some sort of ministry: teaching from mistakes

Perhaps I'd continue convincing kids to avoid the same errors I've made like suicide, drinking to death and self-injury. This all happened in high school -- the period of my life that my mother kept telling would be the best and which we all want to return to. My mom was very wrong. It's surely a period of my life I wish I'd never lived.

I must first point out that high school and education in all is broken, obsolete and useless (Nietzsche). For the past two centuries, no one has done much to fix this mess.

Said all this, alcohol (teenage drinking) was the only way I knew to escape from killing or torturing myself -- as suicide was the escape from the pain. I've lived through that hell and I enjoy freaking out people with my stories.

too much for my own good

Maybe I analyze religion, its beliefs and practices too much for my own good (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/06/nietzsche-vs-gott.html). Maybe my faith is based on the philosophy and sociology of Christianity more than just what my grandmother taught me as a child (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/remembering-my-grandmother.html). In the past almost two years that I've gone to church non-stop (08/2008 to now), I've been reading many more papers on Christianity much more than how much I used to (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2009/01/beginning-before-experiment-circa-2006.html). It makes me wonder if I'm a "real" Christian or merely a reader of theology or simple fool lying to myself. Well only time would tell.

Nietzsche vs Gott (God)

As much as I like Kant and Huxley, I'm deeply fascinated with Friedrich Nietzsche. His criticism on Christianity was and still is dangerous as in the quote below.

"The Christian is simply a Jew of the 'reformed' confession."
- Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist (1888)
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19322

Maybe this is a reason or the only reason why his writings and ideology are highly recommended for anyone interested in theology and/or philosophy. In both, the philosopher was clearly trying understand and explain the social phenomenon that we know as religion (especially Judaism, Christianity & Islam) while pointing out the errors and lies in religious practices and/or beliefs.

In the quote above, he pointed out that Christianity has its roots in Judaism (same as Islam). In other words, Christianity is a mix of Judaism and the teachings that Jesus left us.

Said the latter, the differences between the three religions of Abraham (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) are similar. What he didn't explain is why followers of one religion sometimes fight with members of the others. Maybe it's mere sibling rivalry.

Anyway philosophy (especially that of Nietzsche) is exciting and fun even when it offends us or simply makes fun of us. It forces us to think and reevaluate our core beliefs and principles, which is important if we're to dare calling ourselves "real" Christians. In conclusion, Nietzsche, the biggest critic and enemy of religion, is perhaps the best professor of religion.

Gott ist NEIN tot! (part 3): death and resurrection of the incarnation of God

One major argument that many people have (non-Christians especially) is the death and resurrection of Jesus (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/06/god-vs-crucifix.html). These people (some friends of mine included here) ask how God could have died. They fail to understand that the incarnation (body) died and came back to life. In other words, Jesus never died (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/gott-ist-nein-tot-revisited.html).

This of course brings the argument of Christology. Is Jesus son of man (fully human) or son of God (fully God)? Give me a break! Jesus was fully human and fully God. Maybe this last concept is hard to understand for some people, but to me it's simple and clear.

Gott ist NEIN tot! (revisited)

One of my favorite writer (philosopher actually) is Nietzsche. As much as his material was always anti-Christian and anti-church, his material makes me analyze my deepest Christian beliefs.

One can learn from his ideologies and/or statements. See example below.

"Gott ist tot!"
(http://culteducassette.blogspot.com/2010/05/gott-ist-nein-tot.html)

With this statement, he pointed out how Christianity was corrupted, broken, fake and hence dead. The blame's clearly on us, Christians and on Christ.

To me Nietzsche is somewhat of a teacher making me think all the time and pointing out errors in the Church -- its politics, lies, deception and other negative aspects that are the result of human greed, misunderstanding or simple stupidity.

In all, regardless how broken the Church is and how greedy humanity can be or become, GOD IS STILL AND EVER HAS BEEN ALIVE!

Gott ist NEIN tot!

"Gott ist [NEIN] tot!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_is_dead

Nietzsche said that God was dead.

As much as I like Nietzsche, I must correct him. God is alive.

my skeptical (atheist) friends

Speaking of atheists (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/being-geek-and-christian.html), two of my childhood friends -- atheists, hardcore skeptical, scientists in their own right with doctorates and such -- do have some valid points to their reasoning from a scientific point of view, which make me think and look for a religious/scientific answer their claims. It's the never ending quarrel (two against one) between friends, which we often avoid. Nonetheless I want to win the battle and prove them that there's a Godhead and make them worship God in whatever way (religion) they see fit.

Needless to say, most of my friends believe in God following different religious beliefs -- not only Christian.

In all this might be why I like reading Friedrich Nietzsche ("Gott ist tot"). His material always make me more interested in Christianity as well as forcing me to analyze my religious beliefs against my understanding of science.