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By D.S. Cook for Apostoic.com In a barren and desolate wilderness there once dwelt three men, each fated to meet the trials appointed to mortal existence after his own fashion. The sun in that place beat down with unbendable hatred, and the footprints of wanderers with no names or records marked the trodden paths. The…
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People have always asked me the same question. Or more accurately, they’ve used a pretense to dismiss what matters most. “Why does logic even matter?” Among Christians the variant becomes, “Why does logic matter; since the gospel is what’s really important?” This question refutes itself. Anyone who attempts to disprove the importance of logic, must…
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Originally written 3/17/2019 Some weeks ago, Pastor (Paul Cook) asked for a show of hands– how many had read Hosea, with about 3 responding. As a man who’d named his daughter Ruhama, I could not help but feel grieved. When he asked if any wanted to bring a teaching– well this story had formed in…
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Today, I’d like to expound on a metaphor that was presented some time ago in my parable, the Lazy Spinner. I don’t know that it’s a phenomenal metaphor. It has shortcomings and a limited scope. But, it’s been useful to me in parenting my children, husbanding my wife, and in dealing with interpersonal tension. I’d…
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Long, long ago in a land far, far away there lived one Jim, an sheep herd. Now Jim was a good man, being both kindly and wise, if not much learned after the manner of scholars and mages. However, in such mean matters as the tending of beasts, the sowing of beans, or the mending…
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I identify publicly with Stoic philosophy in my social media bios. In my case, this identification is transparently partial; Christ first. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts…
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Special Guest PostGuest Author: Father James Sullivan Dearly beloved in the Lord, as we journey through this holy season of Lent, a time appointed by the Church for self-examination, repentance, and renewal, we are confronted today by the solemn words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel appointed for this Third Sunday. From the…
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If you’ve found your way here without reading the previous parts, your presence is most welcome, but in the interest of forestalling your confusion I recommend beginning at the beginning. You’ll find a link at the bottom of the page. To those of you returning from part three, welcome back. Having explored Superman’s concentric circles…
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Guest Author S.D. Davis For those of you who are returning, welcome back. I’m delighted I’ve held your interest into this third installment. For those arriving here for the first time, you are just as welcome, but I do encourage you to read parts 1 and 2 first. In part 2, we left off our…
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Guest Author S. D. Davis For those who are returning, thank you and welcome back. For those who’ve found themselves in the middle of something I encourage you to read part 1 of the series first. Last week I argued that Man of Steel is correctly understood as a philosophical examination of self-control and discipline. …
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Guest Author: S. D. Davis Growing up, Superman was my favorite everything: comic book hero, cartoon character, action figure, lunchbox mascot—you name it. I won’t deny this was in part due to the sensationalism that necessarily surrounds a creature who has every imaginable power and only one remote, impossibly inconvenient weakness. However, I was also…
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An orchard town in the hills was famous for it’s rich harvest. Each year, the people worked together to bring in their abundant apples and carried them carefully into the storehouse against the winter cold. Every autumn, the town would choose one man to guard the building where the community kept its fruit. This year,…
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In the summer of 1807, a young Scotsman named Robert Morrison stepped off the ship Trident onto the bustling docks of Macau, China. His heart was full of a burning desire, a deep impetus of conviction that he could not ignore. His heart pounding, the heavy sensation of being alone pressed down upon him. Nervousness,…
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As some of you may know, I have been developing an app called “Logic Slap.” Several of my regular readers have been helping out as beta testers, and others are eagerly awaiting its full release. But most are probably wondering why I would spend my time and money developing such a thing. In this short…
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In the thirtieth year of his reign, Emperor Liang sat upon the alabaster throne in the Hall of Balanced Scales. Two provincial governors had journeyed a thousand miles to lay their quarrel at his feet. Governor Wei of the fertile Riverlands entered first. His robes were silk, his retinue numerous, hearty, and gracious. Behind him…
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The internet thrives on outrage. It is the fuel that keeps us scrolling, returning again and again to the digital coliseum. With my mouth I profess to hate what the internet has become; a polarized political battlescape of shrieking ideologs. But do I really? A contradiction reveals itself in my actions. If I truly abhor…
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In a vast and ancient kingdom, there once stood a strong fortress, perched high upon a hill. Its towering stone walls were a steadfast guardian over the valleys below, it’s principled governance and dignified generosity sheltered the poor and the sojourner for generations. But the wise and beloved king, whose words and deeds inspired songs…
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#bondibeachattack In Parts I and II, we established that nature mocks incompatible diversity, and moral relativism was exposed as a tactical repositioning of moral law, dressed up as enlightenment. Pretend otherwise, and we are not being tolerant. We are fools rolling out the red carpet for the dragon that will devour us. Well, dear reader,…
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#bondibeachattack In the previous article we saw that nature has zero tolerance for incompatible diversity. Oil Separates from water, ice cannot coexist with lava, wolves and sheep do not negotiate shared pens. To label this iron law a mere failure of tolerance is not just silly, it’s the tantrum of a child who believes shouting…
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#Bondibeachattack A very strange theory indeed has achieved the status of a secular catechism in modernity. “What is our strength?” The teacher’s shadow looms over the school desk. “Diversity!” quips the young disciple. “Diversity is our strength!” But as we repeat this dogma with religious fervor, little hearts full of the dreams of an A+…
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In a certain prosperous land, a king was moved by sympathy for the poor. Knowing that not all of his subjects were charitable of their own accord, he decided to centralize and mandate kindness. He built a great Alms-House to be filled with gold. “My kingdom will provide for its neediest!” The well-meaning king declared.…
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The Nominal Conquest Fallacy: Definition, Examples, and Why We Need This New Logical Fallacy in 2025
First published: 3 December 2025Canonical URL: https://apostoic.com/nominal-conquest-fallacy/Author: Daniel Spencer Cook – Apostoic.com Nominal Conquest Fallacy – Formal DefinitionProposed name: Nominal Conquest (Latin nominalis “pertaining to a name” + conquestio “seizure”)Also known as: Fallacy of Nominal Conquest, Definitional Conquest, Lexical Conquest Fallacy Logical Form First Academic Definition (2025)The Nominal Conquest Fallacy occurs when an ideological movement deliberately…
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Once on a farm next to a busy highway, there lived a pompous rooster named Squawkington, who fancied himself a great thinker and philosopher. He was famous for his loud and annoying crow, which sounded nothing at all like a rusty gate slowly murdering a stuck pig. He was also famous for his unshakeable belief…
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In the province of Valdris, Duke Engleton ruled from a stone keep on the hill. He was a good and kind ruler, careful of the lives under his watch. His dearest friend was a servant, Rowan, who managed the duke’s fine stables and kept his council. Rowan’s wife had died in childbirth, leaving him an…
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In the half-light of dawn, Viktor trudges through the frozen mud. His feet are raw with blisters from ragged shoes that do not fit, handed down from a former occupant with no more need. He shudders at the promise of the day’s forced labor. Victor has been a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps for…
