Anyone else listen to JP's lectures or read his books here? I'm just curious and want to connect to those who have. I want to know if your experience is similar to mine in that he kicked my ass into shape. He did not necessarily lead me back to Christianity, but he definitely lit a fire under my ass that caused me to really question my existence, which eventually led me back to Christianity. It was not until recently that all these events made me want to decide to stop looking at porn.
I’m a huge fan. He’s great to listen to, has fantastic life advice, and his stuff on the Bible is always fascinating. Sometimes I disagree, or feel like his psychological perspective misses some key points, but it’s still great to see someone wrestle with the Biblical text from an angle I’m not familiar with. I especially love how he’s influenced tons of people who used to be fans of Dawkins and Harris to respect and even love the Bible.
I agree with your disagreement as well. lol I think that he does not make any attempts to say that he is a theologian though. He is strictly a cognitive psychologist that is looking at it from that framework. It seems that he was able to take ancient wisdom and repackage it in a way that not many people or really anyone has been able to do. He also made me appreciate mythology a great deal as well.
I've listened to some of his lectures. Some of it I agree with other things I don't. I don't think of him as the saviour some people make him out be nor the demon others say he is. He's a mixed bag. There's a thread on here that says he's not a Christian and I agree but it doesn't really matter if he isn't. Despite the fact I identify myself as a Christian I don't think the purpose of life is to be a Christian but it's to be someone who knows God, and I think you can know God without ever being a Christian. I'd even say people know God without even believing in God. At the end of the day if watching/reading him helps people come to know God and as a result love themselves and other people (because people who know God love themselves and other people) then that's a good thing.
I’ve read 12RFL, listened to many of his lectures, and seen him in person. I think his works are a big net positive for individuals, therefore society as a whole. He’s doing it with Judeo-Christian ideology, making it relevant again to many who have so readily dismissed it in the past. I believes that makes his works a net positive for following Jesus as well. Also, look at his detractors and see what you think of them. Many times you can glean some good insight of someone by taking a good look at those who speak negatively of them.
