I found Stacy’s poster pretty twisted and kind of mean spirited (though that’s not always a bad thing… I like twisted) but this one is absolutely brilliant.

My question for you is this, though. And I mean to take this out of the religious realm. Why do you think so many people are willing to take things at face value without thinking? Why do humans follow a herd mentality? Why do we go with the crowd and not seem to be able to think for ourselves? I’m troubled because I see this throughout history at so many levels. How did the Nazis get all of Germany to go along with them? How did slavery last as long as it did in America? How is it that people cheered Jesus when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (though many of them had never seen him before) and then called for his crucifixion a week later (though, again, most of them probably didn’t know what the issue was)?

What is it about human beings that makes us such good followers? What makes us so much like sheep?

And after leaving my comment, I did re-read your correction and see that you had clarified quite nicely.

And after leaving my comment, I did re-read your correction and see that you had clarified quite nicely.

And the answer you gave is quite sufficient for me. Although you are correct — it IS the point at which we diverge in opinion — I think you brought up some interesting ideas I’d love to discuss later.

By later I mean when my little boy isn’t climbing on top of my head while he watches Little Einsteins.

I think you are overstating by using the word FACT in your question. It is not a fact that the ideas that point to divinity in the Bible are plagiarisms of pagan mythologies. What is a fact is that they are similar, but we cannot know whether the early theologians who came up with these had contact with the mystery religions with similar (sometimes very similar) mythologies.

I am not threatened by the similarities or even the possible plagiarism because I am not as critical of other religions as many Christians. I believe that there can be truth found in other faiths. I think the Muslims understand prayer better than most Christians. I think many of the eastern religions ask all the right questions and even come up with some wonderful answers. I am very interested in Celtic spirituality, and am amazed that in Ireland, when Christianity was brought to the island (through sharing of the message, not by the sword, amazingly), within one generation the island was converted. Many druids became Christian priests and monks because they saw in Jesus the answer to the questions their faith raised. So, I don’t find it troubling when other religions, even earlier ones, get things right.

Your question gets to the place where we disagree. I am willing to take some things on faith. I believe in the fallibility of the human mind and therefore don’t expect to be able to understand everything eternal. There are certain concepts that I am unable to wrap my mind around, and I’m okay with this. I know that this seems “intellectually weak” to a true skeptic, but it is where I am. The reason I don’t find it intellectually weak is that I am aware of the things that challenge my faith. I have thought them over and prayed about them. I have studied the other religions and even atheism. I am not deciding to be a Christian because I was born into it (like most Christians I know, the ones with simplistic faiths) or because I haven’t heard the options. I’m doing so because it is where I find strength when I’m weak and where I feel that I can find truth.

Sorry, I combined two thoughts. let me restate.

How do you reconcile the FACT that the ideas that point to divination in the bible are found to have eeriely simlarly constructs as many, many ancient Egyptian and Sumerian pagan mythologies?

But I think you get my opinion.