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Imaginary Theology
Aug. 26th, 2006 10:49 pmI am done with shifts! Finally! And we would have had a record luminosity run too if DZero hadn't gotten hit with lightning. Stupid DZero...
In celebration I went out last night and picked up some more Chick Tracts (Unloved and Bad Bob), in the process getting myself into a discussion with one of the pamphleteers for over an hour. It was an amiable discussion - we just didn't find ourselves agreeing on a lot of points. The discussion quickly ended up in the old faith-and-works argument, as well as debate on whether or not you could declare yourself "Saved".
I'm not very fond of the faith-only approach, so I argued against it. In the process, however, I had to project my beliefs into the form of Christianity. Since I am not, precisely, Christian, understand that I found this a bit difficult to do. As a result, I wonder if, somehow, in doing so I committed some kind of doctrinal fault. Because I have no idea how I sounded (he was well-practiced), I have no idea if I am insulting Christianity by just appearing to ape it. After all, I am taking beliefs that fit me, and that are manifestly mine, and entering them in a framework that I only believe is compatible. So, in light of possible future encounters, I have written down my argument here, and freely invite people to come tear it to shreds or find doctrinal holes (I expect that there are some in there somewhere). This is actually heartfelt; I want to know if my conception of what Christian beliefs could mean is completely unacceptable to Christianity.
Note: Since I am essentially projecting myself into a religion I may or may not share, I will understand perfectly if someone wishes to flame me to death for this. I expect most people will not agree.
( danAlwyn's Theology )
In celebration I went out last night and picked up some more Chick Tracts (Unloved and Bad Bob), in the process getting myself into a discussion with one of the pamphleteers for over an hour. It was an amiable discussion - we just didn't find ourselves agreeing on a lot of points. The discussion quickly ended up in the old faith-and-works argument, as well as debate on whether or not you could declare yourself "Saved".
I'm not very fond of the faith-only approach, so I argued against it. In the process, however, I had to project my beliefs into the form of Christianity. Since I am not, precisely, Christian, understand that I found this a bit difficult to do. As a result, I wonder if, somehow, in doing so I committed some kind of doctrinal fault. Because I have no idea how I sounded (he was well-practiced), I have no idea if I am insulting Christianity by just appearing to ape it. After all, I am taking beliefs that fit me, and that are manifestly mine, and entering them in a framework that I only believe is compatible. So, in light of possible future encounters, I have written down my argument here, and freely invite people to come tear it to shreds or find doctrinal holes (I expect that there are some in there somewhere). This is actually heartfelt; I want to know if my conception of what Christian beliefs could mean is completely unacceptable to Christianity.
Note: Since I am essentially projecting myself into a religion I may or may not share, I will understand perfectly if someone wishes to flame me to death for this. I expect most people will not agree.
( danAlwyn's Theology )