The Author's New Release
For a more complete discussion of the matters discussed in this blogsite, order the new book about life, truth and the reality in which we all live.
Because I Think, I Believe is now available in soft cover or electronic format at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Or, for an author-signed copy, order from the website at www.becauseithinkibelieve.com.
I heard you on Bob Dutko’s show. I liked the table of contents of your book, but I ordered it already through Amazon. I didn’t know I could get an autographed copy. I’m writing stories about my spiritual searching and questioning, but my questions are more along the lines of “can we all just get along?”
Every religion I’ve been involved with takes Bible verses out of context. The Baha’is did and so did every Christian group I was with. Some spoke in tongues, some didn’t, but they all had Scripture to back up their views. I asked a rabbi why he didn’t believe. He told me stories about “young maidens” becoming “virgins,” a fallen angel becoming a devil. He said there is no concept of the Christian devil in Judaism.
Where did all these ideas come from? I think they evolved. I wonder about things like if God gave people His laws, why don’t we live by them? Why would we live by our man made laws? Unless those supposed God-given laws were really man making laws and giving them divine authority. Anyway, that’s how I feel, because it is hard to imagine a law about staying away from a woman on her period. Oh, wait a minute, that might be a pretty good law.
I’m looking forward to reading your book and throwing out some more questions I have. Thanks CG
Hi CG,
Thanks for your comment. Good to know somebody heard one of my radio interviews!
First, let me say that you are exactly the kind of person I wrote the book for, so I’m very glad you have it. I’m sorry you didn’t realize you could get a signed copy from my website. If you are interested in having your copy signed, let me know and I’ll give you an address to send it to. I’ll be glad to sign it and return it.
It is a basic tenet of Christianity that we should love one another, love our enemies, and “get along.” But as I point out in the book, our culture has mis-defined tolerance and inclusiveness. These are values that arise from the Christian world view and Christians are expected to display them in their dealings with others. But the very act of tolerating others implies differences between them. Including others also implies that we are reaching out to those with whom we may not agree. These words (these values) in no way imply that we recognize each other’s philosophies as truth.
One of the most important assertions in the book is that truth is something that stands alone as an accurate description of reality. Since it is an accurate description, there can be no conflicting descriptions that are also true. If they conflict, one must be true and the other error, or they are both error. But they can’t both be true.
So, yes, we should certainly “all just get along” in the sense that we respect one another as equally valuable human beings and understand that we each have the right to call whatever we believe truth. But since, as you point out, there are many truth-claims, we must understand that only one is actually true (unless none of them are). Life’s journey, in my view, is all about searching out that one truth that best describes the reality into which we have been born.
It’s certainly true that many have misinterpreted many parts of the Bible. The Bible was written by people far distant from us in time, language and culture. So it requires diligent care in learning the issues associated with understanding it. In addition, it has been interpreted over the years by human beings, with all their fallibility and agenda. It is understandable that more than 2,000 years after its completion it has been distorted to conform to mankind’s will.
But the most important precepts of scripture can be easily understood if read in the same way one would read any other history book. Whether or not some early Christians spoke in tongues or a fallen angel became Satan are issues that can be better understood after the key issues of how to best understand reality are answered. When one begins to see that Biblical claims about creation, man’s relationship to his Creator, and how this Creator can enlighten and enrich his life are true, he or she can then dig deeper and begin to understand these other issues.
I urge you to continue your search, concentrating on key issues and, for now, ignoring claims about specific events or doctrines that are confusing to you. I would recommend that you first answer for yourself the questions; Is there a Creator God? If so, what must He be like given the information available to me? Is this God approachable by me, His creation? If so, in what way? Has this God communicated with His creation? If so, what has He said?
When you feel you have, at least tentatively, answered these questions, then you’ll want to know more. In the process, be encouraged by the promise of scripture that a person who openly and honestly seeks answers, without limiting his search by his own agenda or presupposition, will certainly find them.
“Throw out” some more questions any time you like. All the best to you in your search.