哲學與基督教

當我就讀小學六年級時，受到基督教小學的氣氛影響，我相信了基督教。雖然「相信」，但我並沒有如上教會等的實質行動。

但是當我在天主教中學的宗教科學習更多聖經，和閱讀了一些李天命的書籍後，我只感到這個「神」十分恐佈。「神」殺死了很多人、喜歡種族歧視（總愛以色列人），因此我討厭這個「神」（假如這個卑鄙的「神」是存在的話）和不再相信這個「神」。至少，擁有基督教所形容全部屬性的「神」，邏輯上並不可能存在；至少，全能的神並不存在。

我認為教會無須對修讀哲學的人持敵對態度。事實上有不少哲學系學生都相信基督教，我也發現哲學系的教職員都有上教會，我亦知道一些教會嘗試在基督教信仰中加入一些哲學概念，並提供一些「哲學」課程，但是我認為那些課程可能有點不中立。說到底，在「哲學分析」後的主要結論，一定會是「神存在」；不過我未曾修讀過有關課程。正如我所說，當我宣稱自己是「離教者」時，很多朋友（無論是基督徒還是非基督徒）都不會介意，而我並無觀察到基督徒壓制相反意見。因此，對我來說，修讀哲學的人並不需要教會。當然我可能比較幸運，因此我的經歷未必有代表性，但至少我為有一班開明的朋友而感到幸運（可能與較高學歷有關）。

順帶一提，我相信基督徒不能、或很難做到宗教包容，在我的文章內有此立場的理據：

假如基督徒要遵守基督教教義才可獲得救贖，我認為他們的宗教不包容是很正常的，由於以下論點：
前提一：基督教其中一項教義，是除了基督教的神以外，不能接受其他的神。
前提二：假如基督教要遵守基督教教義才可獲得救贖，他們必須遵守所有教義，包括在前提一提及的那項。
中段結論：假如基督教要遵守基督教教義才可獲得救贖，基督徒必定不能接受除了基督教的神以外其他的神。
前提四：假如人們不能接受除了他們相信的神以外其他的神，他們就是宗教不包容。
前提五：基督徒相信基督教的神。
結論：假如基督教要遵守基督教教義才可獲得救贖，基督徒必定是宗教不包容。

因此，基督徒和宗教包容，我認為是二者不可兼得的，由此可知，假如所有基督徒都要遵守基督教教義才可獲得救贖，一定不可能有一個宗教包容的基督徒存在（我們不會把不遵守基督教教義的「基督徒」當成是「真正的基督徒」）。

（抽刀斷水翻譯）

原文如下：

I believed (although “believed”, i didn’t take much action, such as going to church…) Christian when i was in Primary 6 (in a Christian primary school) by atmosphere around me. But as i study more about bible (in religious studies), and read some books of 李天命, in a Catholic secondary school, I just feel the “God” is very horrible. The “God” killed so many people, and like to discriminate people by race (always in favour of Israeli…). As such, I hate this “God” (if there is such a nasty God…), and don’t believe in that “God” (at least, it is logically impossible for the “God” have all properties described by Christianity to exist. At least, there is no omnipotent God).

In fact, i think studying philosophy is independent of believing Christianity. Some philosophy students “need” to go to chruch for some personal reasons. In fact, What I mean is that philosophy students are not necessary the major enemy of the church.

By the way, it seems to me that the chruch are not necessary against those studying philosophy. In fact, quite a number of philosophy students believe in Christianity, and I found a teaching staff in department of philosophy goes to church too. Also, as I know, some churches try to incorporate some philosophical ideas into Christian belief, and offers some “philosophy” courses (but I think these maybe somewhat bias. After all, the main conclusion of “philosophical analysis” should be “God exists”. But I didn’t attend these courses). As i said (or typed…), many of my friends (Christians as well as non-Christians) don’t mind even if i declare myself as “ex-Christian”, and I didn’t see the cases that the Christian oppress opposite ideas. Therefore, for me, chruches are not necessary against those studying philosophy. Of course, my experience may not be representative as i maybe the lucky one. At least, I think i am lucky to have these open-minded friends (maybe associated with higher academic qualifications…).

By the way, I beleive that it is hard, if not impossible, for Christian to be religious tolerant. This is the argument for my position in my essay:

For me, it seems normal for Christians to be religious intolerant if they are to follow the doctrines in Christianity in order to have their salvation because of the following argument in my mind:
Premise 1: One of the doctrines in Christianity is that no other Gods could be accepted except the Christian God.
Premise 2: If the Christians follow the doctrines in Christianity in order to have their own salvation, they must follow all the doctrines in Christianity, including the one mentioned in premise 1.
Intermediate conclusion: The Christians must not accept other Gods other than the Christian God if they follow the doctrines in Christianity in order to have their own salvation.
Premise 4: People are religious intolerant if they do not accept Gods other than the God they believe.
Premise 5: Christians believe in Christian God.
Conclusion: the Christians who follow the doctrines in Christianity in order to have their own salvation must be religious intolerant.

Therefore, it seems to me that being Christian and being religious tolerant would be incompatible in the sense that it is impossible for people to be a religious tolerant Christian, provided that all Christians are the Christians follow the doctrines in Christianity in order to have their own salvation (we would not regard the “Christians” who do not follow the doctrines in Christianity “real Christians”).