There are so many songs that move me and make me yearn ever so more to believe. Amazing Grace is one of my favorites. I don’t know if it is the story that goes with the song, or the realization that it truly will be God’s grace for me to believe again, or the memories it stirs. But it moves me to tears every time I hear it.
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The first two videos don’t work anymore, just a heads up.
I’m listening to the last one as I type. Beautiful!
I remember the song “Jesus Loves Me for the Bible Tells me So,” and it was done beautifully too.
It’s hard to deny the emotional pull of songs like these which we learned on our Mama’s knees. It’s probably more about nostalgia than anything else, or the yearning that the Gospel story is in fact true. Just think of it. There is no God. No Afterlife. No heaven. You will not see your dead loved ones. When you die you die. Now place that truth next to the hope that Christianity offers. No wonder the truth wins out. We have little to offer but the truth.
But if it’s anything to you, I understand. I like these songs too, and I like them at Christmas time. But one thing you might try doing is to think of such things like the barbaric God of the OT, eveerlasting torment in hell, the Inquisition, and slavery in the American South while listening to these songs. It might change your perspective and inject some ugly truth into the beautiful parts of the story.
Cheers.
Above I meant to say, “No wonder the truth doesn’t win out.”
John,
Wow, so cool that you commented here on this outpost in the blog-o-sphere. I feel like I kinda know you from reading your book. It was one of the first books I got when researching my doubt. It helped my flesh out my thoughts on things. I agree somewhat with your comment that Christianity offers hope to a somewhat bleak and short life, and I agree that this doesn’t make it true. But I also don’t think that the OT God, hell, slavery, rape, or any other evil or hard topic makes something in of itself untrue. Being in science I’ve realized that there is a lot of mysterious and amazing things out there that still are waiting to be discovered. So in a way I view my investigation into the Christianity. There’s going to be a lot I don’t understand, but I can still pick away at the unknown, bit by bit to find the truth. I’ve also learned the hard way that I’m ignorant in a lot of things and I should be humble to admit that I’m wrong and learn what I can from those who have more experience or knowledge. ‘Cause there is someone who is always smarter than I (or is it me?). Anyway, thanks for the comment, it made my day.
You’re welcome. Keep thinking. Keep growing.