Thinking

One of the lectionary readings for the week is Matthew 22:34-46. Here is verse 37:

22:37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

I found this on the United Methodist Portal:

In response to Dr. Dawkin's claim that the bus ads "will make people think—and thinking is anathema to religion," Rev. Ellis said:

"As Christians, we respond to Jesus' call to love God with our minds as well as our hearts, souls and strength. Christianity is for people who aren't afraid to think about life and meaning. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism believed that no one should be saved from the trouble of thinking, because that is the path to understanding God."

One of the great things about United Methodism -- one of the reasons I am grateful to belong to this denomination -- is that thinking is not only accepted, but encouraged, and perhaps actually required. Part of the Wesley Quadrilateral is "reason." And while I can only speak of my experience with Methodism, I'm sure my denomination is not unique in this characteristic.

To say that thinking is anethema to religion demonstrates a lack of understanding for faith and theology.

Image: Asbury Woods on Sunday evening.