A TREATISE ON THE FREE THINKING CHRISTIAN
What is a thinking Christian and are all called to think?
ON FREE THINKING
1)Every Christian has the right to think critically or not to think critically just as every man has the right to think critically or not to think critically
1.2 Every Christian who does not think does not forfeit salvation for thought is not the prerequisite for salvation
1.3 Every Christian who does not think still can be used by God for He still works in those who are not perfect
WHY ONE SHOULD THINK
2) Every Christian should think and consider their faith
2.4 For it is said in Philipians 4.8 to think on such things
2.5 Every Christian who believed 2.4 is not a thinking Christian for they have
believed an assertion and an overly ambitious interpretation of the verse
2.6 Every Christian is called to think for they should have a reason for their faith
as it is said in 1 Peter 3:15
2.7 Every Christian should ask themselves why they believe in God if in 2.6 they
do not have a reason for their faith.
2.8 Every Christian who in 2.6 states personal experience as a reason should
question why their personal experience should be put above the personal
experience of other religions
2.9 Every Christian is called to think for in Matthew 7:15, Jesus says beware of
false preachers. Preachers are not infallible, and it is not wrong to critique
them.
ON EXPERIENCES WITH GOD
3) Coming back to 2.8
3.1 Every thinking christian should ask why other religions have seemingly God experiences.
3.2 Every thinking christian if told that those experiences are deceitful and the lies
of the devil, should ask themselves how they do not know that their own experiences are deceitful and are the lies of the devil.
3.3 Every thinking christian should ask whether perhaps it is those religions that are right
3.4 Every thinking christian should ask why not accept the experience of a madman that there are aliens that look like clowns
3.5 Every thinking christian if told that the experience of a madman is unbelievable should question that maybe it is the madman who is sane and not us since we are basing our proof on experience alone.
ON DOUBT
4) Every christian should know that to doubt is to think
4.1 For to think is to not know everything
4.2 To not know everything is to question
4.3 Many christian books tell christians to think as it will strengthen their faith, but never say what should be done if they think and lose their faith
4.3 Every christian including new ones should think critically even if it means jeopardizing their faith
4.4 For what is their faith in the first place, if they did not think about it?
4.5 It is not the fault of those who truly disbelieve(honestly and not for ulterior motives) for not believing, it is the fault of the christian for not providing essential evidence.
4.6 By this I do not mean that non-believers do not go to hell(if there is such a place), but I mean to show that the church should not blame atheism on evolution, or certain books or philosophers but rather ask themselves whether they have managed to answer the books and philosophers.
4.7 Every Christian should know they are the “light of the world” therefore they must not shrink from an intellectual challenge. For Jesus interacted with all, not only the prostitutes but with lawyers and Pharisees as well who were the intellectuals of the day.
4.8 Every Christian should question why they should continue believing if the church cannot answer them
4.9 Every Christian should know no one has all the answers, but at least some sort of closure should be provided
4.91 Every church should question whether they are the light of the world if they cannot be an answer to Christians themselves, much less the world
ON FAITH
5) Hebrews 11:1 , For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen
5.1 Every thinking christian should know that in the bible it talks about the “evidence” of things unseen. Do we have the evidence for the things unseen? Or do we have mere feelings
5.2 Every thinking christian should know that nothing is can be absolutely known for certain and thus faith is needed.
5.3 Every thinking christian should question something if too much faith is necessary
5.4 Every thinking christian should know that mere belief in something is blind faith
5.5 Every thinking christian should know that thinking about their faith then truly implies rational faith
5.6 Every thinking christian should know that if one says that the atheistic challenge need not be met because we have faith, that faith is blind as it is mere belief without considering the whether the belief is true.
ON THINKING
6) Every thinking christian should have some background knowledge of their religion
6.1 Every thinking christian would have read some apologetics
6.2 Every thinking christian would have read some theology
6.3 Every thinking christian should have read a good atheistic book(at least)
6.4 Every thinking christian should know that know that philosophy is not something obscure and dangerous. They should know that our roots of theology in Aquinas and Augustine has roots in Greek philosophy.
6.5 Every thinking christian should have some sort of notion of church history
6.6 Every thinking christian should be open to criticisms by atheist, agnostics or even other Christians
6.7 Every thinking christian who has not done the above should not feel bad but rather start to do something.
ON DIALOGUES
7) Relating back to 6.6
7.1 Every thinking christian should know it is not wrong to debate with others and even non-christians
7.2 By arguments I mean logic and not real shouting and screaming
7.3 Some say that arguments cannot convert anybody. Atheists say that is why they are not Christians.
7.4 Again some say arguments cannot convert anybody. One should ask why they believe in something so unconvincing.
7.5 Again some say arguments cannot convert anybody. One should ask why so many people now believe the earth goes around the sun and not the sun around the earth. For it was an argument which has convinced people.
7.6 Some say arguments will lose the audience. True for some, for others they are lost if no arguments are given. For those who will not listen to arguments, they are not thinkers. For a thinker must defend their stance not on pure belief but on arguments.
7.7 This is not to say one should go around constantly arguing. There must be a balance. However one should not cower and retreat from arguments.
IN CONCLUSION
8) This has not been a comprehensive argument. These are things which to me are intuitive if one accepts that Christians should think.
8.1 No thinking Christian should reject this treatise on the claims of pastors or those in position, not even professors. The thinking Christian only has the right to reject this treatise on the basis of logic and argument.
8.2 The bible says to love the lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your MIND.
8.3 One cannot love someone, they do not know.
8.4 Sola christus, amen.
