I love your writings Pete. However I have a pressing question, what does this mean? Especially for one who grew up in the church, being taught that the Bible says X, Y, and Z. That verse being used to describe Jesus. How can one reconcile the knowledge you speak of, with spiritual matters. It feels as if my entire worldview is being destroyed, which I’m not against…I welcome it. But…what does it all mean?
I think I understand, but could you be more specific abut what you are referring to by “it” in the last question? I want to make sure I know what you are struggling with.
Essentially I have for the past months been breaking free from the tradition I grew up in—especially after learning about your writings, and the contents within…I feel isolated in my faith. It’s not a bad thing, again as I welcome it. Still, whenever I’m having conversations with certain Christians I find myself saying “WELLL, that’s true however what about this thing that doesn’t make sense.” Almost always there’s a misconception of what I’m saying. Of course I’m not saying I’m omniscient, but the more I learn…the more I realize that the “black and white” view of the Bible I’ve been given…is totally wrong. It feels as if I’m not a Christian anymore…from the thought that perhaps hell is not eternal, our conception of sin, the conception of God’s first reaction is to kill us, and even the entire concept of the disillusionment that the church, myself included, have: from the shying away from sex, to having sexual urges…this contradiction of soul. Yes, there are guidelines. However, often when one feels a sexual urge…it is immediately regarded as something evil—given by Satan, therefore must be purged. I hope I didn’t get off topic, I have a habit of yapping a lot.
I understand. I think a big part of this journey is decoupling a change in how one understands the Bible and the nature of faith with a rejection of God. Equating the two is the rhetoric that is baked into fundamentalist Christianity, precisely for the purpose of keeping people from acknowledging what that are experiencing. That gives us a small God, indeed. And, of course, much of that rhetoric is rooted in biblical inerrancy, which is intended to take off the table the very possibility of exploring and interrogating the text and one’s faith.
I have lots of these kinds of discussions with a coworker who more or less will limit himself from discovering the parts of his study that might cause him discomfort. In other words, he stops and calls it a day just before the real study begins. It's so curious to me that one would fit their faith within their own comfort limits. It's increasingly harder to relate to that although I understand it.
I feel this so much. A lot of what you are saying is the same way I've been feeling. I am increasingly feeling isolated through, what I am considering, my new level of critical thinking that I simply did not possess before Data>Dogma, B4NP, BibleProject, etc. I absolutely love the feeling though of these revealed understandings that I have never thought about.
Thanks Pete. As always, things are more complicated than the silky-smooth sanitized slam-dunks we have so often been taught. Your summary of the academic consensus is much-needed. Even though my three hyphenated phrases are not. 😊
One thing I understand is that much of the Bible is informed by other scripture and the context of the times is immensely important; I found this discussion very interesting. The Bible to me is just another great example of how mankind has struggled with his faith and that the spiritual journey is just that, a journey with lots of twists and turns, dead-ends and reversals. I think the best way to understand the Bible is that although inspired by God it was written by man with all of his fallabilities. It’s so very much like the church of Jesus Christ, lots of variations but also the institution set up for spreading the Gospel but with our human frailties inherent in it.
PS My NRSV (updated version) says “Look the young woman is with child…”
Re: Theological Beer Camp - I'll believe it when I see it. We went last year [specifically] to see you - but we'll be there again this year because it was all so amazing!
I love your writings Pete. However I have a pressing question, what does this mean? Especially for one who grew up in the church, being taught that the Bible says X, Y, and Z. That verse being used to describe Jesus. How can one reconcile the knowledge you speak of, with spiritual matters. It feels as if my entire worldview is being destroyed, which I’m not against…I welcome it. But…what does it all mean?
I think I understand, but could you be more specific abut what you are referring to by “it” in the last question? I want to make sure I know what you are struggling with.
Essentially I have for the past months been breaking free from the tradition I grew up in—especially after learning about your writings, and the contents within…I feel isolated in my faith. It’s not a bad thing, again as I welcome it. Still, whenever I’m having conversations with certain Christians I find myself saying “WELLL, that’s true however what about this thing that doesn’t make sense.” Almost always there’s a misconception of what I’m saying. Of course I’m not saying I’m omniscient, but the more I learn…the more I realize that the “black and white” view of the Bible I’ve been given…is totally wrong. It feels as if I’m not a Christian anymore…from the thought that perhaps hell is not eternal, our conception of sin, the conception of God’s first reaction is to kill us, and even the entire concept of the disillusionment that the church, myself included, have: from the shying away from sex, to having sexual urges…this contradiction of soul. Yes, there are guidelines. However, often when one feels a sexual urge…it is immediately regarded as something evil—given by Satan, therefore must be purged. I hope I didn’t get off topic, I have a habit of yapping a lot.
I understand. I think a big part of this journey is decoupling a change in how one understands the Bible and the nature of faith with a rejection of God. Equating the two is the rhetoric that is baked into fundamentalist Christianity, precisely for the purpose of keeping people from acknowledging what that are experiencing. That gives us a small God, indeed. And, of course, much of that rhetoric is rooted in biblical inerrancy, which is intended to take off the table the very possibility of exploring and interrogating the text and one’s faith.
Christian ≠ Fundamentalism.
I have lots of these kinds of discussions with a coworker who more or less will limit himself from discovering the parts of his study that might cause him discomfort. In other words, he stops and calls it a day just before the real study begins. It's so curious to me that one would fit their faith within their own comfort limits. It's increasingly harder to relate to that although I understand it.
I feel this so much. A lot of what you are saying is the same way I've been feeling. I am increasingly feeling isolated through, what I am considering, my new level of critical thinking that I simply did not possess before Data>Dogma, B4NP, BibleProject, etc. I absolutely love the feeling though of these revealed understandings that I have never thought about.
Thanks Pete. As always, things are more complicated than the silky-smooth sanitized slam-dunks we have so often been taught. Your summary of the academic consensus is much-needed. Even though my three hyphenated phrases are not. 😊
😁
One thing I understand is that much of the Bible is informed by other scripture and the context of the times is immensely important; I found this discussion very interesting. The Bible to me is just another great example of how mankind has struggled with his faith and that the spiritual journey is just that, a journey with lots of twists and turns, dead-ends and reversals. I think the best way to understand the Bible is that although inspired by God it was written by man with all of his fallabilities. It’s so very much like the church of Jesus Christ, lots of variations but also the institution set up for spreading the Gospel but with our human frailties inherent in it.
PS My NRSV (updated version) says “Look the young woman is with child…”
I like the analogy! The divinity of the Bible doesn't take away from the humanity. And that human voice is diverse—so perhaps God’s voice is too.
Besides....how could Handel have composed "The Messiah" ??
Re: Theological Beer Camp - I'll believe it when I see it. We went last year [specifically] to see you - but we'll be there again this year because it was all so amazing!