Reason or Experience????

“The Judeo-Christian tradition is profoundly experiential, not to the exclusion of reason, but as the precondition of it.  That is, the material upon which reason exerts itself is precisely those experiences of ours which need ordering and coherence.”

F. Earle Fox.  "The Spiritual Core of Experiential Educations" The Theory of Experiential Education. 

Isaiah 1:18 "Come let us reason together"

I am reading David Dark's "The Gospel According to America".  So far I appreciate it greatly.  While there are so many good thoughts in the book that someone should write a book about it, I want to share a section that addresses the preference of we Northern hemisphere believers to only pay attention to those of like opinions.

p. 29 "Ancient wisdom tells us that it's the insane person who can't change his mind and won't change the subject, but somehow popular media culture in America...has reached a fever pitch that views thoughtfulness as weakness and a changed mind as treachery.

"Militant ignorance passes itself off as integrity, and our habits of mind learn to dismiss illuminating fact and testimony with the non-argument of "bias" (whether liberal, conservative, or anti-American)..."

I am often tempted to stick to the few things that I am relatively secure in my knowledge about to truly lend an "ear to hear" to views that aren't my own.  The truth is that God created us to learn form each other, and in a state of dependence on each other and ultimately Him- even for our thought lives.

We cannot be afraid to listen to our brothers or sisters as they describe the other parts of the elephant.  The One True God is way beyond comprehension, and naturally some will perceive Him in ways that eventually will help us to truly know Him.

Homework assignments: 

1. trade your News stations to the "other side" this week (ex.  CNN to FoxNews etc.)  

2. do devotions written from a different strand of the Tradition (ex.  "Book of Common Prayer" instead of "Guideposts" or vv)

Why I joined and unjoined the group "Do NOT support the Golden Compass"

Dear Friends,
First, I would ask that those of you reading this that do not share my faith to know that I love my brothers and sisters very much.

CNN says that some Christians are calling out against the soon to be released "The Golden Compass". Here is why some Christians will stay away from the movie:
1) The work from which it is derived is written by an atheist.
2) The money you spend on the movie will benefit that atheist effort.
3) Your beliefs are being challenged.
4) Your children will be influenced towards a worldview that you do not share.
5) You can't talk about it at Sunday school without being ridiculed.

The only one of these that I can accept without qualification is #2. Spend your money wisely. Also, don't pirate it, that is wrong and bad.

I am sympathetic to #4. Parents need to be careful about how their children see the world.

BUT, how much better would it be if Billy goes to the movie, sees some sweet polar bear wars, and then returns how to talk about the battle for the cosmos with his parents, and his parents ask him questions about how the Bible was similar or different from the movie?

My point is this: Don't write off art because the artist is trying to ruin our faith. Paul's polemics often cited pagan sayings and rituals, and understanding some one else's opinion does not mean that you agree.

My other point is this: this movie would be a great discussion starter for our friends outside the Church. It would be worth my $7.50 to be able to explain my God to someone who needed it.

One more point: Go get more friends who are outside the Church.

2 Quotes:
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." Jules Henri Poincare

"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave." ~William Drummond, Academical Questions