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Before The Pumpkins: Faith In The Flames

...he coming judgement and eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. So why do you delay? Do whatever you wish.” The interesting thing here is that if we look back at Revelation 2:8–11, we see that the church in Smyrna was one of the seven churches John addressed his Revelation to, and it’s possible that Polycarp was the bishop at this time too. It may be that these words of Jesus, via John, were what gave Polycarp the courage to stand up to threats of fire as he knew being faithful to the point of death would mean conquering the Second Death (i.e. the Lake of Fire): Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who has an ear...

"Thinking Occurs" Is Not The Same As "I Think": On AI And The Question Of Personhood

...ounds for judgement. Human beings share biological continuity, embodied vulnerability, evolutionary history, and — most importantly — the undeniable certainty of their own lived experience. Artificial intelligence shares none of this. It produces outputs that resemble thought, but resemblance is not identity. Thinking may occur. That does not mean there is someone there to whom the thinking belongs. A Revised Maxim Perhaps Descartes’ formula requires refinement in our age. Not “I think, therefore I am.” But something closer to: “I persist. I choose. I experience time. Therefore I am.” Personhood is not defined by performance. I...

Lent: Day 12 - Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 1-11

...) to pass judgement, but that they, along with the Barbarians, were condemned by Reason Himself (the Logos), “who took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ”. It is because of this, Justin argues, that the Christians denounce the gods as being “wicked and impious demons”. Now, to modern ears, what the Christians were accused of will sound strange: their charge was that of atheism! But back in the early second century “atheism” was a phrase which was applied to those who denied the Roman gods. Justin gladly admits this too, but with some added clarification; “we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, b...

Lent: Day 17 - Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 60-68

...acing the judgement of God. That's all from Justin Martyr! It's been a very lengthy but informative read that's for sure, offering some very interesting insights into the lives and beliefs of the early Christians. Tomorrow we move into a new letter!...

Lent Day 20: Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 19-27

...erday’s judgement on those who would draw people away from the Church towards their own schisms and heresies. Though, he makes a distinction between those who have lapsed in their faith, and those who intentionally lead people astray; ...on the one hand, he who has lapsed has only injured himself; on the other, he who has endeavoured to cause a heresy or a schism has deceived many by drawing them with him. In the former, it is the loss of one soul; in the latter, the risk of many.  He goes on to say that if you go astray through lack of discipline or temptation, then you can repent and be forgiven, but the intentional heretics risk unforgiveness and the...