2007-04-06 05:16:17 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Your thoughts?" that is...
2007-04-06 05:18:52 · update #1
shaolt2002: What does that tell you?
2007-04-06 05:20:48 · update #2
Agreed, for the most part.
2007-04-06 05:18:49 · answer #1 · answered by Some Dude 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That's certainly a factor with many people.
Look, it's HARD to follow where logic, reason, and the evidence take you if you've been a believer all your life, or were raised that way. Many times all of your family members are deep into the religion...denying it often means cutting yourself off from your family, accepting that all these people you love and respect are flat-out wrong, and suffering TONS of family pressure to "come back into the faith." That's a big burden for anyone to face. It takes a great amount of courage and will to break away from that nice, safe, delusional coccoon. Often it's not just family -- friends, people you work with, your entire social structure may consider you "outcast" if you leave their faith. It's really, really hard.
One of the main purposes of religion is to provide just such a social context that encourages family and peer pressure -- it keeps people in line. Behavior and thought that are approved of by the religion are rewarded in that social structure...if you are a fervent believer, you get respect, stature, and authority in that peer and family group. If you waver or behave in ways they don't approve, you get admonishment, disapproval, and ostracism from that peer and family group. Nobody wants to be kicked out of their social group, so the religion forms a self-reinforcing social structure. Accuracy or truth of the doctrine has little or nothing to do with it, it's about peer approval or disapproval.
I salute those who have have the courage and fortitude to follow facts wherever they lead, even if that means ostracism from their social group. Not everyone can do that -- and those who can deserve our respect.
Peace.
2007-04-06 12:28:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are so far off of the mark. The intelligent Christian realizes that the world is so complicated that God must exist. If He exists then He must know me better than I know myself because He created me. Because He created me and knows what is best for me then I would be wise to try to understand what His will is for my life. As I read the Bible I have come to understand that God's will for me is to know Him and establish a relationship with Him. I have not regretted making that decision.
You, however, are determined to live in your "enlightened" mind, choosing to make your own decisions based on what you perceive are your needs and desires. Unfortunately, you cannot see future and even if you could, your desires change as often as the wind changes. Look into your own heart. Tell me that you haven't done things that you're ashamed of. Not things that you accidently have done but things that you did knowing that they were wrong but you did them anyway.
If you are blind to yourself then how can you claim to have any insight into anything at all.
2007-04-06 12:48:47 · answer #3 · answered by Bud 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is not emotion-based. Faith is not based on personal insight. Faith is based upon the witnessing of the Holy Spirit to the individual. This IS NOT personal insight, but revelation, like being in a dark room and suddenly having a bright light turned on.
2007-04-06 12:24:08 · answer #4 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No I disagree. They must believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but the bible is not to be taken literally. I can see how a person can be a Christian and try to live as Jesus intended and be intelligent and logical. It is their insight that puts the bible in a proper perspective.
2007-04-06 12:24:00 · answer #5 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As one of those intelligent christians, I do not allow my emotions to drive me to do anything. The reason for that is those emotions do not come directly from God, but from myself in which I am faulty anyways. There are situations that I must trust God on and not my own understanding because I will make mistakes that are not always healthy for myself and therefore could lead to death. Hmmmmm, I would rather not die.
2007-04-06 12:21:28 · answer #6 · answered by waeyeaw 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
or maybe because they can accept somethings are beyond their comprehension and see the evolution tale for what it is, man arrogantly thinking he can comprehend and explain everything. Also, Darwin's theory leads to ever increasingly complex genes. We should have the most complex genome while insects the least. fact is moths have 600 pairs of genes monkeys 24 pairs while we have 23 pairs.
2007-04-06 12:24:40 · answer #7 · answered by Alan S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In otherwords, Intelligent Christians are dishonest and cowardly. I disagree. Intelligent Christians believe precisely BECAUSE they are following their insight.
Do you ever have anything nice to say about anybody, Meatbot?
2007-04-06 12:28:47 · answer #8 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think when some concepts become uncomfortably true some people might "run home to mama" so to speak, and then others are just unable to go deeper, and some just QUIT, just because... like my mother did. It's all in the psychology.
_()_
2007-04-06 12:21:36 · answer #9 · answered by vinslave 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not agree with your statement. I have my reasons, has nothing to do with emotions and everything to do with being convinced that Jesus is the Messiah of the world.
2007-04-06 12:46:23 · answer #10 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insight varies from person to person.
2007-04-06 12:23:38 · answer #11 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋