1. What assumptions is the author making in the text?--check credibility and application 2. What can I learn from this text?--there is always a lesson to be had

Date:   10/13/2006 12:00:45 PM ( 18 y ago)

Faith is not belief in spite of evidence, but life in scorn of consequences -- a courageous trust in the great purpose of all things, and pressing forward to finish the work which is in sight, whatever the price may be.-Kirsopp Lake

I was reading about the history of Christianity and it has led me to re-think the question of the espoused ideas of the bible. Not only does it seem that the bible is, in part, a compilation of widely popular, mindfully-attractive myths created to enhance the existence of God and garner greater support from the masses, the development of Christianity looks to be a struggle between ideologically disimilar factions with the eventual defeat of a single dominant group.

The definition of truth is the conformity to fact or actuality. To say the bible contains truths is not entirely fallacious. Accounts of what Jesus and other prominent "spokesmen" of Christ hold time-honoured ideologies that are spiritually and morally enlightening to people. The ideas of sin help create a more coherent relationship between our struggles and growth, but do concepts such as these serve as theological explanations or factual truths? However, my view of some of the stories seem more like exaggerated fables than actual happenings because of their blatant defiance of natural laws. Does this beg the question of the schism between science and religion? I honestly have no answer to that; science is a human way of understanding the world but given our limited capacities, man will never attain a proper comprehension of how all things in the universe fit together. Religion on the other hand does not call for a need for science as all things are already explained and accepted in the bible. In spite of a fair amount of conflict, the stories seem to have an uncanny understanding of human nature and their flaws, hence they send out morals to the reader and/or follower that are life-enhancing.

Perhaps the bible is a combination of truths and verities, rather than an absolute. I shall continue to pursue the subject of the scripture in order to gain a better understanding and prove/disprove my hypothesis.

Words of caution:

1. What assumptions is the author making in the text?--check credibility and application
2. What can I learn from this text?--there is always a lesson to be had

I am not discounting the value of Christianity or the bible. There are many schools of thought and I believe it is maturing to seek(and closely adhere) a school of thought that will nourish our souls so we will roam this planet with a more blessed disposition. Ultimately, what we choose to learn--and for some, what we are made to learn--will make up our value system.

While atheists and free-thinkers claim about the hidden dangers of religions/faiths, their school of thought of reluctance-in-the-spirit is, in fact, detrimental to the person because this will cause life to take on a haphazard inexplicable nature that stresses the mind and soul and reults in a handicapped maturity of the individual at the same time.

Personally, I find Christianity the most endearing school of thought because of the emphasis it places on on the follower. There is a greater focus on principles and lesser necessity for long bizarre menus of rituals and ostentatious idoltry. Having said that, I must correct myself to admit that I am in disagreement with the methods of certain dominations within Christianity. It is not that I have a ascetic preference, but the most vital take-home message is that we must be individuals of great character--without the superfluous show-offs.


 

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