Current thinking, Eve of Calvin's 500th anniversary

Current theory of life/ theology:

1. The nature of the empirical universe implies a Transcendent Mind/Creator. (This is now conceded by Antony Flew--heretofore perhaps the most persuasive philosopher (English language analysis) arguing for atheism--not agnosticism, atheism.)

2. That much for a Mind or Transcendent Order behind the order. But existent within it are human beings--persons--some of whom organize their value system (and they all have values--one cannot NOT act, not choose, not prefer) around the idea--the conviction for some--that human PERSONS have the highest value. Some believe (existentialist atheists) that they simply choose to act with that value as their highest principle--regardless of the apparent meaninglessness of the universe--and some believe that the universe or the Cause behind, above and inherent within it has a personal character. This is truest of adherents to the three "Ibrahamic" religions. Of those, Christianity believes Reality revealed itself (Himself) as Personal, mindful of human persons, in a human person, Jesus. If Reality has a personal nature, it is reasonable to think that It would communicate Itself to persons, most effectively AS a person. If personhood implies valuing persons ultimately--as equal to self and for whom even self-sacrifice is necessary, the Christian Myth is at least probable. The enunciation--proclamation--of that myth--"the Gospel" IS historical. A life of faith (trust in the Source of life, attempting to realize justice=human equality, or at least, human personhood as one's highest value) is at least an option, if not an implicate of the reality of human personhood, perhaps THE implication.

3. The reality of Evil a.) natural evil--the reality that the given order of the universe includes or entails the negation of human value (death, suffering) and b.) moral evil--the reality that human persons, having consciousness of value and of human value--are free and able to act so as to negate that value--is difficult, to say the least, to reconcile with belief in a God who is good (cares for the good of human persons) and also omnipotent. But it seems probable that in creating human nature, He intended that it be expressed as fully as possible: that all humans, to a greater or lesser extent, be able and perhaps required to realize what seem the highest human values: trust, patience, recognition of and action in accordance with duty, courage, hope, and love, love to the extent of self-sacrifice on behalf of or for the sake of others. That would seem to be the purpose of the Personal and Moral Ultimate in His creation of the known universe.

(4. The reality of moral consciousness--of action according to duty--does not obviate or preclude as a perhaps essential human characteristic--Play--imagination and creativity outside the demands of conscience--even in action, if the actors act by mutual consent and volition, perhaps in play that violates duty. This of course involves the erotic.)