One of the stranger aspects of christianity as we have it today is the split between the rank and file faithful and academics. What the one group is lead to believe compared to counterfactual elements which the other group knows and understands and has always been coming to terms with.
The latter group arrives at a position of faith which is at least concordant with reality. That even though there was vast disagreement and the process which lead to the current understanding was convoluted and murky - what made it out the other side was a fairly accurate representation of the set of true beliefs and a valuable message.
The former group, for their part, seems to be worried that acknowledging history somehow argues against the truth of their faith, or the value of the message. It's not clear why this would be the case. People disagreed about oxygen once, too, and mentioning that fact doesn't seem to have any effect on the fact of oxygens existence.
I'd even argue that for the miracle minded believers, the quagmire that The Real Truth somehow emerged from makes it even more magical.
The latter group arrives at a position of faith which is at least concordant with reality. That even though there was vast disagreement and the process which lead to the current understanding was convoluted and murky - what made it out the other side was a fairly accurate representation of the set of true beliefs and a valuable message.
The former group, for their part, seems to be worried that acknowledging history somehow argues against the truth of their faith, or the value of the message. It's not clear why this would be the case. People disagreed about oxygen once, too, and mentioning that fact doesn't seem to have any effect on the fact of oxygens existence.
I'd even argue that for the miracle minded believers, the quagmire that The Real Truth somehow emerged from makes it even more magical.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
