Randall Fields
Recent Activity
Why do bad things happen to good people?
This question is, to me, the achilles heel of all religions. We know that bad things happen to good people - but why? Is God infinitely benevloent, or infinitely malevolent? Can God exist in a world where bad things happen to good people? Or, is God powerless to control furtue events? If that is the case, then who or what, exactly, is God? … Read More
March 30, 2008 |
Randall Fields commented on Separation of Church and State on March 29, 2008, 2:50 PM
The question asked in the Republican debate about "belief" in the Bible is a quesion of entrapment. That is, regardless of the "yes" or "no" answer, the trapped in an untenable position. The answer should have been: "Please define 'believe'." That is, do I believe that the Bible exists, that it is devinely inspired, that it is the inerrant word of God, that it is a collection of thoughts by various individuals, that it is scientifically accurate, or that it is a fairy tale? It was a meaningless question and called for a meaningless answer without further agreement as to exactly what the question was. That's why most of these "debates" are a great waste of time and resources.
Re: How should the Bible be interpreted?
The Bible was written and compiled by people. It is a collection of the authors' interpretations of their observations and life experiences. Later portions of the Bible are influenced by thought processes and interpretations expressed in earlier portions. In other words, the Bible contains evidence of its own evolution.Basically, the Bible is a statement of collective common sense - this is, "This is what we have observed as the best way to survive and ensure survival of the next generation." The idea that millions of life experiences over thousands of years form the basis for these collective expressions should make the reader take them seriously. The reader must then apply his or her interpretation of the collective common sense to his or her individual life situation.This application can be meaningful only if uncoerced by either civil or ecclesiastical authority. Coercion negates any positive inluence that the Biblical expressions of collective common sense might otherwise have on the reader. Coercion only serves to reinforce the economic power sought by those seeking to coerce over the targets of such coercion. … Read More
March 29, 2008 |
Randall Fields commented on Are faith and reason incompatible? on March 29, 2008, 11:10 AM
Professor Gromes asks the wrong question. "Faith" and "reason" cannot be incompatible because each depends upon the other. The correct question should be: "Are dogma and reason incompatible?" One cannot hold all knowledge in his or her brain at all times, so "reason" must depend upon ideas taken as "given" (that is, we take them on "faith" that they are correct). Dogma, on the other hand, is dependant upon someone else's demand that one have a particular world view, and that this world view trump all reason that may be employed in interpreting our life situation. Dogma is the antithesis of faith and reason.
I am a financial advisor and registered representative for Investment Professionals, Inc., located at Broadway National Bank, San Antonio, Texas. I am also an attorney, licensed in Texas. I have BBA, MBA and JD degrees from Baylor University, and hold the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation from the College for Financial Planning. I serve as a Trustee for San Antonio's Northside Independent School District, which educates over 85,000 students, is the fourth largest public school district in Texas, and has a 2008 combined operating and capital budget of over $900 million. I previously served as a Regent of the Baylor University System, and as Chair of the Board of Regents from 1995 through 1997. Nancy, my wife of 35 years, and I have three children: Travis will graduate this year from Texas A & M University, Elizabeth is a sophomore at Blinn College, and Rebecca is a doctoral student at Exeter College, University of Oxford.
Randall Fields commented on Are faith and reason incompatible? on March 29, 2008, 3:10 PM
Professor Gromes asks the wrong question. "Faith" and "reason" cannot be incompatible because each depends upon the other. The correct question should be: "Are dogma and reason incompatible?" One cannot hold all knowledge in his or her brain at all times, so "reason" must depend upon ideas taken as "given" (that is, we take them on "faith" that they are correct). Dogma, on the other hand, is dependant upon someone else's demand that one have a particular world view, and that this world view trump all reason that may be employed in interpreting our life situation. Dogma is the antithesis of faith and reason.