Sober minded

[siralex172]

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 251 helpful votes

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Philosophy to me is dangerous, because its quite possible it can contradict God and makes us believe in our own understandings which is risky because Satan can munipuliate your perception if you aren't steadfast to God.

Most important advice is never close your mind, because you will be so easily entangled and trapped in views which may not be truth.
If you remain in faith to Jesus he can keep your mind open and feed you so you don't become weary.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Most important advice is never close your mind, because you will be so easily entangled and trapped in views which may not be truth.

Definitely.

If you remain in faith to Jesus he can keep your mind open and feed you so you don't become weary.

But what if Christianity is a view which may not be the truth? You should follow your own advice and never close your mind about Christianity. How do you know you are not entangled?

 

[Ana the Ist]

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 251 helpful votes

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Philosophy to me is dangerous, because its quite possible it can contradict God and makes us believe in our own understandings which is risky because Satan can munipuliate your perception if you aren't steadfast to God.

Most important advice is never close your mind, because you will be so easily entangled and trapped in views which may not be truth.
If you remain in faith to Jesus he can keep your mind open and feed you so you don't become weary.

Ahhh...to be 17 again...

It's interesting that your idea of open minded is to shut out all opinions and ideas that aren't christian. Try to think of that from another perspective, if I told you that being open minded was to shut out all opinions that weren't Muslim...would you think I was open minded? If I said to avoid all philosophies and teachings that weren't Buddhist...would you think I was open minded?

Probably not, right?

So ask yourself, what's wrong with listening to every philosophy, every teaching, every opinion...and then deciding on what's true based upon their own merits? If christianity is true...won't it still be true after you consider everything else? Does christianity need to be protected from every outside teaching? If it does...why do you suppose that is?

 

[Chesterton]

So ask yourself, what's wrong with listening to every philosophy, every teaching, every opinion...and then deciding on what's true based upon their own merits?

Maybe he's already done that. The purpose of having your mind open is not just to have your mind open for the sake of it, but to put something true and good in it. Likewise the purpose of being a skeptic is not to just go on being skeptical forever, but to eliminate non-truth so you can latch onto some truth.

 

[LittleQin]

It seems the best way to handle this world is to simply watch.

Observe all things, but try to avoid creating certain beliefs from what to learn, interpret it every way you can to gain better understanding.

Also important to remember: God is the judge, not us. An big part of the Christian Transformation is learning not to judge.

Anything can be interpreted many ways by humans. Only God has FULL understanding of things, so only he is a perfect judge.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Maybe he's already done that. The purpose of having your mind open is not just to have your mind open for the sake of it, but to put something true and good in it. Likewise the purpose of being a skeptic is not to just go on being skeptical forever, but to eliminate non-truth so you can latch onto some truth.

At 17? It's possible...if he's some sort of prodigy or savant. It's not likely though.

I'm not advocating believing in nothing. However, open mindedness never involves shutting out everything except what you consider true. Even if you believe you know truth...there's nothing to be lost by listening to an outside opinion.

 

[stevevw]

I think people know about what the world has to offer. Its promoted everyday. You would have to be switched off if you didn't see it. As far as other religions go we can get to know what they are about. It doesn't take rocket science. Everybody needs something to model their life to and look to for inspiration. We constantly hear about sports stars and other media stars being a good role model for our young. So its important to have someone who is consistently good and wont let anyone down. Sometimes I think people reject Jesus because it has a religious connection only and dont even bother to look at what He was about. There is this push by secular society to not be held down to anything. Its the age of relatism where everything can be rejected and questioned. There are no gods and we are the gods of our own lives.

Humanity is promoted as being able to have all the answers and we are capable of anything. I reckon we are being sold a lie and it has constantly let us down over the years. If you take the religious aspect away from Jesus you will see that there are many good principles and ways to live. He is a great role model that is consistent and dependable. Has been for two thousand years and will continue to be forever. The thing is we have to settle on something that we can know is the truth because there are so many false promises and views that dont give us the answers. Jesus said He was the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. But we have to either believe that or not. It comes down to trust in what someone has said. Just like a child takes their mothers hand to cross that road they trust that she will do the right thing.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Philippians 4.8 is relevant.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Philosophy to me is dangerous

Indeed, you are right! This is why the Athenians executed that philosophical terrorist Socrates.

Philosophy is a threat to poor reasoning, and realizing that one has contradictions in one's own thinking can produce ouchy feelings.

Philosophy is a threat to the status quo and the acceptance of one's peers. Philosophy means being forced to stand on one's own two feet as an individual, and that is frightening.

Philosophy is a threat to comforting falsehoods. To engage in philosophy is to risk changing one's entire sense of meaning in life. Old stories may have to be discarded.

Philosophy is dangerous indeed -- it is blessedly dangerous.

Most important advice is never close your mind

You sound like one of those terrorist philosophers. Do we have to execute you as well?

 

[siralex172]

Indeed, you are right! This is why the Athenians executed that philosophical terrorist Socrates.

Philosophy is a threat to poor reasoning, and realizing that one has contradictions in one's own thinking can produce ouchy feelings.

Philosophy is a threat to the status quo and the acceptance of one's peers. Philosophy means being forced to stand on one's own two feet as an individual, and that is frightening.

Philosophy is a threat to comforting falsehoods. To engage in philosophy is to risk changing one's entire sense of meaning in life. Old stories may have to be discarded.

Philosophy is dangerous indeed -- it is blessedly dangerous.



You sound like one of those terrorist philosophers. Do we have to execute you as well?

Its a mere warning to be cautious. Philosophy sometimes can be a substitute for God's word. And it can be very tempting to believe it. I take it back If I sounded like I was totally against it.. I believe in the Holy Spirit and the idea people are helping each other to become better people is something so vital.

 

[siralex172]

Indeed, you are right! This is why the Athenians executed that philosophical terrorist Socrates.

Philosophy is a threat to poor reasoning, and realizing that one has contradictions in one's own thinking can produce ouchy feelings.

Philosophy is a threat to the status quo and the acceptance of one's peers. Philosophy means being forced to stand on one's own two feet as an individual, and that is frightening.

Philosophy is a threat to comforting falsehoods. To engage in philosophy is to risk changing one's entire sense of meaning in life. Old stories may have to be discarded.

Philosophy is dangerous indeed -- it is blessedly dangerous.



You sound like one of those terrorist philosophers. Do we have to execute you as well?

Its a mere warning to be cautious. Philosophy sometimes can be a substitute for God's word. And it can be very tempting to believe it. I take it back If I sounded like I was totally against it.. I believe in the Holy Spirit and the idea people are helping each other to become better people is something so vital.

I don't wanna argue I just wanted to share a bible verse so people know philosophy can sometimes have the ability to trap people.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Siralex162. You are right, Jesus Loves us and He tells us straightforward
what He wants from us. In Matthews 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourselves." Jesus also points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus wants us to Love God above else, and our neighbour as we love ourselves. We treat all we know and all we meet as we would love to be treated. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve
and bless us. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, with love we can overcome all anger and wrong behaviour. In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told: " ask and you shall receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We keep asking and receiving, then thanking God and sharing all with all around us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring. Love is very catching.
The Bible also tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we stop being selfish and always wanting and wishing, and treat our neighbour as we would love to be treated. God is Love, and God wants loving sons and daughters.
The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. We will find that we gradually change into the men an women, which God wants us to become.
I say this with love, Siralex. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[siralex172]

Ahhh...to be 17 again...

It's interesting that your idea of open minded is to shut out all opinions and ideas that aren't christian. Try to think of that from another perspective, if I told you that being open minded was to shut out all opinions that weren't Muslim...would you think I was open minded? If I said to avoid all philosophies and teachings that weren't Buddhist...would you think I was open minded?

Probably not, right?

So ask yourself, what's wrong with listening to every philosophy, every teaching, every opinion...and then deciding on what's true based upon their own merits? If Christianity is true...won't it still be true after you consider everything else? Does Christianity need to be protected from every outside teaching? If it does...why do you suppose that is?

. Yes I suppose Christianity needs to protect you from outside teachings because this world is not too good and the devil is seeking people to devour.
Maybe its because of my age I could be not open minded enough or my own beliefs, but I'm still believing in Jesus and God no matter what, which is the important thing right?

 

[siralex172]

Dear Siralex162. You are right, Jesus Loves us and He tells us straightforward
what He wants from us. In Matthews 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourselves." Jesus also points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus wants us to Love God above else, and our neighbour as we love ourselves. We treat all we know and all we meet as we would love to be treated. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve
and bless us. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, with love we can overcome all anger and wrong behaviour. In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told: " ask and you shall receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We keep asking and receiving, then thanking God and sharing all with all around us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring. Love is very catching.
The Bible also tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we stop being selfish and always wanting and wishing, and treat our neighbour as we would love to be treated. God is Love, and God wants loving sons and daughters.
The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. We will find that we gradually change into the men an women, which God wants us to become.
I say this with love, Siralex. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Hello Emmy thank you for your direction and assistance. I hope I can grow further in Christ in the ways you have mentioned, God bless .

 

[Colter]

Bear in mind, Jesus wasn't put through a trumped up trial, torture and death by agnostics, Atheists, scientists or philosophers, Jesus was killed by closed minded and intolerant religious people. In fact those same people are still trapped inside the rigid, idolatrous theory (created by the priest class ) that God writes books to enslave us with. Rather, God writes his Word on our hearts. Judaism has a number of scripture based reasons that they reject Christ, and they also accused Jesus of being inspired by Satan. While I find helpful spiritual truths in the material gathered by the men of church government who compiled it to their liking, I also find much credited to the will of God that is grotesque and reprehensible!

"The apostles were a bit disconcerted by the open manner of Jesus’ assent to many of the Greek’s propositions, but Jesus afterward privately said to them: “My children, marvel not that I was tolerant of the Greek’s philosophy. True and genuine inward certainty does not in the least fear outward analysis, nor does truth resent honest criticism. You should never forget that intolerance is the mask covering up the entertainment of secret doubts as to the trueness of one’s belief. No man is at any time disturbed by his neighbor’s attitude when he has perfect confidence in the truth of that which he wholeheartedly believes. Courage is the confidence of thoroughgoing honesty about those things which one professes to believe. Sincere men are unafraid of the critical examination of their true convictions and noble ideals.” Jesus of the UB 1955​

 

[essentialsaltes]

. Yes I suppose Christianity needs to protect you from outside teachings because this world is not too good and the devil is seeking people to devour.

How do you know that the world is not too good and the devil is after you? That's part of what you've been taught by Christianity. That becomes circular reasoning. You shun the world and cleave to Christianity, because Christianity tells you to shun the world and cleave to Christianity. To be open-minded, it would help to see what the outside teachings actually are, and determine for yourself whether they are 'not too good'.

but I'm still believing in Jesus and God no matter what, which is the important thing right?

Not if you want to be open-minded. Philosophy is the love of wisdom. Wisdom can be found in many places. But you won't find much of it, if you only stay in the kiddie pool, and don't explore the ocean of human thought.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Sometimes I think people reject Jesus because it has a religious connection only and dont even bother to look at what He was about.

If you take the religious aspect away from Jesus you will see that there are many good principles and ways to live. He is a great role model that is consistent and dependable.

Jesus said He was the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. But we have to either believe that or not. It comes down to trust in what someone has said.

I really wish you could see the irony of the first two statements I quoted here in relation to the third. It's staggering. Imagine, if you will, that you said them in reverse order. You're basically saying...

Jesus made the claim that was a living embodiment of truth and life and "the way" (whatever that refers to). We have to agree with all this because...you know...he's Jesus! I don't know why people get hung up on the religious aspects of christianity...why can't they just use my religious figure as a role model?

Are you seeing the irony yet? You're basically asking people to trust a character based on his religious claims while telling them to ignore the religious aspects of Jesus and focus on him as a regular guy lol.

If you were serious about this though, I can actually tell you why I don't focus on his regular guy aspects...

 

[Ana the Ist]

Its a mere warning to be cautious. Philosophy sometimes can be a substitute for God's word. And it can be very tempting to believe it. I take it back If I sounded like I was totally against it.. I believe in the Holy Spirit and the idea people are helping each other to become better people is something so vital.

Siralex...in a weird sort of way, you're absolutely right here. Learning about ideas that contradict the christian bible can, in fact, lead one to start believing in those ideas and not the bible. The question you should ask yourself is....

Why?

If the teachings of the bible are "true"...why could just learning about something "false" supplant it?

 

[Ana the Ist]

. Yes I suppose Christianity needs to protect you from outside teachings because this world is not too good and the devil is seeking people to devour.
Maybe its because of my age I could be not open minded enough or my own beliefs, but I'm still believing in Jesus and God no matter what, which is the important thing right?

I can appreciate your position here Sir Alex. You're young and you believe everything you've been taught about the bible. I was an atheist before I was even 17...and according to Christian Forums rules, I can't really answer the question you asked me honestly. My answer might be considered "promoting atheism"...even here in a forum for discussion, christians see the need to protect their beliefs from outside ideas.

What I can tell you is a few things I've learned over the years.

1. The truth doesn't fear competition, it doesn't need protection. It will remain true no matter what outside ideas compete with it. If what you believe is true, then every non-christian idea you come across will always be false...you have nothing to lose by learning other ideas...in fact, you'll gain valuable perspective on how those people think.

2. Truth is more than a belief...you cannot believe something into truth. A fact exists. It's valuable in its own right, and as such we should pursue it. It provides a momentary glimpse at reality...without these glimpses into reality, everything remains mysterious. The way you determine what is true will itself determine if you have found truth.

3. Lots of people claim to have truth...they cannot all be correct though. You'll find they have some things in common, and on many things they differ. I've found, personally, that truth doesn't ask anything of you. It doesn't want or need...it simply is. If someone offers you truth, but they need/want something from you in return, chances are good they don't have the truth.

Lots of luck to you.

 

[True Scotsman]

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 251 helpful votes

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Philosophy to me is dangerous, because its quite possible it can contradict God and makes us believe in our own understandings which is risky because Satan can munipuliate your perception if you aren't steadfast to God.

Most important advice is never close your mind, because you will be so easily entangled and trapped in views which may not be truth.
If you remain in faith to Jesus he can keep your mind open and feed you so you don't become weary.

Prove it.