Critical Thinking 4

I used to bother people by asking them to come into the church building and pass by the box just outside the door.  You know the invisible box -- the one so many people put their brains into.  Mostly they seemed to pick their brains up on the way out and use them to shop, acquire stuff and money, and generally survive.  But when it came time to do whatever they were going to do in the church building they left their brains outside (it seemed).

I think it is worse today.  And not just for Christian religiounists.  Muslim religionists, Hindu religionists, agnostic religionists, new age religionists -- people who get all goose-bumpy when something sentimental or seemingly religious comes up seem to quit thinking critically.  In fact, they seem to believe that thinking is obscene, an affront to whatever god they worship or avoid.

How strange.  If we believe we are created, then the best part of ourselves is probably our brain.  More stuff goes on per cubic centimeter within the brain than within any other part of our body.  And at speeds that we cannot begin to comprehend unless we think carefully about it.  So, why would the creator be offended if we use this most amazing part of what has been created?

(Agnostics -- why would whatever evolved you be bothered if you used the most dense, most useful organ with the most potential?)

To approach faith, even faith that we should not have faith, with a mind that thinks critically, that seeks data at all points, that explores carefully without prejudging what is within limits or outside limits quietly honors whatever process brought a person into being.  Creation by Word, creation by evolution, creation by questioning, creation by debate between good and evil -- however we came to be, we honor our becoming by thinking, thinking carefully, thinking often, and thinking again.