Monday, August 22, 2011

Multi-Verse - Mariano Grinbank - YouTube

Mariano recently gave a lecture on the Multiverse. Check him out!




Multi-Verse - Mariano Grinbank - YouTube
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A Visual Explanation of Crowdsourcing [Infographic]

I like the idea of crowdsourcing. You can even get paid doing it.  And sometimes...not so much. You know like when a company (*cough* Microsoft *cough* ESRI *cough* cough*) puts out a product and waits to hear about bugs from users before fixing them? Well, crowdsourcing is the ethical way of doing that.






A Visual Explanation of Crowdsourcing [Infographic]
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Kinect-carrying drone automatically builds 3D maps of rooms (Wired UK)

There sure a whole lot of applications for something like this!!!!




Kinect-carrying drone automatically builds 3D maps of rooms (Wired UK)
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Response to Ryan Anderson on John 2:15

I have been discussing a post on my blog recently regarding an article that Mariano Grinbank has written answering the stupid charge that the New Testament portrays Jesus as violent. Ryan Anderson of course is does not oppose Mariano directly so he comments on my blog. The post in which I linked to Mariano's article is as follows

What had happen' was.....: Was Jesus violent? | True Freethinker

Anderson made the following comment.

Of course Jesus was violent, see John 2:15. And Marino's rationalization of that verse is particularly weak. He focus on the harmless σχοινίων and completely ignores the lethal φραγέλλιον. He's essentially arguing that a robber was harmless, because he had a flash suppressor and you couldn't really ever hurt anyone with a flash suppressor. Never mind that the flash suppressor is attached to the end of a pistol.

Here's a project for you, take some very soft rope or cord, and try to "drive" everyone out of your local mall, and then hold the mall for several days*. Let me know how that works out.

*I imagine this would be easier to accomplish, especially the holding part, if you had twelve guys with swords to help you. :)

As I understood Anderson's argument, he thinks that the whip Jesus used was lethal and thereby proves that Jesus was violent. But he knows that the text does not support that, so instead he invents the idea suggesting that Jesus held the temple in some military operation with his disciples being armed. Unfortunately for him, nothing in the text remotely supports his conjecture. Let's look at the John 2:15 speak by looking at two translations.


So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (NIV)

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (KJV)


Now look at Ryan's analogy with the gun and the flash suppressor. If you are shot in the heart, you are just as dead no matter if the gun has a flash suppressor or not. A whip made of small cords is not the same things as a φραγέλλιον. A better analogy would be a gun that fires bullets and a tazer. Ryan and I went back and forth several ways and meandered about until the following exchange. I'm going to make new comments in red.

Ryan Anderson said...
What does φραγέλλιον mean to you?

Marcus McElhaney said...
John 2:15 refers to whip made out of small cords. φραγέλλιον (strong number 4979 since I know you don't Read Greek) is not referring to the same lethal tool that the Romans scourged people with - like the one used on Jesus before his crucifixion. Look up 4979 if you want to know that the whip that Jesus used in John 2:15. Compare John 19:1 "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him." "scourged" here and "scourge" in John 2:15 are not even close to the same word and has way more painful and lethal connotations than your new favorite word "φραγέλλιον". James White was right, a little Greek is dangerous when you have no idea what you are talking about. Do you even know what kind of a whip the Romans used on Jesus and their prisoners? Not the same at all as the one Jesus used made of small cords in John 2:15. Are you sure you read Mariano's article. doesn't look like you did. August 20, 2011 8:10 AM
Marcus McElhaney said...
I should have asked if you "understood" because I think that's where the disconnect is.

After a day of looking this over, I think this is where I lost Ryan. He most likely will not accept this but I really thought he understood what I wrote but I don't think he did.

Here is the verse in the King James version with the words hyperlinked to an online lexicon. Just click on the word to see it.

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Ryan Anderson said...
strong number 4979 since I know you don't Read Greek You'd be wrong. I'm better at Latin, but I read Koine. Can't tell Ryan gets oh so many things wrong.    "scourged" here and "scourge" in John 2:15 are not even close to the same word You know the difference between a verb and a noun, right?
Ryan Anderson said...
Plus, you are confused, φραγέλλιον if 5416, not 4979. σχοινίων is 4979 (since you apparently don't know how to use a concordance). John 2:15 uses both words. 5416 is the word for the Roman Scourge, 4979 just describes what the Scourge is made out of. See me flash suppressor example.
Ryan Anderson said...
A little entomology for you, μαστιγόω (mastigo) is to flog or scourge (verb). We use the word masticate today (chew up) and it's totally unrelated to the noun "scourge" or φραγέλλιον. φραγέλλιον is the Roman flail or scourge. And is a greek word of Roman origin. Scorpio in Latin because the bits on the end hurt like a scorpion sting. You're welcome.
 
I agree. and thank Ryan for the entomology lesson but it's unnecessary. because the text tells us what kind of whip it was. It did not have the "bits on the end". Those bits would rip the flesh right off the bones of the victim and would rip open the very bowls of a human being. That is the kind of whipping Jesus received in John 19 but not what he gave in John 2:15.
 
Ryan Anderson said...
HAHAHAHAHAAHAH, I just typed φραγέλλιον into google and one of the first headings that comes up makes it appear that φραγέλλιον is entry 4979 in Strongs (no doubt because both φραγέλλιον and σχοινίων are in John 2:15 which is linked to 4979). If you don't click further, I can see how one would think φραγέλλιον was entry 4979. You've really got to be more thorough than that Marcus, it helps to have a hard copy of Strong's handy. F- for you.

Marcus McElhaney said...
You prove my point: the whip used in John 2:15 is not of the same kind in John 19:1. You are trying to conflate them in order to make it appear that here was not a difference and there is. Your problem is that the context of John 2:15 tells us what the whip is made of and it is not the same thing as the Roman's tool for plublic flogging used on Jesus in John 19:1. The attempt at accusing me of not being able to use a concordance is a red herring at best. Bravo. Sam Harris would be proud. I doubt you know what you are talking about because a concordance without a lexicon is like a brain without a mind. Explains you very well, however. I don't have the time to answer all of what I want say now but a specific response showing how you cannot exegete your way out of a paper bag is coming soon Don't try to thank me all at once. You are more than welcomed.
 
 
Ryan Anderson said... 
 
the whip used in John 2:15 is not of the same kind in John 19:1. Actually, if you were honest (or understood grammar) you'd admit that the type of whip in John 19:1 is not described per se, but since it was a Roman solider doing the μαστιγόω, it's likely it was a φραγέλλιον, but that would be "adding to the text" now wouldn't it? But in John 2:15 we at least know that the author is saying that Jesus used a "scourge" and used the word to describe the Roman Punishment version.   We know from history what kind of whip was used by the Romans when they flogged someone. It's not going beyond to the text to assume that it was that kind of whip in John 19. I mean do we really want to argue that Pilate tried to placate the Jewish leaders by basically trying to beat Jesus with a "wet noodle" when they wanted Pilate to execute him? Really? That's not the same thing as making up that the disciples had swords in John 2:15 and Jesus held the temple for a time as in a military occupation. And  Ryan accuses me of dishonesty.  The attempt at accusing me of not being able to use a concordance is a red herring at best. And what was your attempt at accusing me of not being able to read Koine?   I proved that that Ryan has an exegetical problem with your analysis. Ryan seems to think you can just ignore what the text says. He didn't fill in a blank spot, he erased what was there and rewrote it and worse came up with really misfit analogy to try to
"shoe-horn" his point. Sam Harris would be proud.  I have no idea what that means, and don't care really.   For something that Ryan doesn't care about, he made sure to mention it.  In Sam Harris' debate with William Lane Craig (And I know Ryan says he saw it because he vehemently disagreed with my post on it) he made use of red herrings, just like Ryan did on the comment thread I'm commenting on now and Ryan doesn't even seem to be able to see it. I doubt you know what you are talking about because a concordance without a lexicon is like a brain without a mind. I use an old copy of Thayer.But using google as a replacement for both is like what? Whatever it is, it should be extremely embarrassing. Too funny!!!!
 
Again, I didn't use Google by doing a search on σχοινίων or  φραγέλλιον. Just made a mistake and I should have taken my time. If Ryan isn't embarrassed by his argument, I sure have no reason to be embarrassed by a typo.
 
Ryan Anderson said...
Also, if you truly doubt what I'm talking about, you should scan and post the pages from your copy of Strong's and show that I'm wrong about φραγέλλιον being entry 5416 and σχοινίων being 4979. Or you could just admit you were playing fast and loose and turned out to be wrong.
I did post an interlinear Greek text for John 2:15 above and as I already stated I made a mistake plain and simple. But look at what my mistake was: I was trying to make a point about σχοινίων and pasted the wrong word in my text. I ask forgiveness to anyone who was confused. But that doesn't mean my argument or Mariano's argument about σχοινίων is refuted because of a typo. 

Let me recap: Ryan Anderson wants to argue that Jesus was violent because he used lethal force to drive out the merchants from the Temple. As I understand his argument, Ryan is saying that it doesn't matter if the whip was made of small cords, a phragellion is a phragellion and it's cruel to use it. However he ignores these facts.

1. phragellions that the Romans used (as in John 19:1) did indeed has bits of metal hooks, glass, and what not at the ends with the intention of ripping flesh  from bone to cause maximum pain and suffering as possible.  They were not made of small cords.
2. There is nothing in John 2:15 even remotely telling us that Jesus used lethal force. 
3. Jesus broke no law in cleaning the temple. He actually forced them to follow it. He wasn't arrested because he did nothing wrong and they all knew he did the right thing. 
4. Instead of Ryan explaining how Jesus is proven to be violent by John 2:15, he instead focuses on my typo that doesn't prove his argument. 

Again I freely admit that I made a mistake. The thing is my mistake doesn't help Ryan make his point at all and it doesn't negate my points. Also I missed it at first but now I see that I did indeed make a copy-paste typo and again I apologize. I hope Ryan Anderson will also apologize for his poor exegesis.


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Sunday, August 21, 2011

"Oh Snap!" of the Day #1 - James White Has a lot to Say

This is the first of a series of post spotlighting what we call "Oh Snap!" moments where I come from. These are moments where someone says or does something in response to an idea or an action that perfectly refutes it in such a strong way that it's unmistakable. The helpful flow chart on the left that I got from Ms Belton on the Black Snob blog. This weekend I saw two examples from Dr James White.

In Atheists on the Run from William Lane Craig, Dr White discusses the recent news that many atheists are quaking in their boots and won't debate Dr. William Lane Craig and hide behind really lame excuses. Dr White however does not just bring the atheists to task, but points out that many theists shy away from debating certain people themselves on certain subjects. For example Dr Craig will not debate Dr White on Molinism and Middle Knowledge. He points out how important debate is and calls these things out as they are. All I could say after reading it was "Oh Snap!"

In The Dark Side of Anti-Calvinism, Dr White discusses the latest charges against Calvinism and against himself personally from George Bryson and Micah Coate. Last week, Dr White reviewed Coate's book in which Coate argues that Calvinism has cult-like characteristics like Jehovah Witnesses. Instead of debating White directly, some of these people are content to talking in public about the issues but won't debate. White does a good job discussing the issues and explaining his position. He calls his critics to a higher standard and all I can say is "Oh Snap!".

The following video shows why George Bryson does not debate anymore.



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Fistbump of the Day: Was Jesus baptized to have his sins forgiven? | True Freethinker

My Brother-in-Christ, Mariano, has written a really great response to the really silly idea that Jesus was baptized for the forgiveness of his personal sins. Mariano does a great job. Although I've posted about this issue in the past, I really liked reading Mariano's take. I want as many people to read it as possible. He shows that the New Testament does not support such a silly assertion at all. Follow the link.

Was Jesus baptized to have his sins forgiven? | True Freethinker
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Calvinistic Cartoons: TwoTimTwoTen

I like this.

Calvinistic Cartoons: TwoTimTwoTen

Friday, August 19, 2011

Picard Ordering Chinese Food - G4tv.com

Picard Ordering Chinese Food - G4tv.com

Flashback: The Internet in 1995 on MTV News [Video]

Here is something funny! Remember what you knew about the Internet in 1995? Things have surely changed!!




Flashback: The Internet in 1995 on MTV News [Video]
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Ad Asks: "Have You Ever Had Sex With Rick Perry?" - The Snob Blog - Danielle Belton's The Black Snob

I have never seen a political ad like this one. I mean how? It amazes me because there people who say that what you do in your bedroom between consenting adults is no one's business. This poster seems to point to that deep down we all know that it does matter. The poster asks what kind morals do we want our President to live?


Ad Asks: "Have You Ever Had Sex With Rick Perry?" - The Snob Blog - Danielle Belton's The Black Snob
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15 Things You Didn’t Know About Outer Space [Infographic]






15 Things You Didn’t Know About Outer Space [Infographic]
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Perks of Being an English Major [Comic]


Wait...there are benefits to being an English Major?

Perks of Being an English Major [Comic]

Impressive Acts of Nerdery Trifecta - Topless Robot


Words just don't do this act of Engineering justice. Watch this!




Impressive Acts of Nerdery Trifecta - Topless Robot

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Was Jesus violent? | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a series of articles responding to the charge that Jesus was violent and advocated violence. Follow the link to read his series!

In the end, this was not so much an exercise in biblical or otherwise historical studies as it was a saddening window into the heart of someone seeking any excuse whatsoever to justify their rejection of Jesus.
It is truly heart breaking to see to what lengths some will go, grasping for something, anything at all, that they talk themselves into believing will justify their rebellion.

Was Jesus violent? | True Freethinker

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Infographic: The American Identity According to Social Media - Nicholas Jackson - Technology - The Atlantic



0816Info.jpg

Infographic: The American Identity According to Social Media - Nicholas Jackson - Technology - The Atlantic
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Android vs. iPhone: Battle of the Mobile Operating Systems [Infographic]





Android vs. iPhone: Battle of the Mobile Operating Systems [Infographic]
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The Trinity’s Biblical Basis | Reflections

Kenneth Samples has posted an interesting article summarizing Biblical support for the Trinity. There is nothing on it that I haven't seen before but it's real nice to have yet another summary of this truth. Follow the link.

The Trinity’s Biblical Basis | Reflections
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