The Truth Process

There is certainly evidence for God-- PLENTY of it, but some of the claims that people make based on some interpretations of some evidence clearly conflicts with discoveries of objective scientific analysis. For example, because of some English translation of the wording in the bible, it was concluded that the earth was about 6000 years old. Scientific evidence now demonstrates that this is clearly not the case. In such instances where objective analysis conflicts with traditional ideas, objective scientific discovery should basically ALWAYS be given the trump status. Objective scientific discovery is like taking off the mask at the end of a Scooby Doo episode, or pulling away the curtain in front of the wizard of Oz. Long ago, some people saw lightning and volcanoes and had no idea why they were occurring. They theorized that it might be because God was upset. Under their circumstances, that may have been a reasonable conclusion to make. Many commonly accepted hypotheses are hangin...

Cars make some people very happy. They also kill people. Likewise, the Church is many things. Among these things, it functions as a vehicle and a platform. Much like other vehicles or platforms (tools), depending how this “tool” is used, it can be really positive or really negative in our lives. In its function as a platform, the Church provides many things to us. One of those things is an opportunity for spiritual and wise individuals to give us counsel and direction. No human follows 100% of the advice and counsel 100% of the time. The Church is a resource that we can use as much or as little as we want to. Like a hammer (tool) we can use this tool to accomplish a lot of great work.   We could also use the tool to hit ourselves (or others) over the head repeatedly.   Physicians and personal trainers are also a great resource or tool. I used to be a personal trainer and currently I am a physician. We also give a LOT of health advice about how to achieve optimal phy...

One of the most common obstacles in Christianity is when the wrong parts of parables are taken literally in the wrong way. One of the most common mistakes occurs when people read how Jesus taught a parable in which 10 virgins were trying to get into a wedding party. 5 were not allowed in because they didn’t have oil in their lamps. They were identified as “foolish” because they brought no oil with them and were therefore unidentifiable by the bridegroom and not permitted to enter. Attributes of the parable are often understood mistakenly in a false literal way by people who conclude that there must therefore be a geographical location (heaven) in which people will be happy only if they can enter into this geographic location, otherwise they will be unhappy. And that God stands at the entrance to this location and if people are foolish, He wont let them come in so they can be happy. This idea is of course mistaken. A person who willingly yokes (becomes a disciple) themselves wi...

I dont normally repost other peoples posts, but I will do it here. I did not write the following, but agree with it: "These two talks both showed up in my life & in my faith journey when I needed every single word of them. They spoke to the whirlwind that was raging in my heart. I’ve always been a seeker, a question asker, a heart and mind and eyes wide open kind of observer. If there’s truth, I’ve just wanted to find it; to understand it; to take it in. And let me tell you, that journey hasn’t been an easy one. It’s not easy to sit  with your heart and mind wide open; it’s not easy to just be still and leave space for unknown, for clarity to come, for perspective, for different perspectives, for comprehension, for faith. But as hard, even heart wrenching as that’s been at times, I wouldn’t want to live any other way. Some of my most heart wrenching and terrifying questions have brought me some of my most precious and prized experiences & understandings. Some of m...