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Because when people cannot consciensiously accept that proposition as truth they are not accepted into the community. They are treated as a bad person. Love the sinner but not the sin. If this happens to be the community you were born into, you are forced as a teenager to choose between lying...

I've been fortunate enough not to be exposed to it. I saw it on a video by Randall Balmer. He interviewed a prosperity preacher for his video series on evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Title: Mine eyes have seen the glory.

Dondi, the issue you raise about the mandate for Christians to proselityze is a serious issue. I understand exactly where you are coming from. I've been on that side of the fence. It's a matter of conscience for you. It is also a matter of conscience for me to take care of myself. I don't know...

Exactly! It WAS interesting at first. I love discussing theology. But eventually I felt exhausted and oppressed, like I just had to get out. Didn't know why at the time. And now this self-righteous fundy we've got invading our sacred space. I will not welcome him with open arms. I see right...

Flow, did Post 2 come out of your brain? I mean, did you compose those definitions and the explanations? My hat's off to you. You must be a professional policy drafter.

Lunamoth, I don't think anyone is making accusations of anyone being ungentle or of breaching the code of ethics. Here is what I object to: NOTE: "Perceived" abuse. That is direct reference to my Post 14 in which I describe what feels to me like a typical case of spiritual abuse...

It seems I can't focus to organize my response to this thread as a whole. Got really badly upset by the suggestion that I have no right to my own feelings. I'm still trying to make sense of how I could get kicked out of the church when I have been so sincerely dedicated to God my whole life...

A little bit. I think it also fits into what is sometimes referred to as mysticism. I've also looked at paganism perhaps more deeply than Native religion. It can be very complicated for a white person getting accepted into a Native community. Too much bad history. If my only options in life were...

AdD, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Leastone is new and probably does not yet know the rules of this place. Leastone, this room was created less than a week ago. It's express purpose is to provide a safe place for those of us who do not subscribe to fundamentalist...

I didn't see this earlier. Just found the quote in someone else's post. Andrew, I have an extremely serious problem when one person declares what "each and every one of us" do or don't do. My problem is that you don't know ME well enough to make that kind of statement about me. Whole churches...

Haven't quite caught up with reading this thread and will respond more later. Just want to thank you for this clarification. It's important for me to know that there is a difference.

Exactly!!! It was not terribly hard for my mother to explain why our church did not believe in Christmas trees and Santa Claus, nor in Easter bunny and Easter eggs. They simply did not exist in the Bible. Thank you. That is very nice. Any idea where I could learn more about this?

Thanks, Dondi. I suspect you reproduced your pastor's sermon quite accurately. Somehow it does not speak to my soul at all but I am glad if it does to yours. I'm groping around in the dim recesses of my memory for that "green bough" piece I got from my course in the OT. I am no longer sure if...

This is a very interesting conversation. As some or perhaps most of you know, fundamentalism is the focus of my study and research. I see fundamentalism as the enemy that fuels terrorisim and the on-going war against it. I see it as narrow and oppressive for the individual whose self-expression...

What are my favourite books??? I have never been able to answer this question. I'd like to read Lord of the Rings again sometime but it's a huge undertaking. Two other books that have had a powerful influence on me were Anne of Green Gables and Secret Garden. I read these books as an adolescent...

This comes from the thread on Liberal Christianity without Creation, Post 55. The title for this thread is taken from Dondi's suggestion (below) that "there is more to the OT than we think." Obviously, I am hoping Dondi or others of similar insight will have time to contribute. My bit is in this...

[This was written in response to Post 46. I spent quite a bit of time on it and now I see Ratanya replied in the meantime. I guess I will post it for what it's worth.] I find a serious contradiction in these two sentences. It is the infant's need for physical care that demands parents attend...

What do we need a devil for? Why do we insist that there is such a thing as evil? Why talk about a fallen nature? Why not just accept things as they are, learn from our mistakes, move on. And forget about needing anyone's forgiveness--unless, of course, we actually wronged someone. Then it is...

Wil thanks for understanding. I was quite sure that was what you meant but somehow I knew I had to clear it up if I want to retain healthy relationships on here. And I want to. Flow, Marty's work is on my list of readings. It has been for quite a few years but I'm getting closer to actually...

Wil, you have some great ideas here but as for practical application, we need to look more closely at the details of specific situations. For example, if you find it difficult dealing with them, think for a moment what it's like for victims of severe abuse at their hands. I don't know what your...