This was probably one of those "Long Time Coming" things.
I can't understand it.
I just... can't. On the whole, I pride myself on taking on a worldly view and striving to see from all perspectives, whether the difference lies in culture, society, politics, race, orientation, or what-have-you. The uniqueness of humanity is dazzling to me, and I adore discovering of differing points of views just so I may ( Read more... )
I just... can't. On the whole, I pride myself on taking on a worldly view and striving to see from all perspectives, whether the difference lies in culture, society, politics, race, orientation, or what-have-you. The uniqueness of humanity is dazzling to me, and I adore discovering of differing points of views just so I may ( Read more... )
When I first entered into my "Jesus Phase" as you call it, I was inundated with this sort of language which is a very sloppy way to convey a theological concept... words like hers kept me a prisoner of my own low self esteem...
Whilst reading her blog, I have stumbled upon many references to low self-image and self-esteem. Do you think, perhaps, that overly fervent belief and dependence on god/Jesus lends itself to those who suffer such things?
There is a teacher at my school who is currently struggling against her husband who up and left her and might ask for a divorce. And she is blaming herself, claiming that she wasn't a "Proverbs 31" wife. This perturbs me to no end. Would you agree?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, yes, the date of Christmas was deliberately chosen to allow pagan converts to continue their tradition...
The whole Christmas thing was more an icing on the cake than anything else. It was just an illustration of one aspect of her deeply ingrained doctrine that appears all over the place. I just found the whole Christmas quote an ideal place to vent a little. However, I do agree with your historical analysis, but I would like to submit that hardly any Christian in our modern times recognizes the fact that Christianity formulated its major holidays to match those of non-Christian Europeans.
It's a faith built around the idea of human imperfection and Divine perfection and the reconciliation of the two... the whole thing would be meaningless if we actually believed humanity was worthless. In fact, we believe that we're all incredibly precious.
Ah, the reconciliation I can abstractly understand from your point of view, but the concept of Divine perfection was my initial undoing from my "Jesus Phase." It was the question of free will that turned me away from religious extremism, and I subscribe to the belief of a fallible divinity (or rather, a divinity that is fallible due to it's separation from the human plane, all the while parts of it exist within all of us through the force of the Universe itself... this is something akin to pandeism, I suppose).
As for the perspective on humanity, I am not so sure I agree that it would be meaningless if Christians believed themselves to be worthless. Is it not the feeling and the belief of worthlessness that sends a Christian seeking for the benevolence of the sacrifice to cleanse them and only then make them precious? Are not those humans who are "unsaved" considered un-precious until "saved?"
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This is one of those areas where the church has failed women entirely. I would agree that the message of humility and repentance is easier to accept for those who already believe they have something to repent and humble themselves about. But there is a big difference between knowing your personal failings and working to overcome them and perceiving that everything you do and are are worthless.
As for Proverbs 31, I know very few women who could live up to those standards. I would know. I told myself that if I was more like her that my example would be enough to make my husband the kind of man I needed. What someone should have explained to me was that Proverbs 31 was as much a message to men as to women. The woman was capable of doing those things because her partner enabled her to do so, had confidence in her abilities and provided her the resources to carry out her business. I would venture that your friend, like myself, was having her legs cut out from under her by her helpmate and was still trying to run the marathon of her marriage. Marriages don't succeed or fail on the merits of one person alone.
The concept of God's holiness is central to Christianity because of the chasm created between God and man when sin entered the world. If God was fallable, if the capacity for goodness was available to people apart from God, man wouldn't need Him. Thus, no religion. I'm not saying that isn't a possibility. Just that there isn't a logical place for an imperfect God in the theology of Christianity.
As for the perspective on humanity, I am not so sure I agree that it would be meaningless if Christians believed themselves to be worthless. Is it not the feeling and the belief of worthlessness that sends a Christian seeking for the benevolence of the sacrifice to cleanse them and only then make them precious? Are not those humans who are "unsaved" considered un-precious until "saved?"
It isn't awareness of our own failings that drives us to God alone. It's the love of God for us and the prompting of His spirit that draws us to him. Our preciousness to him compels Him to seek us out in whatever state we're in to enable reconciliation. If he weren't precious to Him, why go to the trouble of enabling our communion with him? Like I said, not that it isn't possible, just that it wouldn't be Christianity. God loves the saved and unsaved alike.
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