Question.

My sister had a question in her philosophy class that got my mind twisted for quite a while before having some solid reasoning to establish my answer. If you are willing to read this entry, sit down, get something to munch or drink on, and prepare to think like crazy!

ASSUMPTION: Throughout this discussion, we are assuming that whatever God commands IS good or right.

QUESTION: What makes God's commands good or right?

There are two possible answer to the stated question:

(1) It is right because God commands it (Our morals is entirely in the will of God).

(2) God commands us to do certain things because they are right (Our morals has a reason identified by God).

Note that this discussion is based on whether God Himself MAKES the moral truths true or God RECOGNIZES them as true. Also, note that we considering these statements as an absolute statement.

It seems like we can agree with either statement as to what makes God's commands good or right. However, here are the problems with each statement:

Problem with reason 1:
(a) The result is that God's commands are arbitrary. God's commands are not based on reason, but based solely on pure will.
(b) The well-known statement "God is Good" is an empty and cheap statement based on this reason. If x is good means that x is commanded by God, then God's commands are good would mean that God's commands are commanded by God, which is an empty statement because God is good only because God commands Himself!
(c) This reasoning confuses "might" and "right". The reason would suggest that God is to be obeyed not necessarily because He is good, but because He is the boss! This results in God who becomes some sort of totalitarian ruler whose rules and wishes must be followed.
(d) It creates the wrong reasons for moral principles. For example, child abuse happens because of many reasons like maliciousness, unnecessary pain, long-term effects, etc. If reason 1 is applied, there is no reason for child abuse but simply because it is the will of God for whatever plan He has for the child abuse.

Problem with reason 2:
(a) It implies a moral standard outside of God's control. If God makes a command for a reason, then it is that reason that makes the action right or wrong NOT the fact that God commanded or forbade the action.
(b) There is an issue with the idea of "God's total sovereignty". Reason 2 would state that God does NOT have absolute control over everything.
(c) It leaves open the question of the basis of morality. Who or what stands behind moral commands? In other words, what makes good things good or bad things bad?

Considering all of these problems, I would have to agree with the idea that God commands us to do certain tings because they are right. Here are my reasons. The main idea that completely made my disagree with reason 1 was the statement that the moral principles in our world would have the wrong reasons. Even though we have the tendency to toss the phrase "will of God" loosely, based on my sister's lecture slides, the will of God is an absolute term. This would mean that God has total control of everything, both the good and the bad. An example is that God allowed the creation of sin through Adam and Eve, that God has a reason for every bad thing that happens in our lives. For some reason, God uses the bad to bring us closer to Him. However, this is a problem because that would suggest that the source of good AND evil is God, which can't be since God can't do wrong.

I remembered the story of Genesis to realize that reason 2 is rather more compelling. God created and made commands BECAUSE he knew that it was good or right. He had the initial thought that the creation of the earth would be good. However, when Adam and Eve was created, it was solely themselves that disobeyed God, resulting in the so-called original sin. It's in fact the entire concept of what sin is in the first place and perhaps the basis of our entire Christian faith. Sin is the idea that we would rather not follow God's command but instead follow our own and therefore results in our own cut off from God. Therefore, we have the free will to either follow God or not, or even more so, we have the free will to seek forgiveness for the sins we commit. This can only mean that God's commands are rather suggestions to live a lifestyle that is good or right, which most likely means that God commands us to do certain things because they are right (There has to be a reason for all those rules and regulations that we follow.).

However, does that mean that God has less control over us? It depends on how you see the so called "control." Even though he probably does not have total control on our decisions in life, that does not lessen His power over us. He is still the one who created us, and He is the one who ultimately decides where we go when we die based on many factors (Namely, did we take His "suggestions" or not.). In my opinion, if God was in control of every single detail of our lives, it would only degrade every single thing that we believe and hold dear to. This would mean that it is not us who are responsible for everything in our lives, but rather it is God controlling the universal show. With our free will, we are even more responsible of our actions. Therefore we are the ones in control of how we use our lives either for Him or for our benefit.

To give some more interesting facts about this question, Martin Luther and John Calvin were strong supporters for the first reason. St. Thomas Aquinas was a major supporter for the second reason.

If you're still puzzled, think about it. Perhaps make your own opinion about it.

That is all.

Riches and Humility (In a Political Sense)

Another two points.

2) I was watching the release of the 2009 fiscal year budget for the US. $3.6 trillion?! Well, the Bush administration had trillion dollar budgets, but still!

I don't really have an opinion about the budget, but it's just that we are now on the era of trillions of dollars worth of wealth. Where did this money come from in the first place? I guess the world economic system just states that we do "have" trillions of dollars of wealth.

SO, I guess the "dream" is now to be a billionare?! What the hell am I going to do with billions of dollars? Or even tens of millions of dollars? The one thing for sure is to set up a charitable foundation. Perhaps it will be known as the Derrick Dumo Foundation. What will the foundation do? That I will think about.

1) I think we are in a time period where being rich is evil. I don't think so. Being rich is not evil. Being greedy is! There's a responsibility to society that we do use our wealth wisely to benefit everyone. I agree with people when they say that the economic crisis was caused by people who wanted to make the quick buck without contributing to anyone and leave the system to crack from their greedy ambitions.

Another thing is that there's so many people that expects the government or someone to bail them out when they screw up. You know what that is...socialism. Sure, I believe that we should have some form of universal health care (or even better universal health wellness and prevention) program. I believe we should have some guarantee to survive. However, we shouldn't promise anyone success. If you made the bad decisions, the poor choices, then you should deal with the consequences. If you made the wise choices, you should bask in the success. This is the United States of America, people. We are only give opportunities, not guarantees. Not everyone is going to be homeowners or be rich. There's no shame in renting, working with your hands, or even just having a humble lifestyle. Deal with it, everyone! I guess you have an idea of what I think about the bail outs.

That is all.

Ash Wednesday Moments

Two things about Ash Wednesday:

1) My professor commented about the cross on my forehead. He said,

"Are you trying to be like Harry Potter?"

Great. I did laugh though because it was funny I do admit. It's odd though since it's the first time someone has commented about the cross in the forehead, even though it was done jokingly.

2) My classmates and I were thinking of ways to beat the Ash Wednesday fast. Conclusion: buffet. Just think of the Ash Wednesday crowds rushing into the Todai at the mall. Perhaps, coming in last minute before lunch ends, sit there for three hours, and then get the dinner stuff (how embarrassing). However, Todai is a little bourgeois for me in terms of price, so perhaps the Davis Sushi Buffet would be more fitting.

In case you're wondering, I didn't "cheat" by going to a buffet. I just heated up some shrimp tempura and rice with a glass of apple juice.

What a wonderful day.

That is all.

Wonderful Weather We're Having

Top fives for the moment:

5) It is raining. I'm glad it's raining because I rather deal with weeks of storms and wetness compared to weeks of water rationing during the summer. It's too difficult to decrease my shower times. That's where I like to think!

4) I love to watch Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on the Travel Channel. Last week he went to...oh what?! THE PHILIPPINES?! It was a great show to me because aside from the common food staples like pancit palabok, taho, various kinds of adobo, various kinds of sinigang, sisig, and lechon, he also brought up a good point about Filipinos especially when they live in other countries but the Philippines. It does seem like we lose a good chunk of our identity in terms of a lack of understanding of our own culture or even a lack in knowing the mother tounge. For many Filipinos, especially those that don't frequently travel to the Motherland, going to the Philippines is just as much foreign as when our parents and grandparents went to the US. Perhaps it's because we just adapt to the culture and the different society really quickly. Perhaps, also we just don't go to the Philippines as frequently as we would like.

However, one thing I wish we could start is a Tagalog school in the US, just like there's Chinese school for the Chinese. It would be good to have my kids or even myself still maintain a piece of my identity. Gotta know the roots!

If you didnt' watch it. Watch it!











3) I've still been contemplating on what I want to do. Health care is still on my mind, but especially if my job for Homeland Security works out well, perhaps I would like to work on a national security basis. I'm a tad iffy about it though because I do want to raise a family in the future, and depending on what I want to do, I rather not get married, have kids, and in the end not taking care of either one of them because I'm too busy saving the country and the world. And that is where that lesson about sacrifice starts to kick in.

For those who were called, thanks for helping me out. I really appreciate your support and comments.

2) The water in American Canyon or everywhere in Solano and Napa Counties has been contaminated with leaves and dirt ran off from the storms during the last few days. Every time I shower or drink from the tap, it smells and tastes oh so natural, but in a bad way. However, the water is safe to use (it's just dirt).

1) Take care and be safe. You know who you are.

That is all.