I heard a term last night that I had never heard before:
Recreational beliefs.
It was a reference to things like religion and astrology and Wicca, things that we play with in our minds, but they don't really influence our decisions or rule our lives.
Interesting concept.
Think about some of the things that you believe to be true.
You believe in gravity.
I don't have to ask you about this. I know that you believe in gravity because you don't jump off cliffs.
In other words, it's a belief that you use as a basis for decisions.
The typical Christian says that he believes in a God who loves him, a God who is all-powerful, a God who answers prayer.
But when his wife gets cancer, he gets the best oncologist he can find.
He prays, of course, but he seeks medical treatment with exactly the same fervor and dedication as somebody who doesn't believe in God.
And when he prays his prayers, he finds himself bargaining with God, swearing that he'll go to church every Sunday, swearing that he'll stop swearing, that he'll give up liquor, that he'll stop seeing his mistress, if only God will heal his wife's cancer.
In other words ... a cruel God who wants to be placated.
Not the Cosmic Care Bear that the Baptists preach.
I contend that there's a difference between beliefs and "beliefs."
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