The Persistence of Agnostic and Analytical Thought.

TxThomas

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There are many things about Judeo-Christian belief that are difficult to accept. No need to name these things, you know them because you've also struggled, or you've been mocked because you profess to believe these things. I'd say these things are also what prevent many from believing fully in either faith.

Just a week ago I found myself in a situation (a situation resulting from my own weakness and stupidity) where I was grasping at God like a drowning man grasps at a life raft. Quickly things changed for the better.

I've been praying, studying, listening to Gospel/inspired music, meditating as if my life depends on it... because frankly it does.

Noticable things have changed. I've felt a presence, and I can't tell you when I last felt so alive and centered. Perhaps during my last go-round with Christianity. It's not just these positive experiences, it's also that I see the merit in dedicating myself this time around.

Already though, in spite of these experiences, my mind is attempting to pick at everything.

So here's a question, but first I have to preface with an example from another faith.

A wise man is approached by a seeker with all sorts of metaphysical questions that the wise man can't answer. The wise man tries explaining to the seeker that the questions he's asking do not matter, that he's miising out on the fruit of the faith by asking these questions that do not help him in the moment. He tries to explain to the seeker that he's like a man wounded by a posioned arrow, who won't allow the physician to remove the arrow until he knows every last detail about the arrow, the bow, and the person who shot it.

My question; is there a scriptural parallel in Christianity? Is there anything which would allow me to NOT be like the guy shot with the arrow? Is it safe for me to simply obey the Father, emulate the Son, and commune with the Holy Spirit for now, and worry about the rest later?

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any replies.
 

Sanoy

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I can't recall anything in scripture that really parallels this philosophical parable. Mark 2:17 comes close but it doesn't deal with the philosophical questions. The account of the women at the well is somewhat similar in John 14.

The principle of credulity states that we should believe our experiences unless we have reasons to doubt those experiences. To do otherwise, and doubt our experiences, creates an infinite loop of solipsism. So if we have the experience of being shot by arrow, or the experience of a fatal wound in this case, we should trust that experience unless we have sufficient reason to doubt that particular experience. I would say we all have the experience of this fatal wound because it is has been a part of every religion great or small to come upon the earth. In fact we have more than just that sense, we also have an innate sense of overarching teleology in the world which studies have called "intuitive theism".
 
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~Zao~

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There are many things about Judeo-Christian belief that are difficult to accept. No need to name these things, you know them because you've also struggled, or you've been mocked because you profess to believe these things. I'd say these things are also what prevent many from believing fully in either faith.

Just a week ago I found myself in a situation (a situation resulting from my own weakness and stupidity) where I was grasping at God like a drowning man grasps at a life raft. Quickly things changed for the better.

I've been praying, studying, listening to Gospel/inspired music, meditating as if my life depends on it... because frankly it does.

Noticable things have changed. I've felt a presence, and I can't tell you when I last felt so alive and centered. Perhaps during my last go-round with Christianity. It's not just these positive experiences, it's also that I see the merit in dedicating myself this time around.

Already though, in spite of these experiences, my mind is attempting to pick at everything.

So here's a question, but first I have to preface with an example from another faith.

A wise man is approached by a seeker with all sorts of metaphysical questions that the wise man can't answer. The wise man tries explaining to the seeker that the questions he's asking do not matter, that he's miising out on the fruit of the faith by asking these questions that do not help him in the moment. He tries to explain to the seeker that he's like a man wounded by a posioned arrow, who won't allow the physician to remove the arrow until he knows every last detail about the arrow, the bow, and the person who shot it.

My question; is there a scriptural parallel in Christianity? Is there anything which would allow me to NOT be like the guy shot with the arrow? Is it safe for me to simply obey the Father, emulate the Son, and commune with the Holy Spirit for now, and worry about the rest later?

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any replies.
I would venture to say that in the case you described the arrow is the ultimate knowledge that you would want to attain to. You have reached the mark of finding what constitutes a straight shot.
Noticable things have changed. I've felt a presence, and I can't tell you when I last felt so alive and centered. Perhaps during my last go-round with Christianity. It's not just these positive experiences, it's also that I see the merit in dedicating myself this time around.
I've been praying, studying, listening to Gospel/inspired music, meditating as if my life depends on it... because frankly it does.
The only scriptural reference that I can think of was when God told the Israelites that they were like a badly made bow that when the bow was pulled the arrow would turn on the shooter. Can’t find the verse right now but there is also this:
Lamentations 3
11 He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces; He has made me desolate. 12 He bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow. 13He made the arrows of His quiver To enter into my inward parts.

Edit to add:
I guess this is the scripture I was thinking of ...
Psalms 78
57 but turned away and were faithless like their ancestors;
they twisted like a treacherous bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
they moved him to jealousy with their idols.

Hope that helps
 
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~Zao~

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I’ve read your other posts and from what I can see you are a definite seeker that has learnt at some point what Christianity demands of followers. I pray that other factors will not stand in your way from returning to God, but rest assured also that the good work began will not go to waste. I pray also that your path will be cleared of stumbling blocks. All of us can relate to the suffering in some way or another. It contains the answers to many things. God bless
 
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TxThomas

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I would venture to say that in the case you described the arrow is the ultimate knowledge that you would want to attain to. You have reached the mark of finding what constitutes a straight shot.


The only scriptural reference that I can think of was when God told the Israelites that they were like a badly made bow that when the bow was pulled the arrow would turn on the shooter. Can’t find the verse right now but there is also this:
Lamentations 3
11 He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces; He has made me desolate. 12 He bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow. 13He made the arrows of His quiver To enter into my inward parts.

Edit to add:
I guess this is the scripture I was thinking of ...
Psalms 78
57 but turned away and were faithless like their ancestors;
they twisted like a treacherous bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
they moved him to jealousy with their idols.

Hope that helps

In the parable I describe above, the arrow represents a fatal obstacle. The seeker who's stuck on 'unnecessary' things will die unless he simply allows the physician to remove the arrow, but he's too distracted by every little detail of the arrow, the bow, who shot the arrow, etc.

This how I feel at the moment.
 
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Sketcher

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Whatever the objection may be, compare it with the tenets of the Creed. Which tenets of the Creed does the doubt or objection actually disprove? If none, why is it crippling? If you believe X is possible, but X doesn't disprove the existence of God or the resurrection of Christ, you still have to deal with those. If you can't disprove those, why would the rest of the Creed be a challenge? If the rest of the Creed is not a challenge, you can still have Christian faith and open your mind to the Christian answers to X, there may be multiple ones depending on the issue.
 
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TxThomas

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Whatever the objection may be, compare it with the tenets of the Creed. Which tenets of the Creed does the doubt or objection actually disprove? If none, why is it crippling? If you believe X is possible, but X doesn't disprove the existence of God or the resurrection of Christ, you still have to deal with those. If you can't disprove those, why would the rest of the Creed be a challenge? If the rest of the Creed is not a challenge, you can still have Christian faith and open your mind to the Christian answers to X, there may be multiple ones depending on the issue.

Yes thank you, much of my hang-ups are centered around some of the things contained within this link. This may be quite helpful in allowing me to be less scatterbrained, so I can focus on and examine one thing at a time. Much appreciated!
 
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carp614

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Faith is faith. It is difficult. That is one reason this is known as the Narrow Path. On some level, we all have to choose to believe even with unanswered questions. I have been a practicing Christian for about 10 years in regular church attendance and I still sometimes struggle with doubt. I promise you are not alone.

I have found Pastor Mike Winger's teachings helpful in dealing with doubt. He is an excellent bible teacher. You can find him on You Tube.
 
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