Radosh, in his book Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, says:
… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it?
I say yes. However, not just Christians, but all of us. This is the natural, primal task of the brain for the human organism. The brain’s fundamental occupation is to make itself secure and to justify that security with apparently logical explanations. Everyone from the religious fundamentalist to the atheist does this. We find our own place of comfort and justify it with ideologies. We want to understand our world. It must have meaning. The deep and perpetual need of the brain for the physical security of the organism is intrinsic. Until we humbly understand this we will never get anywhere.
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David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
You’re “dead” on, David; but isn’t that all the more reason to pursue the reality of the Trinity, to somehow find assistance “through the veil” and know contact, even if but temporal, that we might be anchored in the next step?
I love, by the way, your illustration of “vision”………
I have a friend who confessed that she is just too busy and too tired to make sense of the world in a theological or ideological sense. It’s easier to trust that experts or pastors who are paid to make sense of things are getting it right.
I guess that might be one “carrot” attached to the end of the vision-caster. It’s easy food. You don’t have to expend time and energy to get sustenance. You don’t have to think for yourself. “They” do all the thinking for you. And you’ve got a factory manufactured, no assembly required, nice little ideological package all ready for you to lay claim to.
I agree: “Until we humbly understand [that the brain has a deep and perpetual need for physical security of the organism--Here I would add my own words: "whether actual or imagined"], we will never get anywhere.”
Just to muddy the waters a bit more, are we trying to get somewhere?
Aren’t we content right where we are? ;^)
And this is OK.
But because we’re fallen, and it’s a twisty world, we need God to turn us around, or it’ll all get inverted.
Sas x
… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it?
—-Gee, I wonder if the Apostles did that?
… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it? I say yes. However, not just Christians, but all of us.
—-It just blows my mind that because you do something like ‘find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it’ you pin you shortcomings on “ALL of us.” You do have a habit of doing that. Kind of reminds me of Donald Miller.
fishon
Ugh… dont get me started on how we as christians use this comfort zone in our political choices. Most dont even bother reading the legislature or get to know the candidates! Someone in focus on the family/john macarthur/talbot/dallas/ pick a conservative christian pundit says this is the Christian way to vote and they blindly follow! *knock, knock* we have a rare chance to participate in our democracy, isn’t it worth taking the time to really pray and think through the issues? Maybe examine a little scripture? Talk to your pastor about it… (sorry just finished a frustrating chat with a friend)
Btw… im a registered independent (both big parties are unbiblical in my opinion) and im really considering writing in mickey mouse, esp since im in SF so it really doesnt matter who i vote for, Obama will win.
David
Check out my blog from the other day. I addressed this also. Just a little different than the way you did
If anyone had seen the animation movie Wall E, where the remnant from earth were out in space, living on this space ship and had become these lifeless blobs being spoon-fed everything, i think is a great example of what you are saying.
Pehaps a little extreme, but we may not be that far off.
But we initiate the choice, we are not coerced.
The carrot may be the “grand lie” from the enemy, just a little of this, just a little of that and soon you are asleep at the wheel. You never saw the train coming.
The mind is the only real battleground, todays wars are minute compared to manipulation of the mind.
The brain is an information magnet, just watch a young child in development. What they are fed… reflects who they become or want to become… even before conscious choice, and no matter what religious background.
We come to Christ, in whatever circle of faith, we become fed one thing or another and if we know no other strain of thought than what we are fed (in extremist circles) we become an image of those feeding us, and our comfort comes from what we know.
Outside of this realm, are choices and i don’t think we are a one celled creature just on auto pilot seeking comfort, there seem to be so many variables to this argument.
But then again, we do want for everything around us to fall into place, home, neighbourhood, where we live, city, town, village, farm, mountain top, job, career, family, friends, food (comfort food) where we dine, what we dine on, schools for our kids, church, car we drive… yes the list does go on… amazing!
WOW! now i’m really uncomfortable…
“… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it?”
DUH, with the possible exception of fishon it seems pretty prevalent. The modern day chasimaniacs are a classic example with the God wants me fat, dumb, and happy (rich) and wants nothing in return. Virtue without effort and money for free (sort of reminds me of a Dire Straits song) are two things I have heard promised lately; if I have enough “faith”. Although I am just as guilty in fostering my contempt of such nonsense and believing my own understanding to be much better.
Ah Greg,
“…with the possible exception of fishon….” You are a funny fellow!
“The modern day chasimaniacs are classic…” [I assume you mean charismatics--forgive me if that is not what you mean]. Wow, this old fundementalist, conservative know more than a few ‘chasimaniacs’ who do NOT subscribe to ‘God wants me fat, dumb, and happy (rich) and wants nothing in return.’ You must be listening the Benny or Joel too much. Turn off the TV.
… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it?
——-I wonder if our Christians brethen in Somalia, Ethiopia, North Korea, Iraq, Indonesia, Afghanistan, etc, do what the right reverend Radosh and his disciple {I say yes. However, not just Christians, but all of us} pin on all Christians? I sure would like to see Radosh’s research on those Christians.
… do Christians simply find a personal comfort zone and construct a theological and cultural justification around it?
————-Wow, is that what Peter and Paul did? Did Peter and Paul ‘construct a theological and cultural justification for their experiences with Jesus????? Sure a non-believer such as Radosh would use that as a defense for his non-belief—–but a Christian———-well, NP buys into it, but do all the rest of you Christians really believe Peter and Paul did what is suggested of us ALL?
Ah, NP, you paint with a very broad brush.
fishon
Evolutionary psychology is fascinating on this topic – particularly the concept of ‘niche construction’.
From what I’ve read, the theory goes that as plants feed useful chemicals back into the soil, birds make nests and beavers build dams, we too create mini ecosystems around us, except that as well as physically, we do it through culture.
It’s actually pretty exciting! If you follow it through, it explains why we are hard-wired to seek meaning, and therefore to find God.
That is, if God is a God of Love.
The theory makes sense of general observations that church culture changes over time, whilst remaining the church. But it sees this culture-building as a positive thing, rather than neutral or deceptive, as the phrase ‘comfort-zone’ can be in danger of suggesting.
fishon
“Wow, is that what Peter and Paul did? Did Peter and Paul ‘construct a theological and cultural justification for their experiences with Jesus?????”
Id bet money they did.
I am sure you would.
fishon
fishon: when the bible says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, would you say that’s painting with a broad brush? assuming you would say yes, then let me explain that i’m trying to unpack what that means and what that looks like in the life of humanity. i think Romans makes it quite clear that “sin”, whatever that means, has its roots in the minds and depraved thinking of all people, and not just in me, you or the minds of americans.
David,
Not [believe it or not] to be arguementative, but, “No,” I don’t think what you sited is painting with a broad brush. Here is why. God’s Word is absolute and infallible. God said that “all have sinnned…,” and Him being soverign, creator, and saying it makes it so. No assumptions that He may or may not be right–He is truth and He is always right. On the otherhand, mankinds words and thoughts are suspect and fallible. Not perfect, but full of flaws and misunderstanding. No brush involved, just absolute knowledge and truth.
Oh I agree: “i think Romans makes it quite clear that “sinâ€, whatever that means, has its roots in the minds and depraved thinking of all people, and not just in me, you or the minds of americans.”
However, sin, as far as I understand your original post, is not your’s or Radosh’s proposition [maybe it is an offshoot of the proposition], but that because of our need for personal comfort [maybe sin is involved] Christians, “All,” {your word] construct private theology.
Maybe I did not read enough into the proposition. I find in not in the post and tried not to go off on assumptions. My beef is the use of ‘ALL’ constructing a theology based on personal comfort [physically, emotionally, spiritually]. That my friend is putting mankind into a very small box, and mankind is more complexed than that.
If, however, what you and Radosh state is true, then the Bible is suspect. The natural assumption would then follow that the writers of the Bible constucted a personal theological and cultural justification, based on the need for a comfort zone religion. And if they did that, they certainly were masochistic in nature–for they brought upon themselves great trials of which they could have put an end to at any time.
I would again bring up the Somalia, Ethiopia, North Korea, Iraq, Indonesia, Afghanistan, etc, Christians, yep, even that Somalian Christain that lost his head last week, who WOULD NOT deny Jesus just to stay in his comfort zone. No, my friend–that unamed man disproves your assumptions.
fishon
Perhaps that should read: “I say yes. However, not just Christians, but all of us ‘privileged’ enough to do so.”
Fishon, I like you!
Sarah, thank you very much.
MAKE IT A GREAT SUNDAY.
You might say a prayer for me; I am suffering a harsh reaction to a pneumonia shoot. I hope I can preach tomorrow, but if not, God doesn’t need me there for the folks to worship him. Got up just to check on the old NP stuff.
fishon
Fish, will do.
Sas
Sarah,
Thank you for the prayers. I was able to preach and teach then crashed for the next 18 hrs or so. I saw the Dr. this morning. Reaction to the shot and somehow a staff infection is in the arm. Started drugs. Thanks again for the prayers.
fishon
Glad you got to preach.
Get well soon
Sas