tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post2938810080325852481..comments2024-03-24T07:56:33.811-05:00Comments on Allan R. Bevere: Liberal Skepticism vs. Orthodox Doubt?Allan R. Beverehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-40178368957601286552011-08-27T12:55:26.901-05:002011-08-27T12:55:26.901-05:00Gary,
Good point, and I think Smith would agree w...Gary,<br /><br />Good point, and I think Smith would agree with you; it is new to them, but it should not be concluded, therefore, it is new to the church universal, which is why Smith's point needs to be heard. I have heard some emergent types I hang around with speak as if the church in general has a problem with doubt and I do think they interpret doubt more as skepticism. Of course, it would be wrong to caricature the entire movement, so your words to us are an important reminder.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-66022710579986288832011-08-27T11:31:39.121-05:002011-08-27T11:31:39.121-05:00Well, I appreciate the distinction between doubt a...Well, I appreciate the distinction between doubt and skepticism, but I think the distinction could have been made without reference to "certain streams of emerging Christianity. This seems to be a subtle criticism of what has come to be called the emergent movement within the church. I have to say I don't experience people who are participating in that movement acting like doubt is some revolutionary stance. I think that most are experiencing an honest struggle between their experience of God in their honest searching and the beliefs about God they have known. It's not new; it's just new to them. And for the most part, that's all I hear people from that perspective saying.Gary Lynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-41034253988452097662011-08-26T21:13:46.603-05:002011-08-26T21:13:46.603-05:00Daniel,
I think the distinction that Smith draws ...Daniel,<br /><br />I think the distinction that Smith draws between doubt and skepticism addresses your concern. Doubt is legitimate and skepticism should not be confused with it. As the old adage goes, "Faith is fashioned in the workshop of doubt."Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-86766089980553903092011-08-26T21:12:16.224-05:002011-08-26T21:12:16.224-05:00But then, if God could be completely understood an...<i>But then, if God could be completely understood and explained by the human mind, would He really be the God we need?</i><br /><br />Good point, Jim.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-18144160843092029812011-08-26T15:46:38.158-05:002011-08-26T15:46:38.158-05:00Interesting post; i should ponder it more. My fir...Interesting post; i should ponder it more. My first thought was that it seems I've been around some Christian gatherings (especially geared toward young/ubran/post-modern/progressive types) in which doubt (or even skepticism?), rather than faith is the new badge of membership, and questions are valued, even celebrated, more for opening uncertainty than for focusing our vision on the truth. <br />"our group welcome skeptics, spiritual seekers, those who don't know the answers" - which is as it should be, but what happens when someone who knows the Lord and his word deeply (and who believes some questions actually do have right and knowable answers) shows up saying "Thus saith the Lord..." Is that person welcome?<br />If not, it is a supreme irony since Christianity holds that faith (not doubt) is the foundation for receiving God's saving grace, and that Jesus is the Truth.Rev. Daniel McLain Hixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-83174660193621056782011-08-26T08:46:01.444-05:002011-08-26T08:46:01.444-05:00Somehow, I thought that as my knowledge of Scriptu...Somehow, I thought that as my knowledge of Scripture and theology grew and my faith matured, than my doubts and confusion would lessen. Hah! I wonder about so many things. And I know the "correct Christian" answers to most of my doubts--but pat answers just don't cut it any more! But you're right, Allan: my doubts don't diminish God or His Word at all. Maybe that's part of the frustration. I WANT to be able to cut God down to a size where He fits within my beliefs. But then, if God could be completely understood and explained by the human mind, would He really be the God we need?<br /><br />Jim JensenJim Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670732642685027843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-33608692420169099962011-08-26T08:44:35.373-05:002011-08-26T08:44:35.373-05:00Quite helpful. I think sorting out the distinction...Quite helpful. I think sorting out the distinctions between "doubt" and "skepticism" is helpful as the word "doubt" gets thrown about quite a bit.John Meunierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640046073453219165noreply@blogger.com