What We Talk About When We Talk About God
I'm going to be going through a book by Rob Bell whom I am told is a great writer on Christianity. I will be blogging as I go through the book as a sort of raw stream of thoughts. While this is more for my benefit, if you are going through the book (If you are not, I would stop reading now) it may be interesting to see someone elses thoughts on the matter.
Hum
Hum is the first chapter in the book, I skimmed quickly through it already and will be going through in detail for the rest of this post. It is pretty much introducing the book and why the chapters are named as they are. I would generally expect this to be the Preface, but it is rather long so it kinda has to be a chapter.
The first thing I notice is how Rob Bell is rather frank. He opens with a cautionary statement about how he may ruffle a few feathers. While the way it is worded indicates that it is targeted to non-believers, it seems to also be trying to disarm more "strict" Christians. It is hard to sat at this point if that is true, I guess I will just have to read the rest of the book.
Another thing I notice is how it is written as if he his speaking to you. Well, more like he is giving a sermon with his use of "we". I identify with this writing style as easier for me to follow. There is a number of nonfiction books that I have great difficulty reading because of the voice.
The problem with God
I often feel like I am talking about a different God than everyone else. Maybe that is why I have this bucket list style goal to look at several religions. I wish I could retire right now and study them, but alas I feel like what I do for my day job carries much more benefit to society (Like any at all). This would be in conflict of "God first", but if that is a problem then I will cross that river when it comes.
God is like Oldsmobiles
"If you are open minded, your brain will fall out."
I also would lose count at work on the number of Athiests. Though interestingly enough, many of them have religious spouses and go with them on "holidays".
I find it really interesting and inspiring that this could all be random. Thought that is just one possibility.
Realization
One day in college, my dear friend who is Mormon was talking to my then girlfriend. She was a relatively strong opinionated Atheist, while I was more agnostic. One way or another it came up that she should go to church with him that Sunday. Having, never been to a Mormon church and being rather ignorant, I expressed interest in going as well (After all, I drove him to church each week anyway). This was dismissed by the two of them, at which I silently left the conversation to resume my studies. That bugged me and I set it upon myself that "eventually" I would study several of the worlds religions. Well, in January, a few weeks after breaking up with her, I started. Slowly.
While it would be more "efficient" to just read the bible in the time I go to church on Sunday, it would kinda defeat the point. If you want to get to know a group, you have to jump in and coexist with them. Listen to their stories, their pains, their ambition.
Turn it to 11
"What's really going to tickle your noodle later is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything." - The Oracle.
Closing
Well, this has been a mind dump about chapter 1. It likely portrays my opinion though probably doesn't do it justice. I hope you are enjoying the book, I look forward to the rest of it.
