Giotto, Velasquez, Carl Bloch, Dore.
This site is mostly in Q&A format.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV; those from the deuterocanon from the NAB or RSV.
Please report any typos, misinformation or inconsistencies to info@christianthought.info
You can also ask questions and make suggestions. Thanks.
Note 1: This site is under construction, and probably always will be, so a lot of what you'll see is quite cryptic. For example, you might see something like "Hume Euclid infinity spiritual physical", which is just a quick way of directly transferring my writing from my notebooks to this website and at this initial stage, just looks like gibberish. I know what this means, but until I elaborate, I doubt you will. Don't let this distract you from the stuff that isn't cryptic, because not all of it is. Also, philosophy is, by it's nature, cryptic, until you learn all the background behind a concept or question, just because it's so abstract. I'm going to try to avoid this best I can by explaining everything to its most basic, concrete foundations, but that can take some time to get around to. Just wanted to clarify this so you don't think I'm crazy or totally inscrutable.
Note 2: I really hate reading about stuff I already know; it's such a waste of time; however, authors can only do their best when it comes to guessing what to assume the reader already knows and what they think they should explain so they're not going over anyone's head. The great thing about having a website is that I don't really have to have this problem -- I'll put links to whatever I think you might not know and if you already know what I'm talking about, just keep reading. I hope this keeps more knowledgeable readers from becoming bored and frustrated, and less knowledgeable ones from being intimidated and confused.
Note 3: (This is somewhat related to Note 2.) I must admit, one of my fears for my site is that people are going to think it's too hard. And I mean this in a very specific way. I plan to cover an astonishing range of topics (pretty much everything philosophical is interesting to me!), often from a more specialist point-of-view (though nothing that the educated layman couldn't research for themselves) -- in particular the math and science sections of this website, and I'm afraid it's going to intimidate people and turn them off. If that's the case, please don't go away! Rest assured, the whole website isn't like this! There's still plenty more that's more accessible.
Site Epigraph
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Dt 29:29)
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. (I Kgs 4:33)
Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. 13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’? 14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (Jb 33:12-14)
Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. (Jb 36:26)
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? -- God (Jb 38:2)
I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. (Jb 42:3)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. (Ps 27:4)
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Ps 73:16-17)
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. (Ps 11:2)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Ps 119:18)
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
(Eccl 3:10-11)
then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. (Eccl 8:17)
The first human being never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her. (Sir 24:28)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jer 33:3)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
(Mt 7:7-8)
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Lk 21:15)
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" (Rom 11:33-34)
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (II Cor 10:4-5)
may [God] give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened (Eph 1:17-18)
... reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3)
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (II Tm 2:7)
always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (I Pt 3:15)
no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. (Jer 31:34)
Scripture quotations are from the ESV; those from the deuterocanon from the NAB or RSV.
Please report any typos, misinformation or inconsistencies to info@christianthought.info
You can also ask questions and make suggestions. Thanks.
Note 1: This site is under construction, and probably always will be, so a lot of what you'll see is quite cryptic. For example, you might see something like "Hume Euclid infinity spiritual physical", which is just a quick way of directly transferring my writing from my notebooks to this website and at this initial stage, just looks like gibberish. I know what this means, but until I elaborate, I doubt you will. Don't let this distract you from the stuff that isn't cryptic, because not all of it is. Also, philosophy is, by it's nature, cryptic, until you learn all the background behind a concept or question, just because it's so abstract. I'm going to try to avoid this best I can by explaining everything to its most basic, concrete foundations, but that can take some time to get around to. Just wanted to clarify this so you don't think I'm crazy or totally inscrutable.
Note 2: I really hate reading about stuff I already know; it's such a waste of time; however, authors can only do their best when it comes to guessing what to assume the reader already knows and what they think they should explain so they're not going over anyone's head. The great thing about having a website is that I don't really have to have this problem -- I'll put links to whatever I think you might not know and if you already know what I'm talking about, just keep reading. I hope this keeps more knowledgeable readers from becoming bored and frustrated, and less knowledgeable ones from being intimidated and confused.
Note 3: (This is somewhat related to Note 2.) I must admit, one of my fears for my site is that people are going to think it's too hard. And I mean this in a very specific way. I plan to cover an astonishing range of topics (pretty much everything philosophical is interesting to me!), often from a more specialist point-of-view (though nothing that the educated layman couldn't research for themselves) -- in particular the math and science sections of this website, and I'm afraid it's going to intimidate people and turn them off. If that's the case, please don't go away! Rest assured, the whole website isn't like this! There's still plenty more that's more accessible.
Site Epigraph
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Dt 29:29)
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. (I Kgs 4:33)
Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. 13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’? 14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (Jb 33:12-14)
Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. (Jb 36:26)
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? -- God (Jb 38:2)
I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. (Jb 42:3)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. (Ps 27:4)
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Ps 73:16-17)
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. (Ps 11:2)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Ps 119:18)
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
(Eccl 3:10-11)
then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. (Eccl 8:17)
The first human being never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her. (Sir 24:28)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jer 33:3)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
(Mt 7:7-8)
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Lk 21:15)
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" (Rom 11:33-34)
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (II Cor 10:4-5)
may [God] give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened (Eph 1:17-18)
... reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3)
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (II Tm 2:7)
always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (I Pt 3:15)
no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. (Jer 31:34)
