The root cause of this is the society we live in. We are conditioned from the time we’re born into a certain way of thinking. Because of this, we have a very close-minded view of the world and anything which threatens that view is immediately attacked as being, “wrong”, “evil”, etc. Where if you look to one similar to the Aboriginal culture in Australia, it is quite open to new ideas. They may not adopt them into the culture, but they won’t shun you for believing them and will listen to your reasoning with patience.

If you look back in history, this resistance to outside opinions started taking root when the patriarchal cultures started invading those with a matriarchal focus. They ruled through oppression, and anyone who resisted the culture shock of their beliefs was slaughtered. This mindset has a very harmful side-effect as well, it engineers people to be complacent and not look beyond what they’re told. After it’s bred into a group of people for a couple of generations, they usually stop resisting the new rulers-save for those who continue to pass down the old traditions and views of their world.

I only point out the above to show that you need an environment which nurtures exploration of ideas and discussion of those in order to have people not to become defensive of their perceptions of the world. As we age, we wrap ourselves further and further in “this is correct”, “no, you can’t do this because…”, etc. and it eventually leads you to give in and stop questioning if something is “how” it has to be. It closes you off.

This is very noticeable in children, compared to what their views are like as an adult. The phrase, “wisdom of babes” is a good one. They’re wise because they aren’t weighted down with set views that they’ve clung too. Each view weighs the same to them, so they can give a more honest answer and outlook to a problem. Society hasn’t handicapped them.

It is the action/work – that gives substance to our faith. It is the action/work that is the EVIDENCE of our faith – both to the Lord, and to the world. I think the 2 are intricately and intimately linked in such a way that you can not separate them. You can not have one without the other. Thus James’ statement, “I will show you my faith BY my works.”
Just my two-cents. Don’t get me started. hahaha!

Great post.

A lot of so-called “heretics” however are merely Christians who disagree. Calvinism and Arminianism, for instance are not different Gospels, but different understandings of how the Gospel works. People may be wrong on these issues, but they are not heretics.

Top to bottom, left to right:
Anger and oversimplification
Un-reached potential; goosebumps
Machine
Horny, genius, overall nice guy

1. Thinks he’s god and will tell you that. 2. No one in her life to tell her no, because they were feeding off of her. 3. Couldn’t handle success. 4. One of the best politicians ever, but no moral compass in his personal life.