When Does Intolerance Work? | National Review Online

When Does Intolerance Work? | National Review Online: "In the wake of the Mozilla controversy, the Duck Dynasty controversy, the Chick-fil-A boycott/buycott, and the countless examples of intolerance and intimidation against conservatives on campuses across the country, it seems rather clear that — as Michelle Goldberg notes in The Nation – there is a “growing left-wing tendency towards censoriousness and and hair-trigger offense.”"



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The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign

The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign: "Lorenzo further recalled that his mother, “a praying, fervent woman” and an invalid until she died when he was seven, “frequently called me to her bedside and counseled me to be a good man that the Lord might bless my life.” He added, “On one occasion she told me that if I would not neglect to pray to my Heavenly Father, he would send a guardian angel to protect me in the dangers to which I might be exposed.”"



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The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign

The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign: "It was perhaps the youngest son, Lorenzo, who saw earliest that he and members of his immediate family would play a significant part in the unfolding drama of God’s latter-day kingdom. In 1816, barely nine years old, he had a startlingly prophetic dream:“I thought I stood in an open space or ground and saw a good, well defined road leading, at an angle of forty-five degrees, into the air as far as I could see. I heard a noise similar to that of a carriage in rapid motion, at what seemed the upper end of the road. In a moment it came into sight, drawn by a pair of beautiful white horses. The carriage and harness appeared brilliant with gold, and the horses traveled with the speed of the wind. It was manifested to me that the Savior was in the carriage, and that it was driven by his servant. It stopped near me and the Savior inquired ‘Where is your brother Brigham?’ After answering his question he inquired about my other brothers, and concerning my father. His queries being answered satisfactorily, he stated that he wanted us all, but especially my brother Brigham. The team then [turned] about and returned the way it came. … Subsequent events proved that it foreshadowed our future. It was evidently fulfilled when my father and all of his family entered into the new and everlasting Covenant.”"



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Turns out that Lorenzo Young is my great, great, great, great grandfather. Who knew?

The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign

The Faithful Young Family: The Parents, Brothers and Sisters of Brigham - Ensign Aug. 1980 - ensign: "Once when Phinehas visited a young woman dying of consumption, he was prompted to “lay hands on the sufferer and rebuke the disease.” He did so, and the woman was healed. He wrote, “I had never seen anything of the kind in my life, but had always believed the people were living far beneath their privileges.”"



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Conservative media is unintentionally protecting Obama | New York Post

Conservative media is unintentionally protecting Obama | New York Post: "Amazing to think it was only 11 months ago that the Internal Revenue Service admitted — on its own! — that it had outright targeted conservative groups for special (i.e., hostile) scrutiny in considering their applications for tax-exempt status. The matter seemed so serious that the president himself said he was outraged by it: “It’s inexcusable and Americans have a right to be angry about it and I am angry about it.”
Though he promised to hold the guilty parties accountable, and though several people resigned and/or retired, what has gone on since looks very much like stonewalling."



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Conservative media is unintentionally protecting Obama | New York Post

Conservative media is unintentionally protecting Obama | New York Post: "Well, did you know that the Attorney General of the United States was held in contempt back in June 2012 by the House of Representatives for refusing to provide documents to oversight committees regarding the demented Justice Department program that peddled guns to drug dealers later used to kill a federal agent?



That was no small thing — in fact, never before has such a sanction against a sitting cabinet member been declared by Congress. An unprecedented event is the very definition of news, and yet it went all but unacknowledged when it happened — dismissed as an election year stunt to harm the presidential candidacy of a man 90% of those who work in the media voted for."



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After 3 Decades, Letterman Says He Will Sign Off - NYTimes.com

After 3 Decades, Letterman Says He Will Sign Off - NYTimes.com: "Speculation about Mr. Letterman’s successor will now become a popular parlor game for countless television executives, entertainment writers and late-night fans. Two choices mentioned frequently on Thursday by people at CBS and other networks: Stephen Colbert, the host of Comedy Central’s late-night show, “The Colbert Report,” and Neil Patrick Harris, the star of the recently concluded CBS comedy hit “How I Met Your Mother,” who has scored as host of awards shows on CBS.

Craig Ferguson, who hosts the 12:35 a.m. show on CBS, has also been mentioned as a contender. One executive who has been involved in discussions of CBS’s future in late night said the network would like to move relatively quickly to name a successor."



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What about Conan?

Defending the Faith: A witness for the Book of Mormon witnesses | Deseret News

Defending the Faith: A witness for the Book of Mormon witnesses | Deseret News: "A significant source of McLellin’s confidence in the Book of Mormon was his direct personal familiarity with its witnesses.



“When I first joined the church in 1831,” he told Cobb, “soon I became acquainted with all the Smith family and the Whitmer family, and I heard all their testimonies, which agreed in the main points; and I believed them then and I believe them yet. But I don’t believe the many stories (contradictory) got up since, for I individually know many of them are false.”"



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Vanderbilt Chancellor Gee and wife agree on divorce | nashvillepost.com

Vanderbilt Chancellor Gee and wife agree on divorce | nashvillepost.com: "Constance Gee, however, is not a member of the LDS Church. Studies have shown that divorce rates in marriages between Mormons and non-Mormons are comparable to those of the general U.S. population."



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A Perfect, All-powerful (Libertarian) God Who Creates or Allows Natural Disasters

Returning to my series on this debate, I am going to address the arguments Professor Korcz made against God's existence. Professor Korcz started out saying that arguing against God is like trying to hit a moving target. I'd have to say, he mostly missed.

Many of his arguments draw on tensions that arise when believers assert that God is both  (1) perfect and (2) all powerful. 

Some of these argument are really just word games. For example, Korcz asks, can an all-powerful God create a rock he cannot lift? If he can't do both, he's not all powerful. But logically he can't do both. So he doesn't exist. Of course, that doesn't actually follow. This is just an argument against a certain understanding of all-powerful.

Similarly, Korcz asks, can an all-powerful, perfect God do something that is not perfect? If not, he's not all powerful. If so, he's not perfect! Gotcha! Again, this just begs the question, what do believers mean  by "all-powerful." Korcz admits as much, saying if you qualify all-powerful, the contradiction disappears. 

Believers have always recognized there are some limitations on God's power. Virtually all Christians believe life's purpose is to prove themselves worthy to return to god in heaven. Thus, the very purpose of life shows that God's powers are limited in some respect--either he cannot save everyone who is unworthy, or he cannot discern worthiness without performing a test.

These arguments are particularly unpersuasive to me because Mormons explicitly acknowledge limitations on God's power. Mormons recognize that God "cannot save [his people] in their sins" and that he is bound to keep his word when we [his people] do what he says. 

The better arguments Korcz makes is the existence of evil. The argument from moral evils are pretty easily dismissed as God allowing his children to make moral (or immoral) choices. Since the purpose of life is to prove worthiness, it follows some of God's children will choose evil and impose costs on others. (Thus, the invocation of "libertarian" in the title to this post--although God does internalize externalities to the sinner in the afterlife).

The argument against God from natural evils is a hard one to answer, mostly because there are only possible answers. Kreeft's answer is that God allows these evils for reasons we either don't know or can't currently understand. 

One possible answer is that, since our lives on earth are merely temporary and meant to provide us opportunities to learn and prove ourselves, natural evils are a necessary part of the test. It's a somewhat unsatisfactory answer, because we can't fully see the purpose of suffering natural evils or understand the ostensibly unjust distribution of the effects of natural evils. Still, it seems to me the best answer.

Another possibility is that God simply doesn't have control over some natural phenomenon, although I think conceding that probably limits the power of an all-powerful God too much. 

Kreeft offers another interesting answer that natural evils were introduced by original sin--thus natural evils are linked to moral evils. An interesting argument, but one which makes me very uncomfortable, mostly because of loose-cannon preachers who blame victims of natural disasters for bringing the disasters upon themselves. I reject that particular invocation of the linkage, and so am tempted to reject the link all together.

So, in summary, I find most the arguments unconvincing, but concede natural evils do present a difficulty. 

The Corner | National Review Online

The Corner | National Review Online: "“The debate over repealing this law is over. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay,” Obama said."



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Bwahahahah!



But why is president Obama trying to stop the dialogue?

Please Advocate Your Special Interest Rather than Sticking up for Taxpayers, David Henderson | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

Please Advocate Your Special Interest Rather than Sticking up for Taxpayers, David Henderson | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty: "Here's what I find interesting. It seems clear to me that had I advocated government-subsidized schools, Mr. Giordano would not have written that letter. So his upset is that I, although a member of a special interest benefiting from government subsidies, have not become an advocate of those subsidies.



So his message is: Please advocate the government subsidies that benefit your special interest."



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Government Knew about GM Ignition Issue - News - Road & Track

Government Knew about GM Ignition Issue - News - Road & Track: "In these situations, even the staunchest libertarian has to admit an uncomfortable truth: When all else fails, we ultimately rely on government regulators to ensure our safety on the road. Unfortunately, the still-unfolding GM scandal reveals that motorists can hardly rely on this last line of defense. "



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LOL! This guy needs to get out more!

Government Knew about GM Ignition Issue - News - Road & Track

Government Knew about GM Ignition Issue - News - Road & Track: "GM's recent wave of recalls reveals the ugly truth: The brutal competition for car sales can lead automakers to cut corners, including in crucial safety gear like airbags, steering, and brakes. The bottom line is that some automakers can't be relied on to always put customer safety first."



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I think automakers could be relied upon, if when discovered the automaker felt the full financial repercussions of their decision, instead of getting a bailout from government.

The media hate Republicans: Column

The media hate Republicans: Column: "CNN, home (also until last week) of Piers Morgan, whom Yee had praised for his anti-gun activism, didn't report the story at all. When prodded by viewers, the network snarked that it doesn't do state senators. Which is odd, because searching the name of my own state senator, Stacey Campfield, turns up a page of results, involving criticisms of him for saying something "extreme". Meanwhile, CNN found time to bash Wisconsin state senator and supporter of Gov. Scott Walker, Randy Hopper over marital problems.



But there's a difference. They're Republicans. When Republicans do things that embarrass their party, the national media are happy to take note, even if they're mere state senators. But when Democrats like Yee get busted for actual felonies, and pretty dramatic ones at that, the press suddenly isn't interested."



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