Please describe what you think would make the ideal Christian?
February 19, 2014 at 1:35 am
(This post was last modified: February 19, 2014 at 1:41 am by Whateverist.)
Of course you should ask .. ideal for what? For me, the ideal Christian is someone I can amicably spend time with and who is an asset to the kind of community I'd want to be a member of. I don't think a world with out Christians or without atheists is a likely wish to come true. So, for atheists at least, what sort of Christian would it take to be a possible buddy and peer of the realm?
In no special order:
1) They should entertain a high degree of agnosticism toward God. Whatever they may think God is, they shouldn't be cock sure that they've got the whole answer, pure and simple. They should know their knowledge to be imperfect and not feel the bible gives them a trump card.
2) They should be able to appreciate and see the value of other people's religious orientation, or lack there of. Not just live and let live, mind you. Nope, I want my ideal Christian to sincerely believe that someone with a different religious compass may have access to just as rich of an appreciation of humanity and be just as capable of creating a meaningful life as any Christian. I'm fine with Christian's thinking their way is equal to any and best for themselves, but that is all I can allow them.
3) They should be open to all knowledge. Their curiosity for empirical fact should be unshackled from any concern for church dogma. Their mind should be as open to new knowledge as anyone else. If they wish to think it is knowledge of God's creation, then they should not assume they already know His intentions. Christianity need create no impediment to an appreciation of science, philosophy, psychology or any other discipline of the mind .. so long as they don't mistake the bible for a reference book.
4) The bible should be seen as inspirational, not as prescriptive. Furthermore, it should be acknowledged that other books can be equally inspirational - even to Christians. The bible, in the end, provides a common source for reflection on the meaning of life and what is good but, again, it is not definitive. A Christian may assume that it is God that speaks to anyone who is inspired by a good book, but they shouldn't assume that God goes only by the name they give it or that they alone know what that God wants.
There are probably a few more pertinent details but that at least is a start. Anyone else have ideas for the perfect recipe for Christians?
Edited to say how much I wish I could get rid of that question mark in the title. I am a sloppy twit.
In no special order:
1) They should entertain a high degree of agnosticism toward God. Whatever they may think God is, they shouldn't be cock sure that they've got the whole answer, pure and simple. They should know their knowledge to be imperfect and not feel the bible gives them a trump card.
2) They should be able to appreciate and see the value of other people's religious orientation, or lack there of. Not just live and let live, mind you. Nope, I want my ideal Christian to sincerely believe that someone with a different religious compass may have access to just as rich of an appreciation of humanity and be just as capable of creating a meaningful life as any Christian. I'm fine with Christian's thinking their way is equal to any and best for themselves, but that is all I can allow them.
3) They should be open to all knowledge. Their curiosity for empirical fact should be unshackled from any concern for church dogma. Their mind should be as open to new knowledge as anyone else. If they wish to think it is knowledge of God's creation, then they should not assume they already know His intentions. Christianity need create no impediment to an appreciation of science, philosophy, psychology or any other discipline of the mind .. so long as they don't mistake the bible for a reference book.
4) The bible should be seen as inspirational, not as prescriptive. Furthermore, it should be acknowledged that other books can be equally inspirational - even to Christians. The bible, in the end, provides a common source for reflection on the meaning of life and what is good but, again, it is not definitive. A Christian may assume that it is God that speaks to anyone who is inspired by a good book, but they shouldn't assume that God goes only by the name they give it or that they alone know what that God wants.
There are probably a few more pertinent details but that at least is a start. Anyone else have ideas for the perfect recipe for Christians?
Edited to say how much I wish I could get rid of that question mark in the title. I am a sloppy twit.
