This chapter examines the contrasting faith journeys of the speakers, who reflect on their diverse Christian backgrounds and the evolution of their beliefs. They discuss the struggle between foundational religious teachings and personal convictions, emphasizing the need for critical thinking and authenticity within faith communities. Through engaging dialogue, the speakers advocate for a dynamic exploration of faith that allows for questioning and personal growth.
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Scott unpacks the journey he’s been on, and the very un-Evangelical and very unorthodox faith he now holds.
Three weeks ago, Luke sketched out what his faith looks like now, after completely deconstructing and reconstructing the one he grew up with. This week it was Scott’s turn!
We first traced out the common path we’ve both been on. Both of us spent our pre-teen years in a church-world that was largely irrelevant to us because it was imposed on us by our parents. But we then both dove headfirst into a very Fundamentalist Evangelical faith of our own during out late teens and early twenties. But our inquiring minds and adventurous spirits took us down a path that constantly reevaluated that faith … we were on that metaphorical “slippery slope” … eventually finding ourselves decades later with a much more liberal faith that looks nothing like that Fundamentalist Evangelical one. It was NOT that we had neglected our faith and just simply let it grow cold: instead, we actively pursued our faith and belief system, and it died slowly by a thousand cuts. Many other people, including many of our listeners, have walked that very same path. A path that ends at a fork in the road: a decision that one must either reject faith entirely, or find an entirely new faith that is sustainable, meaningful and rewarding.
Scott then unpacked what he believes (and doesn’t believe) now.
First, God. Scott begins with accepting the existence of God as a given rather than looking for or requiring evidence or logic to prove that existence before moving forward. Luke then pushed Scott on the hiddenness of God, whether God insists on a blind faith, whether God must be transcendent (completely beyond space and time), God’s aseity (existing of and from itself), Panentheism, Process Theology, and even Deism.
Next, Christianity and Jesus. Scott talked at length about the humanity of Christ: a Jewish rabbi, with human limitations, an extraordinary individual who lived in an obscure place and time, but nonetheless had an incredible impact on human history, and even a Messianic figure. When pushed to talk about Christ’s divinity, Scott admitted to a lot less precision here, but felt he could at least say that Jesus channeled Godhood and God-awareness in a unique way, and that the face of God is the face of Christ. And what about the meaning or ‘purpose’ of Christ’s death? After briefly talking about the Moral Influence theory, about Jesus needing to die in order to light a fire within his followers, and Substitutionary Atonement, Scott landed more firmly on Christus Victor theory of atonement (overcoming through love and suffering). We noted that humans are learning to emulate his example (Moral Influence theory again?), overcoming and finding liberation through passive resistance, love and suffering (Ghandi in early 20th century India, and the civil rights march at Selma Alabama in 1965) rather than the vicious cycle of violence (Israel and Hamas today).
With only a few minutes left, and so much more to talk about, Scott briefly touched on the nature of faith, and some talk about heaven.
As always, tell us your thoughts on this topic …
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