… the problem.

I think the problem began when the fields of philosophy and theology started to part ways. They used to be indivisible. Theology was philosophy, and philosophy was theology. Some of the Church fathers functioned in this paradigm. And it is apparent in what they have left behind for us. It would be argued that Christianity was even the best philosophy around – it was the most reasonable of all thinking models! It seems to me that something has seriously changed… for the worse.

Philosophy today = the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge.

Theology today = the study of the Nature of God. (an ironic definition)

In Philosophy, you, the individual IS what matters, in a sense you are ‘god’ – THEREFOR quite responsible for your thoughts and ideas. Caution and care often accompany responsibility. The burden is on You to be reasonable, to be thought out, and to be able to defend yourself. So often, philosophers think hard. Now theology is a completely different game. God IS what matters… God is the object of study. But of course, the study of God is a tricky one, which has required dogmas and doctrines to keep some order in the field. Due to God being the stated object, there has been a serious loosening of Human Responsibility. If it don’t make sense, well then… ‘Just have faith.’ Or even better, “we aren’t meant to understand.” Or the greatest of all, “The whole secret of mysticism [unfortunately understood as ‘Faith’] is this: that man can understand everything by the help of what he does not understand.” … A Resonating petition that disconnects Responsibility. Now… those of the faith can just believe things and say things without thinking!! I asked an old evangelical friend what his views were on the doctrine of salvation, he responded, “I don’t care or worry about anybody else, as long as I am know where I am going.” I was stunned at such an Anti-Christ-like Anti-biblical response… and it was said so casually. Thank God for the small hopeful stream of pragmatism in Christianity.

Riding on the statement made by my old friend, I find that religion, as much as it attempts to put the spotlight on the object of worship (God), it hits this massive mirror and simply lights up the ‘worshiper.’ Religions create Egoism… religion puts you on a quest for salvation where it is up to you, and only to you to make it there. There is a sudden huge importance upon your-self. You have to carry out all these things, follow all these ‘rules,’ to GET salvation. It’s creates a show where there are two actors. God and Me. ((“I am responsible for my own salvation!”)) THIS is the perfect soil for guilt… the greatest accomplishment of Religion. We Desire God, we Desire salvation. The only difference between Desire and Love is that Desire is all about self-gratification. ((The ‘Me’ in Love… always comes at least Second… or even better; third… or fourth.)) Desire: To fill something inside of Me. Because I need it… or want it. I am on my journey… it’s my trip, and I’m heading to the Light.