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Quiver0f10

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    How do you know what you believe?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    First of all, I don't view Christianity as a "religion".  I view it as a way of life.

     

    Unfortunately, because of so many different worldviews, Christianity means different things to different people.  It's hard to point out who is what they actually claim to be.  Someone may claim to be Christian, but their lifestyle doesn't reflect the principles of Christianity and there is no fruit to prove it.  Some create their own brand of Christianity by choosing which doctrines to follow and figure if they don't like the others, they can just skip them.  Unfortunately, you can't really be "partly" Christian.

     

    In addition, many skeptics have never met true Christians. Many skeptics have no clue what the Bible really says.  Many Christians, as well as skeptics, misquote the Bible, misinterpret the Bible, and/or take the Bible out of context.

     

    As far as knowing what I believe, I have to approach it this way: what is the most reasonable explanation for the existence of the universe, man, and how we got here.  Notice I said reasonable.  Neither the skeptic nor the Christian can definitively prove how the universe came to be, how old it is, or where man came from.  We can only interpret known facts from information collected in the here and now.  We cannot travel into the past to see how it all actually happened. So for me, faith in my belief is based upon reason -- not blind faith.

     

    By taking that approach, I then look at the reasons I have for believing what I do and then look at the alternative.  In my journey, I came to the conclusion that Christianity provided me with the most reasonable explanations I was looking for.

     

    Do I believe in the big bang?  Yes, but I also believe that the big bang needs a big banger.  I cannot subscribe to the idea that a tiny singularity popped out of nothing; that to me is unreasonable based upon the philosophical law of causality.  Plus, as far as I know, no one, since the beginning of time, has ever reported to have witnessed something popping out of thin air - nothing.  Someone else may see that differently, and that's fine.  I just can't subscribe to something from nothing.  Therefore, to me it's totally reasonable that a higher intelligence created and that creation caused what we see today.

     

    Objective Morality requires a moral law giver.  It is not instinctive. This one will probably get me in trouble, but I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone and these are my views; not necessarily someone else's.  Morality is either objective (object) or subjective (subject).  Either there is something about the object that makes the claim either true or false; or there is something about the subject - the person speaking/the individual - that grounds whether or not the claim is subjectively true or false.  Subjective truths are the personal preferences of a subject.  Objective truths are facts about an object that is outside the subject.  They are true whether anyone believes them or not. 

     

    Romans 2 says that God's law is written on every human heart.  This is what philosophers call moral intuition. 

    An example:  Torturing babies is fun.  I would expect everyone to say that this statement is morally reprehensible and incorrect.  This is a clear-cut example of an objective moral truth.  Now someone who doesn't believe in objective moral truths can only appeal to subjective morality. Here are the problems with subjective morality:

    • The person who subscribes to subjective morality can never complain about the problem of evil because that assumes an objective moral framework.
    • They would have to assume absurd conclusions such as there's no difference between loving your children and torturing them because without an objective moral standard there's no way to distinguish between the two actions.
    • They would have no basis to complain about any wrongs done to them because rights and wrongs are subjective.  I may like your wallet so I'm going to take it because for me, it's right to take something I want from anyone I want.

    Can the skeptic know objective moral truth?  Yes.  Can the skeptic ground objective moral truth?  No because they believe that morality - good & evil, right & wrong - are merely human inventions. Many skeptics point to basic animal instincts as the source of objective morality.  This presents a problem.  The lion doesn't consider whether a baby gazelle is just a baby and shouldn't be eaten.  It doesn't skip over the disabled.  If a lion wants to take over a pride, it kills indiscriminately to achieve it's goal.

     

    I believe the best reasonable explanation for the existence of objective moral truth is that if an objective moral law exists independent of individual minds (which are subjective), then it must ultimately come from a Mind that exists independently of finite minds.  It is rationally  necessary to postulate such a Mind in order to account for the objective existence of moral laws.

     

    There are many other reasons why I think Christianity is a reasonable way to view the world, and why I retain my faith in the midst of this increasingly relativistic world where you are ridiculed for not bowing down to the god of naturalism, humanism, atheism or other religions, but this would be way too long of a post.  Is it easy to be a Christian in today's world?  No, definitely not, but I'm not swayed by the other side at all despite the difficulties.

     

    This.I recently went through a crisis of faith and had to work backwards from what I found to be the most reasonable explanation for things such as creation, moral law and other things that I couldn't explain. . Doing this helped me to find out what I really believed. Once I came to the conclusion that the Biblical account of creation was the most reasonable explanation to me, the rest of Christianity fell into place. . I recommend reading Mere Christianity.

    Hunter's Plan.....Simplify!

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Hey, Hunter.  I had so much to say and I have been typing from my phone all day and just now have access to my computer.  So here is your plan if I am remembering correctly....
     
    Instructional Students
    HTT for the 3 Rs
    Spalding Handwriting
    Write On! 
     
    Independent Students
    Saxon Math
    Hake Grammar and Writing
    SWR flashcards, cds, and Alphalist
     
    Library list (I'm assuming this is for their independent reading).
    Children's Classics list
    Dirda list
     
    You can repost those here if you want.  Am I missing anything?
     
    I love how you put the Alphalist and flashcards from SWR in here because that gives the student the tools without the extras.  I personally would not use Write On! but I can see why you would need something to bridge the gap between handwriting and Hake.  
     
    For the reading list there is a difference, like you said, in VP and AO in that VP's grade levels for lit are helpful to know what books are appropriate for each age when read independently and AO is a good guideline for what to read aloud to various ages.  When I organize the novels I may use AO to help me alternate between "easier" and "harder" novels so that my younger ones get to hear books like Charlotte's Web after hearing books like Little Women.  I wouldn't necessarily assign the VP books (though I have in the past), but it is helpful for giving a mentor ideas for where to steer them in their reading of novels appropriate for their age or reading level (or giving the mentor a sequence of difficulty).  
     
    Gotta go for a minute.....more later.....


    Hunter, are you no longer using LLTL and RLTL?

    SWB library book list recomendation for each visit?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    Thanks! I'm curious, does she recommend how often she visited the library? I only seem to get there every 3 weeks...

     

    The 1st and 3rd edition lists are a bit different. 

     

    This is the 3rd edition.

    On each library visit, I had them check out the following books: one science book, one history book, one art or music appreciation book, one practical book (a craft, hobby, or “how-toâ€), a biography or autobiography, a classic novel (or an adaptation suited to age), an imaginative storybook, a book of poetry.

     

    The 1st edition had 3 student choice selections, and I know poetry wasn't required. 

     

    What's your plan for next school year (2014/2015)?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Bible/devotions all together
     
    DS 11th/12th
    Saxon Advanced Math(Finish fall)
    Calculus I at Com College in the Spring
    Comp I and II at Com College (fall/spring)
    Apologia Physics
    History US I & II clep
    US Government clep
    Microeconomics clep
    SOS Spanish II
     
    DS 8th
    TT Algebra I
    Apologia Physical Science
    Notgrass American The Beautiful
    Assorted Literature books
    LLTL 5
    Barton's Reading and Spelling
    Getting Started With Latin
     
    DD 6th
    Saxon 6/5
    Science in the Beginning
    Notgrass America The Beautiful
    Assorted Literature books
    LLTL 5
    LOE Advanced Lists
    Getting Started With Latin
     
    DS 4th
    Saxon 3
    Science in the Beginning
    Notgrass America The Beautiful
    Assorted Literature books
    LLTL 2
    Barton's Reading and Spelling
    Getting Started With Latin

    What was your biggest curriculum mistake?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    Could you please explain what you didn't like about History Revealed? I am considering this for fall. Thanks!

    Diane Waring History--wasted $$$, terrible

     

    Apologia Elementary Human Anatomy--instead of sticking to science it delves into "how to be saved" religious teachings!  I knew it was biblically based but it went to far in pushing the authors beliefs in the lesson on blood---really irked me to find that in a science book.

     

    I'm sure I'll think of more...

     

     

    America from the Beginning by AIG

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I did look through the samples a bit. I's wondering if the younger two used it as is and I could beef it up for the 9th grader? I guess I'd need to see it in person first.

    Have you looked at the samples?  I don't have it but the samples (and description by AIG that it's for grades 3-8) would make me hesitant to use it for High School credit.  It does look very nice and I've considered getting it for my younger kids but am trying to fight the urge because I don't really need it, LOL.

     

    Is there an 8th grade thread yet?

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted

    I have level 2 for my 9 year old to use next year. I hope the other levels come out in time too!

    We are using it too and, so far, it's great. My new 8th grader (just started our school year here) almost turned up her sweet nose at having to read the Emerald City - but now she likes it... :) . We are using some lower levels too and I really like them.  I hope the other levels come out in time too.

     

    Question: if you've homeschooled a student who is now in college

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    We will graduate our 6th child from our homeschool this year. Currently 3 are college students. I agree with the poster who said consistency and appropriate workloads. I also feel it's important to teach study skills. Not all students know how to study effectively. We start college classes during high school to give the kids a feel for a college classroom and to tackle the courses beyond my ability to teach.

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