need to hope or pray for anything in this world. Nobody would pray if they needed something. If there is no need to pray, man’s communication with God is destroyed. We know that God punishes for sins, and rewards for faithfulness, and we also know that many have seen miracles result from prayer, which shows that predestination cannot possibly be the way that God works.

                Another topic that comes up in my book is the problem men have of separating foreknowledge and predestination. I say in my book that “One should imagine that nothing in the way of foreknowledge exists: therefore there is no necessity places on the occurrence of events, and there is no hindrance to free will. Once that is agreed upon, one should imagine a knowing of the future, but still without necessity or hindrance to free will.” God’s knowledge does not force us to react the way we do to certain subjects; it is simply a prediction of what we will do.

                Free will, not predestination is what determines our actions. God sees what the future is to us, and while he intervenes when we ask Him to, God does not make our choices for us. And since God sees our past, present, and future all at once, no man can catch God off guard with an unusual decision or action. I have proven what I say, and others have done the same in other texts, which is why I am so puzzled by the fact that people still do not believe what I say.