User:Kwiki777/The Challenges Facing Biblical Teachings in Our Modern Society
Author-Ken Kapreilian
Introduction:
When children begin to learn arithmetic, they are taught basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These basics include the concept of absolutes. These absolutes exist as a foundation of mathematics. Therefore, with the acceptance of absolutes, a child can then understand that (1+2=3) and that (2*2=4). Now then, consider that if our child were to come home from school and say that the teacher told them that while some people believe that (1+2=3) or that (2*2=4), other people do not. Any parent who cares about what their child learns in school would immediately question the teacher because we accept these basic rules of mathematics as absolutes. They would be outraged if the teacher were to respond;" while some people believe (1+2=3) or that (2*2=4), that is just one point of view and there are other points of view. Also, as a teacher, I like to have an open mind and I teach my students to have an open mind. Therefore, I do not believe in any absolutes. Furthermore, I feel that all those other points of view are to be given equal weight with your beliefs regarding arithmetic." Many people would find the previously mentioned method/style of teaching as unacceptable. Yet when we study the Bible, absolutes also exist. These are Biblical absolutes. These absolutes also include the New Testament teachings about Jesus Christ and morality. However many people refuse to accept them. In my experience, (gained through teaching classes in Biblical study) I have observed that many people who accept the absolutes of basic arithmetic and are unwilling to compromise on those absolutes often times take a completely different viewpoint when dealing with the absolutes of the Bible and Christianity. One common refrain is that, “there are many roads to the same destination.” Another refrain is, “That is just your opinion or interpretation and all other beliefs must be weighed as equal”. Yet those exact same statements are met with resistance and would not be tolerated when dealing with basic arithmetic. That just doesn’t add up. Why is it that many people in our modern society, who will accept the idea of absolutes in secular studies, refuse to accept the idea of absolutes within the Bible and Christianity? The Challenges Facing Biblical Teachings in Our Modern Society, is written to help Christians understand the issues of how the Bible and Christianity is interpreted Our Modern Society.