Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 3, 2024
Ecclesiastes: Not A Theodicy but A Humanodicy In a pointed way, Ecclesiastes goes in a different direction than a theodicy – it is a “humanodicy”. A theodicy is a defense of God’s justice and goodness within this world of pain and suffering. While the Teacher (Ecclesiastes 1:1) periodically refers to God’s blessings within this world, […]
PHall | November 6, 2023
A Pew Moments with Perry – Me, Myself, and I Sex, drugs, and Rock and Roll. Wine, Women, and Song. These are descriptions of the Teacher’s pursuit in Ecclesiastes to find fulfillment as seen in Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. In the past I have focused on the things the Teacher experimented with such as building houses, amassing […]
PHall | November 1, 2023
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This earth had a special “territory” called Eden; and within Eden was a dedicated spot for a garden. God was building His temple-palace as the King of all kings to come. The story is well-known about how mankind lost paradise. The stories could be multiplied […]
PHall | August 18, 2023
Unintentional Idols “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes1:2). Various translations phrase it differently such as “futility of futilities”. Very literally the Hebrew (hebel) is “breath of breaths” and the Hebrew is often translated elsewhere as “idol”. I’m not sure how this fits, but there does appear to be some applicable lessons not directly intended […]
PHall | July 19, 2023
If We Are Living the Problem…. Four is not the answer as to how you spell “butter”. To make sense requires the answer being tied to the question. The epilogue (12:9-14) is not viewed as a holistic part of Ecclesiastes.This is because it is not seen as answering the problem presented. Partly, this is due […]
PHall | June 27, 2023
We live in a chaotic world, but this is nothing new under the sun. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes was troubled by the meaningless he witnessed (1:2-3). Here are three responses to witnessing so much meaningless: 1. Atheism – Aldus Huxley “The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively […]
PHall | April 28, 2023
Forty years ago today, I said my vows to the wrong person. The vows were good – “I take Janet to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health” – I just shouldn’t have […]
PHall | February 1, 2023
Purple + Zebra = 26. That is the problem I gave to my high school/college class to solve. The first response was, “That’s impossible! They are incompatible”. I retorted, “Are you sure?” Doubt about its impossibility solidified, so they guessed numerical values for the color and animal. That failed. Annoyance and irritation increased as every […]
PHall | January 24, 2023
Meaning in Life Even In Uncertainty The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed and the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed (Augustine). One doctrine more revealed under the new covenant is the eternal life after the physical life. Where in the Old Testament is this taught? Sometimes “where” is more important than “when”! […]
PHall | August 12, 2022
“Do not enter the canal of the ear.” That’s the “directions” on the box of “Q-Tips” (actually the generic version). That’s also one of the most ignored “instructions” ever! Why? Because sticking it into the ear canal works! What does this have to do with spiritual things? Many “misuse” the Bible because “misusing” […]