Author: Lyle Duell

Lyle Duell is a christian businessman, minister and author. He is the author of "From Jesus to Religion", which is available on Amazon.

The Government is Secular; not the Nation

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Government, Religion

The Government is Secular; not the Nation

The Founding Fathers had a vision of a secular Government, not a secular nation or culture.  Their vision of a secular government was just that, a Federal Government that was not controlled by any religious institution or organization.  Their goal was not to keep religious convictions and dialogue out of the public square.  They never inferred that religious convictions on morality should not inform the public or the government.

The kind of secular system proclaimed by some secularists today would involve a violation of the First Amendment which is the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. Free men have the right to speak their mind on any subject in the public square or in private, this includes the religious and nonreligious.  The very idea that people could not express their religious  beliefs in the public square or in spaces that some label ‘religious free zones’ is ridiculous and would violate our First Amendment rights.

Some interesting facts; the word secular is not used in any of the Founding documents.  The expression, ‘the wall between church and state’ is not found in any of the Founding documents.  It was used one time by Thomas Jefferson when writing to a Baptist Church in Connecticut.  There is nothing in the Constitution that would hinder states from having a State Religion.  The restriction was to only apply specifically to the Federal Government.

Paradigm shift and the Loss of Faith

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Atheism, Faith

The Logic of Believing In A Supreme Being

The problem with believing in a supreme being or God is that it no longer fits in our paradigm.  Our paradigm used to be one of kingship or feudalism, now it is one of democracy and egalitarianism both of which does not fit well with a belief  in a supreme being.  What is a paradigm? A paradigm is a framework of beliefs containing the basic assumptions or ways of thinking, that are commonly accepted by members of a culture.  Often  paradigms are held subconsciously by the group.  They are looked upon as just the way things are, or reality itself.

Under a feudal paradigm it was much easier to believe in a supreme being because it seemed normal and natural.  It actually reflected our culture.  However, that is no longer true.  In the west today, the dominant paradigm is democratic, which leaves the West open to atheism and agnosticism.

The loss of faith in the 20th century is largely the result of a paradigm change from hierarchy to  democratic and has little to do with evidence for or against God, nor does it have much to do with one’s intelligence.  The decline of faith and its institutions has more to do, for the larger part of the population, with paradigm changes and group think.  Being a believer in God in a democratic society is much harder than having faith under a feudal or kingship paradigm.

This brings us to the question, is it logical to believe in a supreme being?  For many, the answer would  depend on the paradigm that they have accepted.  If you accept the hierarchy paradigm, the supreme being would be the one on the top of the pyramid or hierarchy, and it would be reasonable. If you accept a democratic paradigm, logically you cannot have a supreme being, for all beings are equal.  A hierarchy would seem strange and maybe unreasonable.

The big question, is does reality or nature support one paradigm more than another?  When this question is asked the democratic paradigmatic is totally void of evidence and seems to be totally opposite of a paradigm based on nature.  There is nothing democratic about the universe.  Everything in nature represents hierarchy moving from the simple to the complex.  In this, the natural paradigm supports a hierarchy of being.  Taken to its logical conclusion it supports a supreme being paradigm.  In this, it is reasonable to think that nature would reflect its creator and the created order.

The end of a democratic paradigm can be seen when you attempt to force a hive of bees to live without a queen.  The obvious outcome is the death of the hive.  This might explain the reason why, that when a democracy fails it usually is replaced by a totalitarian system ruled by a hierarchy.  We see the force of paradigms at work in Western culture and we are witnessing the demise of the hive for accepting a paradigm which is contrary to the natural order.

The Logic of Believing In A Supreme Being

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Apologetics, Atheism

The Logic of Believing In A Supreme Being

The problem with believing in a supreme being or God is that it no longer fits in our paradigm.  Our paradigm used to be one of kingship or feudalism, now it is one of democracy and egalitarianism both of which does not fit well with a belief  in a supreme being.  What is a paradigm? A paradigm is a framework of beliefs containing the basic assumptions or ways of thinking, that are commonly accepted by members of a culture.  Often  paradigms are held subconsciously by the group.  They are looked upon as just the way things are, or reality itself.

Under a feudal paradigm it was much easier to believe in a supreme being because it seemed normal and natural.  It actually reflected our culture.  However, that is no longer true.  In the west today, the dominant paradigm is democratic, which leaves the West open to atheism and agnosticism.

The loss of faith in the 20th century is largely the result of a paradigm change from hierarchy to  democratic and has little to do with evidence for or against God, nor does it have much to do with one’s intelligence.  The decline of faith and its institutions has more to do, for the larger part of the population, with paradigm changes and group think.  Being a believer in God in a democratic society is much harder than having faith under a feudal or kingship paradigm.

This brings us to the question, is it logical to believe in a supreme being?  For many, the answer would  depend on the paradigm that they have accepted.  If you accept the hierarchy paradigm, the supreme being would be the one on the top of the pyramid or hierarchy, and it would be reasonable. If you accept a democratic paradigm, logically you cannot have a supreme being, for all beings are equal.  A hierarchy would seem strange and maybe unreasonable.

The big question, is does reality or nature support one paradigm more than another?  When this question is asked the democratic paradigmatic is totally void of evidence and seems to be totally opposite of a paradigm based on nature.  There is nothing democratic about the universe.  Everything in nature represents hierarchy moving from the simple to the complex.  In this, the natural paradigm supports a hierarchy of being.  Taken to its logical conclusion it supports a supreme being paradigm.  In this, it is reasonable to think that nature would reflect its creator and the created order.

The end of a democratic paradigm can be seen when you attempt to force a hive of bees to live without a queen.  The obvious outcome is the death of the hive.  This might explain the reason why, that when a democracy fails it usually is replaced by a totalitarian system ruled by a hierarchy.  We see the force of paradigms at work in Western culture and we are witnessing the demise of the hive for accepting a paradigm which is contrary to the natural order.

More Nonsense of the New Atheists.

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Apologetics, Atheism

More Nonsense of the New Atheists.

The new atheist claim that they have no burden of proof because atheism is not a belief but rather a non-belief. Right,  atheists or no one else can or cannot proof a non-belief.  Nor can they argue for or against a non-belief. In fact, you cannot even speak about a non-belief other than simply to say I do not believe.  However, I know of only a handful of atheist who refuse to speak about the subject of God and they offer arguments against his existence.

If you are arguing for or against something you are not  arguing from a non-belief because that is impossible. Moreover, When arguing against something, the argument “I don’t believe” is insufficient. It is an opinion, not an argument. If you argue you must be argue from some other position or ideology not a non-belief. You cannot as atheists do  argue against God and then claim atheism as a non-belief. Atheists must argue against God from either materialism or naturalist ideology which are beliefs. In other words, the minute they open their mouths the burden of proof lies on the one trying to proof their un-belief by the means of other beliefs. In essence, they have to borrow believes from other ideologies to speak against the belief in God.  If they don’t want any burden of proof they should simply shut their mouths and not form arguments from materialism, scientism and naturalism.

Natural Revelation and Biblical Revelation

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Bible, Biblical doctrines

Natural Revelation and Biblical Revelation

The Bible didn’t need to tell us about natural revelation because those things are a part of the human experience.  The Biblical writers simply codified or wrote them down.  Natural revelation is self-evident truth.  A self-evident truth is a truth that God has made known to all men who are in their right mind and whose intellect has not been hardened by rebellion or perverted by worldly philosophy and religion.

In contrast, to natural revelation, Biblical revelation are truths that are made known through the revelatory acts of God; the most obvious revelation is the sending of God’s son in the person of Jesus Christ.  In His life and work we see and learn things about God that go beyond natural revelation.  In this study we are mainly interested in natural revelation.  However, in the life of Christ we often see a confirmation of natural revelation.

The first natural revelation that I was aware of in my life was that there is a God.  That’s a self-evident truth that is programmed into everyone i.e. hardwired to believe when they come into the world. However, that self-evident knowledge can be destroyed by human pride and the demonic beliefs of the human heart.  Numerous atheists have told me that they became an atheist when they were in their early teens or younger.  This may be the case because the Scriptures say, “that foolishness resides in the heart of a child”. Moreover, I believe they told me this to impress me with their intellect.  They did not, for they were speaking from their imagination and bias, not their intellect.  A child’s mind is not capable of making an intellectual choice about the existence of the God, because the child’s mind cannot understand the concept of the true God.  Most likely the god they believed in and rejected was like Santa Claus.  However, even this rejection is even dubious.  The god they rejected was too small and sadly there are many adults who still have a similar small God.  They don’t believe in God, because their God is too small.

The lesson that there is a God is codified and taught in Genesis 1, “In the beginning God created.”  However, Genesis does not argue for the existence of God, it assumes his existence and also reveals something about his nature.  The first chapter reveals that He is a God that likes order and structure.  In that chapter, He separates order from the chaos.  He does it through his Word (information); in this act he reveals that He is a God of order, which is reflected in the physical and the moral order of things and in the very nature of man who was created in His likeness.

We see in the creation story a perfect balance between chaos and order.  In the universe He left just the right amount of room for free will and randomness.  God’s cosmos is perfectly balanced in all things, in light and darkness, in order and chaos.  Humans, that were later created in his image and likeness, were commanded to keep things in order on planet earth, which is His nursery for growing and training of the sons of God.  When we let our lives get filled with chaos and darkness we miss the mark of fulfilling our purpose and being truly human; then we find ourselves alienated from God, others and even our own selves.  In this regard, Genesis 1 is a call for humans to put and keep their lives in order and balance in a world of chaos.  In doing this, they reflect the image and likeness of God.

Yes, there is a God and from natural revelation I learned that I am not him.  How do I know that? I know it because I have limits and He does not.  In chapter 2 of Genesis, man is created in the image and likeness of God.  However, Adam and many of his descendents fail to recognize that just being in the image and likeness of God, does not make you God.  They failed to see their limits.  My shadow has somewhat of my likeness, but it’s not me.  In fact, it’s a very poor likeness of me.  Man in his present form is a blurred and distorted image of God.  The true image of God is seen in Jesus Christ.  In Christ, the image of God is, and will be, restored to man. When you are studying the Old Testament story of man, you are basically studying the shadow of God in which God is veiled.  Have you studied your shadow lately?  Remember that you only see your shadow when the sun is shining.  Your shadow is most visible when you are comparing yourself with Jesus, who is the light of the world.

The Apostle Paul says of the Resurrected Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”(Col 1:15-19)  In saying this the Apostle Paul is pointing out that Christ is the true Adam.  He is the true likeness and image of the eternal God in bodily form.  In the resurrection when time is fulfilled God will restore to men who are in Christ, the image and likeness of God. That is why the Apostle John could say that, “when he comes we shall be like him.”

Let me share with you some reasons why I know  that I have limits and that I am not God.

I cannot do anything I want because when my wants conflict with some other  persons wants, they are my limits (people). Especially, if it’s a 250-pound man. I once heard a man say that you cannot stop the man with the plan. What if someone has a plan to stop that man with a plan?

I cannot have everything I want because my “want-to” appetite is too big and when my want to-appetite is too large, I have found the trouble and my limits. That is why so many people are overweight, and in debt up to their eye balls.  Their appetite, or will is too large.  They have not  completely learned the lesson of life; there is a God and they are not Him.  God gives children parents to demonstrate to the children what their limits are.  Good parents will place limits on their children.  If children are not taught limits when they’re young by their parents, other people (300-pound pound gorilla boss) with more power than them, will place limits on their will or want-to’s.  So place limits on your children early, and save them the pain of learning the hard way.

I cannot be anything I want to be.  I can identify as being rich but that doesn’t make me rich.  Many Americans live as though they’re rich.  Let me share with you some good advice; stop living as though you’re rich; most of you are not. Also, please stop identifying as the opposite sex.  Identifying as the opposite sex is not going to make you into that gender.  You can dress up and pretend to be, but that does not change your biology or your DNA.  Just like you can dress up to be a millionaire, but that doesn’t make you a millionaire.

I am limited by my IQ, which translates as; I am limited by nature.  Natural law teaches us that we have limits.  Learn this simple lesson from nature.  God gave us only two hands.  If you get your hands too full, you’re miserable.  This means that your if your hands are full you must put something down before you can pick something else up.  By all means test your limits but learn to accept the real ones.

I also learned through natural revelation that there is something in the world called the Trouble.  It’s like the air that we breathe.  It is in us, and all around us.  That is what Genesis, chapters 2 and 3, teach us as well.  Paul refers to the Trouble as sin and death.  He is not  talking about personal sin or morality, he is talking about the powers of sin and death who are the source of the Trouble.  We see the beginning of the Trouble in the conflict  of Adams will, with God’s will.  Then in chapter 3 of the book of Genesis, we see the Trouble entering human relationships in the story of Cain and Able.  When there are conflicting wills between man and God,  or man and other humans, there is the Trouble.

Both the Bible, and natural revelation teach us that we are limited by our conflicting desires or will, and that this conflict is this source of the Trouble.  In the book of James, we find this plainly stated, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” ( James 4:1-3).

It is a self-evident truth that conflicting wills and appetites are the source of the Trouble.  As stated before, this is not a biblical revelation, it is a natural revelation that is obvious to all men who are in their right minds.  The Bible simply codifies it and in so doing, amplifies it to help humans become more aware of the Trouble in their lives, and substantiation that we are not God.

In conclusion, we can say that if you reflect on nature and how we react to the human condition you can plainly see that biblical revelation and natural revelation teach the equivalent wisdom.  So, the book of nature and the book of God teach basically the same things about God, man’s behavior and the human condition.  There is a God, we are not him and there is the Trouble that depicts the whole of the human condition.

 

The Value Of Religion and the Problem With Atheism

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Atheism, Carl Jung, Religion

In the following video Carl Young present some material that should make the new atheist type rethink the virtue of their constant attacks on religion as though their attacks are in somehow virtuous. Young’s points out that a loss of faith and religion is the reason why so many people today are despond. Young also shows that a loss of faith tends to move a culture towards  State-ism and the development and growth  of a will for power in the human spirit which results in metal disorders and the totalitarian state.

In  a past  article I pointed out  that atheism is a phenomenal which seems to take place at the end of a civilization and is one of the marks of a decaying culture. It is hard to tell whether atheism  is causal or  the fruit of atheism. However,  either way it is not a positive force in the human community.

A Christian Letter to a Libertarian

Posted on by Lyle Duell in Libertarianism

A Christian Letter to a Libertarian

Mark, although I believe in liberty and freedom I am not a libertarian.  I try my best to avoid any “ism”. If I was to give myself a label I would refer to myself as a Christian realist.  I do not believe in big government, big religion, or for that matter big anything.  It is not that big is inherently evil, it is that humans are inherently evil and will abuse the power that goes with big.  If history proves anything it proves this.  I believe it was Lord Acton who said “that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”

Libertarians and Christians can agree on a number of things but their basic difference is found in the definition of liberty and freedom.  The libertarian wants to be free to do their own thing. Free from all restraints and for many that means God.  The Christian believes they are set free from self indulgence to serve others and God.  Christians also recognize that all men are slaves to something, in that slavery is a part of the human condition and can never be overcome completely with political ideology, which means that no amount of philosophy or libertarianism will change that condition.

One of the basic roots of libertarianism is radical individualism and as a Christian realist I must believe that in the end radical individualism is the enemy of liberty.  The problem is to find a balance between individualism and collectivism.  I personally believe that conservatism does a better job balancing these two than libertarianism.  Therefore, conservatism aligns better with Christianity than libertarianism. However, Christianity must also in some areas depart from conservatism when it hardens into an un-flexible ideology.

The Christian realist has a realistic view of the power of law.  They understand that the law is powerless to change people.  However, unlike the libertarians they understand the necessity of law to impart social restraints, norms and boundaries which instruct humanity in civil living.  Moreover, Christian realists see that the problem is not with Law, but rather with humanity.  For the Christian realist mankind is fallen, being incapable of keeping the law and rejoicing in it.  Even from an evolutional point of view most would say that mans progress have gone awry and that mankind is anything but a noble savage.  The Bible would put it this way “All have sinned and have fallen short of being truly human”.  Man in his fallen nature is in need of God’s help in order to hold it together.  This help comes in the form of God’s grace given in forgiveness and power to be free from ineffective living that leads to unhappiness and ultimately in missing the goal of the divine life.

I would encourage you to take a serious look at the Christian faith.  I would contend that it contains the best of all philosophies in regards to what constitutes the good life.  It provides us with a balance between individualism and collectivism and between mercy and justice.  Yes, it puts tremendous demands on a person but it is entered by a free choice and commitment to Jesus Christ.