B1ackSwan

Seeker of truth, follower of Christ, individualist, defender of the Constitution and decentralization, concerned citizen! #Bitcoin Hodlr ⚡️[email protected]

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2024-03-25 13:37:32

Bitcoiners exhale freedom-dioxide
https://m.primal.net/HoLB.jpg

2024-02-19 07:42:12

The Mystery of the Trinity:
How can God be one being in three persons?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/the-mystery-of-the-trinity?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Understanding the Trinity is undoubtedly one of the most profound and intricate aspects of Christian theology. At its core, the doctrine of the Trinity posits that within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three co-equal and co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This concept challenges our everyday experience and understanding, where each being is typically synonymous with one personhood. Yet, the nature of God as revealed in Scripture transcends these human limitations, inviting us into a mystery that echoes the very depth of existence and consciousness itself.
The Mystery of Consciousness and the Divine: In the realm of science and philosophy, the mystery of human consciousness—our self-awareness, our inner sense of "I"—remains largely unexplained. Despite advances in neuroscience, the connection between the physical brain and the non-material aspect of our thoughts, emotions, and will—the essence of our personhood—eludes full understanding. This gap in our knowledge serves as a poignant reminder of the limits of human comprehension. If the intricacies of our own consciousness defy complete scientific explanation, it stands to reason that the nature of an infinite God would be even more beyond our grasp.
God's Nature Beyond Human Understanding: The doctrine of the Trinity reveals a God who is fundamentally relational, existing in a perfect community of love that has no beginning or end. This challenges our linear, time-bound understanding of existence and relationship. The distinct roles within the Trinity—where the Father ordains, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies—highlight a complex interplay of personhoods sharing one divine essence in perfect unity.
Love as the Eternal Essence: At the heart of the Trinity is the truth that love and relationship are not mere creations but the very essence of God's nature. This eternal fellowship within the Trinity means that love is foundational to everything that exists. The Bible's declaration that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) is not a description of an attribute God possesses but a statement about His very being. The eternal existence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a relationship of perfect love defies the notion that God could be solitary or that love could be a secondary aspect of His nature.
The Incarnation and Salvation: The incarnation of the Son, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate expression of God's desire to invite us into this divine fellowship. By taking on human flesh, living a sinless life, and dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus bridged the infinite gap between God and humanity, making it possible for us to enter into the eternal relationship of love that defines the Trinity. The resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are further affirmations of the distinct yet unified work of the Trinity in the economy of salvation.
Embracing the Mystery: The doctrine of the Trinity, therefore, is not something to be fully understood but to be believed and embraced. It teaches us that the ultimate reality is relational and rooted in love. The Trinity defies reduction to human categories and invites us into a relationship that transcends our finite understanding. In the words of the church father Augustine, "If you have understood, then what you have understood is not God." This mystery should not frustrate us but draw us into deeper worship and awe of a God who is infinitely beyond us yet has made Himself known and accessible to us through Jesus Christ.
Living in Light of the Trinity: Understanding the Trinity has profound implications for how we live our lives. It calls us to reflect the relational nature of God in our interactions with others, to live in a community rooted in love, and to serve selflessly, following the example of Jesus. The Trinity models for us a perfect unity in diversity, guiding us to seek harmony and understanding in our relationships.
In conclusion, the Trinity is a divine mystery that invites us into the eternal, loving relationship at the heart of God's nature. While it challenges our finite understanding, it also offers us a glimpse into the depth of God's love for us—a love so profound that He invites us into His divine life. As we ponder the mystery of the Trinity, let us approach it not as a problem to be solved but as a truth to be lived, a reality that shapes our identity, our relationships, and our very existence.
A few Scripture passages relating to the Trinity:
Old Testament:
Genesis 1:26
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'"
Psalm 45:6-7 (Referenced in Hebrews 1:8-9 as speaking of the Son)
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."
Isaiah 48:16
"Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit."
Isaiah 61:1 (Quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19)
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
Gospels:
Matthew 3:16-17
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"
Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
New Testament:
John 1:1-3, 14
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 14:16-17
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
John 15:26
"'But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.'"
2 Corinthians 13:14
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Ephesians 1:3-14 (A Trinitarian structure in the blessing: Chosen by the Father v3-6, Redeemed by the Son v7-12, Sealed by the Spirit v13-14)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
Some famous quotes relating to the Trinity:
Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
"If you have understood, then what you have understood is not God." (Sermon 52)
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373)
"The Trinity is not the result of addition or multiplication, but each one of them is God." (Letters to Serapion on the Holy Spirit)
Basil the Great (c. 330–379)
"The operations are various, and the essence simple, but we say that we know our God from His operations, but do not undertake to approach near to His essence. His operations come down to us, but His essence remains beyond our reach." (On the Holy Spirit)
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." (Summa Theologica)
John Calvin (1509–1564)
"I dare not speak much of the Trinity, for where God's mouth is closed, mine must also be." (Institutes of the Christian Religion)
Karl Barth (1886–1968)
"The doctrine of the Trinity is what basically distinguishes the Christian doctrine of God as Christian, and therefore what already distinguishes the Christian concept of revelation as Christian, in contrast to all other possible doctrines of God and concepts of revelation." (Church Dogmatics I.1)
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)
"You know that in space you can move in three ways - to left or right, backwards or forwards, up or down. Every direction is either one of these three or a compromise between them. They are called the three dimensions. Now notice: this is a way of thinking about them which you could not have had if you had been a Flatlander. That is, if everything in your world had been two-dimensional. Now suppose you are introduced to a country where you can move not only in the three dimensions that you already know, but also in a fourth dimension..." (Mere Christianity)
Jürgen Moltmann (1926–)
"In the Trinity, the eternal love of God becomes an open circle. There is room at the table for the world. The doctrine of the Trinity is the Christian form of the philosophy of inclusion." (The Trinity and the Kingdom)
J.I. Packer (1926–2020)
"The Trinity is the basis of the gospel, and the gospel is a declaration of the Trinity in action." (Knowing God)
R.C. Sproul (1939–2017)
"The doctrine of the Trinity must be understood as the foundation of the Christian faith. By it we understand who God is, and who Christ is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Without this foundation, we lose the Christian faith." (What is the Trinity?)
John Piper (1946–)
"The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) Each Person is fully God, (3) There is only one God." (Desiring God)
D.A. Carson (1946–)
"The Trinity is not a contradiction but a profound mystery. It is not that God is both one and not one at the same time and in the same sense. Rather, God is one in a certain sense (essence) and three in a different sense (person)." (The Gagging of God)
Wayne Grudem (1948–)
"God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God." (Systematic Theology)
Al Mohler (1959–)
"The Christian faith is essentially and irreducibly Trinitarian. The doctrine of the Trinity recognizes that God is one in essence, but distinct in person. This does not mean there are three gods, but that one God exists as three persons." (The Briefing)
Tim Keller (1950–2023)
"The doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one God, but three persons. It's a mystery that's not contradictory. Rather, it means that God is far more beautiful and complex than we ever imagined." (The Reason for God)
Mark Dever (1960–)
"The Trinity is a mystery that we will spend a lifetime and more exploring. It is the heart of our faith, revealing to us the God who is both unity and diversity, who is relational and loving in His very being." (9Marks of a Healthy Church)

2024-02-18 15:05:48

Mark 1:9-15 The Trinity Revealed: Jesus' Baptism, Temptation, and Ministry
https://image.nostr.build/6124e3c4dfa93a75be1da4e715ec66cab8d6f937c9f66b0c3aeb8c82eac0f443.jpg
Introduction:
As we gather on this First Sunday of Lent, we turn our hearts and minds towards a passage that beautifully encapsulates the mystery and majesty of God as the Trinity:
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:9–15, ESV)
This passage not only marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry but also vividly portrays the Trinity's presence and work in the world. Today, we will explore the profound implications of Jesus' baptism, His temptation in the wilderness, and the commencement of His ministry, all through the lens of the Trinity.
These events not only illuminate the mission and identity of Jesus but also unveil the dynamic of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in action. This sermon seeks to explore these divine revelations and their implications for our lives, urging us to embody a Trinitarian way of living.
The Mystery of the Trinity Explained:
Before we delve into the passage, let us first understand the concept of the Trinity. The Trinity is the Christian doctrine that describes God as three distinct persons — the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit — in one divine being. This concept is foundational to our faith, yet it transcends human understanding, inviting us into a relationship with a God who is both unity and diversity. The Trinity reminds us that God is inherently relational, existing in a perfect and eternal communion of love.
The Baptism of Jesus: A Trinitarian Revelation (Mark 1:9-11):
As Jesus emerges from the waters of baptism, the heavens tear open, the Spirit descends on Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven proclaims, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased." This moment is a profound revelation of the Trinity. The Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Spirit descends. Here, at the very outset of Jesus' ministry, we witness the unity and distinct roles within the Godhead. This scene offers a vivid portrayal of the Trinity, a mystery that resonates with our deepest longings for love, unity, and community. In the baptism, we see the humility of the Son, the empowerment of the Spirit, and the approval of the Father—each person of the Trinity working in perfect harmony. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, fully embraced His humanity, humbling Himself to identify with us, even to the point of undergoing a ritual meant for sinners.
Insight: The Trinity exemplifies the ideal community—distinct persons sharing in one essence, perfectly united in love and purpose. Our longing for meaningful relationships mirrors this divine communion, inviting us to participate in the relational life of God.
The Temptation of Jesus: The Humility and Obedience of the Son (Mark 1:12-13):
Immediately after His baptism, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. This experience highlights Jesus' willingness to fully embrace the human condition, facing temptation and suffering, yet without sin. Here, Jesus demonstrates His obedience and reliance on the Father, through the Spirit, to overcome temptation foreshadowing His ultimate act of humility on the cross. This event not only underscores Jesus' humanity and obedience but also demonstrates the Trinitarian God engaging with the reality of human suffering and temptation.
Insight: In our struggles and temptations, we are not alone. The triune God is with us, offering strength and guidance. Jesus' temptation assures us that He understands our struggles intimately and provides a model for resisting temptation by relying on God's Word and Spirit.
The Beginning of the Ministry: Jesus’ Mission Revealed (Mark 1:14-15):
After John's arrest, Jesus begins His public ministry with the Spirit’s anointing and the Father’s blessing, proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom. He calls for repentance and belief in the gospel, setting the stage for His mission to save humanity from sin. In this, we see the heart of the Trinity's work: the Father sends the Son, empowered by the Spirit, to reconcile the world to Himself. Jesus, fully God and fully man, embarks on a journey of redemption, embodying God's love and mercy, inviting us into the kingdom life marked by repentance and belief in the gospel.
Insight: The ministry of Jesus is the manifestation of the Trinity's collaborative mission to restore creation. It calls us to a life of mission, empowered by the Spirit, following the example of the Son, to bring the love and truth of the Father to a broken world.
Conclusion:
The passage from Mark 1:9-15 invites us to marvel at the mystery of the Trinity and the incredible humility of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, who became flesh to save us. As we journey through Lent, let us reflect on the significance of Jesus' baptism, temptation, and the beginning of His ministry, allowing these truths to deepen our understanding of God as Trinity and draw us closer to Him. May we respond to Jesus' call to repentance and belief in the gospel, living out the reality of God's love and grace in our lives.
The events of Jesus' baptism, temptation, and the beginning of His ministry offer profound insights into the nature of the Trinity and its implications for our lives. The Trinity is not a theological abstraction but the very foundation of our faith and existence. It reveals God's nature as relational, communal, and self-giving.
Application: Living Trinitarian Lives Living a Trinitarian life means embracing humility, unity, and love as modeled by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It challenges us to live by the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father, reflecting the divine community in our relationships, ministry, and daily actions.
By the Spirit: Cultivate a life led by the Holy Spirit, seeking His guidance, comfort, and empowerment in all areas of life.
Through the Son: Follow the example of Jesus in humility, obedience, and selfless love. Embrace His redemptive work on the cross as the basis for our identity and mission.
To the Father: Live in a posture of worship and reliance on the Father, drawing near to Him in prayer, worship, and obedience, celebrating the relationship He offers us.
As we navigate the complexities of life, let us remember the baptism, temptation, and ministry of Jesus as a revelation of the Trinity's work in the world and in our lives. May we strive to live Trinitarian lives, reflecting the love, unity, and mission of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to a world in desperate need of the gospel's transformative power.
Benediction:
Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us, guiding us into deeper communion with the Triune God and with one another, empowering us to live out the gospel in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
#Trinity #Lent

2024-02-10 22:47:02

https://blog.getalby.com/connect-your-startos-node-to-any-app-with-nwc/
#Start9 #NWC

2024-02-07 04:29:42

Bitcoin is digital blind justice
https://image.nostr.build/3f0b883061d11bec94fce6f16f53f8ab6d7516f59cb5317e5ec05261b5ca1204.jpg

2024-01-29 00:56:42

- reply

Very true. That is why I am writing a book called "Humility and How I obtained it" 😉

2024-01-27 21:49:30

Jesus the Greater Moses: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Hebrews 3:1-6
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/jesus-the-greater-moses?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/7df15b380c50fb00a4b1a337453ff3b03d37bca60bb3260b353aa111d40c9791.png

2024-01-22 06:28:44

Bitcoin and the Battle Against the Anti-Christ's One World Govenment https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/bitcoin-and-the-battle-against-the?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web #Bitcoin #AntiChrist #Endtimes #oneworldorder #tyranny #CBDC #eschatology
https://image.nostr.build/6a03e68df8e4c5812a4113664dc8f1caa1244c2b3d269e3f5991ff8971eb6d73.png

2024-01-21 03:15:52

Mark 1:14-20 The Time is Fulfilled, The Kingdom of God is at Hand; Repent and Believe the Gospel https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/mark-114-20-the-time-is-fulfilled?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/356e46db960d1fe4b0472e64a64a67ea719b69d551ae1ef6bfcef1dd2d7f1905.png

2024-01-21 02:53:09

Doctrine 13 The King Reigns https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-13-the-king-reigns?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/f4102ec3996242f228473c1d0b2efa269617f296b145f30a7fa1160649b3befc.png

2024-01-21 02:46:33

Doctrine 11 Worship https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-11-worship?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/60a87b85e0d596ba91c08cff87976d1e4a8c223d16f208f4cc4a496d90980330.png

2024-01-21 02:38:40

Doctrine 9 Resurrection: Defeat of Death and Hope for Salvation https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-9-resurrection-defeat-of?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/7f1eb1f44fcaabbae0972c57bc37eb1df8ed0db13fb9e9d12a5e3a036f5d75ea.png

2024-01-21 02:36:21

Doctrine 8 God dies on the Cross https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-8-god-dies-on-the-cross?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/893bf554055dead0c73ef224c2fc3c850ca50fca8b7fd80790ec5b47609457a6.png

2024-01-21 02:34:13

Doctrine 7 Incarnation: God becomes Human https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/incarnation-god-becomes-human?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/8f579f31ba02192485f30d5cc7eac731a10bb07d08f2a856325d5b4afc03060c.png

2024-01-21 02:32:29

Doctrine 6 The Covenant Keeping God https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-6-the-covenant-keeping-god?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/19b3a7362c1b8e9f40bb33a95ed9edb845cc21325d8f218726cdbe83e2482316.png

2024-01-21 02:28:42

Doctrine 5 The Fall of Humanity https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-4-mankind-made-in-gods-image?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/19e8bc0b5e0f2cad71c466588d69db3e8bac4874a5860b21bae3023c08bfa372.png

2024-01-21 02:20:01

Doctrine 4 Mankind Made in God's Image https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/doctrine-4-mankind-made-in-gods-image?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://image.nostr.build/f002e362d2d95dfc6c40f7868b32c124a4e2611d984a9d24ee26de5604b08936.png

2024-01-07 13:25:52

Trinity: Three Persons in One Godhead
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/the-trinity-three-persons-in-one?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

2024-01-03 02:37:07

Importance of Spiritual Sight: True Faith is not Blind
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/importance-of-spiritual-sight?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Holy Spirit #Illumination #Spiritualsight #Faith
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2023-12-31 18:44:34

A Series of Syllogisms Arguing for a Personal Creator of the Universe (AKA God)
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This post endeavors to demonstrate that faith in God can be firmly grounded in logic and reason, standing not merely as a blind belief without evidence, but as a conclusion reached through thoughtful analysis and philosophical inquiry. the intention is to methodically present premises and conclusions derived from classical and contemporary philosophical arguments, illustrating how they collectively lead to a rational basis for belief in a divine creator.
Syllogism 1: The Kalam Cosmological Argument
Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore, the universe has a cause.
This gets us to the idea that the universe must have a cause, but what can we deduce about that cause simply from logic? We can deduce that the cause of the universe must be timeless, spaceless, possess immense power, and be the unmoved mover, and must possess personal agency. The arguments go as follows:
Syllogism 2: Timelessness and Spacelessness:
Premise 1: Anything that causes the universe must exist outside of it, as the universe encompasses all space and time.
Premise 2: To exist outside the universe is to be not bound by space and time.
Conclusion: Therefore, the cause of the universe must be timeless and spaceless.
Syllogism 3: Immense Power:
Premise 1: The universe's beginning involves an immense amount of energy and matter coming into existence.
Premise 2: Causing such an event requires an immense amount of power.
Conclusion: Therefore, the cause of the universe must be immensely powerful.
Syllogism 4: The Unmoved Mover (Aristotle)
Premise 1: If everything that moves is moved by another, then an infinite regress of movers would follow, which is impossible.
Premise 2: There must, therefore, be a first mover, which initiates motion but is not itself moved by anything else.
Conclusion: Therefore, the cause of the universe must be an unmoved mover.
Syllogism 5: Personal Agency:
Premise 1: An impersonal cause cannot choose when to initiate its effect; it acts immediately upon the presence of its sufficient conditions.
Premise 2: The universe began to exist a finite time ago, rather than existing eternally.
Conclusion: Therefore, the cause of the universe must have personal agency to choose to initiate the universe.
Syllogism 5: Personal agency in greater detail:
All caused effects in the universe are either the result of impersonal forces or personal agency.
Impersonal forces cannot delay their effects once their causes are in place, while personal agency can delay action, indicating a will or intention.
The universe, being a caused effect, must have originated from a cause that is not an effect of another cause (an uncaused cause).
This uncaused cause must have the ability to initiate effects without prior causes, which is a characteristic of personal agency, not impersonal forces.
Therefore, the uncaused cause of the universe must possess personal agency or a will.
Syllogism 5: Illustrated:
Imagine you're sitting in a room and you suddenly see a ball roll across the floor. There are two main explanations for this occurrence:
Impersonal Force: The ball could have been moved by an impersonal force, like a gust of wind or a slope in the floor. In these cases, as soon as the cause (wind or slope) is present, the effect (the ball rolling) occurs immediately. There is no delay between cause and effect.
Personal Agency: Alternatively, the ball could have been rolled by a person. This possibility introduces the concept of intention or will. A person could have decided to roll the ball and could have chosen the timing of this action. Unlike the impersonal forces, the presence of a person allows for a delay between the decision to move the ball and the ball's actual movement.
Now, let's apply this to the universe:
Observation of the Universe: Just like observing the ball rolling, we observe that the universe began to exist. This beginning is the "ball rolling" on a cosmic scale.
Impersonal Force vs. Personal Agency: If the universe was caused by an impersonal force, like gravity or quantum fluctuations, the effect (the universe beginning) would have occurred immediately with the presence of the cause, without any possibility of delay. However, since we know the universe had a beginning, it implies there was a "moment" before its initiation, akin to a delay.
Uncaused Cause with Personal Agency: Just as we might conclude that a person must have rolled the ball (because there's a deliberate action involved), we can infer that the cause of the universe, being not an effect of another cause (an uncaused cause), must have personal agency. This agency allows for the decision to initiate the universe, just like a person decides when to roll the ball.
In conclusion, this everyday scenario of a ball rolling across the floor and the deductions we make from it mirrors the logical progression of the syllogism, leading to the conclusion that the cause of the universe, like the person who decides to roll the ball, must possess personal agency or a will.
Final conclusion and summary
In the quest to understand the origins of our universe, a series of logical syllogisms rooted in both ancient and modern philosophical thought compellingly suggest that the universe's cause aligns closely with the concept of a personal creator, traditionally understood as God. Beginning with the Kalam Cosmological Argument, we establish that the universe has a cause. Further logical deductions reveal that this cause must be timeless and spaceless, existing outside the universe's space-time continuum; immensely powerful, given the vastness of the universe's creation; an unmoved mover, initiating change without being influenced by preceding events; and possessing personal agency, indicating a will or intentionality behind the universe's inception. These attributes collectively paint a picture of a cause that is not just abstract and impersonal but inherently purposeful and intentional. The only concept within our intellectual and cultural lexicon that encapsulates these qualities is that of a divine creator, or God. This conclusion does not merely fit within the confines of religious doctrine but emerges as the most plausible explanation when examined through the lens of logical reasoning and philosophical inquiry. Hence, when we consider the universe's origin and nature, the concept of God emerges not as a mere theological construct but as a rational inference, the best explanation for the cause of all that exists.
In light of the compelling philosophical arguments and logical syllogisms developed around the cause of the universe, it becomes evident that faith in God rests on a foundation of rationality and logic, rather than being a blind leap into the unknown.It demonstrates that faith in God is not a mere emotional or cultural adherence but can be a reasoned conclusion drawn from a thorough examination of the universe's origins and causality. Therefore, an individual's faith in God, far from being an unfounded belief in the absence of evidence, can be seen as a rational response to the logical and philosophical exploration of the profound questions regarding our existence and the nature of the universe.

2023-12-31 18:34:05

A Series of Syllogisms Arguing for a Personal Creator of the Universe (AKA God)
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/a-series-of-syllogisms-arguing-for?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Apologetics #Philosophy
https://image.nostr.build/737bf7c1ace61b0160f38f703b1df415007281f1c22d7f54b701d7136138dec3.png

2023-12-30 22:52:15

Why did Jesus' Mom Need to be a Virgin?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/merry-christmas-why-did-jesus-mom?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/b75f7beca54e5ecb9f9275aa54f728e3a9c0f2619b04e94166110ab59e383269.jpg

2023-12-30 22:50:06

What will Jesus Do when He Comes Again?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/jesus-will-come-again?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/c760a49706db4ae0d7de3290a5c75634232cb02bda0dfe8d160cf931317187ae.png

2023-12-30 22:46:40

What Effect Has Jesus Had on Human History?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/what-affect-has-jesus-had-on-human?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/25605e747ee8cbcede905a8d5bc97aae980c1d859b88871517e2e2c9f7531ac5.jpg

2023-12-30 22:44:57

Is it Intolerant to Believe that Jesus is the Only True Savior?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/is-it-intolerant-to-believe-that?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/a5ac7d1bc1eeb381ff83d8e1154e1b67b8584889c6c03d9f6875b97e7e4c86e0.jpg

2023-12-30 22:41:22

WHERE IS JESUS TODAY?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/where-is-jesus-today?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/4ddf1abbed7e5bf9b7810c10c9cfb0f58b27ff9161c28ab59ade91ea954b977a.jpg

2023-12-30 22:39:36

DID JESUS PHYSICALLY & ETERNALLY RISE FROM DEATH?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/did-jesus-physically-and-eternally?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/8b3eae97581827c5afccdfd4f5081cfd7bf616318d852ecb847717d7d0ad5803.png

2023-12-30 22:37:16

Why Did Jesus Need to Die on the Cross?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/why-did-jesus-need-to-die-on-the?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/45089adf4c255f18987375ab4600fb2799413e0e0e700439a4aa4b275920ba4e.png

2023-12-30 22:34:18

Why Did Jesus Come Down From Heaven?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/why-did-jesus-come-down-from-heaven?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/2725f48ad9a742802b2e170763a473eea9b28258ab5ab8c6ecf8a9d1a2ea0670.png

2023-12-30 22:30:09

Was Jesus the Fulfillment of Ancient Jewish Prophecy?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/was-jesus-the-fulfillment-of-ancient?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/94ab5f2ecfafe43232a11282ba4e2d917d3b96e340b601d3564e69b1037351e3.png

2023-12-30 22:27:46

So Jesus claimed to be God, then how can he also be fully human?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/so-jesus-claimed-to-be-god-then-how?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/c19099f7ad8af860304653bc14b8a7c761e406cbac312791a12abad87ddac1ed.png

2023-12-30 22:26:11

Everybody has an opinion about Jesus: What was Jesus' opinion about himself? Did he claim to be God?
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/everybody-has-an-opinion-about-jesus?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Jesus
https://image.nostr.build/64bebdc55e198042846a74e3b81b8958acfc1bced3bddb2078cd67f7fca59b31.jpg

2023-12-30 22:24:47

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Everybody has an opinion about Jesus: What was Jesus' opinion about himself? Did he claim to be God?

2023-12-29 08:21:08

https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/where-is-jesus-today?r=30ri5m&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

2023-12-24 01:55:14

https://image.nostr.build/0bc2f67239e56960bb823c44112e880c03d2eb6a1d4175eb975701628f8c0b5d.png
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/luke-126-38-the-birth-of-jesus-foretold?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#MerryChristmas

2023-12-02 23:37:34

Evangelism Jesus Style: Sharing the Good News With a Heart of Compassion
https://m.primal.net/HSGA.png
#Jesus #Gospel #Evangelism #Valueofasoul
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/john-41-42-evangelism-jesus-style?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

2023-11-24 15:46:41

Self-hosting for families and small businesses - Start9 roadmap + QA (With Matt Hill, Stephan Livera, Tomer Starlight, & more)
#Start9 #Bitcoin #Soverign
https://x.com/start9labs/status/1726718334820089871?s=20

2023-11-20 19:31:17

Christian Theism vs Scientific Naturalism
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/christian-theism-vs-scientific-naturalism?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Apologetics

2023-11-20 12:46:43

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Everything except video conferencing and online/shopping, unless you shop somewhere that takes sats (shipping is always an issue to some degree) currently its on version 0.3.5.3 and primarily uses Tor network for most things and I pair mine with a VPN. 0.4 (No ETA) release will be able to interact with clearnet in a secure manner. I don't the specifics on how they plan to do that yet.

2023-11-19 09:47:21

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Start9

2023-11-19 03:04:36

Get on board and help train Spirit of Satoshi. We need a decentralized language model that is not trained by woke Socialist elites. https://www.app.spiritofsatoshi.ai
#SpiritofSatoshi

2023-11-19 02:48:28

A Metaphor for Bitcoiners: The Church as a Decentralized Spiritual Network
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/a-metaphor-for-bitcoiners-the-church?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#ChristianBitcoiners #Christian #Church #Revolution #SeparationofMoneyandState

2023-11-18 23:35:40

Bitcoin Fixes a Lot but the Heart of the Matter is Spiritual: A Christian Bitcoiner's Call to Spiritual Warfare and Awakening
#Bitcoin #Bitcoinfixesthis #Christian #ChristianBitcoiner #Awakening #Revolution
https://m.primal.net/HQeq.png
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/bitcoin-fixes-a-lot-but-the-heart?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

2023-11-18 22:07:23

Jesus' resurrection was the greatest event in human history giving us the hope of conquering death. I think we Christians have a way better shot than the antichrist transhumanist technocrat who want to try and upload human consciousness into a machine (Good luck Yuval Noah Harari)
A Case for the Historicity of Jesus’ Resurrection https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/a-case-for-the-historicity-of-jesus?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#Apologetics #Jesus #Resurrection

2023-11-17 22:29:55

https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/who-is-jesus-a-good-man-or-god?r=30ri5m&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
#Jesus #Bible #Christian #Theology

2023-11-16 02:53:21

AITheologian
The Christian Case for #Bitcoin
https://open.substack.com/pub/aitheologian/p/the-christian-case-for-bitcoin?r=30ri5m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

2023-11-04 02:21:40

2023-11-04 02:20:41

Dubious speculation if history rhymes and we get a recession just before. Got my limit orders set low. https://http://vk5yw2v4kmghega4nc5jcd6lrmrrtoos3bguhogbcrr3yylds2s77yqd.onion/dubious-speculation-of-history-rhymes/

2023-11-04 02:10:49

Dubious speculation if history rhymes and we get a recession just before https://media.nostrgram.co/i/b4/media_b409a31a95456.jpghalving.
vk5yw2v4kmghega4nc5jcd6lrmrrtoos3bguhogbcrr3yylds2s77yqd.onion/author/b1ackswan

2023-11-04 02:07:38

Dubious speculation if history rhymes and we get a recession just before halving.
http://vk5yw2v4kmghega4nc5jcd6lrmrrtoos3bguhogbcrr3yylds2s77yqd.onion/author/b1ackswan/

2023-10-29 13:21:20

https://youtu.be/SDeCWW_Bnyw?si=eKGvE5mMFDq61K_D #Bible

2023-10-29 13:20:14

https://youtu.be/R-CIPu1nko8?si=GJYMQNdHfFw-vgI3 #Bible

2023-10-28 16:48:32

Head and shoulders invalidated, accepted into previous years range
http://vk5yw2v4kmghega4nc5jcd6lrmrrtoos3bguhogbcrr3yylds2s77yqd.onion/head-and-shoulders/

2023-10-28 16:42:18

Bitcoin Daily (.onion) http://vk5yw2v4kmghega4nc5jcd6lrmrrtoos3bguhogbcrr3yylds2s77yqd.onion/

2023-10-26 03:16:35

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For to mention Sparrow for desktop and Nunchuk for mobile interaction with hardware

2023-10-26 03:15:14

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River or Strike to buy, Mk4 Cold Card, BTC sessions for set up tutorial

2023-10-01 00:46:15

Privacy is a Subset of Sovereignty #Start9
https://youtu.be/kCON4wuecOw?si=FoTOnCBkzpypWJ0q

2023-09-23 23:52:52

Simply Bitcoin interview with Matt Hill. This video is 10 months old, but I just found it today. If you are interested in something of the history, vision, and plans for the future of StartOS its worth watching. #Start9 #StartOS
https://www.youtube.com/live/p4FbsM7ZATI?si=HcR9l1KRY9i1-2IL

2023-08-25 13:45:45

https://twitter.com/BITVOLT7/status/1694697290634518811?s=20

2023-08-20 04:26:10

https://cdn.nostr.build/i/a6ab6331a941688691557ad2628fd3b30d294140f9879f3845edd663764b3f16.jpg

2023-07-06 19:00:34

Just came in the mail. Stoked to get it fired up! #Start9
https://nostr.build/i/fdc4d3838b446b7078ec7b6c5714bd7c772dbaedc56afdaa86f5edfc2978f8d0.jpg

2023-07-04 19:48:02

https://twitter.com/DocumentingBTC/status/1673123444920135680?s=20

2023-07-04 19:12:22

https://nostr.build/i/6230dae3671a7957526494278d0b6ea95da5cec8841b62609309a885aae58944.jpg

2023-07-04 18:56:27

https://youtu.be/sGyvfEIVIx8 Give me liberty or give me death
#4thofJuly #Liberty #Independenceday #AmericanRevolution

2023-07-04 16:02:51

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans! Let us reflect on a segment of Patrick Henry's Speech during the beginning of the American revolution. And if you get time, I will leave a link to the entire speech. Where is such wisdom to be found today? "It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OOR GIVE ME DEATH!" - Patrick Henry
Full speech https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death/
#4th of July #Liberty #Independenceday #AmericanRevolution

2023-06-14 14:50:42

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This looks interesting
https://damus.io/note197aptyupv2pxvhvr0flr854crxq82w726dpl62zn4gky2t8l4d6qldctlc

2023-06-14 14:42:09

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Any links for newbies to learn?

2023-06-14 14:41:09

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Sadly I’ve been an Apple fanboy until I became a bitcoiner and understood the need for decentralized uncensored networks. So this is new to me. What is a safe why to purchase a “degoogled” Android phone. Any tutorial sources on setting one up would also be appreciated. I’m definitely set on getting off the grid

2023-06-14 12:53:38

https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1668747661028081664?s=20

2023-06-13 13:40:15

https://twitter.com/MartyBent/status/1668391531550580738?s=20

2023-06-13 05:42:46

I like the idea of a @realDonaldTrump and @RobertKennedyJr ticket. Unite the country, bring the dems back to the center, defeat the commies, and shatter the deep state fascist bureaucracies into a 1000 pieces. What say you?

2023-06-13 04:10:50

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1665837058194128896?s=20

2023-06-13 04:07:46

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I only use River and get to the cold card ASAP. Learned my lesson the hard way https://river.com/signup?r=ZCA42BDV

2023-06-13 04:06:35

https://river.com/signup?r=ZCA42BDV

2023-06-13 04:03:03

https://twitter.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1668309243030544385?s=20

2023-06-13 02:54:07

https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1668397809547071489?s=20

2023-06-12 12:13:33

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https://thepeoplesvoice.tv/pfizer-caught-funnelling-12-million-to-anderson-cooper-to-promote-mrna-jabs-to-americans/

2023-06-12 11:33:40

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https://youtu.be/uc6f_2nPSX8

2023-06-12 11:28:40

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🙏

2023-06-12 04:05:12

https://nostr.build/i/e2aeb5b621ffad25b031074a381d958539966c53f995b22caf69c94f45e9b5ef.avif

2023-06-12 03:52:54

https://youtu.be/EoCfYifNswg

2023-06-12 03:32:48

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Elon was joking with Babylon bee about developing a "sarcasm" font. Would have been perfect for this post :)

2023-06-12 02:54:37

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love it

2023-06-12 00:23:49

https://twitter.com/Vivek4real_/status/1667849426944114690?s=20

2023-06-12 00:14:41

#Saylor at Prague https://youtu.be/Fi4a7IZ3MXc

2023-06-11 23:57:47

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beautiful

2023-06-11 23:56:03

https://twitter.com/USFreedomFlyers/status/1668000494348906496?s=20
#covid19 #vaccine

2023-06-11 23:54:15

https://twitter.com/twc_health/status/1667974814236291072?s=20
#scamdemic #lockdown2.0

2023-06-11 21:59:16

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Well done :) Can't wait to they roll it out all the way

2023-06-11 20:18:06

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any bitcoin can be sent to sideswap peg in address

2023-06-11 20:15:59

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Strike payment sent to sideswap peg in then transfer to blockstream green
#liquid

2023-06-11 20:03:25

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cheap transactions, DCA, limit orders, can store on jade hardware whereas all my lightning wallets are hot

2023-06-11 19:40:41

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How do I get it?

2023-06-11 19:32:16

Just recently discovered #liquid network. Is it just me, or is this totally awesome. What am I missing? Why aren't more bitcoiners talking about it? #liquid

2023-06-11 19:29:58

https://youtube.com/shorts/rp9lURGClHc?feature=share
#Liquid

2023-06-11 17:14:30

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How did you do that? I don't have the option on my Blockstream green

2023-06-10 01:23:55

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well said

2023-06-10 01:20:40

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@martyBent is our man on the inside. He's just got his check so he can let us know what they say on the inside :)

2023-06-07 03:30:58

https://twitter.com/B1ackSwan1/status/1666256295773589507?s=20

2023-06-07 02:43:07

https://twitter.com/b1ackswan1/status/1666243964708454402?s=46&t=whsAm_zJCKPEc3_lYtU2gw
Head and shoulders broke down but bounced off the 20 week ma. Recaptured the 100 day. Now battling with the local .618. Crucial pivot point going forward https://nostr.build/i/9b711c7c4d38089f934e89c1ffa2bc0cd2b487cd81086a4e2300e0368e9e482d.jpg