<\/p>\n
And if there’s life on other planets (Unidentified Flying Object, Larry Norman, 1971)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a teen, growing up in the 1980s in Nashville, Tennessee, I was fascinated by the music of the Jesus Movement that was written when I was only a toddler.\u00a0 \u00a0In the above lyrics, written by Jesus movement era singer\/songwriter, Larry Norman, I was exposed to a thought that never came up in Sunday School.<\/p>\n So, if there is life on other planets, do they know about Jesus?<\/p>\n Around the same time, I enjoyed watching reruns of the original Star Trek (this was before The Next Generation).\u00a0 These episodes would often play on Saturdays.\u00a0 One of the reoccurring themes of Star Trek was the \u201cprime directive.\u201d\u00a0 Basically, whenever the crew of the Enterprise encountered a more primitive civilization, they would have to adopt the clothing, customs, and technologies of that culture.\u00a0 Their fear was that a careless mistake might accidentally change the course of a society.<\/p>\n I reflected on these two thoughts over the past two weeks as I read The Soul of Doubt<\/em><\/strong>: The Religious Roots of Unbelief from Luther to Marx<\/em><\/strong> by Dr. Dominic Erdozain. \u00a0I realize that this sounds strange, but let me elaborate on the book and come back to my connection.<\/p>\n The Soul of Doubt<\/em><\/strong> is an intriguing book that blends history with theology and philosophy.\u00a0 Erdozain is a historian who has studied theologians and philosophers so completely that he is able to tackle both the historical facts\/stories as well as the complex beliefs which are held by these historical figures.<\/p>\n The first two chapters of The Soul of Doubt<\/i><\/b> hit me square between the eyes.\u00a0 I had a basic knowledge of the background and theology of Luther and Calvin, but Dr. Erdozain adds a new dimension into the backgrounds, experiences, relationships, and choices of these men.<\/p>\n As he approached the topic of religious persecution that was practiced by the Reformers, Erdozain did not pull any punches.\u00a0 He states\u2026<\/p>\n Evangelicals did not rival the papacy in the scale of their persecutions, but they eclipsed their enemies in hypocrisy and chilling theological justification.\u00a0 The Reformers had the Bible, the fresh insight of salvation, yet they twisted it to justify what they formerly condemned.\u201d<\/em> (page 42).<\/strong><\/p>\n I was disturbed by the account of the burning at the stake of Spaniard Michael Servetus as a heretic, an action where John Calvin was a part of the deliberations.\u00a0 To think of Calvin in the role of a Protestant Inquisitor, assisting in the passing of a death sentence to a man because of his differing theological beliefs, was stunning.<\/p>\n The book does a great job of delving deep into the lives, belief systems, relationships, and impacts of some great figures including Pierre Bayle, Voltaire, Charles Darwin, and Karl Marx.\u00a0 Yet, there is one figure that Dr. Erdozain comes back to again and again: Baruch Spinoza.<\/p>\n Most Christians do not have the visceral reaction to the name \u201cSpinoza,\u201d as compared to \u201cMarx\u201d or \u201cDarwin.\u201d\u00a0 Yet, he is considered to be the father of modern biblical criticism.\u00a0 In modern times, he has been revered by atheists, pantheists, secular humanists.<\/p>\n Yet, Erdozain shows that Spinoza deeply valued the love of God toward humanity.\u00a0 Aligning Spinoza with the Quakers, highlighting their emphasis on a God that could be felt, Erdozain writes poignantly \u201cThe nemesis of dogma was spiritual experience.\u201d (page 84).\u00a0 Yet, Spinoza was opposed to any kind of superstitious fear of God.\u00a0 Spinoza felt that \u201cSuperstition is essentially selfish\u2026promoting both aggression and a kind of competitive ascetism: a cult of self-denial.\u201d (page 100). \u00a0To Spinoza, happiness and joy were indicators of spiritual maturity, not Calvinistic piety.<\/p>\n Spinoza harshly critiqued the theologians of his day for misusing scripture for their own benefit when he wrote: \u201cIf people truly believed in their hearts what they say with their lips about Scripture\u2026they would follow a completely different way of life.\u201d (page 107).<\/p>\n Today\u2019s evangelicals will certainly have an issue with some of Spinoza\u2019s theological beliefs about the nature of God.\u00a0 Yet, there are also many things that can be learned by reading Spinoza.<\/p>\n Erdozain affirms this when he writes,<\/p>\n The evangelical movement had always valued inward conviction over external evidence or written testimony.\u00a0 From John Wesley to William Wilberforce, the evangelical challenge was that \u201cReal Christianity\u201d is more than the \u201cPrevailing Religious System of Professed Christians.\u201d\u00a0 Faith was more than Dogma\u2026 (page 195)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This brings me back to Larry Norman and Star Trek.<\/p>\n As I read The Soul of Doubt, a lot of \u201cWhat If\u2019s\u201d jumped into my head.\u00a0 In hindsight, history seems so fragile.\u00a0 What if Luther lacked the courage to oppose Rome\u2026or what if Rome had been reformed by Luther?<\/p>\n As I daydream in the realm of science fiction, what if there was another planet like earth?\u00a0 And what if a Bible was given to that planet?\u00a0 What religious expression and theologies would develop?\u00a0 Would less orthodox theological interpretations become the norm? \u00a0What if Spinoza\u2019s teachings were accepted by the majority in the West?<\/p>\n While that is a curious thought (for me, at least). \u00a0There is a voice in my head (or my heart) that often speaks up and says, \u201cDon\u2019t forget the Holy Spirit.\u201d\u00a0 You see, unlike Deists, I believe that God is living and active in our world.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit guides our lives and our theologies.\u00a0 I actually believe that the Church is not simply the result of the evolution of theology and culture\u2026 it is the Bride and Body of Christ.<\/p>\n For me, this belief is both experience AND dogma.<\/p>\n \u201cLive Long and Prosper\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThen I’m sure that He must know
\nAnd He’s been there once already
\nAnd has died to save their souls<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n