I'm going to treat this blog as a safe space to reflect. It might be educational for me and perhaps entertaining for some. I'm going to be frank, nutty and sometimes completely un- and mis- informed. Constructive criticism welcome. Thanks!
So like my bio says, I've spent about the last 10 years immersed in an Indian religion. It's been great, but I struggle to understand the cultural references which are so different from my own, spend a lot of time learning another language to chant prayers I don't understand, and feel like I'm just never going to be part of the community. I've been an active temple-goer for 3 years and I'm not shy of getting out there and experiencing things.
I never really gave Christanity much of a chance. Growing up I wasn't exposed to very much religion except what I got from public school. In primary school I was one of the three wise men in the school nativity play. In high school I asked mum to take me to church but we only went once; she didn't like the feeling she got here. I explored paganism instead, before hitting 20 and deciding monotheism makes a lot more sense to me. And so began my 10 years of exploration there.
But now, I find myself on the outside. I have regular periods of religious dissonance where I "take a break", but I'm getting tired of this symptom and want to get to the bottom of it. Obviously my current religious affiliation isn't getting the job done.
So here I am to learn about this religion of my people.
So I'm starting by reading the Bible. I've read a fair bit of Matthew and all of Luke. I've read Corinthians I and II and II John and III John. I'm about half way through Acts now and will continue to read in a forward direction now instead of jumping around.
Three things are sticking in my mind so far, and I hope I don't cause offense with these statements. If I am too blunt please let me know. I'm a newbie to this, and as pretty much a complete outsider, here are my thoughts:
1. I struggle to believe in Christ's resurection. I saw a documentary about the shroud which argued that he didn't die, and it sounded feasable to me. Instead of putting me off Christainity it made me more interested, because to me it doesn't take away from Christ's divinity, but makes it more real to me.
2. I keep relating the miracles by the apostles to, maybe, aliens. Probably too much TV on my part, too much, "Beam me up, Scotty!"
I can really appreciate the social activism and the higher message in what I've read so far. It's really impressive. I'm just 'belief-challenged'. I want to believe, but I can't. I feel a softness in my heart towards Jesus, and I get tingles when reading the Bible and thinking about God in a Christian framework, but I'm confused by all these miracles.
I'm also put off by websites that threaten hellfire. But that's for another post.
But I'll keep reading, and with any luck these problems will resolve as I learn and experience more.
The most magnificent thing I've read all week, which I think I saw on this forum but I'm not sure, was this, from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Please forgive my errors and if I have caused any offense with my crude first impressions.
Thank you.
So like my bio says, I've spent about the last 10 years immersed in an Indian religion. It's been great, but I struggle to understand the cultural references which are so different from my own, spend a lot of time learning another language to chant prayers I don't understand, and feel like I'm just never going to be part of the community. I've been an active temple-goer for 3 years and I'm not shy of getting out there and experiencing things.
I never really gave Christanity much of a chance. Growing up I wasn't exposed to very much religion except what I got from public school. In primary school I was one of the three wise men in the school nativity play. In high school I asked mum to take me to church but we only went once; she didn't like the feeling she got here. I explored paganism instead, before hitting 20 and deciding monotheism makes a lot more sense to me. And so began my 10 years of exploration there.
But now, I find myself on the outside. I have regular periods of religious dissonance where I "take a break", but I'm getting tired of this symptom and want to get to the bottom of it. Obviously my current religious affiliation isn't getting the job done.
So here I am to learn about this religion of my people.
So I'm starting by reading the Bible. I've read a fair bit of Matthew and all of Luke. I've read Corinthians I and II and II John and III John. I'm about half way through Acts now and will continue to read in a forward direction now instead of jumping around.
Three things are sticking in my mind so far, and I hope I don't cause offense with these statements. If I am too blunt please let me know. I'm a newbie to this, and as pretty much a complete outsider, here are my thoughts:
1. I struggle to believe in Christ's resurection. I saw a documentary about the shroud which argued that he didn't die, and it sounded feasable to me. Instead of putting me off Christainity it made me more interested, because to me it doesn't take away from Christ's divinity, but makes it more real to me.
2. I keep relating the miracles by the apostles to, maybe, aliens. Probably too much TV on my part, too much, "Beam me up, Scotty!"
I can really appreciate the social activism and the higher message in what I've read so far. It's really impressive. I'm just 'belief-challenged'. I want to believe, but I can't. I feel a softness in my heart towards Jesus, and I get tingles when reading the Bible and thinking about God in a Christian framework, but I'm confused by all these miracles.
I'm also put off by websites that threaten hellfire. But that's for another post.
But I'll keep reading, and with any luck these problems will resolve as I learn and experience more.
The most magnificent thing I've read all week, which I think I saw on this forum but I'm not sure, was this, from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
This really resonates with me, and makes me very excited to be learning about this great religion of Christianity.A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Please forgive my errors and if I have caused any offense with my crude first impressions.
Thank you.