Is Christainity rational?
By AndriaToh
@AndriaToh (1267)
Malaysia
June 5, 2007 8:49pm CST
'What is faith?" asked a Sunday School teacher.
A young boy answered in a flash,"Believing something you know isn't true."
We live in an increasingly sophisticated and educated world. It is no longer enough to know what we believe. It is essential to know why we believe it. Believing something doesn't make it true. A thing is true or not regardless of whether anyone believes it. This is true of Christianity as of everything else
I extracted the above from the book "Know why you believe" by Paul Little.
I think that its very important to know Christ both with our hearts and our minds? What do the rest of you think?
3 responses
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I think if you know Jesus with your heart you will know him with your mind.I also believe if you stray for the reading of the Bible and it's Word you lose what Jesus is teaching you.He speaks and teachs you through the word (Bible).We might not understand it at the time but,it will come.We should pray for understanding when we go to read the word,he will give it to us.
@AndriaToh (1267)
• Malaysia
19 Jun 07
Yes, very often as we read the Bible God will reveal to us something that we needed to know for our lives. Its great isn't it
Christianity is also rational because God has revealed Himself to us in nature as well as Jesus coming to earth and dying on the cross.
@fuzzEbluebathrobe (378)
• United States
6 Jun 07
From the boy's perspective that is his definition. He probably had questions in his mind and was told to just have faith. This was wrong- to not discuss his doubts with him and let him have them. Without a clear definition he drew his own conclusion. Don't kids do that alot? Faith is not blind it is healthy but not for everyone.
I hate people evangelizing as much as I hate people who try to go point for point and try to show me how stupid faithful people are? What really upsets me is comparing faith to believing in the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause. That is so insulting. Believe as you will just be decent and respectful of others.
@AndriaToh (1267)
• Malaysia
6 Jun 07
Hi,
The boy is just saying what many believers tend to do i.e. believe without asking why.
Don't get me wrong. I am a Christian but I think knowing why I believe helps strengthen my faith and allow me to tell others.
Due to a typo in my original post, please redirect your comments to the other post "Is Christianity Rational?"
Thanks
@fuzzEbluebathrobe (378)
• United States
6 Jun 07
I disagree with your interp. of the boys statement. He is saying I don't believe it but I am told I have to not question and believe it anyway. Faith is believing something is true eventhough you can not prove it scientifically. Instead of being told the actual meaning of faith and being told even believers have doubt the boy was misguided and told to have blind faith. Which is not a proper thing to teach a child. I don't see anyhthing wrong with your question but I think you are missing the point of the story.
@AndriaToh (1267)
• Malaysia
6 Jun 07
Hi,
Actually the boy is just to introduce the story.
The actual discussion is at the second paragraph i.e. whether it is important for a Christian to know why we believe. Actually, in my other post under the topic of religion, I have given some evidence to show that there is a God. You might want to check it out.
