I'm thinking about it.

A friend of mine wrote this today on facebook. While I really wanted to answer her then and there, I'm thinking this was more for herself than anyone else. So I thought I'd just copy it to my blog and share my thoughts on it.

Think about this.

What do you believe, and why do you believe it?
Are you a Christian? Are you an atheist? Are you a Buddhist? Are you unsure? Are you apathetic? Who told you what to believe? Did you choose your beliefs, or did your beliefs choose you because of your circumstances? Are you conforming, or rebelling? Are you thinking for yourself? Did your parents choose your opinions? Did your teachers? Did your friends?

What makes you think you're right?

What makes you wonder if you're wrong?

Are you well-informed? Are you dogmatic? Are you open to change? Are you open to enlightenment?
Are you open to the truth?
Would you know it if you saw it? What if it contradicted your beliefs? Would you tear them down, or grasp at them stubbornly? Are you capable of reinventing yourself?

Are you hungry for knowledge? Are you hungry for answers? Are you too full of yourself to hunger at all?

Have you bothered to study other beliefs? Have you taken the time to question your opinions? Have you seen the other side? Have you listened to the opposition? Have you judged too quickly? Have you spoken harshly out of ignorance?

Can you admit that you might be wrong?

So many questions. But she makes a lot of good points about people, thoughts, beliefs, and philosophy.
Anyhow, here I go.

I'm a Christian. I'm not at all your typical Christian. While my parents, church, and friends have had an impact on my current beliefs, I was most influenced by a teach in high school. Yes, it was a home-schooled co-op, but it was not the program that was great. The program, called Inklings, was good, but the teacher, Matthew Anderson, was great! Not only was he inspiring, and helpful, (Even though I NEVER seemed to finish my homework) but he had a general love of teaching and leading students to think. To think hard and to think long. To play devil's advocate. To question their beliefs. To never take anyone's word without a grain of salt. It was great.
And through that education I was able to start to really develop my own faith, not that of my parents. I changed, grew, and developed it. And through that I've come to three core beliefs:
God
Christ
Science
And I believe it should go in that order of importance. Everything else, well I'm just not quite positive about. And I love discussing it.