Some of Christian relations of mine have asked me (paraphrased): "So why do you bother doing The Wise Fool blog? Why does it matter to try to prove you are right? Are you so angry and embittered towards God that you feel you have to attack Him?" They just don't understand that I view it as an act of charity and benevolence to my fellow man as I donate my time to help educate others, and I am as likely to be angry with God as I am likely to be angry at Santa Claus. Getting angry at something that you know doesn't exist is pretty foolish.
But there are other reasons for the blog too; reasons strong enough to compel me to post this Friday despite having an especially hectic and demanding week. Reasons like this:
This is an actual bumper sticker on a Christian's car. This is a Christian with no doubts about Christianity. How can I tell? "Gun toting" implies a willingness to be gun using, specifically to kill other humans. You don't go around advertising that you are willing to purposefully break commandments of God unless you think you are perfectly right with God.
If Christians can read my blog and not give up Christianity, so be it. My biggest aspiration is to at least plant a seed of doubt in as many Christians as possible. I believe that if you have doubts, you are a lot less likely to do something extremely stupid for your faith. If everyone doubted their religion just a little bit, I think the world would be a much better place. What do you think?
I believe that if you have doubts, you are a lot less likely to do something extremely stupid for your faith.
ReplyDeleteHow true. I did a lot of stupid things as a Christian, but I can thank my doubts for not having done more damage.
Thanks Lorena! I know there are times when I wished afterwords that I had doubted myself. I would have prevented some embarrassment! :-)
ReplyDeleteI know I've said my fare share of stupid things because of Christianity. When I think back to some of them I'm embarrassed, but also perplexed. I wonder how I got to be that way. Love boils down to respect, and I'm ashamed to admit I had very little respect for others who didn't believe the same as me(translation: the same as my pastor).
ReplyDeleteLiving in South Georgia I see quite a few of those kinds of bumper stickers. It's scary when people want to identify themselves as an extremist. A sane person usually wants to distance themselves from that moniker.
I needed to doubt other people more. I doubted myself enough, that was part of the reason why I listened to the ridiculosity of others and tried so hard to please them.
ReplyDelete@D'Ma - Don't beat yourself up to much over your past behavior. I've got a post in mind that you may like, or at least find interesting, as soon as I can get the time to post it.
ReplyDelete"It's scary when people want to identify themselves as an extremist." Absolutely!
@prairienymph - I could be wrong, but in looking at your "tipping point" comment from D'Ma's recent post, it seems to me that you just needed time to awaken on your own personal schedule. You were strong enough in confidence to take on a project like painting women in a better light despite those troublesome Bible verses. You just need time to build the confidence to hold your own opinions against the crowd. That takes a lot of maturity, and for many, such as myself, it is more of a process than an achievement. Glad to see you are pushing through!
Still lurking...
ReplyDeleteI think there is a difference between doubt and introspection. I believe I am called to introspection for my own sake (1 Corinthians 11:1) and for the sake of others (1 Peter 3:15).
Unfortunately we often stop at sheep instead of continuing to serpents and doves (Matthew 10:16).
I encourage you to challenge believers, because it will help to make them better Christians. Untested faith is little more than fantasy, it is the seed on rocky ground. When your Christian relations ask why you bother, tell them you are fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
I do not mean that to be hurtful, just a statement from a Christian perspective. Whether or not you believe, if (and this is an open question, or not) Christianity is true then you serve God's purpose. How that affects you is between you and your God (or not as the case may be). Regardless, your relations cannot gainsay it and since you do not believe there is no reason to be offended.