Repository for my Zanier Ideas... on writing, and life. |
Disclaimer: from someone who sees himself as largely Pagan. I am no reverend or biblical scholar, at any rate. For questions, I refer you primarily to the Source, and tangentially to those who make a scholarly study of such matters. The steps below do not require faith to be useful, though they might build faith. My version: 1. Ignore agnosticism as irrelevant. Just as I could be an AI that happens to pass the Turing test, so God could be a figment—so could you. Yet we don't mention it, so why single Him out, pester Him about this? 2. Give God and Jesus permission and invitation to help you if, now or in the afterlife, you come into a bad situation, or under attack by spirits against whom you cannot defend. 3. Give God and Jesus permission and invitation to help you by giving you inspiration on how to be a good and happy person as you go about life. 4. So long as you've decided to be His friend, you might as well talk to Him. This is an 'option' but follows logically. Tell Him about things you want, problems you have and plans you make. Worst case, you'll be thinking about important things. Either way, you should expect some insight to come of this. 5. Boom. You're a Christian and may identify as such. 6. Optional. Wear a cross to remind you that you are no longer alone. There is Someone who can help you, guide you, etc. In so doing, you may refresh your desire to be a good person. Obtain a Bible and keep it ready in case you become inspired to read it, whether for wisdom, inspiration, intellectual challenge, or whatever. And, perhaps most important: 7. Add to this list as needed, as inspired by Him. My source: Somewhat fallen Christian who was asking myself: what does it take to be a Christian? These are the parts that make sense, that seem worth keeping. |