Arrogance

"set as I am in my ways and my arrogance, burden of proof tossed upon non-believers"

Funnily enough, it seems this line brilliantly describes my attitude most of the time. Written from a different perspective to mine, however it obviously goes both ways. Man I'd love to know a bit more of the story being written about - more than what the song says.

Anyway, arrogance got me thinking about the recent hoo-hah over The DaVinci Code. I saw it the other night and to be honest was pretty disappointed. I've just started reading the book and after the movie, I don't know if I'm all that keen to finish. I will though; after all, everyone says the book is incredible - I always do what people say is good...

I would be fascinated to know why a guy would 'research' so much to write a story based on quote-unquote fact. Then base theories on documents that have been proven to be falsified. Anyway, common sense aside - I instantly (before I knew the facts) discounted the book to be a novel, and therefore fictional. Which is what it is - but would I have done that if I didn't believe what I do?

Am I so arrogant and set in my ways that if anything challenges what I believe, I will instantly put it down to being not true? The honest answer to that question is - probably. Does it really matter what I believe and if it does would that change my reaction?

Take the CD I'm listening to now, the one that the above quote comes from. Some people would say that it's wrong for me, as a Christian, to be listening to it due to some of the comments on it that could be interpreted as rather derogatory towards Jesus, my saviour. Maybe, if you are one of those people, there is some merit to what you are saying. But am I willing to change my opinion on it and stop listening to it? Not likely, not without a big discussion and it would definitely take some persuasion for me to change.

Then I think of a question I was once asked: "would you listen to this if [your mentor] was listening too?" (the name is supressed due to a confidentiality issue - whatever) A pretty good question and in fact, it was the beginning of a long road to actually getting rid of the particular CD in question at the time.

There is more than a yes or no answer to that, for one thing - I hate making someone listen to something they don't like, it makes me feel really uncomfortable. So no, if that was the only factor. But then, I reckon some of the 'derogatory' (I'm quoting myself, how Gollum is that?) words are a wicked challenge to me as a Christian: such as "ignorant flippants in the congregation, gather around spewing sympathy; spare me". How easy is it to try and give the easy answer and how often do we as Christians do that. I'd say the same thing too: SPARE ME! But I know that I've been guilty of doing that in the past, and will probably do it again - purely because I don't know what to say in that situation.

Am I too arrogant, maybe, but aren't we all?

ps - a recent comment on my blog suggested that I blog more frequently, I agree - I've been rather slack in the past little while, so thanks for the reminder; and by the way, could you flick me an e-mail because somehow I've lost yours - cheers!

pps - and that ps above does not stand for Princess Sophie, just in case you were wondering if there was a code in this blog - that would be quite cool though, maybe I'll do a blog at some point that the whole thing is written in clues you have to decipher - nah, too much effort