tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post444731672531068006..comments2024-03-28T22:55:23.525-07:00Comments on Foster's Theological Reflections: Deductive/Inductive Argumentation and Calvinism (unfertige Skizze)Edgar Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-12360365796090598622017-05-08T20:39:49.351-07:002017-05-08T20:39:49.351-07:00In principle, the belief that God brings good out ...In principle, the belief that God brings good out of all evil occurrences cannot be falsified. The Calvinist can always claim that even though we don't know what particular good issues from a particular instance of evil, a good still happened, unbeknownst to us. Of course, I am strictly dealing with natural reason--not cases made directly from scripture.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-9730440599916187512017-05-08T12:56:54.213-07:002017-05-08T12:56:54.213-07:00Ok thanks for letting in on how they think, and ot...Ok thanks for letting in on how they think, and other theologians as well. So what exactly is non-falsifiable.Philip Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423325210695384048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-33046713784190291552017-05-06T18:36:46.821-07:002017-05-06T18:36:46.821-07:00I agree with your comments, but the Calvinists usu...I agree with your comments, but the Calvinists usually believe that God meticulously controls everything, including the good that comes from evil. On the other hand, I recall one theologian pointing out that this belief is suspect logically because it's non-falsifiable. Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-90862993026765688982017-05-06T14:07:06.690-07:002017-05-06T14:07:06.690-07:00Right it can go both ways, but God always can choo...Right it can go both ways, but God always can choose to act or not act. Furthermore he can know, and does know that Good can come from evil without his involvement as well as the opposite.Philip Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423325210695384048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-31505017403618337272017-05-01T14:49:23.547-07:002017-05-01T14:49:23.547-07:00So, if what you say is correct, and I believe it i...So, if what you say is correct, and I believe it is--then Calvinists cannot legitimately reason from some good resulting from certain instances of evil to God bringing forth good from every case of evil/sin. The inference doesn't seem to follow and, more importantly, that belief is unscriptural.Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-38886761692774397812017-05-01T11:32:59.188-07:002017-05-01T11:32:59.188-07:00Yes, with that thought in mind we know that good d...Yes, with that thought in mind we know that good doesn't come from all acts of evil, everything in the bible like the case of Joseph was that God choose to interfere with even control what was going to occur. But as Joseph said it was for the preservation of life. Isaiah helps to see that God can choose to act or not act. But he always does for a good reason.Philip Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423325210695384048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-76468903256575861602017-04-30T09:06:03.090-07:002017-04-30T09:06:03.090-07:00I agree with you, Philip. Jehovah is the giver of ...I agree with you, Philip. Jehovah is the giver of every good gift and every perfect present (James 1:17), and he can bring forth good out of evil, like he did with Joseph, Job, and Paul (Philippians 1:13-14). I just question the inference some Calvinists make, that because some good comes from one or five acts of evil (and so forth), then good must come from all acts of evil. I don't see how that is a solid inference, considering what we know about inductive reasoning and other factors, including scripture. Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-1635325022349550902017-04-30T08:22:04.176-07:002017-04-30T08:22:04.176-07:00As we go thru life we can see that good things con...As we go thru life we can see that good things continue to come about whether out of evil or not. What I have observed in some cases is that it doesn't necessary mean God is involved with it doing so whatsoever.Philip Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423325210695384048noreply@blogger.com