Comment by Ekaros
3 years ago
Christianity has lot of weird stuff. When you really start to think it over from roots and consider certain aspects. But members are just told to follow and ignore those aspects. Not to mention the stuff that is simply ignored if you would slightly expand it.
I don't think this adequately describes the experience or guidance, for a lot of believers. Grappling with unbelief is embedded in the synoptic tradition itself, and so we know it was present and acknowledged at the very earliest beginnings of christianity. Many prominent and highly influential early church fathers wrote about it, and acknowledged belief as an unstable and often fleeting state to be anticipated and received with gratitude. "The silence" of god is one of the most common themes in christian literature. Some churches address it explicitly in their catechism.
The public performance of belief is universal orthopraxy for christians, I think. But privately and with trusted confidants the conversation is far more nuanced than "ignore the weird stuff."
Believe and do not question - questioning's the devil's work.
As a practicing Christian and member of the church of Jesus Christ I was taught, and teach regularly, to question everything. Questions are how we build understanding and faith. The last chapter of the Book of Mormon is an admonishment to reflect on what is written, to think about, ask questions and to pray about it.
Moroni 10
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mo...
What I think too many very intelligent people forget is that faith and knowledge are two different things. But, if you want to start a project, a business, or a relationship... You need both. One feeds the other.
I choose never to undermine the faith of others because it is those strong beliefs and acts of faith that created light bulbs, assembly lines, search engines, massive online book stores and put us in the moon again and again. Faith is pretty powerful stuff
Hebrews 11
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/...