S.H.A.P.E Workshop - EXPERIENCES

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This is the 5th and final installment in my series called “S.H.A.P.E Workshop.” I do hope you found it interesting. Even though there were some differences of opinion, I hope it helped you to gain some insight into the mentality of Christian teaching - Christians put God - or more specifically, Jesus - as both the motivator and benefactor of everything we do. Or at least we’re supposed to :)

Just to recap, the five basic components that make up a person’s “S.H.A.P.E.” are:

S - Spiritual Gifts
H - Heart/Passion
A - Abilities
P - Personality
E - Experiences

This week we covered the last piece - experiences - and how our past experiences factor in to who we are today. Here’s one illustration that was presented:

Two hunters flew deep into the remote backwoods of Alaska to hunt Elk. They bagged six elk. The pilot told them the plane could carry only four of the elk out. “But the plane that carried us out last year was exactly like this one,” the hunters protested. “The horsepower was the same, the weather was similar, and we had six elk then.” Hearing this, the pilot reluctantly agreed to try. They loaded up and took off, but sure enough, there was insufficient power to climb out of the valley with all that weight, and they crashed. As they stumbled from the wreckage, one hnter asked the other if he knew where they were. “Well, I’m not sure,” replied the second, “but I think we are about two miles from where we crashed last year.”

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False Assumptions

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In life we make a lot of assumptions. I’m not keen on that old management training axiom that assume makes an ass out of u and me. It’s an oversimplification and it denies the very many benefits that making assumptions can have in life. I assume that I’m not going to fall down a well on my way to work and that allows me to leave the climbing gear at home, I assume I’ll need a computer as I work in IT so I take my laptop with me even though some days I don’t switch it on, I assume the trains will be running so I walk to the train station rather than get a bus or drive to work. Sometimes my assumptions are proven wrong (particularly about the trains, but never so far about the well) and this can be enlightening and life enhancing as well as embarrassing and annoying. Some assumptions about Christians and atheists show this to good effect.

The Christian church began life within the Roman Empire. Early Christians enjoyed many freedoms in religion as a result of Roman rule but also some issues of conformity. The state demanded certain core moral values but the early Christians suffered from three widespread stereotypes: Christians practiced atheism; Christians practiced cannibalism; and Christians practiced incest. How’s that for making assumptions?

I always had my suspicions about Christians you know. ;) (more…)

S.H.A.P.E Workshop - PERSONALITY

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This is the 4th (and probably my favorite!) in a five-part series on a class I’m taking at church called “S.H.A.P.E Workshop.” Just to recap, there are five basic components that make up who a person is - that make up your “S.H.A.P.E.” They are:(click on the links for previous posts) -

S - Spiritual Gifts
H - Heart/Passion
A - Abilities
P - Personality
E - Experiences

This week we learned about the four main personality types, and how everyone’s personality is made up of different combinations of these four.

There were two main points that were made in class. The first is that there are no “good” and “bad” personalities. All four personality types have positives and negatives, but none of them are inherently “bad.” The second is that by understanding not only your own personality, but the personalities of those around you, you will be much more successful maintaining good relationships. Sure, you personalities may clash, but if you can understand why they behave the way they do, you will be able to handle it (them?) with a lot more grace and understanding.
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Judge not lest ye be judged

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Next month I start duty as a juror.  I’m not happy about this at all and not just because I’m going to be put at a severe financial cost for at least two weeks.  I am being put in the position of deciding the guilt or innocence of another human being beyond a reasonable doubt.  It’s that last bit that I have a problem with.

What is reasonable doubt?  One definition that I’ve found is this:

The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime. A real doubt, based upon reason and common sense after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case.

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore, is proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in the most important of your own affairs. However, it does not mean an absolute certainty.

How certain do I have to be to convict though?  I mean if I were dying of some terrible disease and someone offered me a cure that had only a 1% chance of working then I’d take it.  I’d take it if it had a 50% chance of curing me and a 10% chance of killing me.  I like those odds.  If I can’t find my keys in the morning how certain do I have to be that they aren’t on my desk to stop me looking for them there?  From experience I can be 99% convinced and still look for (and find) them on the desk.

Reasonable doubt leaves me cold.  I’ll always have some small doubt in my mind.  (more…)