Bob Price made an interesting comment during his interview on Behind the Headlines (http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,38937.0.html). He said something along the lines of the idea that for him, as he learns more and gets older, the most important thing for him is the development of his own character.
I think there's a big truth there, but I'm wondering if it's the whole story. For example, I've been reading a book lately called "The Practice of the Body of Christ: Human Agency in Pauline Theology after MacIntyre". The main idea of the book is that Paul actually wrote and operated with a classical account of human agency in mind. In other words, humans can work and act to develop new and better habits of behavior: to become virtuous and overcome vices. The mainstream view of Paul has been that he denies human agency: we have no free will, we can't do anything to improve ourselves, we are and always will be sinners. Therefore Jesus died FOR us in order to wipe the slate clean for us; we're still sinners but because Jesus paid the price, now God can fudge the numbers and pretend we're actually righteous, and presto, we can go to heaven. It's actually God who does everything. Yeah, it's nonsense, but that's pretty much what a lot of Christians and theologians and academics think Paul said (not to mention think it's actually true in principle).
Anyways, the author, Colin Miller, argues that Paul actually thought it was possible, and very important, to strive to be virtuous. In other words, to develop our character: to become prudent, courageous, just, loving. This is what it meant to "die to the flesh" and become part of the "body of Christ", i.e. a community striving towards the same goal through their individual and collective actions.
But the question for me is this: is developing one's character all there is to 'religion', or is there more? Paul seemingly thought there was more to it. It wasn't just that humans are slave to vices, but to sins. I.e., our behaviors actually reflect our relationship with the Divine. Our lives are either in harmony with and energized by the ultimate, the divine 'direction' (leading to 'life'), or they are not (leading to 'death'). Being virtuous is being right with God/the Cosmos/the Ultimate.
I've got my own thoughts on the subject, but I'm wondering what you all think. Is it just important to develop one's character?
I think there's a big truth there, but I'm wondering if it's the whole story. For example, I've been reading a book lately called "The Practice of the Body of Christ: Human Agency in Pauline Theology after MacIntyre". The main idea of the book is that Paul actually wrote and operated with a classical account of human agency in mind. In other words, humans can work and act to develop new and better habits of behavior: to become virtuous and overcome vices. The mainstream view of Paul has been that he denies human agency: we have no free will, we can't do anything to improve ourselves, we are and always will be sinners. Therefore Jesus died FOR us in order to wipe the slate clean for us; we're still sinners but because Jesus paid the price, now God can fudge the numbers and pretend we're actually righteous, and presto, we can go to heaven. It's actually God who does everything. Yeah, it's nonsense, but that's pretty much what a lot of Christians and theologians and academics think Paul said (not to mention think it's actually true in principle).
Anyways, the author, Colin Miller, argues that Paul actually thought it was possible, and very important, to strive to be virtuous. In other words, to develop our character: to become prudent, courageous, just, loving. This is what it meant to "die to the flesh" and become part of the "body of Christ", i.e. a community striving towards the same goal through their individual and collective actions.
But the question for me is this: is developing one's character all there is to 'religion', or is there more? Paul seemingly thought there was more to it. It wasn't just that humans are slave to vices, but to sins. I.e., our behaviors actually reflect our relationship with the Divine. Our lives are either in harmony with and energized by the ultimate, the divine 'direction' (leading to 'life'), or they are not (leading to 'death'). Being virtuous is being right with God/the Cosmos/the Ultimate.
I've got my own thoughts on the subject, but I'm wondering what you all think. Is it just important to develop one's character?