This is one of my Philosophy 200 discussion board posts for this week. It answers specific questions asked by the teacher, but I still thought it worth posting here, if for no other reason than to inspire thought. You don't have to agree with me (although in my belief system, agreeing with me would be agreeing with Christ, which would be the only way to end up in heaven eventually)...but I do hope you'll think. Just think. I'll pray that the Lord will do the rest in you.
PHI200 Discussion Board 1 post.
I hold the view that the Bible is absolutely, unequivocally true. I believe that there is a God to be feared and a hell to be shunned, and that the only way to the Father (God) is through the Son (Jesus Christ). I do not see that my faith is not intolerant as non-Christians may assume. Because my belief system includes a belief that one can only end up in Heaven through having a personal relationship with Jesus, but that anyone can come to Jesus, I see it as completely tolerant, and I see it as my absolute responsibility to try to lead others to faith in Jesus Christ. I am not anti-other-religions; instead I find myself aching for those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior because my belief system tells me that they will be forever lost upon death. It is an intense love that I have for others, not a hatred of those who are not like me, that leads me to want to live my life in such a way that others who see it will want what I have (Jesus).
My reasons for holding my belief in Christianity is based upon several different experiences that I have had through the years that have led me to see the truths of the Bible up close and personal. There was a draw in me from the time I was very young, with me walking to church every Sunday by myself by the time I was five years old. It was not until I was in my mid-thirties and had my first of four miscarriages that my life started to really become identified with Christ. I had spent so many years in a formal, religious denomination, but when my husband and I left that for an interdenominational, basic Bible doctrine church, we found our lives transformed and were finally actually living for Christ.
My belief system ties into philosophy because true Christianity requires one to continually question oneself, one’s motives, and one’s actions. It is a religious system that is founded on man’s lack and God’s exclusive abundance and His willingness to pour that out upon man, which ought to leave the Christian conscious of his inability to make himself “good enough” for a holy God and to draw from God forgiveness, provision, and ultimately, new life in Jesus, the Son. Mosser (2010) defines philosophy as the “love of wisdom” and the “unending search for answers to questions” (section 1.1). I think of philosophy as a need to know, a quest for truth. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32, New King James Version). In Ecclesiastes, God offered King Solomon anything he wanted, and Solomon asked for wisdom. I see direct correlations there between the Christian faith and philosophy.
There really was only one time that I questioned my faith, and even then, it wasn’t that I was questioning God so much as just trying to understand. We had been involved in what is known as a faith-based church, and I had my third miscarriage. We had done all the things that they all had said to do, including not saying anything negative, only claiming positive things for our family and our unborn baby, but I still lost the baby. I was so confused. Our friends informed us that we simply had not had enough faith. This did not sit well with me and it was at this time that my faith grew stronger than ever before. I saw in Ephesians that faith was a gift, not something we muster up on our own. I started that day trusting in God, not in my faith in God, and I have never looked back. I know that there will be things I will not understand while I am here on this planet, but eventually I will be in heaven with Him, and I will know the answers to all of my questions then.
I see myself most closely aligned with Socrates, because he questioned morality and motive. I love that while being tried under penalty of death, he said that “…living correctly is much more important than simply living” (Mosser, 2010, 1.2). I think that this life-stance, or personal philosophy of life, most closely lines up with my Christian beliefs.
Bethann
Reference
Mosser, K. (2010). Philosophy A Concise Introduction. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
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