Exploring the emotional and logical challenges faced by exvangelicals, the podcast delves into the Problem of Evil and the conflict between sin and repentance. It discusses the storylines of Jon Ward, Joshua Harris, Derek Webb, and Glennon Doyle, highlighting the emotional struggles of belief and apostasy.
Apostasy is often driven by emotional reasons like the Problem of Evil, challenging faith emotionally.
Faith decisions carry weight and consequences, urging alignment with beliefs and eternal implications.
Sin arises from silencing awareness of God, leading to actions contrary to faith; address with repentance.
Deep dives
Understanding the Impact of Emotional Argumentation on Apostasy
Apostasy often occurs when individuals are driven by emotional reasons rather than logical ones. The problem of evil, for example, serves as a powerful emotional argument that can sway one's faith. Realizing the emotional impact of such arguments is essential in addressing the root cause of doubt and disbelief.
The Significance of Placing Bets in Faith Decisions
Faith decisions are akin to placing bets on one's eternal soul. Individuals must acknowledge that their beliefs carry weight and have consequences, urging them to align their affections and loyalties with their faith. Being 'happily uncertain' or claiming epistemic humility in matters of faith is not a neutral stance but a deliberate choice.
The Role of Awareness of God's Presence in Moral Actions
Sin often occurs when individuals silence their awareness of God's presence, allowing them to engage in actions contrary to their faith. Addressing this loss of awareness and fostering continual acknowledgment of God's presence can lead to immediate repentance and a deeper connection with one's beliefs.
Impacts of Character and Past Experiences on Belief Systems
Belief systems are often shaped by narrative causes, character traits, and past experiences. Embracing or rejecting certain beliefs is a reflection of one's loves, loyalties, and personal circumstances. Understanding the origins of one's beliefs can aid in validating or challenging them through logic and reason.
The Importance of Training Loves and Loyalties through Storytelling
Training one's loves and loyalties through healthy storytelling is crucial in shaping belief systems. Encouraging individuals to examine and cultivate their affections, dislikes, and core values can lead to a deeper understanding and alignment with their faith. Embracing narratives that reinforce positive values is essential in strengthening one's spiritual journey.
Secular media is enthralled with exvangelicals... those former evangelicals who post some variation of "I've just been asking a lot of questions lately, and I've realized that organized religion doesn't have all the answers." Of course, turns out that "unanswered question" is usually the Problem of Evil... and every last Christian has had to answer the P.O.E. since the time of Adam. But investigating apostasy is helpful for other reasons as well, and Brian asks Nate about the storylines for such characters -- Jon Ward, Joshua Harris, Derek Webb, Glennon Doyle, and others being recent tragic examples. Turns out evil does not present a logical problem for Christians -- but it does present an emotional one. And the truth is, when you're clinging to sin, no matter how large, you've only got two choices: drop it and come to Jesus, or clutch it tight and try to remove your tender conscience from the Holy Spirit. And that's the exvangelical problem in a nutshell.