Private faith = unexamined, insecure faith

Courtesy of my favorite online toon, ASBO Jesus

 

Comments

[Louis]

1.

An excellent occasion for Hitch's aphorism: Assertions without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. Please provide evidence that a "private faith" equals an unexamined, insecure faith. Also, please provide definitions of your terms.

[danielg]

2.

Private Faith:
Faith carefully concealed, not discussed, shied away from in conversation.

Question: Why are some people loathe to talk of their own personal faith convictions?

Possible Answers:
1. The private person: Person is loathe to share ANY personal information about themselves, whether or not they hold such convictions - possibly has severe fears of relationship, or they're just naturally introverted - but I think that, in general, the seriously closed person has a problem, not just an 'introverted' personality.

2. The conflict avoider: some people don't like to talk about religion or politics because they avoid conflict - possibly grew up in an angry alcoholic family, or they're just naturally non-combative, or don't like to argue, esp. with fools ;)

3. The non-introspective person: I think that this is quite typical of the mass of humanity - like sheep without a shepherd, unthinking, living lives of quiet desperation. Without the tools to take the inward journey, they drift through life with unexamined world views and subconscious thought patterns, reacting to life rather than acting with purpose.

This is the type of tragedy I was referring to in my title. Sure, I didn't make any logical argument, but not because such an argument can't be made. I just wanted to put the claim out there as a statement for discussion. Perhaps I was too pejorative or baiting.

[Louis]

3.

I don't fall into any of your categories, but I dislike common talk about something as profound as faith or my Higher Power. I also dislike the "God-talk" that seems so common among Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. To me, they cheapen something which is infinitely precious - especially when used for political purposes (eg, Sarah Palin). To me, the true meeting place between a man and his Higher Power lies within. Loud and public piety is the domain of the hypocrite and the shallow. True, existential, faith (ie, connection with God), to my mind, goes beyond language and, finally into the realm of silence. "Be still and know that I am GOD." Christ recognized this when he advised his followers to pray in secret to the Father Who is in secret.

[danielg]

4.

If you are private about your faith, why is that?

I agree that some church talk can trivialize God, or worse.

But not all use of faith in the public arena is wrong or cheapens faith - in fact, a faith that does NOT work for justice and other biblical principles (like freedom, virtue, hard work) is really an inert faith in many ways that count.

Loud and public piety is typical of religious hypocrites, but so is that of lip service faith that pays no real mind to the commands and promises of God. And preaching and prophetic utterance is very public, yet not hypocritical.

Silence is an oft ignored part of spirituality, but so is faith based action and bold proclamation of the Bible's truths.

[Louis]

5.

If you are private about your faith, why is that?

Because I don't trust religion, the religious, and organized religion.

As to the rest, certainly one's private spirituality may inform your public actions.

[Robin Lionheart]

6.

Loud and public piety is the domain of the hypocrite and the shallow.

Jesus says as much in the Sermon on the Mount, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6 NIV)

[danielg]

7.

When speaking of prayer, I would agree that this is the teaching of Jesus. However, when it comes to the public proclamation of the gospel, and intellectual defense of the faith, these are the public part of Christian faith.

While we are not all gifted to be public speakers or teachers, Jesus taught that if we are ashamed of him and his message, he will also reject us when the time comes. Quiet piety is often a mask, not only for doubt (which is understandable), but can be a sign of spiritual cowardice or lack of real faith and conviction - a sign that we ought to be honest about what we really believe or don't.

[zenghan]

8.

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