John Green discusses his Christianity

Saw an interesting video from John Green where he answers questions about his Christianity. Since they were atypical answers, thought I'd share, since we don't often discuss Christian perspectives like his. (John Green is an internet personality and author, wrote The Fault in Our Stars and some other books.)

For the click-lazy I'll be transcribing some of his answers.

Does this make him an agnostic Christian? Idk. I guess? Can one be an agnostic Christian. I mean, why not?

Unlike in Islam and Judaism where it is stated that adherence to the rules is more essential than faith, in Christianity it was made very clear in New Testament that works without faith if one knows about and can stick to Christianity (so not people in Iran blackmailed out necessarily, though they do know about it) then it is actually as bad than those totally rejecting Christ.

I do not fully understand this because for example it would literally mean that someone faking being Christian that tries a lot but lacks the faith plausibly ends up in Hell while someone with a past with severe sin can repent and end up in Heaven if their faith is true.

This is also why I like Catholicism and Orthodoxy asserting that works truly do matter, though this means lacking confirmation, baptism, confession etc doom one to Hell as those are key works too, not just giving to charity or helping others.

I do not know what to tell you but here is what I know. I kind of agree with him. Even if somehow they end up in Hell, people adhering to Bible that lack true faith can end up being decent citizens and family members more than most faiths or atheists can. The reason is that Christianity is capable of explaining how to be both selfish and selfless at once in a way literally no other religion can or does. Old Testament parts from Judaism do not fully cover the 'how' of that.

Agnosticism is always part of the equation of not knowing because it's a faith based epicenter.

Nobody needs faith when they know what it is.

I use the term “searching” to describe him.

I think most Christians are agnostic Christians, it is a matter of faith, you don't get to be certain.

The Christian belief if the God transcends human understanding, the Bible says, "No man knows as he ought to know". 

Fundamentally, I think agnostic is the standard Christian position on the matter.

I kind of doubt that most Christians self-identify as agnostic.

How do you mean?

He understands that God exists, but he has no knowledge of His character, works, or laws.

“I know God exists, but just WHO is He?!”

I think it's fair to characterize his faith as a questing sort of faith, but from the video, it seemed to me that he grasped God as an advocate of social justice -- a champion of the hungry, the sick, the poor, etc. "When we see them, we see God and God's work" or whatever he said.

Is it always part of the equation? Many Christians have seen visions or heard voices of God -- they've had experiences they interpret as direct evidence. I don't think all Christians are agnostic.

They live their lives as if God is real, they tell their children God is real, they tell nonbelievers hell is real and they're going there. They think God is real. Not "hey isn't anything real with the power of imagination?" real, but really real.

No doubt you are correct about that, but certainty is rare, if you discuss on that level, I think most will admit that they lack certainty, I suspect same goes with most atheists.

You all know that Religion was created because you die, don't you?

So, John is basically stating the same thing I stated in a thread a while ago, that it doesn't matter if God exists.

Thousands of years trying to impose a belief that basically doesn't add anything to our existence.

Anyway. Aliens are close to show up. Maybe they know something.

True dat.

99% of religious  rhetoric is baloney.

And the other 1% is also the internal electrochemical rationalisation of the self within a perceivable universe.

And as an agnostic atheist, I too generate a notion of a GOD principle, in response to incoming data.

Nihilism is a similarly rationalised alternative, but comes with less fluff.

His not really that interested in if gods like real or not. 

Again. 

Doesn't really give two shits about god being

real or. 

Or. 

Not real. 

Thats a instant 

WANK 

FUCKING

WANK 

The first ever post on the religion forum would prob of been somethkng along the lines of. 

Can you Prove God exists.

(  then ummm, sponge bobs like ) 

TEN MILLON YEARS LATER. 

And here is where we shoild of left you lot. 

Trying to prove a god exist. 

Yous are all be like flailing around and shit. 

Year after year Passes. 

and proving a god existence is getting my daunting.

Why you know 100% you'll  never prove ya god thjng exists.

FULL STOP

But around here guys. 

And a big special  thanks to the kind hearted ness of the God less nes.

We ummm. 

We allow a pass. 

PLAY ON.

Oh And to take it even further. 

▪•°▪•°▪•°    God wrote that bible.   ▪•°▪•° ▪•°

Yep

CORRECT. 

See Us atheists know full well around here that youR gods real and yes he did that book.

WHEEL GIVE YA THAT.

Fucking very well played .

Very well played in deed. 

You 

Are 

Welcome guys. 

Its alllll good. 

WANKERS...

WANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I skimmed a book recently, and remembered a part of it,

I couldn't say 'how many Christians are Agnostic in a sense, but I don't think it's a 'small number.

Sure, many people may not question, or may even lack any doubt even 'while they question.

But I think there's people who think deeply on and question their faith, even if they hold on to it in the end.

Thinking it more likely, or by absurdism leaping into it as I 'think Kierkegaard or Dostoevsky did.

Lot of people's faith can be kind of secondary, even if they lay 'claim to the religion, lack of practice builds room for doubts, I'd imagine.

But people hold to what they hold to.

Serious religious folk, take religion seriously.

And non-serious religious folk don't...They just enjoy the club atmosphere a bit of a sing song, and a cut of tea and a slice of cake.

Same with any hobby I suppose...It's all to do with the refreshments and discussing ailments and the weather.

And then they go home and sin like fuck.

I'd be interested to hear Mr Brown's and Mrs White's thoughts too.

And those of Ms Black the lesbian vicar.

Thomas.

Yep, from a rich and powerful Sicilian family.

And his Mom was from a rich and powerful Neapolitan family.

Speaks volumes.

So plenty of time to devote to not doing much.

Often depicted with a whacky hairdo.