In what ways is the CHRISTIAN faith logically RATIONAL? In what ways is it logically IRRATIONAL?

Question

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In what ways does rationality effect what you believe?

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Answer 1

Rationality:
1. [n] the quality of being consistent with or based on logic
2. [n] the state of having good sense and sound judgment; "his rationality may have been impaired"; "he had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions"

I'll try to address both definitions in each category.

RATIONAL
1.) It is internally imperfect, but still rather consistent. Some point out discrepancies in a few numbers, but they are largely irrelevant.
2.) There are many good moral lessons in the Bible, and certain codes of justice and mercy can and still do apply to civilization and relationships.

IRRATIONAL
1.) Once you reach the New Testament, God is suddenly this being of infinite love... yet also of jealousy, anger, vengeance, etc. This is not based on logic. I could go on about other aspects, but this one is enough.
2.) Many rules are outdated and irrelevant. Furthermore, the methods by which the moral lessons are taught are sometimes detrimental to their purpose. Consider the children killed by a bear or any other instance where violence is used as a solution. One encounters the same problem of contradiction here that he find with God itself as he transitions from the Old to the New Testament.

As for the ways by which rationality affects what I believe, I will resort again to the definition above.
1.) I'm not much of a believer in anything except scientific theories that I will never have the opportunity to personally explore. In that sense, I tend to follow the scientific community (not always; abiogenesis, for example, is questionable to me, though I am unable to offer a superior model) because it has proven itself to be reliable. I do not attach my very existence to these beliefs; thus, even if they are proven wrong or are edited, I am willing to adapt. Logic, then, is essential to my mindset.
2.) As "good sense" and "sound judgment" are highly subjective, one might say my openness to supernatural and paranormal phenomena as well as to any accounts of evidence thereof is not particularly... sound. However, I argue that an open mind is worth far more than a closed one, even if it bears no fruit. I am, however, inclined to believe in personal experience as the best sort of certainty despite the possibility of mental illness or other perception-altering conditions. This often pits me against other atheists who argue that the collective experience is always superior to that of any individual, but I feel this is a critical aspect of mental availability to one's surroundings. I could certainly elaborate on this, but I feel I am now straying somewhat beyond the scope of the question.

In short, rationality as both a synonym for logic and a term for "soundness of mind" is essential in my way of thinking, though, in the latter case, I am of course inclined to say this of myself while being skeptical of the soundness of others' minds...

Answer 2

The word rational means having to do with reason. The reason for Christianity was to change the world, to put it on a path of justice. Christ is a symbol of injustice. He died a cruel death. Only the poor were crucified. It is a horrible death, you hold yourself up until your strenght is gone then you suffocate. The wealthy were mercifully beheaded. Christ's message of compassion was a much needed idea in the ancient world and the religion spread quickly. I have questioned and found that the questions don't matter. If he were found only to be a man, I would still follow. If he doesn't give us an afterlife then the comfort, love, joy that is given on earth is enough for me. That's my reason.

Answer 3

Rationality is key to what I believe. Christianity is built on rationality and evidence. The whole point of the gospels and the book of Acts is to lay out the history and events that the eyewitnesses to Jesus life experienced. Luke, for example, goes out of his way to pin down the dates and circumstances of Jesus birth by reference to secular governors of the day.

I personally believe most of the key elements of Christian theology can be derived by starting with nothing and building first an argument for the existence of God, then deducing his attributes. At some point you begin to augment that discussion with the Bible, but only after you show the logical necessity of a God that reveals himself to us.

There are probably elements of irrationality in Christianity but they stand on such a firm foundation of fact that it's hard to see them as irrational.

Answer 4

Wow... this is a very very big question - it's a career sized question.

I'm not at all certain of how to begin answering you because there are so many aspects to god-belief according to christianity.

From the point of view of the power holders... it's logical to propigate the lies that god-belief are founded upon, assuming, of course, that wielding the reins of power remains a desire. (... this is like taking candy from babies - a completely logical act.)
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From the point of view of the faithful... quite the opposite is true, assuming the the aim of belief is knowing the truth and gaining the promised rewards of the bible. (... this is like getting screwed with a hot poker - a less logical act can't be found anywhere.)
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I'll quite the question here.... it truly is way to broad to give it it's due response here, but thanks for offering it just the same.

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 5

i'm a muslim, and that i think in Jesus, so shouldn't i additionally into salvation? in addition to, i call for an evidence from Christian, why they placed Jesus in each and every of the terrific way, and in different hand they placed the father, the God, the author of the Universe, in simple terms like a secondary actor? i honestly call for that

Answer 6

obviously no one cares