If Christians don't think for themselves because we believe the Bible...?

Question

What about other books? Do Muslims not think for themselves because they believe the Koran? Do Confucianists not think for themselves because they believe the writings of Confucius? Do Jews not think for themselves because they believe the Talmud and the Torah? Do atheists not think for themselves if they believe Darwin's "On the Origin of Species and the Preservation of Favored Races" or other such books that teach evolution? Darwin was a racist. He lived in the 1800's so that shouldn't surprise anyone. Besides books that are known to be fictional because the authors said they were, which books, if you believe them, qualify you as someone who doesn't think for himself or herself? Just curious.

Answer 1

Which of your questions do you want answered?

A Christian who does not question his/her faith can be said not to think for his/herself.

Answer 2

You bring up a good point. Anyone who reads, listens, etc. to a source, whether human, spiritual, written, etc. has a choice to believe it and suscribe to it, or to reject it as false, skewed, lacking, or they might pick and choose what they believe. The thing about the Bible is, if any of it is false, how can I trust the other parts? If it is the inspired Word of God, how can I deny what it says? If it has been preserved all this time, how has it prevailed? If it changes my life as I study and apply it to my life, how can I deny the power therein? If God speaks to me through His written Word is such a way that I find new truth and know it comes from Him, how can I deny He is real and alive? If the Bible has never been wrong in advising me, how can I not trust in it's advice? If it's the only thing in my life to bring me true peace, true joy, true assurance, true love ......how can I doubt my Lord? The Bible has convinced me of it's truth. I have been thinking all these years about it's words and have found no disappointments, no lies, no misdirection, no evil intent towards me........only blessings that can't be found elsewhere. I am a critical thinker. I test things continually before I accept them as truth. The Bible has passed all my tests. But, then my attitude has always been "if this is truth, I want to know" rather than "this has no chance with me, I've closed my mind and labled this foolish".

Answer 3

I think you posed the question wrong.

Anybody who takes what they read as the absolute truth, no matter what, does not think for themselves. But take people who read, just to pick ONE of the things you mentioned, the bible, and believe some of it, because they can see how it COULD be true, or they can relate it to personal experience...just because they read the bible, and perhaps believe some of it, this does not mean they cannot think for themselves. (i am agnostic, i will not speak for or against any religions).

take something else, for example, that doesn't relate to religion, just to point out what you are saying about thinking for ones self.

take the news, you watch it on tv, even the legitimate news sources, cbs, nbc, abc, cnn etc. the newspapers that are considered legitimate sources of news...........there are people who watch the news ALL the time, read the newspaper everyday. SOME of those people will believe EVERYTHING they see/read, no matter how far fetched. it's in the news, therefore it MUST be true. SOME other people will be skeptical, thinking, it COULD be true, but i don't know that from what is being presented, and they think about it. (example, there was a patient in the hospital that i worked at, the news reported that he had died in my hospital.........i'm sure this was quite remarkable to the patient in question, cause he was very much alive, not even on life support anymore)

so, does reading the newspaper, or watching the news mean you can't think for yourself? no. does it mean that some people who watch it/read it don't? yes.

i think the same goes for people who are religious.

Answer 4

1. Somehow archeologists continue to find relics that prove the Bible's authenticity.
2. If all "religions" contraidct each other in someway, then by logic, one can only be true, proving the others false.
3. Muslims believe in one god, Hindus believe in many gods, Buddha believe in the path to Nirvana. Each contradict each other in their beliefs. Only one could be right.
4. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT THRU ME." This contradicts other religions by Him also stating that "He and the Father are One (John 10:30, 1 John 5:7).
5. For all the previous Bible prophecy to come true as predicted, the odds all come true would be 1:1(followed by 93 zeroes)
6. All other religions show a way for a man to come to god on his terms. Christianity shows God making the way to reconcile the relationship lost because of sin.
7. I have experienced God. Have you?

Answer 5

The allegation that someone does not think for themselves is one of those that should be left on the sideline.

In a sense, none of us think for ourselves. Our thoughts are shaped by our culture, by our peculiar experiences, by what our parents did or did not teach us.

I think what we can reasonably expect of each other on R & S is a respectful hearing. And by that I do not mean that we need to be especially polite. I enjoy reading all the thoughtful posts (I admit getting a little annoyed at the answers that are simply flip) even if I totally disagree.

Answer 6

You really love muddying the waters when you don't understand things, don't you?

But then, "fuzz" is all that matters, eh?

.