NASAdude

Being a sheep can be good, in an ideal world. One is innocent, simple, trusting, unencumbered, living day-to-day. It seems that we all start out life this way, but we lose these qualities little by little over time, some much faster than others. On the other hand, how many of us are sheep in a negative way, blindly following the other sheep around us wherever they lead without question?

Is a blind, unquestioning faith the answer to all our questions? Should we suppress our drive to seek out explanations for the way the universe works? Should we refrain from understanding how our own minds work or how our DNA can be used cure disease or even change who we are?

Holding a belief on blind faith is dangerous if your believing it affects your perception of reality or how you interact with others. Believing you can fly and acting on it would not be wise. It is also not wise to believe that others can fly, pushing them off a cliff while they vehemently disagree with your belief. How can this action be justified by the belief that it's God's will or God's love?

What is the basis for your beliefs? Why are you Christian and not Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu? Is it because you were raised in that belief system, because a parent or someone close held those beliefs? It seems that many people are sheep in their beliefs, following others around them because that is what is expected. We all want to fit in, don't we? This behavior doesn't make the beliefs true (or false). It simply means we don't truly hold the belief for ourselves, but only are regurgitating what we've been taught.

What of those who claim a belief based on scripture? Ultimately the value of that claim depends on the validity of the book's contents. It is the writings of people who could selectively choose what to say and how to say it, making for the best story and persuasiveness. Then those writings were translated through the ages multiple times, and selectively chosen for inclusion by others with their own agendas. This ultimately yields a document which one must examine skeptically, as it has been tainted by those who wish to put their belief on you (so you become a sheep if you accept it blindly).

A religious belief should be something personal, between one and God, with nothing intermediary. For this to take place, one must have two-way communication with God in a real sense. Many say the see God working in the world, but fail to account for circumstance, chance, and pure coincidence. Even that is not enough; a direct communication is required to fully understand all that is necessary. Personally, God has never replied to me, nor answered any prayers. Is this the fate of a skeptical Christian, or is it simply that we've killed God in these modern times, or perhaps that God never existed and scripture is merely a fairy tale to give an idealized value system and supplicant followers for politically aspiring church leaders?

Does God exist? If so, where is God, and why doesn't God speak directly to us?

Mat 9:36 GW When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

Mat 15:24 GW Jesus responded, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel."