I don't have much time to write on this, so consider this an introduction.... I just learned about the letter from major Islamic leaders to Christian Leaders entitled, "A Common Word" I read through it briefly. The full document is on that website - click "Downloads and Translations" on the left and download the PDF of the letter in language you can read (it is in English, Arabic, French and Italian)...
Although I would disagree with some of the theological points made about Christianity, it's the "spirit" of the letter I like. One commentator responded by saying the Islamic community didn't go far enough, stating that if modern Christians had to apologize for the Crusades, then today's Islamic clerics should apologize for Terrorism and 911. From Christ perspective, he forgave people BEFORE they were even aware of the need to "apologize". "Father, forgive them" he said on the cross. Stephen prayed a similar prayer as he was being stoned to death in Acts 7:60. In Romans 12:17-21 we are encouraged as Christians to live at peace with all men and not to repay evil for evil but to leave it up to God. This, I might add, should be done in the heart, showing authentic warmth and positive good will toward the vilest and cruel person. It's not easy, but 1 Peter 2:21 says that we were called to suffer, not to get revenge. I say, let's embrace the spirit of the letter and grow to be more authentic in our personal faith. This, along with honest and loving dialog in which we share our faith - this will win the hearts of those who reject Christ more than ugly vengeful words.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Fall Begins
September is always full of beginnings for me - I have worked at the University of Maryland for over 20 years, so I am accustomed to starting the academic year in a flurry of activity at work, at home, and with the church.
Many think of January as the time of new years resolutions and such, but the changes in September are much more pronounced. The seasons change, the new school year begins, and vacations are all over.
I want to encourage others to look at this time of year as a period of spiritual growth and change that can point us all toward God. As it is written, "[God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:17). Use this time of year to glorify God and remind yourself and others that God is the God of beginnings.
Many think of January as the time of new years resolutions and such, but the changes in September are much more pronounced. The seasons change, the new school year begins, and vacations are all over.
I want to encourage others to look at this time of year as a period of spiritual growth and change that can point us all toward God. As it is written, "[God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:17). Use this time of year to glorify God and remind yourself and others that God is the God of beginnings.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Fighting Ignorance
I just found a website that fosters what many may call "free thought". That is, this site promotes a philosophy of not having your thoughts or ideas controlled specifically by religion... at least this is how it seems when I run across such sites. The site (Thomas Aikenhead Society)is a blog spot and I can actually appreciate where the author is coming from. Thomas Aikenhead was, in my opinion, murdered because he was seeking truth and had questions that the religious authorities had not and probably could not answer in a satisfactory way. Thomas was only 18 or 19 years old when he was hung as a heretic.
I wrote the following on that blog web site in response to an entry that exposed the ridiculous assertion that Satan helped a turtle survive s fire...
There are many web sites and blog spots that promote free thinking. Here are just a few: These sites attempt to promote thinking that is not being "compromised by authority, tradition, or any other dogma." (from Wikipedia). Yet, there is an inherent prejudice in this approach which does not make it completely free; an anti-religious bias that assumes anything that can not be fully comprehended by the human mind should be ignored, rejected, or marginalized when attempting to think through or consider an idea. To not have your ideas or thoughts be compromised is one thing. However, if you spend any time examining such web sites or books based on this framework or world view, you will quickly discover a strong anti-faith bias - especially faith that claims to be based on some type of absolute fact or truth.
As I attempted to explain in my quote above, sarcasm, ad hominem attacks, and general condemnation of others should not be done based on the ignorance or obvious atrocities of a few or of even one. I propose honest and straight forward presentations with declarative propositions that either stand of fall on their own merit, evidence, and reasonableness. We may ultimately differ, but (1) let's be honest about why we choose the philosophical view have and (2) let's make our arguments be based on honest observations. What we can not prove (i.e. God) should not be categorically dismissed just because you can not produce an experiment in a lab. Try measuring love or quantifying hate - where do you begin?
I wrote the following on that blog web site in response to an entry that exposed the ridiculous assertion that Satan helped a turtle survive s fire...
There are plenty of religious people who do not think, yet this does not make all faith based people into idiots. Let each fool independently stand alone. I have a solid belief and faith in God as a Christian and yet I continuously seek the truth-it is a journey. The murder of Thomas Aikenhead, as well as other evil actions in history (e.g. the Murder of Michael Servetus) condemns the perpetrators, not the ignorant. But the ignorant, without effort to seek facts nor truth, are personally accountable for their ignorance. Albeit, no one can know everything, but by speaking boldly and sarcastically about such evils and the ignorance that perpetuate such actions dangerously put you in a similar - although different basis – position. Just be careful that you, your readers, other contributors, and those who strongly hold to an agnostic or atheistic approach to life don’t turn into the evil and ignorance you so strongly oppose…. After all, we are all only human beings.
There are many web sites and blog spots that promote free thinking. Here are just a few: These sites attempt to promote thinking that is not being "compromised by authority, tradition, or any other dogma." (from Wikipedia). Yet, there is an inherent prejudice in this approach which does not make it completely free; an anti-religious bias that assumes anything that can not be fully comprehended by the human mind should be ignored, rejected, or marginalized when attempting to think through or consider an idea. To not have your ideas or thoughts be compromised is one thing. However, if you spend any time examining such web sites or books based on this framework or world view, you will quickly discover a strong anti-faith bias - especially faith that claims to be based on some type of absolute fact or truth.
As I attempted to explain in my quote above, sarcasm, ad hominem attacks, and general condemnation of others should not be done based on the ignorance or obvious atrocities of a few or of even one. I propose honest and straight forward presentations with declarative propositions that either stand of fall on their own merit, evidence, and reasonableness. We may ultimately differ, but (1) let's be honest about why we choose the philosophical view have and (2) let's make our arguments be based on honest observations. What we can not prove (i.e. God) should not be categorically dismissed just because you can not produce an experiment in a lab. Try measuring love or quantifying hate - where do you begin?
Thursday, March 1, 2007
The Minor Things
Most of us go through life dealing with the daily details of eating, sleeping, bathing, working, playing and socializing - we raise our family, spend time with our friends, and generally pass the time and the hours doing stuff. When you look at our lives from an eternal perspective, it's really pretty pointless: we are born, we live, we die. What matters in the end? This question has haunted mankind for all of recorded history. Why are we here? What is my purpose?
Rick Warren's book, the Purpose Driven Life, and all of it's spinoffs have made him (or someone) a lot of money. I have a copy. Rick basically packages faith in simplistic language that many people can grasp. It's good if you read it and apply it, but my desire is to go deeper, more profound. To contemplate the meaning of life may seem like a waste of time, and it can be if there is no hint of reality included in the endeavor. However, if we as people can be fully engaged in life, and yet avoid the trappings of living and being overwhelmed by the minor things in life, then we are starting to understand.
As a man of faith, I understand that only the eternal things matter. If we actually evolved from some primordial slime that was struck by lightning, then no matter how hard you try, there simply is not meaning in life - it's an accident, and one man's definition is as good as another's. But, if we were created by God, then the contemplations of life have value - we may never comprehend what and who we are, but the endeavor and the effort to go deeper and deeper into the profound has merit. Seeking truth and living life, then requires that we learn how to put the minor things of life into perspective quickly. I'm not simply talking about life and death - these are deep enough in that death helps us focus on life more clearly. No, I mean going beyond death and seeking to understand what truth is - if God created us, then which God? Which spiritual world view is valid for they can not all be true - they are mutually exclusive.
In short, the minor things really are small and should be overcome easily by those who see the more transcendent issues of life and eternity. This can not be done without faith and have any real meaning.
Rick Warren's book, the Purpose Driven Life, and all of it's spinoffs have made him (or someone) a lot of money. I have a copy. Rick basically packages faith in simplistic language that many people can grasp. It's good if you read it and apply it, but my desire is to go deeper, more profound. To contemplate the meaning of life may seem like a waste of time, and it can be if there is no hint of reality included in the endeavor. However, if we as people can be fully engaged in life, and yet avoid the trappings of living and being overwhelmed by the minor things in life, then we are starting to understand.
As a man of faith, I understand that only the eternal things matter. If we actually evolved from some primordial slime that was struck by lightning, then no matter how hard you try, there simply is not meaning in life - it's an accident, and one man's definition is as good as another's. But, if we were created by God, then the contemplations of life have value - we may never comprehend what and who we are, but the endeavor and the effort to go deeper and deeper into the profound has merit. Seeking truth and living life, then requires that we learn how to put the minor things of life into perspective quickly. I'm not simply talking about life and death - these are deep enough in that death helps us focus on life more clearly. No, I mean going beyond death and seeking to understand what truth is - if God created us, then which God? Which spiritual world view is valid for they can not all be true - they are mutually exclusive.
In short, the minor things really are small and should be overcome easily by those who see the more transcendent issues of life and eternity. This can not be done without faith and have any real meaning.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Starting From The Beginning
I don't have time to create a personal web-site, so I guess blogging is the next best thing. Since I am just starting out, I would like to introduce myself to anyone who visits - not the normal name, rank and serial number stuff, but more on a philosophical level - who I am and what you are likely to find.
First and foremost, I am a man of faith - there will be more about that in the days that come, but for now, you should understand that my faith requires that I use both my mind and my heart. It is a rational faith, and to some degree a journey - seeking both reality and truth. As Indiana Jones exposes, "Archaeology is the search for facts... not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall." I'm not an archaeologist, but when it come to faith, my searching must include facts. However, because faith involves the unseen and to some degree, the unprovable, it is "philosophical" and thus, involves the search for truth.
For me, this is the beginning. Most people don't think deeply about life - we seek to earn a living, take care of our daily responsibilities, have some fun, and all-in-all, go to bed each night feeling OK and safe. When people go deeper than these things, really good things happen, really bad things happen, conflict and controversy happen, and emotions, passions, and true identity are exposed. We begin to see what people are made of, and where their "lines in the sand" are at a particular moment in time. To be sure, we all will change over time. Today I believe this is important, and tomorrow, that may change. But for now, for the moment, we all have a position. The questions I have are... Are you willing to expose your true position to others in real dialog? Are you going to remain isolated from humanity? Are you willing to test your world view? Are you even aware that you have a world view, a framework that includes beliefs, perceptions of reality, and facts that make up who you are?
Enough for now... I'm late as always in dealing with the trappings of life.
First and foremost, I am a man of faith - there will be more about that in the days that come, but for now, you should understand that my faith requires that I use both my mind and my heart. It is a rational faith, and to some degree a journey - seeking both reality and truth. As Indiana Jones exposes, "Archaeology is the search for facts... not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall." I'm not an archaeologist, but when it come to faith, my searching must include facts. However, because faith involves the unseen and to some degree, the unprovable, it is "philosophical" and thus, involves the search for truth.
For me, this is the beginning. Most people don't think deeply about life - we seek to earn a living, take care of our daily responsibilities, have some fun, and all-in-all, go to bed each night feeling OK and safe. When people go deeper than these things, really good things happen, really bad things happen, conflict and controversy happen, and emotions, passions, and true identity are exposed. We begin to see what people are made of, and where their "lines in the sand" are at a particular moment in time. To be sure, we all will change over time. Today I believe this is important, and tomorrow, that may change. But for now, for the moment, we all have a position. The questions I have are... Are you willing to expose your true position to others in real dialog? Are you going to remain isolated from humanity? Are you willing to test your world view? Are you even aware that you have a world view, a framework that includes beliefs, perceptions of reality, and facts that make up who you are?
Enough for now... I'm late as always in dealing with the trappings of life.
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