Matt in a Tux

In typical intertube-browsing-fashion, I happened to stumble on a blog full of ideas I do not agree with. Who is this latest perpetrator that prompts a blog post from me? Her name is Denyse O'Leary, and she doesn't believe in magic.

And suddenly, the penny dropped. What he meant was that I just don't believe in magic [regarding understanding how natural selection works]. I can't make myself believe in magic; I haven't been able to since I was a child.

Yes. Natural selection is magic. Wizardry is responsible for the changes seen in population of animals well-suited for their environment. However, there is no response to this woman; this is demonstrated in her next great quote. Mind you, I try to quote a large amount of text to undoubtedly demonstrate her irrational thought process.

As a traditional Catholic, I am asked to believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. But I am not asked to believe in virgin birth as a general proposition, and especially not for human males whose mothers' pregnancies could be readily - though not respectably - accounted for otherwise. In that one instance, I am told, I cannot argue that "God wouldn't have done it that way," as I have no basis for arguing with God about what he would or wouldn't have done as an intentionally unique, divinely ordained event.

Ah, the age-old response. A virgin birth is not magic. Why? Apparently this is because she is not asked to believe in this as a general proposition, so it simply a one-time act from a three-omni God. The reply to this is simple, as given by Mylan Engel, Jr. (his co-authored blog found here), and elicits the BOK-maneuver reply. Granted, Engel uses this reply to combat the response to the evidential problem of evil. But, it applies here as well.

If Denyse believes that she ought to believe in this virgin birth, this one instance because she was told to, then she agrees that what God does is beyond her ken. If God is able to perform actions that are completely beyond our ken, then it is true that we can never know the way God works, or his intentions of such actions. If we can never know God's intentions or ways of acting, then we are in no position to understand anything God does. If we cannot understand anything God does, and view everything, or even some things, as intentionally unique, divinely ordained events, then we are in a futile position. Why a futile position? Let me explain. Denyse is trusting what she is told and accepts what God does since it is beyond her ken. Now, when Denyse (not to be rude, but it is inevitable) dies, she may or may not appear in heaven. Assume she does. In heaven, God looks at her and shakes His head. "Denyse, you helped starving children, you raised children and were extremely virtuous. But... I hate to tell you this... I actually condone the starvation of children, the abandonment of children and acting vile. So, off to hell with those other do-gooders!" Denyse cannot argue with God. All He has to reply with is that what He does is beyond Denyse's ken.

If you think you know that God commends your actions, then it looks like that virgin birth is pretty magical after all.

Christmas is here, a time to celebrate family, friends, and, most importantly, the winter solstice. Granted, winter solstice was December 21st; however, with the transformation of natural holidays into religious holidays, I figure it is very appropriate to celebrate it all at once on the commonly-accepted day.

So, Merry X-mas!