Pyromaniacs: Is Christianity rational?
Dan Phillips at Team Pyro blogs on whether Christianity is rational. He describes the anti-intellectuals in Christianity thusly:
Their religion is a Schleiermacheranian mish-mash of feelings and sentimentality; and, lazily, they like it that way. Like Alice’s queen, they have ‘believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’ They can splop! down an absurd statement and, when challenged to try to make any kind of sense of it—let alone Biblical sense—they can loftily murmur that their religion is a matter of the heart, not of the mind.
This is of course to stand Biblical religion on its head (pun noted, but not intended). As soon as you assert anything about God, life, reality, you find yourself in the arena of thought and ideas. Even the assertion that nothing can be asserted about God is an assertion about God, open for analysis, criticism, acceptance or rejection.
This is by the design of God, who crafted us to analyze, understand, exercise dominion (Genesis 1:26-28). Thus He positions the first commandment as ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’(Matthew 22:37; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5).
Tim Challies covered similar ground about 5 months ago reviewing J. P. Moreland’s book Love Your God With All Your Mind.
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You have clearly articulated what I have been trying to say!
I have read a few of your posts, but I just had to comment on this one.
I am tired of being forced to choose either faith or intellect. Some Christians eschew intellect, and if you are to be considered a “true” follower of Christ, they think you should dispense with it too, since it is all a matter of faith. That is so ridiculous! At the same time, our current culture reveres (even worships) intellect, and disregards faith. I get the, “You seem to be an intelligent person, how could you believe in this archaic, organized-religion thing?”
In Matt. 22.37 & Deut. 6.5, both heart and mind are mentioned. In my opinion, you cannot truly love our God with one to the exclusion of the other.
I like the way you think. Is it ok if I add you to my blogroll?
1. Thanks for the blessings and the kind words, they are appreciated.
2. I cannot take credit for another’s work… The bulk of the post was a quote (hence the indentation) from the Team Pyro blog.
3. I don’t mind at all if you add me to your blogroll; however, I can’t seem to navigate to your blog.
4. I’m not 100% sure I agree that our culture reveres intellect… There is at least some evidence to the contrary…
I thought it was just the first paragraph that was a quote. Still, you did post it. Even if they were not your words, the sentiment is implied. Besides, I do like the way you think. As I said, I have read a few posts, but have not had the time to comment on them. (I have 2 kids under 6.) My husband showed me your blog, and we have both been reading with interest.
I have fixed the problem, so you can get to my blog now. (And my husband’s via a link.)
As for the revering of intellect within our culture, I see your point. I think we do tend to have extremes. What I was implying in my comment was the worship of intellect instead of God. (The idea that you cannot have both.) Perhaps my view is just a complimemtary assessment of my circle of friends! But then, I don’t have much patience for the banal and vapid.