I have been thinking a lot recently about how non-Christians view Christians. Not so much as how they think of us as people but how they see us as Christians. So this is my idea, I would like the non Christian readers of this site to let me know. What are some thoughts you have on us Christians. What are some questions that you don’t understand, or just think are ridiculous? I won’t be offended or hurt by you responses, I am just really curious. There are two main people I am looking at here for responses, I won’t say their names but if you think it might be you it most likely is. BTW, with a new feature I have, I know exactly when certain people visit my site, so don’t act like you haven’t read this :)
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It is quite strange that you ask this. I am a Christian, however, as I have said before I don’t follow Christianity strictly… I no longer attend Church either. Despite that I still have very strong views on Christianity and those who disregard it, or see it as nonsense, I don’t agree with at all.
One of the main arguments or discussions should I say, (about Christianity) that I get into with my friends is about God and his existence. I have been brought up to believe in God and Jesus and still do to this day, just as I believe that family members who’ve passed away are up there looking down on us, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with everyone that I know… Some people don’t believe at all… That is their opinion and their choice and I can’t change that.
I know that this response doesn’t really answer your question in the post, but I thought that I share how other people view the basics of Christianity (in a sense). I don’t really know how to explain it. I am sure that you get what I am saying, though :-) .
By the way, great new feature!
Aidan, thanks for throwing in your comments, do you mind if I ask what you mean by “I don’t follow Christianity strictly”? I am just curious, do you not believe certain things?
I don’t mind at all Nick :-) .
I believe in all things that I know of, or at least all the ones that I can think of right now. Things like the Bible stories, the existence of the Trinity, miracles etc.
My view of ’strict Christianity’ is doing things like reading parts of the Bible, or attending Church services and things like that… All the things that I do not do, but I still see myself as a Christian.
If I am not making much sense here just tell me ;-) .
Aidan, that makes sense. And I agree with you to a certain degree. While I think the modern day Christian puts far to much emphasis on the church building and not enough on actually being the church I think there is a huge value in the church family. But I really do know what you are saying.
I wrote more on this than i’m going to give right now. It just got to be too long, so I’ll try to edit myself to a few succinct points. To reiterate; these are some comments, questions, critisisms, musings, all about Christianity that I(as a non-christian) have.
1. To Christians the Bible is The Word. Try to bring any other evidence to the table and it won’t matter. The Bible is the only information needed. To me this is like using the word in the definition. Its circular reasoning–’the Bible is true because its true’.
2. However, I must say that I think it must be great to feel like one was given a guide book to life and death. That knowledge must be extremely comforting. To be honest, I think its a little bit insane to think anyone knows the secrets of the universe.
3. (It should be pointed out here that much of what I say could be interchangable with any religion.) It confuses me that so many Christians speak as though they have tapped into some sacred knowledge the rest of us are just not opened to yet. Whats confusing about it is that Christianity is a belief. By mere definition. I actually think it would really behoove the church to just admit that more often. I don’t think it takes anything away from it, except maybe the aragonce.
4. I don’t understand why so many seem to find it hard to grasp morality without religion. Its as though they think that if they didn’t have religion it might as well be a free-for-all.
5. One of the most clever things Christianity has going for it is the notion of Faith. Or put another way: Unjustified Certainty. Its like a built in fail-safe for Christianity as a self-perpetuating entity. Where in any other walk of life a healthy measure of doubt could be FULLY explored, a Christian will probably never get that far, out of fear of Eternal Damnation or guilt at turning their back to the Lord.
6. I observe in Christians a prediliction towards absolutes. Absolute Morality, Absolute Truth, Good and Evil, Saved and Unsaved, Sinners and Saints, Heaven and Hell, etc. This paints their view of the world in black and white instead of shades of gray. Which is far more interesting to me and also, I believe, more akin to the way the universe really is.
7. Its troubling for me to think of large organizations of people spending most of their LIFE on the AFTERLIFE. Is life a rest stop? A test, like the LSATS for Heaven? I think this way of thinking sort of diminishes the value of whats here and now.
8. Finally, What’s really disturbing to me is how easily Christians are able to rationalize inconsistences in the Bible, counter-proof, and things that just don’t gel between life and Christianity and integrate them into their worldview. What about the fact that your environment, your culture determains largely what you believe in? What about all those millions of people through out the last two thousand years who never heard of Jesus(Native Americans up to the 15th century, Vikings, Indians and Asians to a certain point?) If the Bible were indeed the word of God wouldn’t it give some information that only the Creator of the Universe could know about? Or atleast some hint of knowledge of Astronomy, Quantum Physics, Chemistry, etc.. It actually promotes that the Sun revolves around the Earth, that the Earth is flat and that 9.21 meters of rain fell an hour for 40 days and nights( the most ever recorded is 10 inches, plus the geological record of this would be hard to miss). I’ve heard and read alot about the power of prayer and devotions and Gods love. I believe in the power of prayer. Not to the extent that its going to get you what you want, but to the same extent I believe in meditation and gratitude journals. I think its very healthy and feels good to focus your mind and remember what you’re grateful for. But isn’t it conceivable that just like that, the feeling that is described as divine or Gods love is the same feeling people get all over the world but everyone has a different name and different reasoning for? If God is Omnipitent and so loving and merciful, why does he appear so egocentric, vindictive, and outright cruel in the old testament. And if the answer is just that he grew up or changed(recalling the equivalant of an upper management change of policy), doesn’t that imply he’s not omnipotent and adhers to certain rules from something else? A perfect example is Jesus dieing to wash away mans Sin. Why did it have to happen like that? Surely there were more direct, creative and less cruel ways for God to save his creation from themselves. But it seems like that was some loophole he found in the Gods code of the universe.
Anyways, like I said, I could go on, but this has been more than enough already. Let me know your thoughts, criticisms, corrections, etc. Thank you for your attention.
you are welcome for my attention.
Wow Ryan that was very thought I out, I know you spent a couple of days on that, which is great. I, however, am not sure how you want me to respond. You gave me a whole butt load of stuff here, do you not want me to use the Bible to answer this or just about the inconsistencies? Let me know before I write out everything only to find out I didn’t give you what you wanted. BTW, how would you suggest I do it w/o the Bible?
Also, please refrain from insulting if you want a real discussion. I said I would not be offended by the questions not outright insults to my beliefs. If I interpreted that wrong I apologize but it sounded as though you are suggesting I am insane.
Once again, I apologize. I didn’t mean to insult you. I was trying to fulfill your question by giving you some of my perspective on religion openly and honestly, but ‘insane’ is harsher a word than I needed to use. Rereading it I think now the first two sentences could be looked at as sarcastic, but they are meant to be entirely sincere.
I don’t have any expectations for your response. Like I said write whatever thoughts, criticisms, corrections, etc you’d like to. However, if you use the bible I would like you to directly address what I said in the first bullit point and why you dispute it.
It’s all good, I just didn’t want to start a trend on this if someone else joins in :)
Anyway, I understand now what you you want so let me get my thoughts together so I don’t mix anything up and I will get right back to you is that cool?
BTW, I most likely won’t respond to every point all at once I will try to go through one by one so they can all be equally discussed, are you ok with that?
“To Christians the Bible is The Word. Try to bring any other evidence to the table and it won’t matter. The Bible is the only information needed. To me this is like using the word in the definition. Its circular reasoning–’the Bible is true because its true’.”
We have discussed this once before I believe. Why is the Bible true? The Bible is not the only records of those days. There was a man by the name of Josephus, he was a Jewish historian he wrote at length about the Gospels. So as we can see the Bible is not the only writings that said such things, there are historical artifacts that have been found that coincide with the Bible. If the Bible got so much right historically, why is it so hard to believe the rest is accurate?
However, the Bible also includes many historical inacuracies and some have absolutley no evidence to suggest they’re anything but tall tales. My response to you would be just because it has a certain historical context why is it so easy to believe everything in it is accurate? I know you’re not a fan of the Davinci Code, but if that were to be examined by future archaelogists it would be shown to have gotten alot right, such as The Louvre Museum, Paris,France the existence of a man named Leonardo DaVinci, His paintings, The notion of the sacred feminine and the existence of the Knights Templar, Priory of Scion, and Opus Die, etc)Almost all of it was tampered with for dramatic effect, but they wouldn’t know that.
Ryan, please show me these inaccuracies, so we can talk about them.
I’m just going to jump in here. Mostly responding to some of Ryan’s points.
Yes, that’s circular reasoning. And frankly, if any Christian refuses to look at and examine extra-biblical texts or evidence then they need to get their head checked.
Agreed, morality is definitely possible without religion.
I think the most healthy Christians doubt every aspect of their faith. I question it regularly. If, as a Christian, you can’t seriously question your faith and be prepared to walk away from it, you’re really missing out on a true experience with God.
I used to be one of those black and white Christians. No longer. The Bible does make some absolute statements … but far fewer than most Christians are lead to believe. The VAST majority of life is a big gray area.
I understand what you mean. But I don’t see a necessary connection between the idea of an afterlife and the negating of this life. I see it as two stages. What we do here on Earth, how we love, how we live, and how we effect real change in people’s lives is absolutely important. In reality, what we do in this life has almost no bearing on the afterlife. The Afterlife, as the Bible says, hinges on what you think about christ.
As to your last concern. Those are great questions. The best carpet answer I can give is that the way you answer those questions determines largely on how you view Scripture. Personally, I do not see the Bible as a textbook. It’s not a history book, it’s not a science book, it’s not an anthropology book. It’s a book that was designed first and foremost to expose humanity to God.
The Bible does seem to hint that the Sun revolves around the Earth… and the church believed that until science proved otherwise. That’s actually one of the main reasons why I refuse to use the Bible as a science text book. It’s a spiritual book, it’s a God-revealing book, nothing more. It’s important to draw that line.
You ask very well thought out questions, Ryan :D
Thanks Ben :)