Faith and Philosophy

Religion is not a syllogism but a poem.
H. L. Mencken, "Holy Writ"

I stole that quote of Pilgrimage of Faith, Matt's blog. Being a philosophy major made this quote even more pertinent I think. Simply because religion sometimes cannot be reconciled with agnostic logic, it is dismissed as unreasonable.

A syllogism is a formal logical argument with two premises and a conclusion. An example is, "I am human. All humans are mortal. Therefor I am mortal." Religion cannot be reduced like a fraction to a lowest common denominator. It cannot be sifted through to distill out nice little compact forms or methods. When we try to reduce religion to a set of rules or logical formulas, we corrupt its value. We probably all know people whose religion consists entirely of dogmatically obeying a certain set of rules. That kind of religion only has appeal as a form of structure for life, but lacks appeal as a spiritual force.

In one of my old posts I talked about the meaning of the word religion from the latin roots. It is about a bond between finite man and infinite God. The requirements that finite man must meet to enter that bond are set forth by the infinite God. I'm pretty sure all religions have lists of do's and don'ts, but religion also holds something greater than just those rules. Obedience binds us to God. Disobedience weakens or breaks that bond. The important thing is not the rules, it is the bond.

Let us use poetry as an illustration. Most poems follow a form. A sonnet is a very strict poetical structure, but within that structure the content is limitless. The beauty in a sonnet is not from its form but from the words within that form, yet without the form the words would not be as powerful. Words communicate meaning, form gives the meaning power.

Yesterday a man who is going through some difficult times talked about his problems in one of my classes. To help begin resolve his problems, he said, he went to his spiritual advisor. He explained briefly the seven Chakras of the body (energy vortexes). His spiritual advisor hypnotized him and pulled his fears out of his seventh chakra (the top of the head). Then his advisor hypnotized him and he listened as his higher self expressed his fears and his lower self listened. Under hypnosis he had a vision of Mary of Guadalupe.

I want you to take note of what you are thinking of this man right now.

As this man expressed his search for healing and comfort through these means, a Christian turned to me and said, "Sounds like it is time for an exorcism." That struck me as a horribly rude and unmerciful thing to say. As I thought more about it, I came to this conclusion.

The same Christain that made that comment showed me a quote by Kierkegaard saying something to this effect: As a Christian, it is not your job to defend Christianity against the Muslim or Buddhist, as a Christian it is your job to defend yourself against the idea of Islam and Buddhism. Stand for and in the truth, but don't be like Job's friends. Don't try and belittle someones pain by saying it must be a result of their unrighteousness and don't try and defend Christianity or God. If I learned anything from Job it is that God is big enough to defend himself. Jesus did not defend himself, but humble served thos who hated him. In the same way I believe he wants us to gently instruct and encourage the hurting and weak.

We followers of Christ should be the most tolerant of other spiritual and religious beliefs. Why should we be so tolerant of ideas we consider untrue and ungodly? I am convinced that we should be able to listen and understand the methods people use to search for peace, comfort, hope, and other spiritual things better than anyone else because we were not always Christians. Muslims are born Muslims. They do not know any other way of life. We were not born Christians, but chose to become followers of Christ. We know what it is to search. We know what it means to feel lost. We know hopelessness and fear and we know that the peace that passes all understanding and a hope that is an anchor firm and secure is found only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior.

When someone expresses pain to you, do not try and tell them how they should feel, that the paths they are searching are wrong or Satanic. Show them mercy and love. Encourage them to try prayer and reading the Bible. Do not rebuke them, encourage them. Do not try to convert them, encourage them to seek truth in God and let God the Father work His conversion.

In my own life, when I seek comfort in sinful things, Jesus doesn't stand there and scream at me or tell me I am a filthy worldy no-good worthless loser. He calls to me. He doesn't tell me I'm taking the wrong way, he tells me that he is the way, the truth and the life. Don't be intolerant of worldy ideas; rather rejoice that you know the truth. Don't rebuke the lost man who believes a lie; instead gently encourage him to search for truth.

Now what do you think of the man who was searching?