Desert wrote:
During my approximately 27 years away from the religion of my childhood (Christianity), there were two things that consistently nagged at me:
1. The existence of evil. I was always able to observe evil in this world, and so were all my agnostic and athiest friends. It was difficult to defend the idea of evil in a world that came into existence by chance. And it was even more difficult to understand why we felt so strongly about it. It felt like there was a natural order to things; a right and a wrong. I didn't want to believe it, yet I was easily offended by selfishness and rudeness in the workplace, by wars and cruelty, by greed and pride. Maybe this sense of right and wrong simply evolved along with all the rest of the complexity in the world. But if so, how could I continue to care? And most importantly, how could I bring children into such a meaningless and awful place? We're all sentenced to death at birth. That seemed meaningless and horrible to me. I felt that all parents were "small gods" in themselves, bringing children into a horrid place, and thereby sentencing them to suffering and eventually death. The only book of the Bible I could appreciate in those days was Ecclesiastes. If there was such evil in the world, was there also good? Where did I get off thinking I could identify evil or see the faults in this world? Wasn't it all just meaningless? Why did I feel so strongly about such things. Why couldn't I just eat, drink and be merry.
2. The wonder of the universe. I've always been in awe of the complexity of nature. A human eye, a humming bird, the billions of stars. Did it all come from nothing? And why aren't there millions of transitional forms in the fossil record. Why was there a cambrian explosion around the era when the creation allegedly occurred. Why is this particular planet so well suited for life? And why do humans seek more than food, drink and shelter.
MT made (another) interesting point, stating that if one really believed the Bible and/or in the existence of God, how could that person be interested in much of anything else other than reading the Bible and going to church? And I agree so wholeheartedly with this. We do "become new creatures," when we are finally convinced of God's amazing grace. Sorry to use churchy words there, but "amazing" and "grace" are two words I've only begun to finally understand. And I do think the true evidence of a real conversion is a desire for God's presence and truth. A desire to keep God's commandments. I think it was C.S. Lewis who said that religion is either of no importance or of utmost importance. It can't be merely moderately important.
Another author that is worth reading is Pascal. In particular, Pascal's "Pensees." It's a thoughtful, disorganized (he died before having a chance to complete it) book. I found it very helpful.
I also agree with Mountaineer concerning Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches. That's a good choice. There are many others, but that's a good as place as any to start. And this is coming from a guy who went to a MSL High School and hated every minute of the religion that was taught there. Luther was a really interesting thinker, and the Reformation he and others started is worth studying as well.
I'm also slowly working my way through "Pensees", and I'm really enjoying it. Your first point reminded me of this quote from Pascal "Those who cannot see the vanity of this world are indeed very vain."
I like where Pascal describes how we use diversions or distractions to keep us from boredom, but it precisely this boredom that forces us to ask the tough questions of life which can then lead us to God. I think if someone wants to live a life without God then they should fill their lives with endless distractions (ie money, work, play, sports, sex, news, video games, blogs, politics, etc) - fortunately (or unfortunately) the foundation of our society is built on providing us with these diversions or idols. Now, these things aren't necessarily bad in themselves but once they drown out God then there is obviously a problem. Image how boring and peaceful the world would be if we were all content to sit in our homes with the joy of God...the horror!
Xan wrote:
MT,
"The Word" isn't the same as "The Bible". We're not meant to interpret the Bible in a vacuum, and there's a lot more to Christianity than just the Bible, all of which has been handed down from generation to generation: the Church, the Sacraments, the succession of pastors down from the apostles via laying of hands, traditions, interpretations, etc.
It's not like the Bible was dropped from a spaceship and everybody has to figure out what it means. The Church was given the deposit of faith and the Sacraments. It produced the Bible. It doesn't really make sense to consider the Bible apart from the Church.
That is why if I ever decide to become a "Church-going Christian" that I would likely chose the Catholic Church, since I find sola scriptura difficult to reconcile. Although maybe that is just my immature rebellious ways that need to be broken down.
Mountaineer wrote:
Gosso,
Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered "The Great Divorce". Sounds interesting.
... Mountaineer
Great! I think you'll enjoy it.