Since, unbeknownst to me, I have “agreed” to officiate at a debate contest between Geri Jensen and Nelda Westerlind regarding whether a Christian belief in God is right or wrong, or, for that matter, any belief in the existence of a god, I find it necessary to comment on the issue.
First: I wish to thank Bob LaMettry for suggesting in his August 15 letter to the editor that I participate in the conversations. His sense of humor is appreciated, especially when he somehow includes me in the company of Michele Bachmann.
Secondly: I must admit that I could not be an unbiased arbiter since I have become an avowed atheist after many years in the Roman Catholic priesthood and Protestant ministry.
However, I have not lost interest in the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. I find the Bible a valuable document on how we humans try to figure “what’s it all about?”
Our salvation is one of the great themes of the Bible, both salvation here and now, but mostly our hereafter salvation.
I find it interesting how the preeminent theologian, Paul of Tarsus, in his first letter to the Corinthians explains how we are saved. He writes to the people (and hence to us according to today’s Christian Bible reader) that salvation is found in believing the foolishness of the Cross of Christ. To him we humans cannot understand the wisdom of God in the Death on the Cross, because we rely only on human wisdom and are therefor destined to eternal damnation. (From his words I guess I know where I am heading.)
According to Paul, it is precisely because Christ’s death on the Cross is foolish that it must be true, and that believing this divine foolishness is the only way to salvation, emphasis “believing.”
In other words, Paul, to believe something divinely absurd is the only way to heaven?
I wish I could conclude with an Amen, but find oops to a better salutation!
Jake Hjorth
Grand Marais
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