A clarification to my previous magnum opus

 

Why attempt to debate with me when you haven’t heard my argument? It happens all the time to me. People read the title or some minimal thoughts I have provided when posting each episode to social media then attempt to debate with me without ever having read my blog or watched it. Nor have they looked at the data that Bing AI has collated for me to create my blog and vodcast. In using Bing AI I am engaging in none other than a sophisticated form of plagiarism. So often when you disagree with me you are simply disagreeing with the vast sources of data Bing AI has accessed.

We live in an age when the Socratic Method is not simply being rejected, my interlocutors seem to be utterly unaware that such a method exists. So, permit me to refresh your memory again with the help of Bing AI. I will add this very important caveat emptor, since the information I am currently using to create both blog and vodcast comes from Bing AI, I will no longer omit the sources from which it has collated its information. Also, when I provide my own thoughts, I will be far more careful to differentiate between information coming directly from Bing AI from those of my own conclusions, thoughts, and of course, personal opinions. I thought I had done this but obviously I had failed to make myself sufficiently clear.

Since 5-Why problem solving is something I taught and is a valuable tool in root cause analysis useful to assign documented corrective actions in a factory setting, I have employed it to ask Bing AI a series of carefully crafted questions to arrive at the root cause of the problems I am attempting to solve. The issue at hand, which is perhaps the dominant issue of our time, is why have people come to believe in nonsense? I believe that they are suffering from a form of madness which is due to subscribing to unholy beliefs that negate God and His holiness to replace the holy with the profane. Man has placed himself in the moral driver’s seat. So let us get to the bottom of this idea using the Socratic Method.

What is the Socratic Method?

The Socratic method, also known as the method of Elenchus or Socratic debate, is a form of argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions¹. It was originated by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates².

In the Socratic method, Socrates describes himself not as a teacher but as an ignorant inquirer, and the series of questions he asks are designed to help his interlocutors develop their understanding¹. The method begins with commonly held beliefs and scrutinizes them by way of questioning to determine their internal consistency and their coherence with other beliefs, bringing everyone closer to the truth¹.

The Socratic method is employed today in a variety of pedagogical contexts¹. It is a technique of teaching and learning through critical thinking, reasoning, and logic⁴. It involves asking questions after students summarize a case or legal principle, and exposing contradictions and holes in their own theories⁴.

 

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-08

(1)  Socratic method - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method.

(2)  Socratic method | Definition, Socrates, Examples, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Socratic-method.

(3)  What Is the Socratic Method? - ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-socratic-method-2154875.

(4)  Socratic Method. https://www.philoschools.com/socratic-philosophy/socrates/socratic-method.

 

How has the Socratic method been applied to Christian argument?

The Socratic method has been adopted in Christian argument and teaching due to its focus on critical thinking, questioning, and pursuit of truth¹. Here are some key points:

1. **Questioning and Dialogue**: The Socratic method involves questioning an opponent in dialogue to see if what they believe can withstand scrutiny³. This approach aligns with Christian teachings that encourage believers to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

2. **Pursuit of Truth**: The goal of the Socratic method is truth, which is a central value in Christianity¹. The method encourages students to seek clarity, identify holes in logic, and redirect conversation when it drifts off track¹.

3. **Critical Thinking**: The Socratic method teaches students to critique others’ arguments respectfully, and gracefully accept the critique of others¹. This aligns with Christian teachings that encourage believers to reason together (Isaiah 1:18).

4. **Educational Tool**: Many Christian schools and educational institutions use the Socratic method as a pedagogical tool¹. It is primarily practiced in grades 7-12, but may start as soon as 5th grade¹.

It's important to note that while the Socratic method has been adopted in Christian argument and teaching, interpretations and applications can vary widely¹³. It's always a good idea to study these concepts in their full context for a deeper understanding¹³.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-08

(1) What is the Socratic Method?? - Association of Classical Christian .... https://classicalchristian.org/what-is-the-socratic-method/.

(2) Jesus’ Use of Socratic Method in His Teaching & Dialogues - Patheos. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2015/08/jesus-use-of-socratic-method-in-his-teaching-dialogues.html.

(3) How to Argue Using the Socratic Method: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.com/Argue-Using-the-Socratic-Method.

(4) Did Jesus Use “Socratic Method” in His Teaching?. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/did-jesus-use-socratic-method-in-his-teaching.

The reasons for ideological possession according to famed evolutionary psychologist Dr. Gad Saad

Dr. Gad Saad, a Canadian Lebanese evolutionary psychologist, has written extensively on the topic of ideological possession¹². He uses the term "idea pathogens" to describe ideas that he believes are harmful and spread like diseases¹. According to Saad, these idea pathogens often originate in universities and then infiltrate other areas of culture².

Saad argues that people become ideologically possessed for several reasons:

1. **Postmodernism**: Saad identifies postmodernism as a key idea pathogen. Postmodernism rejects the idea of objective truths, which Saad sees as an attack on the epistemology of science².

2. **Cultural Relativism**: This is the belief that all cultural practices have equal value and that it's wrong to judge another culture's practices. Saad argues that this can lead to the acceptance of harmful practices².

3. **Rejection of Meritocracy**: Saad criticizes the shift away from merit-based systems towards systems based on identity politics².

4. **Victimhood Culture**: Saad suggests that a culture that rewards victimhood can lead to the suppression of free speech and the stifling of intellectual debate².

Saad believes that these idea pathogens are making people miserable and killing common sense³. He argues for a return to reason, logic, and science to combat these harmful ideas¹²³. It's always a good idea to study these concepts in their full context for a deeper understanding¹²³.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-08

(1) Gad Saad on Cancel Culture, Idea Pathogens and the Future of ... - Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/2021/05/28/gad-saad-cancel-culture-idea-pathogens-future-discourse-1593467.html.

(2) Gad Saad: It will take more than a few resignations to fix our woke .... https://nationalpost.com/opinion/it-will-take-more-than-a-few-resignations-to-fix-our-woke-universities.

(3) Gad Saad: Postmodernism is making us miserable - The Post - UnHerd. https://unherd.com/thepost/gad-saad-postmodernism-is-making-us-miserable/.

 

The discussion yesterday which led me to clarify my position:

I got into a “discussion” yesterday, if that is what one could call it, with someone who ostensibly holds a post-graduate degree in philosophy. He took umbrage with the fact that in my last blog and vodcast I mentioned the outcomes of the US sending funding to Communist China for viral research. Funding which neither began nor ended with President Trump. I merely stated what Bing AI found as evidence that it continued under his administration. I find it to be absolutely bizarre that God-like powers are assigned to President Trump, who after all is just a man with all the frailties inherent to any man. In Trump’s case his greatest fault in quite likely his enormous hubris. Here are those findings from Bing AI:

The U.S. government, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provided funding to several research institutions, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China¹. This funding was part of a grant to EcoHealth Alliance, a global environmental health nonprofit organization¹. The grant, worth $3.7 million, was used between 2014 and 2019 for various research purposes¹. However, not all of that $3.7 million went to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and not all of the funding took place under the Obama administration. Approximately $700,000 of the $3.7 million total was approved under Donald Trump¹.

In addition, records show that the NIH provided approximately $2.5 million in additional funding to various organizations in China (including Wuhan University) in 2018 and 2019, under the Trump administration¹.

It's important to note that these are estimates and the actual amounts may vary¹.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-08

(1) Did Obama Admin Give Wuhan Laboratory a $3.7 Million Grant?. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/obama-admin-wuhan-lab-grant/.

(2) How U.S. policy toward China transformed under Trump - Axios. https://www.axios.com/2021/01/19/trump-china-policy-special-report.

(3) China Wins: Why Trump’s WHO Funding Cut Is a Gift to Beijing. https://time.com/5822078/china-wins-trumps-who-funding-cut/.

(4) Trump's staff cuts have undermined Covid-19 containment efforts .... https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/24/trump-cuts-undermine-coronavirus-containment-cdc-watchdog-report.

I also indicated that despite the odd relationship between Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Donald Trump that in Trump’s last day in office he awarded him a Presidential Commendation. Here is that information from Bing AI.

The relationship between President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, publicly eroded as the coronavirus pandemic raged through the United States¹. They often disagreed on issues from what drugs to use and a vaccine timeline to something as simple as the fact that COVID-19 isn't "going to disappear"¹. Despite this, on Trump’s last full day in office, he awarded presidential commendations to 52 people, including Dr. Fauci⁴.

Dr. Fauci has received numerous awards and recognition for his service during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of these include:

- The 2021 Special Recognition Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for his commitment to scientific integrity and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic⁶.

- The 2020 Gustav O. Lienhard Award for Advancement of Health Care from the National Academy of Medicine for his role as a leader of federal research and policy on infectious diseases and his leadership in shaping an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic⁷.

- The $1 million Dan David Prize for "defending science" and advocating for vaccine administration to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic[^10^].

These are just a few of the many recognitions Dr. Fauci has received for his tireless efforts during the pandemic⁶⁷⁸⁹[^10^]. It's always a good idea to study these concepts in their full context for a deeper understanding⁶⁷⁸⁹[^10^].

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-08

(1) Trump and Fauci: A timeline of their relationship during COVID - USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/28/president-donald-trump-anthony-fauci-timeline-relationship-coronavirus-pandemic/3718797001/.

(2) PolitiFact | Trump said he didn’t know who gave Fauci a commendation .... https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/sep/14/donald-trump/trump-said-he-doesnt-know-who-gave-fauci-a-commend/.

(3) 2021 Special Recognition Award | AAMC. https://www.aamc.org/about-us/aamc-awards/2021-fauci.

(4) Anthony Fauci Receives Lienhard Award From National Academy of Medicine .... https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/09/anthony-fauci-receives-lienhard-award-from-national-academy-of-medicine-for-decades-of-work-improving-public-health-and-leadership-in-shaping-covid-19-pandemic-response.

(5) Dr. Fauci Wins $1M Israeli Prize for 'Defending Science' - People.com. https://people.com/health/dr-fauci-wins-1-million-israeli-prize-coronavirus-pandemic/.

(6) 2021 Anthony S. Fauci to Receive Public Welfare Medal. https://nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2021-Anthony-Fauci-PWM.html.

(7) Anthony S. Fauci - National Academy of Sciences. https://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/2021-awards/Fauci.html.

(8) Dr. Fauci Warned In 2017 Of ‘Surprise Outbreak’ During Trump .... https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fauci-warned-of-trump-pandemic-2017_n_5e8a0548c5b6e7d76c65c8a4.

(9) Dr. Anthony Fauci, face of U.S. COVID-19 pandemic response, to retire .... https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/covid-anthony-fauci-retirement-1.6558425.

(10) Fauci Making Millions During COVID Pandemic Sparks Backlash - Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/fauci-making-millions-during-covid-pandemic-sparks-backlash-1828484.

 

My conclusions:

The entire point of my previous blog and vodcast was to point out some key events which have led to our current dilemma. Ideological possession of one kind or another resulted in powerful people playing God and wreaking untold havoc by messing with things far beyond their ability to control, predict, or understand. Be very wary of Besserwissers, even if you think that he or she is on your side. But especially if you think that they are somehow a saviour who will drain the swamp, rid you of Neo Marxist boogie men, deliver America from “deep state” corruption, or bring an end to WOKE ideation. Never in human history has a single leader ever managed such a feat, certainly not someone with such obvious feet of clay as Donald Trump. Dispassionate detachment from the immediacy of your personal feelings is necessary when assessing such complex issues.

Moreover, anyone attempting to control humanity and manipulate mankind like pieces on a chess board is engaged in a fool’s enterprise. God cannot nor will not be mocked. It is indisputable that we live in an age of ideological possession, where mass hysteria has laid hold of radicalized minds who seek to create utopia instead of pursuing the narrow path to heaven which can only be found only in Christ!

Matthew 23:12 KJV

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

It is obvious that this channel is dedicated to the select few who are reading and watching this episode who will willingly choose to do battle on behalf of the Truth of Christ. I dedicate this to those of you who realize that no earthly deliverer can stop the totalizing enterprise of the ideologically possessed. A possession that has laid hold of the once but no longer Christian West. Are you one such warrior? If not, unsubscribe to this channel, its content is obviously not for you. But if you are, I invite you to join me in intercessory prayer for God to restore His Holy City as a praise in the earth unto His name so that the Church will regain its saltiness in a world overcome and undone by ideological possession.