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| A very interesting intersection |
I heard perhaps one of the more interesting discussions this morning on NPR. The guest, a theologian, put forth the argument that, (paraphrased) if you are a person of faith, you've come into some sort of "understanding" when it comes to your beliefs (faith) and your understanding of the physical world (reason). It is an intersection only and most people come to it from one of two directions. Some pull over on Reason Street and never really work Faith Avenue into the directions and others, well vice versa.
If you have stopped short of the stoplight on Faith Avenue it means nothing other than you are perfectly happy on a faith-based life and there is nothing whatsoever wrong with that. Nothing. Millions of evangelicals live happily on Faith Avenue.
The theologian's point was that if you abandon the teachings of your faith or make a decision that they, in whole or part, are no longer bound by certain aspects of their faith, then they best move to a different street. The sum/total being that you, as an evangelical living on Faith Avenue can't be a "selective" person of faith. You are or you aren't.
This observation was brought about by recent polling of evangelicals in Alabama and nationally where, in spite of numerous issues that are at odds with basic religious/life principles, those living on Faith Avenue are willing to selectively enforce their religious ethics for the sake of a non-religious attainments (i.e. politics). They have put aspects of their non-religious life at a higher value and to the front of the line over their faith.
I'll leave it at that but as I drive down to the above pictured intersection I'm kinda troubled by the number of houses that are for sale or foreclosed on down Faith Avenue. Alarmed really.