The past 4 years of high school have proven to be years of significant growth, physical growth of course (although I wouldn’t mind a little more facial hair), but more importantly these years have been essential periods of mental and spiritual growth. As a high school student, you come across many different “characters”: the jocks, the druggies, or the small group of kids that haven’t seemed to overcome their middle school awkwardness.
If I’d have to guess, I would say most people develop their ideologies and beliefs during this adolescent stage of life, and stick with them throughout their lifetime. That being said, a teenage kid doesn’t wake up one day super jaded, addicted to drugs and a hardcore Atheist. There is a process that leads a person to make certain decisions about their ‘faith’, let’s say, which includes many outside influences. Family background, personal experiences, media, and peer pressure are all possible influences on the development of a person’s beliefs.
The spectrum of beliefs that a high school might contain is quite impressive, but also quite disappointing. If I’m a person who believes that there is a right and a wrong way to live, which I am, then I would believe that the vast majority of people are living the “wrong” way. But who am I to say so? How dare I be so ignorant to assume that my way of living is the right way, right?
Right. In fact, I’ve contemplated these exact questions, and if I had never wrestled with the fidelity of my beliefs or faced the strongest arguments against my faith, then I would indeed be ignorant. But I have wrestled with my faith, and I have faced its strongest arguments. There have been pivotal seasons in my adolescent life where I have doubted the very existence of God, which would inevitably lead to the demise of my entire worldview. The skeptic inside of me has tried his hand, he has entertained the loftiest doubts, but none of my suffocating doubts have prospered.
I stand here as a man whose faith in Christ has thrived even through the darkest doubts and deepest regrets. I (and my two fellow bloggers) write as men who have been blessed with a critical-thinking mind, set on God, who is the prevailing truth. This blog is a dream composed by God in our hearts, to open discussion on the tough issues, to confront Christianity’s most threatening questions, and rejoice in the fact that God’s truth reigns even in the midst of adversity.
Now that I have adequately explained the inspiration behind this blogging endeavor, let’s talk about you, the reader. This blog is never intended to be a one-sided conversation. We want your input. We want your feedback, your questions, your doubts. The goal of this blog is to jumpstart conversation and to promote critical thinking among us all (yes, even the super jaded Atheist).
Admittedly, I don’t exactly know what this blog will become, or if it will become anything at all. I guess it’s a step of faith, and whatever happens, happens. Fingers crossed! Let’s hear your thoughts...
Andrew
you do need more facial hair.
ReplyDeleteas to ur comment about the druggie not being born a druggie is not entirely acurate since it has been proven that if a woman used drugs, smoked and drinked heavily it is likely that her children might inherit the need for substances in a lower level, but at a level nonetheless where it can affect the child's reaction to the substance.
As this is true, I'm confident that we are both aware that a vast majority of users and abusers are not in such a case, and in fact many of the "druggie" types would be the first to admit that outside forces (such as stress, family brokenness, peer pressure, curiosity etc.) are the driving factors behind experimentation.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the example was purely that, an example, meant only to generalize the negative influence our surroundings have on us.
im going to very uncomfortable if i do not know which one of u three is the one answering so i do appreciate a signature.
ReplyDeletethis is important because i would respond diferently to each of you
U are an idiot - Shamir
ReplyDeleteBut ya so let's talk about something of meaning, let's start with the topic of how or if the bible is contradictory.
ReplyDeleteOne topic at a time, Shamir...
ReplyDeleteHowever, would you like to provide an example? Then we may be able to examine and reconcile the contradictions.
@Shamir--
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for some good reading on biblical contradictions, maybe start here:
http://carm.org/bible-difficulties
They have some good topics that I think would interest you. The entire site is good reading material, if you're willing to look around.
://Stephen