in which i divulge ancient chinese secrets
a list of things I've learned in the past week
1. the word evangelist comes from the greek "euangelizesthai" or "eu-" "angellein", which means good messenger, or a messenger carrying good news. interestingly, the greek word "angel" means messenger - and so, everyone who carries the good news of christ, by this definition, is also an angel themselves - a messenger of God.
2. the world has been the same for all of time. i'm reading a book called trying not to try, which relates ancient chinese philosophy (think: Confucius says) to modern brain science and attempts to explain how to lead a good life in a state of effortless ease, or wu-wei. the principles of human behavior presented from a few thousand years B.C. are ridiculously easy to apply to modern civilization, which may seem strange considering how much more "advanced" we are, or not very puzzling at all, because human nature.
3. in the same vein, there are pointers to Christ everywhere, even in two thousand b.c. the more i read about ancient chinese religion, the more i am convinced of my faith. the ancient chinese believed in a Heaven, an all-good Being that made everything. in order to live a good life, they were to follow the Way and therefore achieve wu-wei (effortless action, a state of spiritual peace, if you will) and acquire de (Virtue, a quality that allows a person to glide through the social sphere with ease and power). and the different chinese religions - confucians, daoists, mencians, zhengians - all have various methods of acquiring this state.
the similarities between this and christianity's submission to the holy spirit to do the will of God are striking to me, especially the methods that are used. some try harder - using ritual and strict self-restraint to eventually be a 'good person,' while some don't try at all, believing that basic human nature, submitted to the natural Way, is quite enough. neither of these are really flawless methods and are mirrors of the contrast between legalism and liberty in christian theology.
the author relates a lot of this back to modern brain science that has looked at how humans use hot and cold cognition - your emotions or your rational logic - to operate. it's written from a secular viewpoint which tends to conclude that many world religions, besides the ancient chinese, are really just clever, group-think methods to reconcile these two modes of thinking and attempt to give humanity a motivation to survive. and so, the question arises - do we really need religion in order to lead good lives?
(what then is a good life?)
4. i didn't learn this in the past week, but i think it's worth mentioning: i am a follower of jesus christ, and not a secular humanist, because jesus christ, god with us, a god who creates, saves, redeems, and recreates, is a much better purpose for existence for me than the alternative. i can't get on with the idea that i am not a continuing soul, but should still have concern for those around me or those who will come after me. my productive operation ceases the moment i think i have no enduring purpose, no greater connection to the world surrounding me.
i believe that my God is a god of neuroscience. he is the creator; he is over, through, and in all, and in that, he has designed our minds to work in perfect harmony when in full submission to him and his holy spirit in recognition of christ with us. and that's a beautiful picture to me.
1. the word evangelist comes from the greek "euangelizesthai" or "eu-" "angellein", which means good messenger, or a messenger carrying good news. interestingly, the greek word "angel" means messenger - and so, everyone who carries the good news of christ, by this definition, is also an angel themselves - a messenger of God.
2. the world has been the same for all of time. i'm reading a book called trying not to try, which relates ancient chinese philosophy (think: Confucius says) to modern brain science and attempts to explain how to lead a good life in a state of effortless ease, or wu-wei. the principles of human behavior presented from a few thousand years B.C. are ridiculously easy to apply to modern civilization, which may seem strange considering how much more "advanced" we are, or not very puzzling at all, because human nature.
3. in the same vein, there are pointers to Christ everywhere, even in two thousand b.c. the more i read about ancient chinese religion, the more i am convinced of my faith. the ancient chinese believed in a Heaven, an all-good Being that made everything. in order to live a good life, they were to follow the Way and therefore achieve wu-wei (effortless action, a state of spiritual peace, if you will) and acquire de (Virtue, a quality that allows a person to glide through the social sphere with ease and power). and the different chinese religions - confucians, daoists, mencians, zhengians - all have various methods of acquiring this state.
the similarities between this and christianity's submission to the holy spirit to do the will of God are striking to me, especially the methods that are used. some try harder - using ritual and strict self-restraint to eventually be a 'good person,' while some don't try at all, believing that basic human nature, submitted to the natural Way, is quite enough. neither of these are really flawless methods and are mirrors of the contrast between legalism and liberty in christian theology.
the author relates a lot of this back to modern brain science that has looked at how humans use hot and cold cognition - your emotions or your rational logic - to operate. it's written from a secular viewpoint which tends to conclude that many world religions, besides the ancient chinese, are really just clever, group-think methods to reconcile these two modes of thinking and attempt to give humanity a motivation to survive. and so, the question arises - do we really need religion in order to lead good lives?
(what then is a good life?)
4. i didn't learn this in the past week, but i think it's worth mentioning: i am a follower of jesus christ, and not a secular humanist, because jesus christ, god with us, a god who creates, saves, redeems, and recreates, is a much better purpose for existence for me than the alternative. i can't get on with the idea that i am not a continuing soul, but should still have concern for those around me or those who will come after me. my productive operation ceases the moment i think i have no enduring purpose, no greater connection to the world surrounding me.
i believe that my God is a god of neuroscience. he is the creator; he is over, through, and in all, and in that, he has designed our minds to work in perfect harmony when in full submission to him and his holy spirit in recognition of christ with us. and that's a beautiful picture to me.
Calling All Angels.
ReplyDeleteNeuroscience: any or all of the sciences, such as neurochemistry and experimental psychology, which deal with the structure or function of the nervous system and brain.
Pointers to Christ. For one who does not know Christ, when they come across one of these pointers, what do they actually see it pointing to?
Just a few reactionary thoughts.
Calling All Angels.
ReplyDeleteNeuroscience: any or all of the sciences, such as neurochemistry and experimental psychology, which deal with the structure or function of the nervous system and brain.
Pointers to Christ. For one who does not know Christ, when they come across one of these pointers, what do they actually see it pointing to?
Just a few reactionary thoughts.
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