How would you describe the thesis of Smith's book? What is his main argument?
The decisions that individuals make in their daily lives is what shapes what they love. However, much of what individual heart desires exist due to the habits or liturgies that they practice in their lives daily. For instance, do people love their family, or are they taught to love them through daily forming habits? According to John 4:19, the scripture states that individuals can love since God first loved them. Smith, in his book “You Are What You Love” bases his argument about love on a story that he shares about a new mother who smiles at her child for many days before the child smiling back (Smith, 2016). Smith argues that the persistent smiling of the mother to the child awakened a love inside the child. Smith states that the love that awakened in the child also awakened knowledge; therefore, people love to know. For instance, something that people invest most of the time in their lifetime stems from a passion or love that one has towards the thing or person.
What does Smith mean by "habit"? How do habits play into his vision of the Christian life?
Habit meaning can be considered as something that an individual does to achieve a certain feeling. According to Smith, humans embrace a feeling, and if it feels good they do it making use of the habit. Habit can confuse individuals since some may be thinking they are following their passion or doing what they love, but they are ultimately practicing habits to achieve a specific feeling. Habits play into Smith’s vision of the Christian life since people are what they love (Smith, 2016). Smith states that what matters is starting by and attending to oneself love, which is important to Christians as it relates to the relationship between God and humans. Therefore, by Christians loving God and attending to their loves, it drives their habits to turn into all good things.
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Based on what you've read so far, do you think there is a tendency for Smith to downplay the role of thinking and believing? Why or why not?
Based on chapter one, “ You are what you love: To worship is human ,” there is no obvious tendency for Smith to downplay his role of thinking and believing. In most parts of the chapter, Smith discusses the concept of thinking more than believing (Smith, 2016). In describing his perspectives and examples, Smith relies more on love and what the heart wants. Therefore, so far, the first chapter lacks a downplay of whatsoever as one can relate what Smith is describing in the chapter normally lives in terms of thinking and believing.
Reference
Smith, J. (2016). You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit . Brazos Press
