Comments for Believers and Doubters Blog

Comment on Why Fundamentalism Will Fail by Karl

Karl — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:01:20 +0000

Chris,
Like you I am discomfited, unsettled perhaps, when I come across notions that contradict or appear alien to the Christian orthodoxies that I’ve grown up with, such as the nature of Christ being divinity clothed in humanity. To paraphrase a line/thought in Rabbi Sacks’ essay, “I am thankful to God for believers or those sympathetic questionners of settled dogma because, I’d like to believe, they prompt not unbelief but a reawakening: to reaffirmation of faith, humility and further study.” I was born an Adventist Christian but I now choose to be one. I choose to relate to my ongoing exposure to theories with which I’m previously unfamiliar as part of my maturation process.
One result of conversations such as this is that I frequently turn to the writings of authors/scholars whom I trust to help me wrestle with the “new” information. So it is in this spirit that I’ve turned to the textbook authored by Richard Rice titled, The Reign of God: An Introduction to Christian Theology from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective. I have begun reading the chapter, The Doctrine of Christ. I haven’t finished my reading and reflection on the chapter, however. So, I suppose I might have more to say on the matter when I do.
I would also commend Fritz Guy’s, Thinking Theologically, to you. Not the kind of book one skips through uncomprehendingly, it provides a model that the serious Christian might find indispensable when trying to wrestle with unorthodox, heterodox or other notions that conflict with one’s current theological understanding, in the spirit of “present truth.”

Comment on Sabbath Appreciation by chris

chris — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:38:05 +0000

and Amen!
Yes these golden hour gave us an opportunity to savor the Sabbath is a most soulful setting.

Comment on Why Fundamentalism Will Fail by chris

chris — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:26:53 +0000

Hey Karl,
Thanks for your insight. I do agree in the evolution of truth as it is very clear from scripture and from our Adventist heritage. The issue for me is the essential or core of the faith is considered debatable.
What gives me heartburn is that what I consider settled truth, such as the divinity of Jesus is considered a debatable item within Christendom.
This has major consequence. Emmanuel becomes meaningless, the cruxification loses its saving power, and as the apostle Paul stated in 1 Cor. 15, our faith is in vain.
if Jesus is reduced to just another religious leader like Buddha or Mohamed then Christianity has lost its power.
Paul or any of Christian fore-bearers did not see the essentials of the faith debatable. Are we more enlightened that we can reconsider these?

Comment on Why Fundamentalism Will Fail by Karl

Karl — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:23:42 +0000

Chris, I wouldn’t call it hubris. However, I don’t see it in quite the binary terms you do: fundamentalism or cafeteria. As I see it, the contrast/alternative is between faith and fundamentalism. In my conception, fundamentalism is a stance, a mindset that forgets that “spiritual things are spiritually discerned.” A fundamentalist stance rules out the likelihood that my understanding can change within the context of an ongoing conversation within my faith community and as moved/informed by the Holy Spirit. We “see through a glass darkly,” the Apostle Paul reminds us. Fundamentalism in my conception says “truth” is fixed and unchangeable; it precludes the notion of “present truth” which was the animating motive force in early Adventism. Had this not been the case, our forebears would not have reconsidered their understanding of scripture regarding the second coming following the events of 1844.

Comment on Some Fun Facts about the Bible by Sitesell

Sitesell — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:30:03 +0000

Such a good site. I am saving this page.

Comment on Why Fundamentalism Will Fail by chris

chris — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:44:15 +0000

Link I meant to share
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=490#1

Comment on Why Fundamentalism Will Fail by chris

chris — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:25:10 +0000

This may come off sounding like a statement of hubris, but my faith formation is not subjected to evolving scientific discovery with the tortuous journey that subjects one to with its twists and turns.
I do not consider myself a fundamentalist, but would prefer to wear that label than become a member of the religious cafeteria.
see study below.
http://www.bestwayout.com/if/

Comment on Some Fun Facts about the Bible by Karl

Karl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:08:45 +0000

Quite a potpourri about the bible. Here are a couple books along the lines of the post that you may find of interest:
“How to Read the Bible” by James Kugel
“Whose Bible is it?” by Jaroslav Pelikan

Comment on Hello Fellow B&Ders! by Marsha Scialdo

Marsha Scialdo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:59:56 +0000

Chris suggested I post here since I will not be at Sabbath School on Saturday, November 8. My thoughts on the end of Chapter 1 pp. 16-26:

First: What about the lack of utility of the high god; the creation story and its relationship to Mesopotania! Interesting ways to look at these things and actually somewhat freeing from the narrower ways that we have followed.

The concepts of Buddhist Nirvana and Indian Brahman resonated with me re: nature of the divine and humanity as one;the divine being beyond competence of language and ridding ourselves of self-preoccupation, greed, etc. I think that this is really quite in line with Christian meditation–silence, meditation, with sometimes feeling we are all one. Just that most of us have not made that leap to keep on working at it. We could use more doing and less thinking, and perhaps not following pre-determined doctrine and theology that seems not to leave much flexibility to explore and grow in our spirituality.

Were wars conducted in the name of Buddhism or Hinduism as the Abrahamic religions have done and continue to carry on?

Have a wonderful Sabbath

Comment on Ideology and Dogma by Chris

Chris — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:16:58 +0000

Karl,
One of your many admirable traits is your willingness to engage on a truth journey independent of ideology. God given truth is eternal, not relative, and transcends our human containers. This takes much courage these days in our post-modern culture. Although I admire the non-stove pipe era, I find that many are not comfortable outside the echo chamber. So this discomfort has adopted a “can we all get along” mentality that ignore the merits and the quality of the argument, and instead use an emotional filter to determine worthiness. So empty words of hope, served with syrup becomes the new pied piper siren of the gullible. I pray that we are given better spiritual eyesight as we traverse this era heavy on perception, but light on reality.
Your research will be quite helpful in providing appropriate guard rails along this truth path.