The phrase ‘for the birds’ commonly consigns something worthless – usually what is seen as a misguided belief – to the trash-pan. Often that is a religious belief. Not all religious belief is dismissed. What is rubbished is that part of it that goes beyond what we see, touch and smell all around us. In other words, metaphysical statements are so much hot air. Those who take this view are probably logical positivists.
The most respected part of Christianity on this view is the Sermon on the Mount. Turning the other cheek and treating others as you yourself would wish to be treated is a serious kind of morality that is respected and at the same time difficult. It sets a high threshold for decent behaviour. But that, it will be argued, is a notable element in Christian belief. We can’t do without that kind of standard to aspire to, even if we often fall short of it in practice.
Unlikely though it may seem to a member of a prosperous and technologically advanced society, Christianity offers a prompting from outside our everyday world. In place of a moral framework constructed on the basis of observation and evidence of the world at our fingertips we have a supernatural intrusion (though for anyone who believes in a Creator the word intrusion is hardly appropriate. This is God’s world, after all.) The Creator decided to share our humanity. He became man.
So what are we to say about those who respect part of the Christian faith, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, and ignore the rest? We have to recognise that this a tempting position to occupy. Probably many people if pushed would opt for it. We can probably call to mind acquaintances who are of that way of thinking. But it is a partial interpretation of the documents in the case. The Sermon on the Mount is prominent but not uniquely so in the New Testament.
The Sermon on the Mount is a good place to review our own behaviour. We have to recognise our shortcomings. It is also a good starting-point for discussing the claims of the Christian faith.
THREE MINUTES AT RIPON
‘What is Christianity?’ is a question posed for a visitor to the Holy Trinity, Ripon website. It leads to a three-minute video giving an answer to the question. The church, along the road from the cathedral, has a unique (I believe) scooped out entrance to its underground extension.
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