Reporting Oneself

It is policy or procedure for me as a minister (though not for all ministers) to report myself to police if I am accused of an offence. This week, being in possession of a written accusation, I reported myself to police. It is a baseless accusation, so it won't and can't go anywhere. There are several reasons why it is good for a minister to report themselves.

1. That is simply what they should best be doing.

2. It may take the pressure of intimidation off a minister.

3. It may well put the accuser on the back foot.

4. In some circumstances, the police may go after the accuser.

5. It generally provides peace of heart.

OBSERVATION: Reporting oneself means providing the police with all material relevant to the accusation, together with all possible contact details.

Court Photographer

Over the years, I have been invited many times to serve as "court photographer", at this or that function. On Sunday I shall cover a confirmation service. It is in the New Apostolic Church, so it promises to be full of ceremony. I took this photo of a confirmation service in 2019. OBSERVATION: Every so many months, I am invited to serve as "court photographer", although I must mostly decline. I am in demand, I think, because a) I use angles that professional photographers don't, and b) when my wife was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, I bought a Leica to comfort me, and stayed ever since then with good cameras.

POSTSCRIPT: I cleaned up several errors that AI introduced into this post. I wish I could switch it off. If its purpose is to speed up post writing, it fails in its purpose.

Pressure of Ministry

Several of my predecessors in ministry were either killed or nearly so, in large part through the strain of ministry. In one Church where I ministered, the last time a minister survived with his health intact was more than 60 years before me. It would seem that there are very few statistics relating to the life expectancy of clergy -- however, there is strong anecdotal evidence that ministers are in trouble. Although it is an old article, this one in the (click here) New York Times gives some lively insight into the pressure of ministry. OBSERVATION: Congregations should know this, not just ministers.

Street Café

This was an act of random ... photography, when I took wife E to central Cape Town today, to obtain a Schengen visa. That took her 2¼ hours of office time. It is a "partial colour" (yellow) photograph of a street café. You may click on it to enlarge.

Small Changes

I made some small changes to my blog. I added thumbnails to my "Popular Posts" and "Enduring Interest" lists on the right -- and I changed what "Enduring Interest" means. It now means those posts which have had the greatest interest over 30 days. It previously meant those posts which had had the greatest interest over a year. However, over a year, very little changed in that list. Over 30 days, the list will become a little more lively.

Time-Lapse Sequence

I found this old time-lapse sequence today. It is a fairly typical example of how the “priesthood of believers” (ministry by members) works in a Congregational Church. From the left: deaconess E welcomes the congregation and reads the notices, wife M adds a special notice, a worship team leads the singing, F leads the prayers, I interview A about a Church project, and N takes the reading (I give the message off-camera). OBSERVATION: All of this includes a significant amount of personal input -- people are not merely going through the motions. I have put a lot of my Churches' vitality down to the priesthood of believers.

Made Completely New

In Congregational tradition, I have very often asked people to give original spiritual input in Church. One Sunday, I asked N to give us some spiritual encouragement in Church. She was a poor housewife, and mother of two. She spoke about a king, whose wife wore tatty clothes. These were not befitting for her position as a queen, so he bought her splendid new ones. However, she put the new clothes over the old ones. The tatty clothes still showed, and everyone could see. As Christians, said N, there shouldn't be any tatty clothes underneath. We should be made completely new.

Black and White Photo

I have just a single photo in black and white, from my Fuji camera. Did I say black and white? It includes yellow, and only yellow. It is my brother-in-law J, an ordained evangelist in the Church. This is a photo I got right first time -- or so I think. You may click on it to enlarge. OBSERVATION: J is also a mechanic. Another brother-in-law blew a gasket in a small town, and twisted the cylinder head. Unbelievably, J fixed it.

Entrevista en Español

Recently, SHARE magazine conducted an interview with me, on Holism. Some may have an interest in a Spanish translation (click here): Entrevista en Español. SHARE is the magazine of the Philosophy Sharing Foundation of Malta, a member of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie. OBSERVATION: In fact, as affects my writing, there is often a greater interest in languages other than English.

Fujifilm X-T30 II

I replaced my old 2014 Fujifilm X30 camera with a 2021 Fujifilm X-T30 II. The screen looks like an aeroplane cockpit (pictured). If one can turn nine dials, press ten buttons, and operate four levers in a split second, one can get some excellent photos. I mostly prefer using Manual to Auto. But here is the challenge: flipping the Manual | Auto lever turns it into a different machine each time. One needs to learn both. OBSERVATION: The camera has received excellent reviews, and justifiably so.

Credentials

I do not think of this post as boasting, rather as sharing some perspective on my modest success in philosophy. My credentials for writing philosophy are not the usual, for example a PhD in Philosophy. Among other things, I have been published in peer-reviewed journals in six fields: philosophy, theology, electronics, gnomonics, organology, and optics. I have even been published by CERN (in optics). I rather fall short of the philosopher Leibniz, who is famous for his versatility. He was published in at least eight major academic fields -- philosophy, theology, mathematics, physics, linguistics, law, history, and engineering. However, Leibniz wrote before peer review took shape in the late 1700's. Would he have made the cut? Presumably he would. OBSERVATION: Therefore I have some credentials which are not the ordinary -- yet without them, I think it far less likely that I would have success in philosophy. While some might discount it, I think that training and experience in ministry majorly feed into philosophy. Ministry deals with various big issues, and often hands-on. I do have some training in philosophy.

Double Murder

The farmer -- in the blue shirt -- on whose farm I negotiated lobola (the bride price) was today convicted of double murder. Two guests died due to a gas leak at a guest house. OBSERVATION: Elsewhere on this blog, there is a photo of wife E and me at the guest house. I would have thought it is manslaughter: "the crime of killing a person when the killer did not intend to do it". I know someone, however, who lived above the road to the guest house. She says she saw the gas company van racing out there to inspect the gas valve, before the tragedy.

Hopscotch Potholes

Here's another photo of where, after years, the Council has finally filled in the potholes. It's a new Democratic Alliance Council, in the Koukamma district, which has taken over from the African National Congress. OBSERVATION: These filled in potholes have become favourite places for children to play hopscotch, because chalk marks are clearer on new tar.

Seems Too Much

I wrote this post at the beginning of 2012 -- one year after my wife died -- about looking ahead to the the year to come. Somehow it missed getting posted:

"Someone asked me whether I was looking forward to getting back to work in 2012. I said, 'On the one hand, I look forward to being back to some kind of form [after my wife's death]. On the other hand, no, it all seems too much.' The next question was whether -- if it all seemed too much -- I could delegate my duties. I said, 'It's not about delegation. I'm in charge of my time. It's the burden of responsibility -- which is there no matter how much one delegates: administration, finances, properties, counselling, charity, services, crises -- everything.' OBSERVATION: I say it every year, that it all seems too much. The answer to an undertaking which is too much is faith in God."

Not Alone

This is a post which somehow didn't get posted. Wife Mirjam had been diagnosed with end-stage cancer. She said to me one day, near the end, "Take care of yourself. Don't let anything happen to you. If it did, I'd jump in my grave and pull the soil over me." Loving care in serious illness is not what one gets married for -- in fact, it surely doesn't cross one's mind. But imagine the alternative -- of not being married at all at such a time -- having to face it all alone. OBSERVATION: I once said to a man who lost his wife, Thank God this didn't happen to your wife. You took it on yourself, for her.

Children's Photos

I mentioned that I sent some photos of children to the townships -- even though I know neither their names nor addresses. But my parents-in-law found them. One of them said, "The Grandpa really sent us the photos!" They grabbed them and ran with them to show their parents. Here is one photo I took. OBSERVATION: It could be the only photos they have of themselves. (I can just see it: I'll be mobbed next time by children asking for photos).

Book Review

I have just put up a (click here) Book Review of This Town: A Complete Metaphysics. It is reviewed by Valdeli Pereira, an editor of SHARE Magazine, of the Philosophy Sharing Foundation (here is a link to the Foundation: https://www.philosophysharing.org/)

OBSERVATION: Pereira notes:

"Although the illustrated format may initially suggest that it is aimed at a younger audience, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a sophisticated philosophical work."

Technically, the book can be read by anyone in Grade 7 and up. So says computer analysis. However, Valdeli will be right in suggesting that it requires a little more savvy to really "get it".

5% of a Million

After passing one-million views, my blog has quickly added 5% of a million to that figure. According to the latest statistics, most of my readers at the moment are in Singapore and Hong Kong -- then the USA, Brazil, and South Africa. So it's a worldwide readership. Some more unusual top countries looking in: China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Most readers use Macs -- then it's Windows and Android. The figures shown in the image cover the last week.

Consultant's Opinion

Recently, I stumbled upon a Church consultant's written opinion of my ministry in 2013. Dr. George N. Malek. This was his view of the core dynamic in my Church, which hardly seems flattering of anyone. He got straight to the point:

"The righteous shall perish for lack of knowledge. You receive praise from the Black congregation. The Black congregation are more interested in the spiritual life they are living. Most of the congregation are Black. Your wife is an appointed Black. These are the people responding to you. The rest are too entrenched in your own cultural group. Integrate! But you can't make a camel drink if it's not thirsty. You are being crucified because of people's hate. Crucified by a few rotten apples."

OBSERVATION: This is simplistic, and not entirely correct. The congregation was majority Black some Sundays, but usually majority White. Also, I think more positively of the congregation than the consultant does. Yes, a few rotten apples, but "the rest" were not entrenched. Anyway, this could provide useful insight for ministers looking in. 

Individuals vs. Community

I took this photo in New Rest township in the Eastern Cape. It is wayward individuals vs. community. This is a community hall that the European Union donated to the township. Individuals smashed the walls to steal the copper pipes. The hall is riddled with holes like this. And a community hall does not function well without water. OBSERVATION: Things took a lurch backwards perhaps two years ago, where chaos burst upon the whole township and surrounding country. Now, they say, things are "quieter". The political climate has changed.

Signatures in Congregationalism

A Congregational Church recently furnished a letter for a Council, signed by the minister and the treasurer. I said to the Council, with respect, such signatures carry no meaning and no authority -- whatsoever -- in the Congregational Church. They are designed to make an impression for those who don't know Congregationalism, but they are not what they appear to be. In a Congregational Church, all members are completely equal. OBSERVATION: In a Congregational Church, if any letter does need to be signed, it is signed by a person so appointed by the Constitution. This is never the minister or the treasurer.

Photo Requests

Children all over the townships ask me to take their photo. The boy on the left here gave me a "groot seblief" (a big please) to send him photos of himself -- which  I did yesterday. I can only hope that they reach him, as I do not have his name or address -- only the name of the township. OBSERVATION: He wanted a copy of a photo on the spot. I said one can't do that. One has to put photos onto paper first, and one can only do that in the city. You may click on the photo to enlarge.

Graduation Photos

Until wife E's generation, there were no university graduates in the family. I think there are two now in her generation (which includes her). She obtained a BTh. Now, in E's parents' home, there are many photographs on the walls. Perhaps half of them were taken by me. However, there were no photographs of E's graduation. Today I posted them some -- even though there is no street name to post to, only a township house number: New Rest No. 562. 

Maltese, Anyone?

Here's something interesting. I put up an interview with me in English, on LinkedIn. Then I put it up in Maltese, on LinkedIn. In Maltese, it had more interest in an hour than it had in English in a day. OBSERVATION: I know no Maltese. I used AI to translate the interview. The Maltese translation is: here.

Faked Overdose

T was a teenage member of the Church. Her boyfriend, said her mother, had died of an overdose. I went to see T. Her eyes were puffy. She said, “Maybe he isn’t dead. Maybe he went away. Or something.” OBSERVATION: This seemed strange to me, since dead is dead. It later transpired that he was “dead” enough to convince his family and friends -- however, he had faked his death, for the reason that some drug dealers were after him.

Police Accommodation

This seems beyond belief. It is the parking lot of a major police station in Cape Town's West Coast suburbs. The sign says, 

"PARKING FOR SAPS VEHICLES 

AND THEIR CLIENTS ONLY.

ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES

WILL BE LIABLE TO A FINE."

The SAPS is of course the South African Police Services. Yet behind that sign lives a homeless person in a derelict car -- with attendant chaos. As I took this photo, there was a policeman behind me joking with women who were peddling their wares from the back of a car in the parking lot. OBSERVATION: Sadly, I knew a man who committed suicide in this same parking lot. His daughter, too, died by suicide -- referring to his suicide in her suicide note.

Extensive Interview on Holism

I'm pleased to learn that (click here to read it): An Interview with Thomas O. Scarborough on Holism is going to press tonight. It will appear shortly in SHARE magazine -- a philosophy magazine -- which I highly recommend: see SHARE Back Issues (the January edition, with my interview, is not up yet). This interview presents aspects of my thinking on holism, which differ substantially from standard thinking on holism. I shall be presenting some of my views on holism at my coming Annual Philosophy Lecture in Malta: see Event Details. 

English Garden

This one's just a pretty picture. It is my mother-in-law's garden. I suppose one would call it an English garden for its informality. It has mostly grown during the last year. You may click on the photo to enlarge.

Photo and Photo Negative

I just completed an interview on holism -- going to press tonight. My view of the whole differs from the standard view of the whole. Encyclopedia Britannica, for example, defines the whole as "having all the parts". Or Collins Dictionary: "A single thing which contains several different parts". My own definition is far more expansive. One could describe reality as a photo with a photo negative. The standard view of holism sees only the whole that is the photo. My concept includes both photo and photo negative. It is a rough analogy. But while it is easy to see the photo, it is not so easy to see the "photo negative".

Book Signing

A book signing has been added as an interlude during my lecture in Malta in March. It is to be my fictional metaphysics, This Town: A Complete Metaphysics. This has been described as "a triumph of metaphysical writing". OBSERVATION: As this is (recurrently) a ministry blog, it might be worth mentioning that two chapters of the book survey ... not the existence of God, but the relevance of God. The book is available on (click here): Amazon.

Eastern Cape Weed

South Africa is filled with odd and beautiful weeds. One tends not to notice them, because they are everywhere. Here is one, that I photographed in South Africa's Eastern Cape. You may click on it to enlarge.

Abusive Comments

Comments on this blog are moderated. In general, I publish all comments, except advertisements. Recently, though, I have received comments which I would characterise as abusive. I do not think I am obliged to publish abuse. These comments have almost all been anonymous and vague -- in fact, so vague that they seem impossible to answer. Whoever may be involved, do be specific, and if possible provide your name for context, and I can consider a reply. OBSERVATION: To put this in some perspective, a blog does not pass one-million views because it is disliked. I receive a great deal of praise through back channels.

Dark Counselling

This post is not for the faint hearted. A man confessed to this many years ago, in a counselling session. He was in reconnaissance (a recce), in one of Africa's wars -- in the vanguard -- and under orders to kill anyone who should see him. A woman was stamping maize in the African style with a baby tied to her back. She turned her head and looked into his eyes. With a single shot, he killed them both. OBSERVATION: Not only did this kill the mother and her baby, but it destroyed the man who did it -- and many with him who did similar things. He asked me whether there was any forgiveness from God. I said yes, but he was not willing to believe it.

Calling And Community

There is much emphasis in some Churches on "community". There is in fact a theology of community -- for example Stanley Grenz (Theology for the Community of God, 2000). I consider that it is not healthy if one's emphasis shifts too far towards "community" -- if one should emphasise community at all. Community is a by-product of the calling of the Church. It fails as a focus. However, it is an important by-product.

Beautiful Weeds

South Africa has many beautiful weeds. I spotted this one in South Africa's Langkloof -- a 160 km long valley. There are beautiful weeds all over, so one doesn't notice them until one stops to pay attention.

Flogging a Story

Before wife E stopped me (see a previous post), I contacted agents in connection with my new "fictional philosophy". In two weeks, eight agents have requested the manuscript. So far. My magnum opus -- my original philosophy -- was a different story. In two years, one agent requested the manuscript -- yet didn't accept it. It was a publisher who finally accepted it "on merit". OBSERVATION: Thus there is an altogether different "feel" surrounding my latest work. It is also a very different work. For example, it is written at the level of Grade 5. My magnum opus was written at the level of Grade 10.

Orwellian

I have a few photos on this blog of a lighting mast near the township of New Rest in South Africa's Eastern Cape. One sees in these photos that this is the only mast in the area. By now, there are five lighting masts in the area. It feels Orwellian. There is no darkness there now. One sees two of the five masts in this photo. One may click on the photo to enlarge.

Forebears

Last week, wife E's family helped me find photos of her forebears. Here's an example: her father's father's mother.  Over the years, I have reproduced photos which were scattered among family members. Sometimes, as in this case, only one photo is known to exist. OBSERVATION: Copies may often look better than originals. This one was faded and brown.

AI And a Can of Beans

I just asked Grok AI how I may obtain a can of beans from Beijing. It advised me, without any reservations, "Here's how you can go about ordering ..." I asked it separately how much pollution this would create. Answer: "Approximately 6.22 kg CO2e per can, not including additional logistics." 6.22 kg! Among other things. OBSERVATION: Now suppose that most people simply follow Grok's advice unthinkingly, and order the beans. And the total demand for Chinese soya beans alone in South Africa is 50 tons per annum ...

POSTSCRIPT: I rephrased the question: What was the environmental impact? Grok AI was unable to give me any advice which referred to the environment itself -- flora and fauna, and so on.

New Broom

A new broom sweeps clean. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has replaced the African National Congress (ANC) in the Koukamma District, where I am now. The changes are obvious. For one thing, the DA have almost immediately closed the potholes in the roads (see the photo). They have also fixed major water leaks. They have fixed things in months which were unfixed for years. OBSERVATION: And, judging by the photo, they are in a hurry to do it.

Agents in London and New York

Eleven days after I began my quest, three agents have expressed an interest in my next book -- one in New York, and two in London. I am pausing my quest, however. Wife E said, what are you doing? you don't have the capacity for an agent now. This is surely true. I am putting the agents on hold -- if they will permit it. At the same time, I can work new chapters into the text. OBSERVATION: Over two years, one agent expressed an interest in my first philosophy book. Finally it went straight to a publisher -- without an agent. Any artists out there who might enter into a deal, a cut with my new book?

POSTSCRIPT: Four agents in eleven days.

Designing Torches

I was once caught in a severe cyclone in Fiji -- it moved in with stunning rapidity. My battery torch failed on a dark dirt road as I tried to find my way home on foot. This was a frightening experience. I was determined not to rely on batteries again! I first developed a torch which used an 80 Volt neon glow-lamp, and lasted for days at a time. It was, naturally, cyclone proof! This allowed time to recharge its AA batteries in the sun. Later, I developed the world's first capacitor-powered wind-up torch. A few variations of this torch were published -- and today, I always carry one with me when I travel. It is very robust, and charges fast enough and shines long enough to serve as a reading light. OBSERVATION: Strangely, capacitor-powered wind-up torches seem hard to find today.

POSTSCRIPT: My torch was published in October 2000. The technology only existed from 1996. I realised that this made a capacitor-powered wind-up torch possible.

Current Metaphysics

Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Schopenhauer, Heidegger ... but there are only two current metaphysics in print (which is systematic, panoramic philosophies). One is Neues System, by Dirk Hartmann (now reduced to a mere €930), the other Everything Briefly, by myself ($30, or $3.44 on Kindle). Philosophy writer Mel Thompson calls it "a work of amazing breadth and ambition ... an entirely new metaphysics". The book is available on (click here) Amazon. For those who have a little more patience with a website, Wipf & Stock publishers offer 40% off my book. Click on BUY, and Add Coupon THOMAS40. OBSERVATION: Before anyone says that I equated myself to aforesaid metaphysicians (it has happened), I am not there yet. I have, however, outsold Aristotle at a few points in time.