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Here is one. I have adjusted my thinking on matters as a direct result of searching the scriptures to see if these be so and a fair number of times. But I agree that this is quite rare. It is as rare among theologians and laymen. It’s probably a matter of character.So yes I approach Christianity through theology to some extent - however I have tried to let the Bible critique my understandings - and BTW I haven't found many christians who do that.
This is inevitably what happens when you suppress the truth of God. After a time of denying Him - which is what you do, essentially, each time you consider Him as a possibility but walk away - you have calloused yourself to the whole matter. Whatever inner prompting you've had you've denied and each time you do so, the prompting grows quieter. Eventually, you'll cease to care at all. The Bible calls this "hardening."
This may be the case with me to some extent, but its also the case that I embraced philosophical and theological ideas in the past that are not held by every christian - Barthianism would be one. Now it depends who you read - some think Barth's theology the worst departure from Historic Christianity there has been (among those who think this would be Van Til and Schaeffer - and since Schaeffer was a student of Van Til I believe he came to his negative appraisal of Barth because of Van Til's influence). I see other examples of the same molding influences of one theologian on another - for instance that of John Gerstner on RC Sproul IMO. This is not to say that Van Til and Schaeffer held exactly the same theological positions on every point of theology - they didn't - but it seems to me they were pretty much of like mind when it came to Barth. So I am not sure how much Schaeffer came to his critical views about Barth for himself - did he not absorb the criticism of his teacher to some extent? Van Til's critique of Barth has been called "grotesque" by some.
So yes I approach Christianity through theology to some extent
Does it not depend on what I am denying - whether that be the true God, or whether it be the God of the theology of the Church I grew up in, or whether it be my own idea of God?
Sorry I am just not sure if I am really interested anymore - I guess 30 years ago some of what you are saying might have struck a chord - but I feel indifferent - my mum thinks that deep down I do believe - but there is such a gap, a disconnect that I don't know if I do.
So maybe I have been through a false conversion, been through the motions, that leaves me trying to live some kind of christian life while inside I am unchanged - but its a bit complicated because I have been into so much philosophy. And now I feel trapped in unbelief and hypocrisy.
An example is, have you ever eaten any eggs before the age of two?
The only way it seems to me to have faith is to split myself in two (and I have tried that) - because it seems like we are conditioned to disbelieve in God and the supernatual, conditioned to be moderns, and that the way I am. The only way to have genuine faith would be to become de-conditioned - or I would just be a split personality - "believing" and yet not believing - but which is the real me?? I think one can have surface belief and yet deep down unbelief (ie modern/postmodern outlook).
But what is "genuine" faith in a Modern world?
What I struggle with is modern mindset versus faith - faith to me is opposed to a modern or secular mindset. Yet I am surrounded by a mostly secular culture how do I relate christian faith and modernity because I am shaped to some extent by modernity and postmodernity?
That is quite correct and quite astute. Those who deny the god they made up in their heads are denying a false god.Does it not depend on what I am denying - whether that be the true God, or whether it be the God of the theology of the Church I grew up in, or whether it be my own idea of God?
You are likely very much shaped by modernity and postmodernity. This makes faith difficult as it is taught as something blind and subjective. No one is taught to believe there really is a truth that is out there independent of us knowing it or believing it. How do you relate? Well, in our day it might be something that is appealing to stand up for moral right. That is, where there is wrong, you be a voice to speak up. But it also might mean that a Christian exposes the lies that parade around as doing so. BLM is one such movement that so many think is good because it has good marketing. It is a markist movement with its aim to destroy society, including black lives and businesses and families. Christians have a history of doing this including fighting to end slavery through peaceful means, funding and building orphanages for children abandoned to no education or home, homes for the sick and elderly, the list goes on and on.What I struggle with is modern mindset versus faith - faith to me is opposed to a modern or secular mindset. Yet I am surrounded by a mostly secular culture how do I relate christian faith and modernity because I am shaped to some extent by modernity and postmodernity?
You are likely very much shaped by modernity and postmodernity. This makes faith difficult as it is taught as something blind and subjective. No one is taught to believe there really is a truth that is out there independent of us knowing it or believing it. How do you relate? Well, in our day it might be something that is appealing to stand up for moral right. That is, where there is wrong, you be a voice to speak up. But it also might mean that a Christian exposes the lies that parade around as doing so. BLM is one such movement that so many think is good because it has good marketing. It is a markist movement with its aim to destroy society, including black lives and businesses and families. Christians have a history of doing this including fighting to end slavery through peaceful means, funding and building orphanages for children abandoned to no education or home, homes for the sick and elderly, the list goes on and on.
If you think as these men did, it’s doubtful. It’s forbidden to tell a person they’re aren’t a christian here (even though it might be the kindest thing to say so they know the truth) and I cannot know anyway, but you want want to proceed as if you aren’t and beg God to open your eyes to the truth, whatever He knows it to be.Thanks for your comments.
I seem to go through periods of believing and unbelieving but I am unable to tell at the moment what if anything I do believe or hold to - in the past I have been through phases of taking on some of the ideas of people like Hegel, Heidegger, Freud and other more christian ones like Barth - so I wonder at times how much I have passed out of these philosophies - or whether I have ever been a christian at all.
If you think as these men did, it’s doubtful. It’s forbidden to tell a person they’re aren’t a christian here (even though it might be the kindest thing to say so they know the truth) and I cannot know anyway, but you want want to proceed as if you aren’t and beg God to open your eyes to the truth, whatever He knows it to be.
Don’t worry about what others do or feel comfortable with. You’re not responsible for them, only your own thinking. That’s already enough I suspect.I don't know how much I think as they did - I did a lot of thinking and praying many years ago - but I still find myself struggling and quite severely introspective - so something isn't right - I suppose I may be a bit syncretistic. The thing is I believe there is wisdom not just in the Bible. I do ditch books if they seem like mumbo jumbo - or are clearly going against christian teaching - years ago I heard of a much hyped book called: A Return to Love - I was quite keen to get it because I thought I would be the key for me - well after reading a bit the author kept talking about the God and the Goddess and then said something like we spend too much time "clinging to that old rugged cross" - I binned it at that point. I try to avoid things that are New Age or Occult however in the past I was more curious to know what they were about - but sometimes some topic comes up and I want to get the gist of what its about.
Others seem to fit very easy into faith traditions and churches - and that I really struggle with.
Hi,
I am really struggling to find faith. I am not sure what the real root of the problem is. I have posted in this forum however there have been times in my life I thought I was a christian. I have been through many theologies and philosophies and not sure what I really believe. I have had an understanding of christian things to some extent from a young age - but not sure if I have ever really had faith. I have spoken to counsellors and one many years ago said my problem was hypocrisy - i didn't accept that at the time. Its hard for me to see what the problem is. I think I maybe substitute my theological understandings for faith.
Please pray for me.
Thanks
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