Faith and Brains
June 6th 2007 13:01
Firstly, I would like to thank Cibby for his post called Jesus Camp. Many of the comments were interesting and have helped to inspire me to write this.
Too many christians don't think enough. I could belly ache about the types of christians that do it, and why they are idiots but to be honest, that is far too much fun. So what I will do, is instead give reasons why I try not to be one of them.
The reason is kind of intentional and kind of not intentional. I say that because I tend to think alot, even when I am thinking too much. It is kind of an autopilot thing for me. One thing that Jesus said was that the first and most important commandment was to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. What this means for me is a few different things.
The first is that I don't straight up believe everything I am told from the pulpit. I trust the preacher, but I do not put faith in him. When something is said that I am not sure about, I tend to think about it and weigh it against what I know and what I have read. My reason for this is simple. My thoughts are essentially my responsibility. I can be taught, I can be influenced, but for what I think I am responsible. With that being said, if I do not question, if I do not think about what is going in and what is coming out, I am being irresponsible with the brain that God gave me.
The second is that I have seen too many instances of a "christian" mindset being used to abuse people. The term itself is something that I am not sure about. Chesterton said that there is only one thought that needs to be stopped, the thought that stops thought. The problem is that with too many christians, they can quote the Bible to prove their point. The problem with that is that the Bible can be quoted to prove almost anything. I am careful when I quote the Bible. I know the damage that I can do. The Bible does have some sharp edges, I won't argue that. But for the most part, it is there to help build people, tell them to love other people.
Third, the world probably doesn't need one more loud mouth. It has alot of them already.
JZ
Too many christians don't think enough. I could belly ache about the types of christians that do it, and why they are idiots but to be honest, that is far too much fun. So what I will do, is instead give reasons why I try not to be one of them.
The reason is kind of intentional and kind of not intentional. I say that because I tend to think alot, even when I am thinking too much. It is kind of an autopilot thing for me. One thing that Jesus said was that the first and most important commandment was to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. What this means for me is a few different things.
The first is that I don't straight up believe everything I am told from the pulpit. I trust the preacher, but I do not put faith in him. When something is said that I am not sure about, I tend to think about it and weigh it against what I know and what I have read. My reason for this is simple. My thoughts are essentially my responsibility. I can be taught, I can be influenced, but for what I think I am responsible. With that being said, if I do not question, if I do not think about what is going in and what is coming out, I am being irresponsible with the brain that God gave me.
The second is that I have seen too many instances of a "christian" mindset being used to abuse people. The term itself is something that I am not sure about. Chesterton said that there is only one thought that needs to be stopped, the thought that stops thought. The problem is that with too many christians, they can quote the Bible to prove their point. The problem with that is that the Bible can be quoted to prove almost anything. I am careful when I quote the Bible. I know the damage that I can do. The Bible does have some sharp edges, I won't argue that. But for the most part, it is there to help build people, tell them to love other people.
Third, the world probably doesn't need one more loud mouth. It has alot of them already.
JZ
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
As for the bible quoting, yeah thats true, Islamically it is a lot harder to quote the Quran out of context to prove a point because the entire book has been thorougly interpreted so theres no room to push agendas, but go back to the first point you made and you realize people decide to interpret it their own way just to suit their needs.
In the end if you don't take a quote within its whole context you're just decieving yourself.
Comment by hewhocutsdown
On Josh's point, my wife was shocked on day after being at church where my father preached. After service, in his office, I challenged him on his exegesis of the passage he was quoting. We didn't come to agreement, but it was a respectful debate that he appreciated; that I was listening but not accepting blindly.
And I whole-heartedly agree with your conclusion. There are enough loud-mouths in the world already, so I can stop it already.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
Find me a Muslim who thinks Saudi Arabia is running a fair government and I'll show you someone who has no idea what he/she is talking about. It's ridiculous how human rights are violated over there and no one seems to give two bits.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
I'll admit that I haven't done any study of the Quran. My younger brother has (not Ethan, this one doesn't play games, is 22 and is studying at uni) and after a brief discussion he says that it is easier to do it to the Bible, on the basis that the Bible is bigger, but as far as thematic content is concerned it is just as easy.
At the end of the day, just about anything can be taken out of context.
As far as Muslims taking things out of context (and please understand I am not throwing crap at you or Islam in general and I am NOT trying to start a fight) are the militant beliefs seen in extremist muslims in or out of context?
JZ
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
My mind is critical, my heart and spirit are not. Kind of helps to keep me from being the christian version of Dr Greg House.
As far as quoting the Bible making a good christian, I do agree with you. The ability to remember words at times that are suitable, or at least close, doth not a christian make nor prove.
After all, the devil has a decent handle on the Word.....
Winston, mate, always good to see you here and I hope you come back.
JZ
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
you never cease to amaze.....
You had a polite arguement? Over doctrine? With a christian? lol
JZ
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
In the end it isn't really about context of religion, some things go beyond human reasoning and it isn't about logically proving something right or wrong, bringing up such and such verse or instance won't help, what they do is just wrong and you don't want anything to do with them.
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
yeah, that pretty well sums it up. Alot of how they do it is by taking something good and making it bad. Which is all that badness really is.
JZ