Category: religion
07/07/08 09:33 - 80ºF - ID#44899
Exploring the nuance of the list
[box]
That God is the Christian God, not the Jewish, Islam, Baha'i, Mormonism, etc.
[/box]
I believe that there is one God, and I believe that God is best understood and revealed through Christianity. I even believe that God was made incarnate in Jesus Christ.
However, I can only apprehend God. God cannot be comprehended. So while I believe that I have an understanding of God, my understanding will never be near complete (not in this life, at least--but we haven't gotten to "eternity" stuff yet).
Therefore, I believe that I worship the same God as the other faiths. To say otherwise would be to contradict myself, because I believe that there is only one God.
Other faiths comprehend God differently. Or they misunderstand God. Or they make God out to be who they want God to be (which is bad, yes, but Christians make that mistake, too).
So I would say that I best understand God through Christianity, but I admit that my knowledge is incomplete. Other faiths have different, incomplete knowledge as well. I can learn from them, and yet still maintain that Christianity has the truest picture of God.
I do not present my faith as a complete system of total understanding--just the best one (as far as I can tell).
Unless I know in completeness, which is impossible as things are, I have to approach other faiths with humility--open about what I believe to be true, but also admitting that there is truth that I do not comprehend.
Permalink: Exploring_the_nuance_of_the_list.html
Words: 287
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: religion
07/05/08 05:06 - 78ºF - ID#44871
Jim's list
In short, if that were what is necessary to be a Christian, I would not be one (I guess there are some people out there who believe that I am not).
Here's my code to what I think about the beliefs Jim outlines:
X = I do not believe this
- = There is a nuance to this belief, so that depending on how it is defined/explained, I may have to change from X to no X or vice-versa. That is to say, that there is a little bit more nuance to the statement that needs to be explored.
+ = This belief really is central to the faith, as I see it. (maybe or maybe not necessary, depending on who you ask)
+ That God exists.
* That God is still involved in the universe he created.
+ That God cares about us.
X* That God cares what religion you are in.
X* That God is the Christian God, not the Jewish, Islam, Baha'i, Mormonism, etc.
X* That all other religions are in grave error. (despite those faiths having equally compelling claims and theology to lay claim to this honor)
X* That God interacted directly with humanity in the past, and chose the Jews as his people above all others.
- That God guided the oral history of the Jews.
-* That God wrote the Bible, indirectly.
-* That God edited the Bible into its present form, indirectly.
X That God prevents textual errors from being introduced during copying, indirectly.
XThat God would not allow the Bible to mislead us, but would allow other religious texts to mislead us.
X* That sins are against God, instead of against other humans.
X* That we have original sin that needs to be redeemed.
- That virgin births can occur.
- That Jesus was born to Mary as the Son of God.
- That Jesus could redeem sins through his death and resurrection.
+* That Jesus rose from the dead.
X* That the story of Jesus was accurately told orally for a hundred years.
X That the hundreds of contradictory written fragments and letters from the time after that don't matter, because:
X The editing process to sort everything out was also guided by God, again, indirectly.
X That the Gospels were then transmitted down with no textual errors in copying or translation thereafter, thanks to God, indirectly.
X That the parts of the Bible and the Gospels that don't make sense don't contradict any of the above.
X That if you choose wrong, despite this inconsistent and inexplicable chain, you are damned to hell.
Permalink: Jim_s_list.html
Words: 461
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: heroes
07/04/08 09:59 - 63ºF - ID#44855
My Hero: Roberto Clemente
Here's some of the ways that he has influenced me.
When I play, I tend to play all out.
I try to be as selfless and generous as he was.
I want to be personally involved in my efforts to make a difference in the world, as he was.
I want to break down barriers, the way that he did.Maybe I will write about Dietrich Bonhoeffer later.
Permalink: My_Hero_Roberto_Clemente.html
Words: 93
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: heroes
07/03/08 11:15 - 80ºF - ID#44846
Blogging suggestion: heroes
After talking with (e:Tinypliny) about Roberto Clemente, I got to thinking about heroes, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the people I look up to, as well as invite others to do the same.
I'll get the ball rolling with a post about Clemente (a little later--I should be writing a sermon right now), but I am putting out the invitation:
Who is a hero of yours? Why? What do you wish to emulate about them? How has their life affected yours?
I categorized this post "heroes." It would be nice if every participant did the same.
Permalink: Blogging_suggestion_heroes.html
Words: 103
Location: Buffalo, NY
07/02/08 08:54 - 64ºF - ID#44840
Great night last night
Music was good. Beer was good. Company was great.
I even shook down people for money on behalf of the association.
Afterwards, Jason and I stopped in at Essex street.
When I got home, I saw I missed a text from (e:Vincent). My apologies.
Permalink: Great_night_last_night.html
Words: 82
Location: Buffalo, NY
06/26/08 09:32 - 73ºF - ID#44794
Re: The supreme court decision
Permalink: Re_The_supreme_court_decision.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: religion
06/24/08 11:38 - 67ºF - ID#44766
Religion, Demographics, and the POTUS
I think we have probably already had at least one atheist president, who went along with American civil religion (which calls itself Christianity, even when it doesn't look much like Jesus) in order to get elected. This, of course, is difficult to prove, but given a politicians' willingness to say what is necessary in order to get elected, it seems likely.
And, for most of our history, a show of faith has been necessary to get elected in a country where the majority of people make a show of faith.
That, of course, is changing. With each generation, the number of Christians, and the number of Theists, is declining. If these trends continue, we (I consider my self both) will be in the minority very soon. According to some counts, we are already (although not among voters, which is key to this post).
So based on that, the USA may be electing its last Christian president this election cycle. If the president serves 8 years, this is quite likely (especially if young people start voting).
There is a possible mitigating factor, however. More and more Latinos and Latinas are growing as a percentage in this country, and will eventually become a majority. This demographic, while far from monolithic, is far more likely to be Roman Catholic.
Either way, it looks unlikely that Protestants and Evangelicals will remain a force in politics. This will be quite an adjustment for those who are used to running the world. Democracy is a kick in the pants, sometimes.
It may be, that Theists hang on for a while and we have another Roman Catholic president. It depends on whether young Latinos and Latinas keep the faith and/or vote.
My guess? Jim, your wish will come true. We will have an openly atheist president within 20 years. (Provided the nation holds on that long, but that's another post and another time)
And I don't think it will be bad for the Christian church, either. We're better off without power.
Permalink: Religion_Demographics_and_the_POTUS.html
Words: 388
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: religion
06/24/08 10:04 - 67ºF - ID#44765
Obama and religion
Permalink: Obama_and_religion.html
Words: 12
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: food
06/21/08 01:10 - 75ºF - ID#44738
Gelato Ji
I didn't get any gelato because I had eaten sweets all morning, but (e:janelle) got a coffee and I had a slice of white pizza. Both were very good, and affordable. The people were nice, too.
At the same time, Urban Roots was celebrating their one year anniversary and was full of life (human and plant, both.)
I think the day that everyone feared is finally arriving: gentrification. The place was just packed with preppy, cute, white people. Of course, there were still signs of the stagnation that has been in that section of town for a long time, too, but my sensors say that things are underway.
I think it can be done right, however. People are working to keep affordable housing available no matter what. Property values are going to climb a little bit, but that is necessary to provide an economic incentive to make it a nice place to live.
Anyway, go get a gelato or a slice of pizza. I promise you won't inflate property values too much, (at least not until the city/state start taking care of their properties) and you will be satisfied with your choice.
Permalink: Gelato_Ji.html
Words: 220
Location: Buffalo, NY
06/19/08 01:29 - 59ºF - ID#44718
Tonight at Drew's house
If anybody wants to stop in, tonight is a good night. There will be a few other new people, and root beer floats, too.
Agenda:
7-7:30. Float making/hanging out/getting to know one another
7:30-8:15. Reading a piece of scripture and talking about how it might shape us.
8:15-8:30 Praying for one another.
It's open to everybody. Nobody has to do anything that they do not want to. No particular belief is necessary.
At 8:30, provided we end on time, we might walk to the Village Beer Merchant. There is a free tasting until 9.
My house is 265 Lexington. It's yellow.
Permalink: Tonight_at_Drew_s_house.html
Words: 107
Location: Buffalo, NY
Author Info
Date Cloud
More Entries
My Fav Posts
- This user has zero favorite blogs selected ;(
Thanks for the feedback.
As you mentioned, you haven't touched on eternity "yet". I would be interested to read about your thoughts concerning this. Also I'd like to hear exactly why you believe Jesus was God incarnate. You just briefly mentioned both, I guess I'm just curious about your thoughts on each.
Again, thanks for the thoughts on this topic and expressing yourself so openly here. =)
As for violence being done more often in God's name--that is another hard one to prove. There are the easy examples: the crusades, Americans wiping out Natives, European wars, etc.)
But plenty of wars weren't about religion. And some of the most ruthless people (Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot, to name three off of the top of my head) did not believe in any sort of God at all.
People are inclined to violence, whether they have faith or not. Good religion checks it, bad religion multiplies it.
It must be noted that throughout history, more violence has been conducted in "God"'s name than under any other cause (but if the mess in Iraq continues, I guess "Freedom" may supplant that...)
Killing in any circumstance is wrong, and I think Christians outside of the Dobsonite sects understand this concept. There is a lot of hypocrisy, no doubt, among these people. I see it all the time.
In my experience many TheoCons do find convenient excuses for supporting war and capital punishment. They certainly don't represent everyone, or even a majority, but they squawk louder than normal people. That's what people on the fringes do.
Nice to see you around, (e:Ajay).
The answer is no, and its because they are not faithful and/or they have been misled and/or they are so afraid of Obama that they do what is not right.
I do not believe that God condones the killing of civilians (or soldiers) in a war of aggression. Frankly, it is hard to make the case, Biblically speaking, to take life in self-defense.
Christian faith calls you to die for your beliefs, not kill.
If yes, then how do you reconcile this with the basic premise of a kind and benevolent God?
If no, then why does the Religious Right continue to support him and his surrogates (McCain)?
I guess I'm wondering what kind of a God condones the killing of civilians, even if they are "collateral damage" or whatever euphemism you can put on it?
I can understand a God supporting a defense of His followers who are under attack and about to be wiped out; but Iraq was as close to that as a mosquito is to wiping out a whale.
I should have finished that sentence with "to me." or "for me."
The reason that I don't devote as much time to other faiths is not because of a necessary dislike of them--in fact, the more I understand of Judaism, the richer my understanding of Christianity becomes (which makes sense, Jesus being Jewish and all). Rather, it's because I have so much left to learn about my own faith.
Certainly a painter could become a more well rounded person by studying astronomy, but she loves painting, and finds her fulfillment in it. Furthermore, the more she paints, the more she realizes the ways she can grow as a painter. For this painter, it wasn't about finding the right profession, so that she can lord it over all of those who chose differently. Nor is it about choosing right and then being satisfied and resting that she is a painter and that is what she is supposed to be, its about following a passion that gives meaning to her life.
It's the same way for me and my faith. If other people find meaning and passion another way, I don't begrudge them. In fact, I want to hear about it and maybe even give it a try. But just like the painter goes deeper and deeper into her painting, so it is with me and my life following Jesus.
Does that mean that I forsake other ways? In many ways, yes--but it is not out of contempt, its just because for every one thing you say yes to, you necessarily say no to many more things.
How can you make this claim without having studied (in similar detail as Christianity) what their picture of "God" is ?
This is like saying "my cooking is the best", without even having tasted anyone else's cooking.....
Me, I'm a "spiritual atheist".
I believe that God doesn't really exist; but if S/He did exist, it would be in the form of spirits: hefeweizen beer, moscato wine, a good margarita, etc.....
He says. He doesn't say Only Roman Catholics, Only Billy Graham, etc.
For those of you who are interested with all of this the "god Squad"(Sundays in the Buffalo News)had a great article about this very issue about 2 weeks ago. It was awesome.
Any denomination that says my way or the highway is infact being counter intuitive.
I was once a member of the R.C. church the whole "my way" is why I left. I'm an Episcopalian. The Episcopal church doesn't get into all that stuff that has nothing to do with God. (sexuality, etc). It's all small detail stuff, nothing that has anything to do with faith at all, NOTHING
All I'm trying to say is - Faith, should be your special relationship you and your God (who ever or what ever he or she might be)Don't let any ideolgy get in the way of that.
I don't think any amount of study could change my mind, but I think that if I could live as the practitioner of another faith, I would be more likely to give my allegiance to it.
And, while conscience prevents me from attempting some practices, I have grown in affection for some other faiths by incorporating their practices.
I don't think that I will ever convert to another religion, but I do try to listen at least as much as I share, and participate in conversation as openly as I possibly can.
Some ideas are just bad. Declaring equality of all gives bad ideas greater legitimacy. A "free market," though imperfect, and difficult to keep free, is the best way to sort out said ideas.
I would say that some religions are unequally bad. Scientology, Catholicism, Evangelical Christianity, hard line Islam, etc, are all noxious. You can't admit them as a 'co-equal religion' when they are so anti-everything but themselves.