Fate vs. Freewill: Did Jesus have a Choice?
The fate vs. freewill discussion always fascinated me, it was one of the few discussions I enjoyed in my high school English class, and I was quite curious how it applied to Biblical lore: Adam and Eve had a choice to disobey God - I always found that poorly planned on God's part, but that … Continue reading Fate vs. Freewill: Did Jesus have a Choice?
the Co$t of Chri$tian $cience
I have written at length about authorized Church Literature, how every "good" Christian Scientist has at least three copies of Science & Health, and how even the Right Dictionary can make a difference. I recently visited a friend who had several bookcases full of CS-related literature - Bound Volumes, multiple copies of the KJV Bible … Continue reading the Co$t of Chri$tian $cience
Anti-intellectualism and the Bible
Ms. Eddy claims “the time for thinkers has come” but if you think critically about Christian Science, or the Bible, you end up somewhere quite different than she intends.
As someone shared on my FB feed this morning
- “If you rearrange the letters in the words Faith and Religion, you can make ‘Microwave.’ No, don’t test it or question it, just believe me.”
When I was a Christian, I worked very hard at maintaining the tension between faith and reason, much like I see many bright people still doing today. I poured myself into biblical studies, learned the original languages, took classes on apologetics and worldview, discussed and argued over theology with friends into the wee hours of the morning, and even studied a bit of philosophy along the way. Like many writers I read these days, I worked sincerely out of a conviction that the Christian faith can be a well-reasoned faith. I labored all those years under the impression that you don’t have to “check your brains at the door” of the church, but can instead continue to feed both mind and spirit in a kind of symbiotic (even if sometimes strained) relationship. What did not occur to me then but seems as clear as a bell to me now is…
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Divine Love: Two Boats & a Helicopter
In lieu of art and iconography, Christian Science churches often adorn their walls with stark quotes from Our Beloved Leader, the Discovered and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. One of the more popular quotes to adorn sanctuary walls is "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every every human need." I've … Continue reading Divine Love: Two Boats & a Helicopter
Final Generation 2
I was inspired by the comments on the previous post to share a little more about my background. Everyone says they were "encouraged to explore and question," my father (selectively) encouraged my exploring and questioning. I did a lot of exploring and questioning, which is of the lovely, and often problematic, things about Christian Science: … Continue reading Final Generation 2
Final Generation CS
Not too long ago the Mad Cap Christian Scientist talked about being a "Second Generation Geologist," pointing out that A person can’t just inherit an expertise in geology – you have to do your own work, and put in your own study of it to be able to make the claim that you’re a geologist. … Continue reading Final Generation CS
Used
I want to find this doll, bring her home and care for her. She deserves more than to be abandoned by TMC.
behold, I’m a bad-ass
Ms. Eddy has an oft-quoted saying about how "trials are proof of God's care." While I've talked about this idea a little in previous posts, it has been a while since I've touched on the topic. As these things often work, the other night this showed up on my facebook feed: It made me very … Continue reading behold, I’m a bad-ass
Liberated from Limited Thinking
In the Principia magazine PURPOSE Summer 2013, there is an article about liberal art education, and on p. 13 there is a little blurb from the college president, Dr. Palmer, which talks about his perspective on the liberal arts and sciences: Liberal arts are liberating arts. They’re an opportunity to see how multiple disciplines work … Continue reading Liberated from Limited Thinking