Links of Possible Relevance, Part 5

It occurred to me recently that I still haven’t gotten sick since will before the past winter. See here for my “hacks,” though recently my vitamin intake has been sporadic. This isn’t really a Link of Possible Relevance proper, but more just unmitigated bragging.

Hobby Lobby blah blah. It was an okay decision but arguments from religious liberty are lacking, sometimes even more so than stupidheaded gender-based ones. I like Ron Paul’s response, since private property and contract law are just nicknames for things we do dozens of times everyday without a bureaucrat sniffing at our shoulder. Like when I high five a friend of mine. The point is: you cannot force people to high five you.

I helped Seth design these interactive stickers. Any and all subgenres are welcome!

“Epic” is overused but given the context I think 17 minutes of metal versions of video game music qualifies.

Death metal band to perform in airtight, soundproof container until they run out of oxygen. Okay.

William Lane Craig on the problem with apologetics. He uses the term “theological rationalism” to describe the idea that people can be argued into belief, and he doesn’t claim it. I agree with him. Apologetics is good for removing bad facts and replacing them with correct ones, but having a correct set of facts has nothing to do with religious belief. Though people can be a type of conduit, “activating” true beliefs are very much out of our hands.

The pope said the mafia are excommunicated. Is he including governments with that term, too? I don’t see a difference between them save for scale.

Some good thoughts over at Wintery Knight about explaining Old Testament wars. Material reasoning aside, I still prefer to simply argue that God can do whatever He damn well pleases. Feel free to reason with Him on this point. I do not recommend it but I’ll definitely be watching from the sidelines.