Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: sionnsar

The article IMHO, respects the faith man places is his own rationalization over faith in Christ.

I've heard it expressed another way. The Gnostics had it partially true, just insufficient belief in God through faith in our Lord Savior Christ Jesus. Some gnostic positions hold that reality is influenced by belief. The more people believe a particular aspect, with a void of any other opposing belief, and that might simply become reality.

Now consider Cartesianism and rationalism. If this aspect of gnosticism is true, then the more people relied upon rationalism, the more physical reality began to comply with belief. In turn, the scientific methodd to an extent, simply begged the question. If nobody else believed in it, and the hyposthesis was tested, it might be allowed to come true in fruition of the bodily domain, ergo science advances and many people believe that science merely studies a pre-existant universe and how it behaves.

Then we consider Descarte's Cogito Ergo Sum. Unlike Christianity, where God imputes biologic life, soul life and regenerates spirit life, instead man arrogant believes he has concluded he has existed due to his belief he exists. In many respects Descartes presented a counterfeit world for man to believe. Instead of the object of faith being God, the outside object of faith is the Creation, its corresponding processes, laws, rationalism becomes to doctrine of thie new age.

Now from our modern day worldly perspective, scarred by rationalism and science, presupposing all previous generations were not simply as advanced, and the world today is better understood, whenever one considers miracles or supernatural events recorded in Scripture, there is a tendancy to discount the veracity of the report or at least reduce the literal interpretation in favor of science.

On the contrary, if one faithfully seeks God on His terms, Scripture actually provides much more pertinent insight to the physical, thinking and spiritual domains than any other source, simply because our understanding Scripture while in fellowship with Him, allows His revelation to set us apart from all counterfeit schemes of thinking, deciding and behavior.

Yes, the Ascension is true, just as is the Rapture will become reality. Until then, the mechanics might not be as important as what He has already provided us in Scripture, as a method for us to further place ourselves through faith in Him by His protocols.


2 posted on 05/29/2006 7:45:57 PM PDT by Cvengr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Cvengr

" respects the faith man places is his own rationalization over faith in Christ."

No friend. I believe the Ascension is true because it is recorded in God's Holy Word. But that does not mean apologetics are unnecessary. The question Spong raises is a difficult one for many. I think my explanation directly addresses Spong and reaffirms the truth of God's Word for doubting minds.


3 posted on 05/30/2006 3:37:40 AM PDT by MMkennedy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson