Dead Certain Faith

Is yours a certain faith?

15%- Yes, absolutely unchangeable

85%- No, open to development

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“Certainty about the next life is simply incompatible with tolerance in this one."
- Sam Harris, author "The End of Faith"


It is slightly scary to think about but if you want to be completely certain about something that you believe in (like who goes to heaven when they die) then you must necessarily be intolerant of anyone else views.

This is in fact what leads to the violence that we see between different religions and ideologies.

The desire to be certain.

I would propose and I have said this before in a Blairism, “In order to know everything you must be willing to be wrong.”

Faith does not and cannot equal certainty. Faith is alive and growing. Faith develops.

In order for faith to be allowed to develop it will change when you encounter new people and new ideas.

In my estimation that is what Christian witnessing should be, one person testifying about how God has encountered them in their life and listening to someone else testifying to how God has encountered them in their life. Thus each person’s faith changes, develops and grows deeper by listening to the other’s story.

There is no certainty in faith.

Therefore there is no need for violence.

Violence comes from a desire for certainty, which excludes faith.

A certain faith is dead…
But more then that it is deadly…

Safe for the whole family?

Results of last weeks poll:

Are you ready to be a part of the revolution?

80% Yes, sign me up today!

20% No, I prefer to be safe at home.

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Is the way of Jesus safe for the whole family?

I think not…

The way of Jesus is difficult…

The road is narrow and few find it…

Christianity is not a safe way to raise your kids…

It is a revolutionary movement that seeks to subvert the powerful and help the helpless…

Social Networking

I am on a Facebook kick lately. I am adding friends from all the stages of my life. It is kind of weird because I have not talked to some of these people in years. Some I have never talked to in my life but I know them from High School.

In High School I was shy and not at all as confident in myself as I am now but I was snobbish too. I had my own clique. But now I am trying some new ideas for 2006 in which I realize the importance of all relationships.

If you are not on Facebook I would encourage you to do so. It is a lot of fun and a good way to say connected with people. All you need is a college email address.

Thoughts to guide a new year

You do not have because you do not ask.

Seek and you will find.

Knock and the door will open.

Ask and you will receive.

Do for others what you wish they would do for you.

Be the change you want to see in the world.