Recker's World
Reason 34
I learned to think critically
During my time studying for my degree between 1997-1999, I really truly learnt to think for myself a lot more. When you study for a degree, you have to learn to learn, not just believe everything taught to you. You had to find answers for yourself.
I easily found answers for myself when it came to the bible. I had long since moved on from simply accepting everything I heard from the pulpit or from other Christians in a position of power. I had learnt to study the bible and come up with my own answers for things. My own opinions on things. I could debate with other Christians and I could teach the bible.
However, all this was done within the confines of the bible. I rejected anything that didn’t line up with it. I wouldn’t consider other possibilities if they clashed. I had no interest in reading books by skeptics or listening to people from other religions or Christian groups that were looked down upon by mainstream Christianity. The bible was still the infallible word of God and if it didn’t appear that way I kept applying apologetics until it did.
I believe that one of the biggest factors for me startling to lose faith, apart from learning to think for myself, was the Internet. With the Internet came the ability to debate Christianity on line and I soon found myself facing questions I’d never been asked before. Even in the work force I’d never come across those sorts of questions. Many of these questions challenged me and bothered me, remaining in my mind.
Being an honest person, I couldn’t just sweep them under the carpet, like most Christians do, and act as if they weren’t valid. However, I still stood firm and continued to debate these sceptics as any committed Christian would, making sense of them from a Christian perspective as best I could.