What was your epistemology before your Christianity?

[37818]

Essential Christian Reformed epistemology, God said so.

 

[37818]

I am persuaded that God's offer of salvation is a genuine gift because it is actually provided for all.

1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . .

1 John 2:2, . . . And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2:3-6, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

[37818]

What was your epistemology before you became a Christian?

 

[Rye]

What was your epistemology before you became a Christian?

I guess I was a “superstitious Christian” in the sense that I believed in the God of the Bible. I was born into a Christian household but I didn’t give it much thought. I just assumed I had to do more good than bad. That was before I really understood what the Gospel is.

 

[37818]

I guess I was a “superstitious Christian” in the sense that I believed in the God of the Bible. I was born into a Christian household but I didn’t give it much thought. I just assumed I had to do more good than bad. That was before I really understood what the Gospel is.

You are not alone. Typically none of us before we trust Christ actually know until after we had trusted Christ.

1 John 5:9, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: . . .

We know from God afterwards.
Romans 8,:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: . . .

 

[David Lamb]

I am persuaded that God's offer of salvation is a genuine gift because it is actually provided for all.

1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . .

1 John 2:2, . . . And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2:3-6, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

But it isn't provided for all. It is (as 1 John 5:1 and John 3:16 both indicate) for whoever believes. Incidentally, I think my epistemology before being converted was similar to what Rye said in Post 4 on this thread.

 

[Dr. Bob]

My epistemology was entirely logical. This view helped me understand math, science, religion, even history. I was young, but intense thinker. I read entire Book of Knowledge (every page of 20 volumes) in third grade and Hegel and Kant were my favorites.

Dad's family had non-practicing Jewish roots. Mom was born-again at a Baptist mission in the poorest neighborhood in Minneapolis. 95% of our neighbors were Irish Catholic or German Catholic or Lutheran. A block from our house was a United Pentecostal (Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker were children's ministers there). I was searching through all. And Jewish/Catholic/Baptist?? I understood GUILT!!

I could see later that it was the holy Spirit of God that was opening my heart as He gave me repentance and faith to believe the true Gospel.

 

[37818]

Basic epistemology:
1) Our personal experience.
2) The witness of others. This includes God.
3) Logical definition.

 

[Godisgracious1031]

Geeetings,

I would say I was born to a Christian family, went to church, Christian school, thought was saved, not really into it, mainly went on Sunday, Wednesday nights. Wasn't until last summer heard the gospel, how to rightly divide that I became saved and read the Bible.

Take care,

Shawn

 

[sdcoyote]

Very scientifically based. Quantification = Truth. Nothing else.

Still have that bent, but Christ opened my eyes to the rest of reality.

I praise him every day for it.