[kosta50]

He works as He sees fit

I am not sure I buy that. The Bible is clear that God is impartial and that we should be impartial. Also, by analogy, we would not treat our children differently, making some work harder than others, or teaching some more and some less.

To think that Faith cannot be had outside the Scriptures, IMHO, is limiting to grace, and not a position I'd easily ascribe to.

Even scriptures tell us that faith existed before scriptures.

is it not your experience that some people generally have a greater faith, even among children raised in the same family? Why this is, I don't really have an answer...do you?

That depends how you define faith, but as far as their differences are concerned, I don't have a clue.

I don't believe people acquire faith from "life-long studies of Scripture." In order to have the patience to conduct such a task, you must have some faith as an impetus, I imagine.

There are well known theologians who are not believers.  They study theology because they are fascinated by it. In fact, some claim they became non-believers through it.

However, I believe faith can *grow* through study of God - Theology.

Theology is a study of God (Greek theos + logia), a study of what people wrote about God through their faith in him.  Some people may find theological arguments compelling because they express their beliefs in greater detail and in a more scholarly, authoritative way, thereby leading to a sense of "growing" in knowledge of God.

One realm of such study is through His revelation in Scripture. Would you disagree?

I am the wrong person to ask that question.

Which is more pleasing to God: joining a celibate order and dedicating your life to prayer, or marrying and bringing forth a large, loving Christian family?

Why can both not be 'pleasing' to God, just as there may be different innumerable paths towards faith?

He works as He sees fit

I am not sure I buy that. The Bible is clear that God is impartial and that we should be impartial. Also, by analogy, we would not treat our children differently, making some work harder than others, or teaching some more and some less.

To think that Faith cannot be had outside the Scriptures, IMHO, is limiting to grace, and not a position I'd easily ascribe to.

Even scriptures tell us that faith existed before scriptures.

is it not your experience that some people generally have a greater faith, even among children raised in the same family? Why this is, I don't really have an answer...do you?

That depends how you define faith, but as far as their differences are concerned, I don't have a clue.

I don't believe people acquire faith from "life-long studies of Scripture." In order to have the patience to conduct such a task, you must have some faith as an impetus, I imagine.

There are well known theologians who are not believers.  They study theology because they are fascinated by it. In fact, some claim they became non-believers through it.

However, I believe faith can *grow* through study of God - Theology.

Theology is a study of God (Greek theos + logia), a study of what people wrote about God through their faith in him.  Some people may find theological arguments compelling because they express their beliefs in greater detail and in a more scholarly, authoritative way, thereby leading to a sense of "growing" in knowledge of God.

One realm of such study is through His revelation in Scripture. Would you disagree?

I am the wrong person to ask that question.

Which is more pleasing to God: joining a celibate order and dedicating your life to prayer, or marrying and bringing forth a large, loving Christian family?

Why can both not be 'pleasing' to God, just as there may be different innumerable paths towards faith?

[thefrankbaum]

I am not sure I buy that. The Bible is clear that God is impartial and that we should be impartial. Also, by analogy, we would not treat our children differently, making some work harder than others, or teaching some more and some less.

I don't know about that. I would argue he treated the Jews differently than he treated other peoples (treating his creation differently), or even Christ chose twelve out of many disciples (making some work harder than others).

There are well known theologians who are not believers. They study theology because they are fascinated by it. In fact, some claim they became non-believers through it.

I suppose I may have been defining terms a bit differently, but even fascination with Scripture is a faith in the idea of God, which is a very immature form of faith in Him.

Theology is a study of God (Greek theos + logia), a study of what people wrote about God through their faith in him. Some people may find theological arguments compelling because they express their beliefs in greater detail and in a more scholarly, authoritative way, thereby leading to a sense of "growing" in knowledge of God.

Agreed.

Why can both not be 'pleasing' to God, just as there may be different innumerable paths towards faith?

Agreed. If you'll excuse the question, where are we disagreeing? I have enjoyed this conversation, but I'm afraid I don't see any points of dispute anymore!