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I apologize, read your post too quickly, and I will follow up with a more thoughtful reply later.
I have reread your earlier post, and if I'm understanding you right, I have to start from a Jewish/Christian context to interpret my or others experiences as to whether or not they are evidence of God.
That is somewhat closer, MG, although I'd be tempted to say that what I am more specifically referring to is the fact that the primary "evidences" of the Christian faith, whether seen through Catholic, Orthodox, or various Protestant lenses, will require some familiarity with the literary structures of Jewish, Biblical literature, historiography, and hermeneutical method. Of course, this is not to say that by simply studying these three fields, as they relate to the ancient Jewish mindset of the first few centuries from from B.C. to A.D., you will automatically have "the spiritual lights turn-on" in all their full glory. It would be great if they could, but I don't think this happens for nearly anyone, at least not at a luminosity level we might call "brilliant." However, what studying these hermeneutical patterns can do is give you a partial understanding for how the Jewish mindset, in its more ancient prophetic and its later Rabbinical varieties, lends itself to the thought structures and prophetic patterns we actually find in the Bible, as cryptic as they sometimes are. All of this is something a bit more than what the average Church teaching relates on a refined or extended, Augustinian level (i.e. in looking at say, the Catholic Catechism [link], I'm not finding much that relates to the finer details of exegesis and our understanding of the Bible--more is needed). For instance, until you can see "why" John the Baptist is a fulfillment of the prophecy made in Malachi regarding the "return" of Elijah, a fulfillment that exposes the typological patterns and epistemological motifs that run through the Old Testament, you will continue to come short of evidences ...
Sure, if we are perhaps born into any of the more Eastern notions of religion, such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. But, if we are talking about a person who was born in the more Enlightened areas of Europe and/or North American, then there isn't as many social mores holding one back. For instance, I wasn't born into a particularly religious family, and despite the fact that Carl Sagan and Stan Lee were my childhood "gurus," my social milieu was more or less a non-intellectual one. But all of this didn't stop me from coming to new realizations one day and deciding to expand my academic horizons. It also didn't stop me from picking up a Bible and reading it for the first time when previous to that, I had little notion that such a thing may be useful to consider.
Well, fortunately, what I'm NOT saying is that you have to drop your Catholic predilections and make way for some "other" denominational viewpoint. That's not what this is about. As for myself, even though I'm not Roman Catholic, I'm very ecumenical and I take what I call the 2,000 Year Approach, meaning that everything in concert with the Christian faith as it has developed and even transmogrified through the centuries...is open for exploration. So, if you live in a "free," Western nation, MG, then you can simply decide to "Explore Your Faith" while remaining within your Roman Catholic tradition, if that makes you feel comfortable.
Hi Athee. Came into the forum today for the first time in a long time and was wondering what you were discussing and found this. I don't remember asking you this so: How and why were you a Christian?
Thanks for the thoughtful post. I wanted to touch on the denomination issue and give a bit more background. I was raised Catholic, but in these many years of searching, I did look at other Christian paths, including about a year as an active member of an Assembly of God church, about six months at a Baptist Church, many years in the Episcopalian Church, and I've attended services at Mennonite and Methodist churches and gone to Quaker meetings.
At this point, although I go to church regularly and pray, I'm not convinced there is a God. So when I say evidence, I don't necessarily mean physical evidence, but anything that would help move thr needle in one way or another. It could be physical evidence, reasoning, personal spiritual experience or even evidence such as noting a markedly different set of behaviors in Christians due to their receiving, say of the Holy Spirit. .a holiness, joy or peace that non Christians don't haveIt sounds like you've done some diverse searching, as I have, MG. And if Catholicism is where you feel you "connect" the best, the I'm glad you are where you are.
But....as to you expanding your search to Non-Christian Churches? In what way do you mean this? Because if you mean by it something like "Jehovah's Witnesses" or "Mormons" then that is very problematic. Don't waste your time. Or, if you look into other the thoughts of the various World Religions, you're not going to find much there either (and I speak as one with a degree in philosophy which includes these topics).
But, if instead you mean that you could expand your search by looking into the beliefs of the Messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus, or even explore the varieties of Judaism and their approaches to the Bible--or something like that--then that in and of itself may be useful.
Besides, what specifically do you feel you are searching for? "Evidence"? Still, just "evidence"?
Personally, I've been around the "spiritual-block" in ways similar to yourself, and I can tell you that if all you are doing is searching for "evidence," you're going to find little to none of that kind of thing, or at least not the kind we are all wishing for. No, what I suggest is that you work on your understanding of the diverse field of hermeneutics, along with epistemology. Of course, it doesn't hurt to still say your personal prayers, asking God for wisdom along the way.
Peace,
2PhiloVoid
I did similar things in my 20s, although I learned more about Islam from a colleague in my 30's. My feelings about Islam at that time were that there was so much similar between the two faiths, that it didn't seem worth the upheaval it would cause in my family to switch from Christianity to Islam. I had some good discussions though, and gained a respect for folks like my friend. I did find that at least in real life as I've experienced it, Muslims were more willing to have challenging discussions on issues of faith and the existence of God than the Christians I knew.
I'd like to get to know God, how do I go about meeting Him? I've prayed, but I'm not sure I haven't been talking to myself.
Sorry, I don't have sufficient Internet to watch videos, perhaps there's a summary or transcript?
