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Simba
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 Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 5:36 pm Post subject: Knowldege |
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Yesterday's 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip struck me as very appropriate.
Calvin said - "The More you know, the harder it is to take decisive action.
Once you become informed you start seeing
complexities and shades of gray. You realise that nothing is as clear and
simple as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralysing"
I tend to agree with him. Im doing an Arts/Education degree, majoring in
Music and History. THe history part of the degree has
made me do a lot of thinking as to beliefs and why people choose to follow
them.
Comparing past cultures, it becomes very plain to see how different
religions are adapted/taken on and modified. Its becoming hard for
me to look at Christianity and God the same way nowadays. What do you guys
think. Are there any other Christian historians out there
who can guide me?
Especially discouraging is the activities of the Holy Roman Empire's
Catholic Church, all throughout the middle ages, their re-definings of
Christian beliefs, (eg. apparently editing out 'Asheroth' the 'wife of God',
changing their opinions when scientific discoveries are made etc,
and trying to twist it so the public sees it their way.) I dont know.. very
confused and scared atm. I wish i was a child again and had the
faith of a child. this knowledge is paralysing me. Anyone out there offer
any advice?
SAM |
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Bill Litchfield
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: Knowldege |
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"Simba" <seveermas@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sbbjb.151831$bo1.37448@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
| Quote: | Yesterday's 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip struck me as very appropriate.
Calvin said - "The More you know, the harder it is to take decisive
action.
Once you become informed you start seeing
complexities and shades of gray. You realise that nothing is as clear and
simple as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralysing"
I tend to agree with him. Im doing an Arts/Education degree, majoring in
Music and History. THe history part of the degree has
made me do a lot of thinking as to beliefs and why people choose to follow
them.
Comparing past cultures, it becomes very plain to see how different
religions are adapted/taken on and modified. Its becoming hard for
me to look at Christianity and God the same way nowadays. What do you guys
think. Are there any other Christian historians out there
who can guide me?
Especially discouraging is the activities of the Holy Roman Empire's
Catholic Church, all throughout the middle ages, their re-definings of
Christian beliefs, (eg. apparently editing out 'Asheroth' the 'wife of
God',
changing their opinions when scientific discoveries are made etc,
and trying to twist it so the public sees it their way.) I dont know..
very
confused and scared atm. I wish i was a child again and had the
faith of a child. this knowledge is paralysing me. Anyone out there offer
any advice?
SAM
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Free advice is usually worth just what it costs! However, my own experience
may help you in this area. Two years ago, I decided to challenge my
cherished religious beliefs. It was scary in the beginning, but the more I
found out, the more liberating such knowledge became.
We all make decisions based upon incomplete information. It's simply a fact
of life, no matter how much knowledge we posess. Personally, I find the
search for knowledge, in all areas, to be invigorating, fascinating, and
liberating. The truth is not paralysing...it indeed sets us free!
Shalom,
Bill
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Carl Rooker
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: Knowldege |
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It might not be too much knowledge that is the problem, but not having all
of the facts.
I'll comment on certain parts of your post.
"Simba" <seveermas@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sbbjb.151831$bo1.37448@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
| Quote: | Yesterday's 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip struck me as very appropriate.
Calvin said - "The More you know, the harder it is to take decisive
action.
Once you become informed you start seeing
complexities and shades of gray. You realise that nothing is as clear and
simple as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralysing"
I tend to agree with him. Im doing an Arts/Education degree, majoring in
Music and History. THe history part of the degree has
made me do a lot of thinking as to beliefs and why people choose to follow
them.
Comparing past cultures, it becomes very plain to see how different
religions are adapted/taken on and modified. Its becoming hard for
me to look at Christianity and God the same way nowadays. What do you guys
think. Are there any other Christian historians out there
who can guide me?
Especially discouraging is the activities of the Holy Roman Empire's
Catholic Church, all throughout the middle ages, their re-definings of
Christian beliefs, (eg. apparently editing out 'Asheroth' the 'wife of
God',
changing their opinions when scientific discoveries are made etc,
|
This is just an example of what I mean. As Christianity spread to other
cultures besides Judah, there has always been
the problem of people bringing old beliefs into the new Faith. Happened in
Isreal too when they conquered the
land of Palistine in Joshuas time. Asheroth was actually a Cananite belief
that some of the Children of Isreal latched onto.
To say that the Catholic Church edited out "Asheroth the wife of God" is not
really true. They opposed those who were
trying to bring this belief back into the Doctrine. Through out the Old
Testament these Hebrews were condemned for worshipping
Baal and Asheroth.
As far as changing oppinions when scientific discoveries are made, what is
wrong with that. Best example of that is that in
the middle ages there was an argument about whether the earth was the center
of the solar system. Believe it or not, many
Christians believed one thing, many another. It was a scientific debate of
that age. This was not a belief of the Christian Church
but a theory brought about by Aristotle.
Along comes Galileo, with evidence for the sun being the center of the solar
system. He had much support from the Catholic Church.
However, in a book he wrote after an interview with a sympathetic Pope, he
insulted the Pope, and drew wrath for that.
This story has been partially distorted by some to make it look like the
Catholic Church opposed the teachings of Galileo, and
not his unfortunate ways of promoting his theories.
| Quote: | and trying to twist it so the public sees it their way.) I dont know..
very
confused and scared atm. I wish i was a child again and had the
faith of a child. this knowledge is paralysing me. Anyone out there offer
any advice?
SAM
So, you have found some who have written things that challenge your Faith. |
Have you looked at the many books that
have been written in answer to these things?
God Bless
Carl
Don't get discouraged until you have looked at both sides of the argument.
God Bless
Carl |
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Fistful of Nothing
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Knowldege |
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"Simba" <seveermas@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sbbjb.151831$bo1.37448@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
| Quote: | Yesterday's 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip struck me as very appropriate.
Calvin said - "The More you know, the harder it is to take decisive
action.
Once you become informed you start seeing
complexities and shades of gray. You realise that nothing is as clear and
simple as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralysing"
I tend to agree with him. Im doing an Arts/Education degree, majoring in
Music and History. THe history part of the degree has
made me do a lot of thinking as to beliefs and why people choose to follow
them.
Comparing past cultures, it becomes very plain to see how different
religions are adapted/taken on and modified. Its becoming hard for
me to look at Christianity and God the same way nowadays. What do you guys
think. Are there any other Christian historians out there
who can guide me?
Especially discouraging is the activities of the Holy Roman Empire's
Catholic Church, all throughout the middle ages, their re-definings of
Christian beliefs, (eg. apparently editing out 'Asheroth' the 'wife of
God',
changing their opinions when scientific discoveries are made etc,
and trying to twist it so the public sees it their way.) I dont know..
very
confused and scared atm. I wish i was a child again and had the
faith of a child. this knowledge is paralysing me. Anyone out there offer
any advice?
SAM
|
No matter what one know's, one cannot know everything.
An infinite god is so beyond our finite understanding that it is
futile to try to prove it exists. We may catch glimpes, but we
cannot see the whole picture. This is the cornerstone of
faith. It was done this way so that we may know God
through feeling. To have God on the brain is not enough,
one must have God in the heart.
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chris
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 4:51 am Post subject: Re: Knowldege |
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"Simba" <seveermas@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Yesterday's 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip struck me as very appropriate.
Calvin said - "The More you know, the harder it is to take decisive action.
Once you become informed you start seeing
complexities and shades of gray. You realise that nothing is as clear and
simple as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralysing"
I tend to agree with him.
|
I understand how you feel. I used to feel the same way. But I found
that the paralysing feeling is only temporary. Ultimately knowledge
is liberating.
| Quote: | THe history part of the degree has
made me do a lot of thinking
|
A couple of excellent books that even-handedly look at the historicity
of the Bible are 'Asimov's Guide to the Bible' and 'In the Beginning'.
Despite his personal beliefs, he delves deeply into the people,
places, and events of the Bible, to show which are based in historical
fact and which have been modified over the ages.
| Quote: | Anyone out there offer any advice?
|
Life is what you make of it. Regardless of your beliefs or lack
thereof, you can make your life meaningful and fulfilling. If you do,
it won't really matter whether the Bible is right or wrong.
Chris |
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