Yesterday morning, I read The Free Press’s article “Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Why I Am Now a Christian.” The article was about Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born Dutch-American activist and former politician who’s converted to Christianity. The comments section was filled with reactions ranging from overwhelming praise, but there was some disbelief. Some people were surprised by such a conversation. Here’s the comment thread
My main feeling about life now that I'm 83 & traveled here for a long time is - this is not fair at all, we do not automatically understand what we are here for, and there is no reason to assume we will discover said reason - why make it all so obscure ? None of these 'answers' satisfy my need to know 'why?' !!! I can only look at the vast expanse of space & billions of other suns with possible worlds out there & recognize that we simply have ZERO ability to understand what 'this' is all about and as much as we rationalize & try we cannot understand the reality we are sitting in - how ridiculous - hence the deep need to invent something that keeps us from going completely mad over said facts !
In my mind, there is a huge difference between religion and faith. Religion, in many cases, is man made rules. Faith is of the heart. Think of Rahab, a prostitute who believed without written word, as far as i can tell. There are so many instances of such in the Bible.
What never ceases to amaze me is how relevant the Bible is today, how many people and situations where i see myself, doubting, failing and returning to God for grace are reflected on its pages in its characters and stories. It is a message of hope and mercy.
My main feeling about life now that I'm 83 & traveled here for a long time is - this is not fair at all, we do not automatically understand what we are here for, and there is no reason to assume we will discover said reason - why make it all so obscure ? None of these 'answers' satisfy my need to know 'why?' !!! I can only look at the vast expanse of space & billions of other suns with possible worlds out there & recognize that we simply have ZERO ability to understand what 'this' is all about and as much as we rationalize & try we cannot understand the reality we are sitting in - how ridiculous - hence the deep need to invent something that keeps us from going completely mad over said facts !
In my mind, there is a huge difference between religion and faith. Religion, in many cases, is man made rules. Faith is of the heart. Think of Rahab, a prostitute who believed without written word, as far as i can tell. There are so many instances of such in the Bible.
What never ceases to amaze me is how relevant the Bible is today, how many people and situations where i see myself, doubting, failing and returning to God for grace are reflected on its pages in its characters and stories. It is a message of hope and mercy.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18