It has been imagined by some that Christianity is no different from any other religion. All one has to do is to switch the labels around and one comes up with the same result. Since the world's different religions cannot all be true at the same time then at least some must be false. And if one is false then all are false, since no one of them has a better claim to validity than the rest. All religion is nonsense.
If it were not for one thing: Christianity is radically different from the rest in two essential characteristics: 1) it's analysis of the human condition, and 2) its proposed solution to the problem.
Christianity has a distinctive theology of sin and redemption. It begins with an acute analysis of human nature. It is not just simply that we occasionally make mistakes through human frailty. Rather, evil is embedded in the human psyche. Our hearts are filled with lust, envy, greed, malice and pride. We may look respectable enough outwardly, but inwardly we are incurably self-centered. We often do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Our good actions conceal bad motives. The ultimate source of evil in the world is ourselves. Human nature is corrupt. And if it is true that someday we must face a just and holy God then our situation is desperate indeed.
But Christianity also proposes a startling remedy for the problem. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16; NKJV). Most other religions base salvation on some form of human effort -- typically self-mastery or ritual observance. But we are too far gone for that. What we need is redemption through a Savior. This God has provided in the Person Who was uniquely qualified to fill the role, the God-man Jesus. His death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice for sin.
Biblical scholar Merrill C. Tenney put it like this: "The Christian church was born into a world filled with competing religions which may have differed widely among themselves but all of which possessed a common characteristic -- the struggle to reach a god or gods who remained essentially inaccessible. . .The current ethical standards were superficial, despite the ideals and insights possessed by some philosophers, and when they discoursed on evil and on virtue, they had neither the remedy for the one nor the dynamic to produce the other. . ."
"Paganism is a parody and a perversion of God's original revelation to man. It retains many basic elements of truth but twists them into practical falsehood. Divine sovereignty becomes fatalism; grace becomes indulgence; righteousness becomes conformity to arbitrary rules; worship becomes empty ritual; prayer becomes selfish begging; the supernatural degenerates into superstition" (New Testament Times, Eerdmans, 1965, pp. 107-108).
But how can we know that the claims of Christianity are true? On the first point, the human condition, it is a matter of simple observation: all we need to do is to look at ourselves honestly in the mirror. On the second point, the proposed solution, we are dependent on revelation. We can infer from nature that God exists; we cannot infer that He is forgiving, much less that He would sacrifice His own Son to secure that forgiveness. Jesus said that He was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. How do we know that His claims are true? He rose from the dead.
On this special day Christianity offers the world something it desperately needs but cannot find elsewhere: salvation.
It has been imagined by some that the Pasafarian religion is no different from any other religion. All one has to do is to switch the labels around and one comes up with the same result. Since the world's different religions cannot all be true at the same time then at least some must be false. And if one is false then all are false, since no one of them has a better claim to validity than the rest. All religion is nonsense.
ReplyDeleteIf it were not for one thing: Pastafarianism is radically different from the rest in two essential characteristics: 1) it's analysis of the human condition, and 2) its proposed solution to the problem.
Pastafarianiam has a distinctive theology of spaghetti and meatballs. It begins with an acute analysis of human nature. It is not just simply that we occasionally make mistakes through human frailty. Rather, evil is embedded in the human psyche. Our hearts are filled with lust, envy, greed, malice and pride. We may look respectable enough outwardly, but inwardly we are incurably self-centered. We often do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Our good actions conceal bad motives. The ultimate source of evil in the world is ourselves. Human nature is corrupt. And if it is true that someday we must go to a higher plane with the force then our situation is desperate indeed.
But Pastafarianism also proposes a startling remedy for the problem. "For the Flying Spaghetti Monster so loved the galaxy that He gave His only begotten parmesan cheese dish, that whoever believes in Him should not go hungry, but have everlasting side dishes" (Al Dente 3:16). Most other religions base salvation on some form of human effort -- typically self-mastery or ritual observance. But we are too far gone for that. What we need is redemption through a Savior. This Flying Spaghetti Monster has provided in the image of What was uniquely qualified to fill the role, Italian cuisine. His eating from the dinner plate was an atoning sacrifice for sin.
Pastafarian scholar Otsamatterwithyou put it like this: "The Pastafarian church was born into a world filled with competing religions which may have differed widely among themselves but all of which possessed a common characteristic -- the struggle to reach a god or gods who remained essentially inaccessible. . .The current ethical standards were superficial, despite the ideals and insights possessed by some philosophers, and when they discoursed on evil and on virtue, they had neither the remedy for the one nor the dynamic to produce the other. . ."
"Paganism is a parody and a perversion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster's original revelation to man. It retains many basic elements of truth but twists them into practical falsehood. Divine sovereignty becomes fatalism; grace becomes indulgence; righteousness becomes conformity to arbitrary rules; worship becomes empty ritual; prayer becomes selfish begging; the supernatural degenerates into superstition" (Gnocci Times, Luighi , 1965, pp. 107-108).
But how can we know that the claims of Pastafarianism are true? On the first point, the human condition, it is a matter of simple observation: all we need to do is to look at ourselves honestly in the mirror. On the second point, the proposed solution, we are dependent on revelation. We can infer from nature that the Flying Spaghetti Monster exists; we cannot infer that He is forgiving, much less that He would sacrifice His own meatballs to secure that forgiveness. The side dish of parmesan said that He was the Son of the FSM, the Grated One, the Savior of the galaxy. How do we know that His claims are true? He rose from the dead and re-appeared on a fresh plate.
On this special day Pastafarianism offers the world something it desperately needs but cannot find elsewhere: salvation and good dining.
(giggle)
But how can we know that the claims of Christianity are true?
ReplyDelete1) Humans behaving badly. Ignore humans behaving well. We're bad, bad, bad. Feel the love?
2) Revelation. Who could doubt that the creator of the universe would speak to you about an Iron age carpenter with delusions of grandeur? Of course I'll take your word for it. There are no other possible explanations.
3) Nature reveals god. Oh, not the bad stuff like parasitic infections that eat you from the inside out, virus' that make you bleed out of your eyes and shed your intestines, carnivores tearing at living flesh to the sounds of screaming agony to avoid starvation, geological movements and climatic events causing widespread death and destruction, but the good stuff. Like butterflies. And rainbows. And kittens.
4) Jesus rose from the dead. I read it in a book that was copied many times over many centuries, transcribed from different languages, about a guy who knew a guy who was told by a guy that this guy who said he was the messiah, the one true king, the savior of the world, and one mentally stable dude rose from the dead. That an iron clad sure thing.
And the payoff? Salvation... from... oh, death, of course. You fly off to some eternal place where you get 72 raisins, some milk, and a bit of honey. Wait... that's islam. Never mind. Let's stick with what we know is true.
Good grief, Bob.
In my blog post I included a fairly lengthy quote from a book which I thought stated the point very well that I wished to make. With his usual skill and ingenuity Mr. Katesby managed to miss the point altogher. He switched the labels around, apparently in an effort to demonstrate that what can be said about Christianity can just as easily be said about any other religion. The problem, however, is that in this instance the book actually exists - I have a copy of it on my shelves. It even has a photograph of the author on the rear dust jacket! Thus is Mr. Katesby's technique was meant to prove that the book doesn't exist, he failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteThus is Mr. Katesby's technique was meant to prove that the book doesn't exist, he failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteIf you think that was what I wanted to prove then it is you who have failed miserably.
You quoted from a real, live book-with a photo of the author.
Big deal.
Quote from a dozen if it makes you feel better.
Yet it doesn`t help you in the slightest.
It matters a great deal to those who are open-minded.
ReplyDeleteIt matters a great deal to those who are open-minded.
ReplyDeleteYou are not getting this.
ReplyDeletePerhaps another example will make things clearer:
"Paganism is a parody and a perversion of Baal's original revelation to man. It retains many basic elements of truth but twists them into practical falsehood. Divine sovereignty becomes fatalism; grace becomes indulgence; righteousness becomes conformity to arbitrary rules; worship becomes empty ritual; prayer becomes selfish begging; the supernatural degenerates into superstition" (Teachings of the High Temple, Scribe Thebes Diocese, pp. 11-12).
Still nothing?
Ok.
Let's have another example...
"Paganism is a parody and a perversion of Zeus's original revelation to man. It retains many basic elements of truth but twists them into practical falsehood. Divine sovereignty becomes fatalism; grace becomes indulgence; righteousness becomes conformity to arbitrary rules; worship becomes empty ritual; prayer becomes selfish begging; the supernatural degenerates into superstition" (Hellenic Trust, Digothysybus, 1965, pp. 36-37 Original Ed.).
It's not a question of being "open-minded". Nor does it matter in the slightest whether you quote from a real book or not.
"Paganism is a parody and a perversion of God's original revelation to man. It retains many basic elements of truth but twists them into practical falsehood."
ReplyDeleteHow so?
"Divine sovereignty becomes fatalism;" That's Calvinism.
"grace becomes indulgence;" Calvinism again.
"righteousness becomes conformity to arbitrary rules;" Change arbitrary rules to arbitrary dogmas, and that's Calvinism.
"worship becomes empty ritual;" Calvinism.
"prayer becomes selfish begging;" Prayer ceases to exist because of the fatalism.
"the supernatural degenerates into superstition" That's Calvinism.
So Calvinism = Paganism.
No. Those are your caricatures of Calvinism. Neither Calvin nor any Reformed creed nor major Reformed theologian ever said any such things. You should know better than to resort to a straw man argument!
ReplyDelete