Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Jesus Has Left The Building
I'm at a new blog if anyone wants to continue the conversation. Come on over and join in if you like. Brace yourself, here it is: Seeking Aponia
Sunday, November 25, 2007
TED
I liked this, and I don't usually like sermon-esque things. I'm especially referring to his comments on God not "doing" things. A question, though: can one still call themselves a christian with a hands-off God? Tom Honey would say yes.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/112
PS. Fitch introduced me to TED.com ... I suggest you explore. It's worth the endless hours.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/112
PS. Fitch introduced me to TED.com ... I suggest you explore. It's worth the endless hours.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Religion & Evolution: an unanswered cliche
Just my thoughts for the day, I don't really expect answers, but if you have them... please share:
Many thoughtful believers have, over the past century or so, deemed evolution and religion not in conflict. God is behind evolution. Many theist biologists see God working through the intricacy of evolutionary processes. There are no supposed conflicts. Ok. I like it.
That being said, I have a few questions/potential conflicts that remain unanswered in my head… they may be unanswerable, but I’d like to throw them out there:
1. A fundamental quality that comes with belief in evolution is that the line between species is a very blurry one. There is no “first human” that could be easily delineated from non-human. It was a gradual process that took tens of thousands of years, with as many as three or four species of humans coexisting in different corners of the world. In an anthropocentric religion like Christianity, in which humans are the only creatures with souls, how do we define humanity? How far back do we reach before salvation offered by Jesus is not applicable? Is there one generation in which mom & dad don’t count, but son and daughter do?
2. If our lineage is lucky enough to continue for another million years, our ancestors could very likely be not “human”. Evolution didn’t stop with the arrival of Homo sapiens, at what point does the soul take another step, either forward or back??? How far forward does salvation reach?
3. Most importantly: Do all dogs go to heaven? Why didn’t Jesus come to save the whales? :)
Many thoughtful believers have, over the past century or so, deemed evolution and religion not in conflict. God is behind evolution. Many theist biologists see God working through the intricacy of evolutionary processes. There are no supposed conflicts. Ok. I like it.
That being said, I have a few questions/potential conflicts that remain unanswered in my head… they may be unanswerable, but I’d like to throw them out there:
1. A fundamental quality that comes with belief in evolution is that the line between species is a very blurry one. There is no “first human” that could be easily delineated from non-human. It was a gradual process that took tens of thousands of years, with as many as three or four species of humans coexisting in different corners of the world. In an anthropocentric religion like Christianity, in which humans are the only creatures with souls, how do we define humanity? How far back do we reach before salvation offered by Jesus is not applicable? Is there one generation in which mom & dad don’t count, but son and daughter do?
2. If our lineage is lucky enough to continue for another million years, our ancestors could very likely be not “human”. Evolution didn’t stop with the arrival of Homo sapiens, at what point does the soul take another step, either forward or back??? How far forward does salvation reach?
3. Most importantly: Do all dogs go to heaven? Why didn’t Jesus come to save the whales? :)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Christianity and other belief systems?
Ok, so I’ve written a lot in the other post today, so I’ll try to keep this short so other people can get their ideas in.
So, the question has come up (ala Sbowe and John) about what the deal is with Christians’ views of other religions. Where we grow up obviously has something to do with our beliefs (though I’d include atheistic beliefs there—the Enlightenment didn’t take root and grow up in the East, or the Mid-East, or Africa, but first and foremost in Europe... which was mostly Christian at the time…), so how can Christians reconcile with that? Would Christians have the same views of Jesus if they had grown up in another religious culture?
Anyhow, like I said, I’ve written a lot, so I think I’ll let someone else start this one (maybe John or Sbowe would like to explain their points/questions better than I did?), but I definitely want to get into it—I’ve done a lot of thinking about this in my life, and I don’t think it’s a fatal problem for Christianity. Ach, that’s really enough from me for now—talk to you all soon!
Peace!
Ishmael
So, the question has come up (ala Sbowe and John) about what the deal is with Christians’ views of other religions. Where we grow up obviously has something to do with our beliefs (though I’d include atheistic beliefs there—the Enlightenment didn’t take root and grow up in the East, or the Mid-East, or Africa, but first and foremost in Europe... which was mostly Christian at the time…), so how can Christians reconcile with that? Would Christians have the same views of Jesus if they had grown up in another religious culture?
Anyhow, like I said, I’ve written a lot, so I think I’ll let someone else start this one (maybe John or Sbowe would like to explain their points/questions better than I did?), but I definitely want to get into it—I’ve done a lot of thinking about this in my life, and I don’t think it’s a fatal problem for Christianity. Ach, that’s really enough from me for now—talk to you all soon!
Peace!
Ishmael
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Hey look, look! I'm a mime!
By posting I don’t mean to cut the “Ah-reason, let’s talk” post short. Please, continue this. I love it.
Grace pointed out earlier today that we seem to be slowly defining where the walls between viewpoints lay - A frustrating, but rewarding process. Let it continue. I hope, however, that this blog can not only reiterate differences and build walls between viewpoints but also break walls, or at least make them transparent.
This post: What is the greatest weakness you find in your own beliefs? Which parts of the opposing viewpoints can you most identify with, and does this compromise your stance at all?
Grace pointed out earlier today that we seem to be slowly defining where the walls between viewpoints lay - A frustrating, but rewarding process. Let it continue. I hope, however, that this blog can not only reiterate differences and build walls between viewpoints but also break walls, or at least make them transparent.
This post: What is the greatest weakness you find in your own beliefs? Which parts of the opposing viewpoints can you most identify with, and does this compromise your stance at all?
Ah, reason-- let's talk
Sbowe—thanks for clarifying what you meant in your response. Sometimes I can get pretty defensive if I feel like I’m attacked—‘twas my bad there.
Anyhow, if you’d indulge me, I’d like to try and respond to the points you brought up in your last comment, beginning with “my reason.” I had wondered if we were going to get to this, and it would seem that we’ve now finally entered the argument about what counts as reason. Please forgive me if I go on at a bit of length here, because I think it’s important (see my comments here).
Anyhow, if you’d indulge me, I’d like to try and respond to the points you brought up in your last comment, beginning with “my reason.” I had wondered if we were going to get to this, and it would seem that we’ve now finally entered the argument about what counts as reason. Please forgive me if I go on at a bit of length here, because I think it’s important (see my comments here).
More Dawkins
I haven't watched these yet but I'm sure they're very entertaining.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huEMVJb4Js8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SoSUahUmX0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huEMVJb4Js8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SoSUahUmX0
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