December 18, 2012

• My Ever-Changing Views

  @agnophilo asked:

  What (if any) major views have you changed in your life, religious, philosophical, political or even a prejudice?

  Honestly, I can go a million directions with this question. I’m convinced that anyone who’s never changed any of their views has never really thought their views through. My beliefs are always evolving as I am always trying to question what it is that I believe. Maybe I’m naturally inquisitive… but more than likely, I’m just naturally skeptical. 

  Throughout my blog, you can track the change that’s been going on in my life. I grew up in a conservative home.

  Pretty much sums up my dad’s feelings about the President

  As I was being challenged in my faith, in college, I allowed myself to sway more towards the left. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that neither end of the political spectrum had the answers or solutions I was looking for, so I decided that it was right for me to abstain from politics. I still do, and my convictions run very deep. 

  I’ve also let go of my fundamentalism as I’ve found that the Bible was written to teach lessons, not to be a history book. Though I do believe there is a lot of history in the Bible, I do not believe that most of the stories were designed to be literal, but rather to teach us how God works in the world, in us, and through us. Most of all, the entire Bible points to the truth of Jesus Christ. That’s something all Christians can agree on.

  The “Heaven-and-hell-Christian” mentality, I’ve ditched as well. I’m not a Christian because I’m afraid of going to hell. I’m not a Christian because I’m afraid of death. These are very superficial reasons to believe in the divine, but instead, I’m a believer because I see the God of the Bible at work in the world, and I especially see God in the teachings of Jesus Christ, that I try to hold so close to my heart. Christianity was never meant to be “Believe or feel God’s wrath!” It’s always been meant to be, “Come and feel the good grace of our Lord.” And it’s who Jesus is that’s key- God walking on earth, showing us all a different, unique way to live life, that somehow’s been all but lost. I try to hold on to these teachings that God taught us all. There is salvation in his words. In his teachings, there is hope for all of creation, and I intend to live by them.. I’m not perfect, but I do believe that I am being perfected through his love.

  Now one thing I want to make clear is that, just because my views have changed, doesn’t mean that I think I’m better than anyone else. Of course I believe that my beliefs are “right”. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t hold on to them. I do try to keep the door open to welcome change though. As one of my favorite teachers says, “I know I’m right, but I’m only right on about half of what I say. Which half is the truth, I haven’t figured out yet.”

  Of course I can go on and on about my ever-changing beliefs, but I’ll spare my readers the boredom of this 3,000 page book I’d have to write. 

  
  Concerning my 3,000 page book I’d have to write about all the beliefs I’ve changed.

  • 8:10 pm
  • 4 Comments