I’m talking about my post on God.
More specifically, I’m talking about people not agreeing with me. That was a first. I thought it might happen when I brought politics to the blog, but it turned out I was pretty much preaching to the choir.
Let me say that I’ve secretly been hoping to post something where people would disagree with me, and secretly scared of posting something where people would disagree with me. There was no reason to be scared.
Of course, I would never post anything just to be controversial, but I like talking about serious issues and I love to debate.
But, just to be clear, I’m telling you what I think. I’m not attacking what you believe. I don’t necessarily want you to believe what I believe. And, I welcome you to question or challenge me.
Okay, back to puppies and rainbows and gum drops for now! Thanks for your participation everyone!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I just caught up with your “God” post. I am always amazed by the reactions I get from people when I do open up about what I actually think about God. I don’t ask people to agree with me, but I have 7 years of professional undergraduate and graduate education in theology under my belt. I did well. I received all the awards in my department. I graduated third in my class overall. I’m no slouch.
But, for some reason people who have faith (but no theological education) find my perspective offensive and downright threatening. I don’t ask people to believe what I believe, but at least respect that I might know a thing or two about it. So, I purposely avoid talking about my education or what my degrees are in, except with people like myself (and you), who have a similar background.
I just changed my facebook religious views to Respect. And by changed, I mean put it up, because I didn’t have anything there before. But I think pretty much everything is all about respect.
Intriguing. Now I must read the other post. However it goes, glad you’ve got the crowd riled.
I love the blogs, even if we disagree. My beliefs tend to be fluid from time to time.
However, in the end I think no matter what we think God is or his role, I think each person has to find God in their own way. I would assume you think that too, right?
I don’t think anyone feels like you were attacking their belief system. I sure wasn’t. My only real “complaint” and I use the word rather loosely is that it’s more nerve wracking speaking with you about religion as you have academic theory and knowledge to back your beliefs up.
I’ve always been of the school of thought that you need to know what you’re talking about, before you open your mouth. And from a literal sense, I really don’t know what I’m talking about since it’s just what I *believe*. And even then I’m always open to listen to new ideas and change my beliefs along the way.
I guess what I’m saying in a very long winded comment is that I’m sorry if any future comments seem “stupid” from a religious scholar POV.
I must say that I enjoyed hearing your views and beliefs on God, even though I don’t share them. Some of my greatest conversations about God have been with a Muslim man that I met while traveling in England for a little while. Sure I didn’t barely agree with him on anything but the insight I gained into my own religion simply by talking with him about his own was priceless.
People, especially some Christians, tend to be very defensive when you talk about faith and belief. It’s like they are trying their hardest to not open their eyes to other viewpoints. I’m a big proponent of open dialogue and seeing things from others perspectives even if you don’t agree with them.
I think it’s the blessing and curse of studying theology that it’s one of those things where everyone’s an expert. I find it hard to convince people that I know what I’m talking about without it coming off like I’m saying I’m a better person for it or closer to God.
I said this in another post or maybe a vlog, but when someone is unable to question their own thoughts enough to just hear how someone else thinks, then it’s hard for me to think much of them. I like anyone who will talk to be, devout Christian or atheist.
Of course they don’t sound stupid, and actually, it’s the theological questions of non-scholars that interest me the most. If someone is willing to talk about these things, then I’m all about it.
It’s a delicate thing, though, to push on someone’s beliefs even just by stating your own, and I’ve been through a doozy of a theological crisis myself, so I’d never want to force someone into that–at least without being sensitive.
The frustrating thing for me is that all of these issues are interrelated, and I can’t communicate them all at once. Even just dealing with them one at a time is difficult.