C
Chuckmsrd
Guest
I say semi OT because so much of this NG is about Dr.
Chungs beliefs and the reaction from other posters about
his beliefs
Beyond the
Fundamentals
For as long as I can remember, I have been a seeker. A
ravenous searcher, filled with questions and
wonderment of the most profound nature. I can recall
as if just yesterday, lying in my bed at the age of
five and pondering; "if the universe ends, as it
surely must, what is just beyond that ending?" I
remember getting shivers down my spine as I imagined
the blackness of "nothing" prior to the beginning of
"everything". Surely these questions and inquiries
have not withered as my human mind developed. We all
desire answers, truth, and meaning to our existence.
Along with this we possess an innate need and appeal
for love, companionship, and a sense of belonging,
from the highest conceptual sphere down to simple
interactions with others. Living in our largely
Christian culture, my quest led me inevitably to the
question of either embracing or denying the claims of
Christianity. By nature I am not one to ride the fence
on an issue of such profound importance and
implication. Although I believe that individual
perception is relative, I feel strongly that there
should be a clear response to claims of such a
resounding nature. In my early twenties, during my
undergraduate college studies, I said yes to these
claims and eventually fully embraced the claims of
fundamentalist Christianity. In answer to our desires
and needs as stated, the belief systems of
Christianity do provide a meaning, a purpose, and a
love from the highest philosophical standpoint (the
key word is "a" instead of "the"). One thing stood in
the way of resting in this traditional mindset; an
evolving, ever deepening intellectual hunger that
desired truth above all else. As a freethinker, I
increasingly struggled with "hand me down" thought
processes, dogma, and foundations of ideology.
Intellectual honesty within myself needed to be
addressed. I respect, and in a fleeting sense, envy
those who have a deep faith in their religious
beliefs. There is rest, peace, and much contentment in
many who possess an authentic faith. Faith can be
defined as "confident belief". As knowledge expanded
in so many areas, including but not restricted to,
logic, psychology, philosophy, neurophysiology,
evolution, physics, and world religions, my beliefs
progressed further and further from confidence in
fundamentalist Christianity as truth and more
accurately into confidence in the falsity therein. But
what of meaning and purpose? There is an abundance of
this in every moment alive if the perceptions and
desires are present. In nature, relationships,
humanitarianism, art, music, love, thought, play,
compassion, self actualization etc. What I needed and
have realized is that constantly reaching for ultimate
meaning can easily invade and deplete meaning from
everyday events and the beauty that is amongst us.
There will certainly be pain, sorrow, and loneliness
at times in those who do not possess a specific
concrete theistic belief. However these are natural
human emotions and are quite equally replete in
individuals who subscribe to traditional theology. On
the other side of the examination, there is absolute
joy, with an absolution of unnecessary guilt, clothed
in a magical freedom (thus the term freethinker), in
standing on your own honest beliefs. You need not
writhe through dogma you know is illogical, or
superstition that you clearly perceive as silly; you
dismiss them as just that. With all due respect, I do
find it humorous and compelling to hear from
individuals in fundamentalist Christian circles about
the "problem" with freethinking. Everything from
sinful selfishness and pride, to being blinded by
Satan and destined for eternal torment. One thing is
forgotten by those whom I love and respect in these
circles, that is that I had been there for over eight
years and have heard, studied, and examined these
beliefs in depth. I do not dismiss them due to
ignorance, or the reasons just stated, but due to
honesty within myself, empowered by experience and
wisdom. Upon the time of this writing, I feel that I
am, in a multitude of ways, much more spiritually
alive than previously. With the shredding of false and
unnecessary binds, freeing me to explore various
cultural and historical philosophical and theological
ideologies, it becomes an exciting time to be alive.
In addition, this freedom has been entwined with my
own creative spiritual insights, adding to the
expanding fulfillment. There are still those who will
try to bind and control the flow of a freethinker and
ex-fundamentalist for whatever the purported reason;
they would have you believe that it emanates from
sincere belief. I tend to feel that it originates more
often than not from one or more of the following; a
desire for control, power, self satisfaction, and/or
an insecurity that their own beliefs may have gaping
holes that can be exposed upon honest objective
examination. There are many truths yet to discover,
and I am excited about this journey. When all the dust
settles from debate, discussion, and searching. I
shall choose to die, not in submission with blinders
on, but rather in the forefront, with wonderment,
honesty, and freedom in my heart.
Chungs beliefs and the reaction from other posters about
his beliefs
Beyond the
Fundamentals
For as long as I can remember, I have been a seeker. A
ravenous searcher, filled with questions and
wonderment of the most profound nature. I can recall
as if just yesterday, lying in my bed at the age of
five and pondering; "if the universe ends, as it
surely must, what is just beyond that ending?" I
remember getting shivers down my spine as I imagined
the blackness of "nothing" prior to the beginning of
"everything". Surely these questions and inquiries
have not withered as my human mind developed. We all
desire answers, truth, and meaning to our existence.
Along with this we possess an innate need and appeal
for love, companionship, and a sense of belonging,
from the highest conceptual sphere down to simple
interactions with others. Living in our largely
Christian culture, my quest led me inevitably to the
question of either embracing or denying the claims of
Christianity. By nature I am not one to ride the fence
on an issue of such profound importance and
implication. Although I believe that individual
perception is relative, I feel strongly that there
should be a clear response to claims of such a
resounding nature. In my early twenties, during my
undergraduate college studies, I said yes to these
claims and eventually fully embraced the claims of
fundamentalist Christianity. In answer to our desires
and needs as stated, the belief systems of
Christianity do provide a meaning, a purpose, and a
love from the highest philosophical standpoint (the
key word is "a" instead of "the"). One thing stood in
the way of resting in this traditional mindset; an
evolving, ever deepening intellectual hunger that
desired truth above all else. As a freethinker, I
increasingly struggled with "hand me down" thought
processes, dogma, and foundations of ideology.
Intellectual honesty within myself needed to be
addressed. I respect, and in a fleeting sense, envy
those who have a deep faith in their religious
beliefs. There is rest, peace, and much contentment in
many who possess an authentic faith. Faith can be
defined as "confident belief". As knowledge expanded
in so many areas, including but not restricted to,
logic, psychology, philosophy, neurophysiology,
evolution, physics, and world religions, my beliefs
progressed further and further from confidence in
fundamentalist Christianity as truth and more
accurately into confidence in the falsity therein. But
what of meaning and purpose? There is an abundance of
this in every moment alive if the perceptions and
desires are present. In nature, relationships,
humanitarianism, art, music, love, thought, play,
compassion, self actualization etc. What I needed and
have realized is that constantly reaching for ultimate
meaning can easily invade and deplete meaning from
everyday events and the beauty that is amongst us.
There will certainly be pain, sorrow, and loneliness
at times in those who do not possess a specific
concrete theistic belief. However these are natural
human emotions and are quite equally replete in
individuals who subscribe to traditional theology. On
the other side of the examination, there is absolute
joy, with an absolution of unnecessary guilt, clothed
in a magical freedom (thus the term freethinker), in
standing on your own honest beliefs. You need not
writhe through dogma you know is illogical, or
superstition that you clearly perceive as silly; you
dismiss them as just that. With all due respect, I do
find it humorous and compelling to hear from
individuals in fundamentalist Christian circles about
the "problem" with freethinking. Everything from
sinful selfishness and pride, to being blinded by
Satan and destined for eternal torment. One thing is
forgotten by those whom I love and respect in these
circles, that is that I had been there for over eight
years and have heard, studied, and examined these
beliefs in depth. I do not dismiss them due to
ignorance, or the reasons just stated, but due to
honesty within myself, empowered by experience and
wisdom. Upon the time of this writing, I feel that I
am, in a multitude of ways, much more spiritually
alive than previously. With the shredding of false and
unnecessary binds, freeing me to explore various
cultural and historical philosophical and theological
ideologies, it becomes an exciting time to be alive.
In addition, this freedom has been entwined with my
own creative spiritual insights, adding to the
expanding fulfillment. There are still those who will
try to bind and control the flow of a freethinker and
ex-fundamentalist for whatever the purported reason;
they would have you believe that it emanates from
sincere belief. I tend to feel that it originates more
often than not from one or more of the following; a
desire for control, power, self satisfaction, and/or
an insecurity that their own beliefs may have gaping
holes that can be exposed upon honest objective
examination. There are many truths yet to discover,
and I am excited about this journey. When all the dust
settles from debate, discussion, and searching. I
shall choose to die, not in submission with blinders
on, but rather in the forefront, with wonderment,
honesty, and freedom in my heart.