I have two things I would like to announce.

As I mentioned, and as you folks know, I am very knew to the group. After I 
had been on for nomore than a couple days, I offered my two cents worth, or 
maybe it was more like 98 cents worth.

I inadvertently stepped on some toes, and I want to clarify that I regret 
any misunderstanding. I still reiterate that I remain true to my basic 
convictions of conscience. But I did not mean to jump in with judgmentalism 
where it was out of place.

I still have a basic ideal that I want to stick up for the underdog, or the 
individual who is unfairly "ganged up on." But I see now that I may have 
been out of place to assume there was necessarily a lot of that sort of 
abuse going on. I admit that there is often a principle of "it takes two sides."

So in sticking up for one "side" that does not give any call for unwarranted 
criticism of the other. So please accept this clarificaton. I hope you will 
bear with me if I continue to speak out where I see true signs of injustice 
or even just unfairness. But I promise to be a little more careful in my 
choice of words. 

Incidentally, I do love comparative religion. I love to mull over and 
compare. I am not offended by theitic language, but I suppose if you tried 
to pin me down, a lot of "litmus test" Christians would find me heterodox in 
my interests. But I deny I am a heretic. I deny I am an infidel. Maybe I am 
a pagan, but that is only because I was conceived in sin and shapen in 
iniquity. But that part of my nature is not the end of the story. A 
theologian would say it better than I (I tend to become disjointed), and who 
is a better theologian than Paul, formerly known a Saul of Tarsus in 
Cilicia. (Now the Turks have it.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A second announcement I have is that I have an ongoing interest in cult-like 
activities of churches and religious groups.  I am NOT talking about 
theology, but practices. (However, often abusive practices go hand-in-hand 
with weird or shocking theology). As good citizens, (and perhaps even 
Christ-like believers) we have something of an obligation NOT to be shocked 
by "shocking" beliefs.

Jesus said to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves.

The Christian inquisition in Europe, in Spain and southern France was a 
horrible atrocity and un-Christ-like to the max. What was so horrible about 
it? By and large ignoring actions, they measured everyone according to a 
theological yardstick, and if your BELIEFS didn't measure up, they killed 
your body and "damned your soul." (Who can damn, but God only?) So thousands 
of decent, honest, basically law-abiding Europeans suffered torture and 
death at the hands of peole presuming to speak for God, and to know His Will.

So why do I want to expose cults, and spiritual abuse?  Not to measure for 
theological correctness, not to scrutinize other's beliefs because I am 
insecure about my own. But "Ye shall know them by their fruit."  Spiritual 
abuse, oppressive practices, abuse of trust, emotional tyranny, those go 
beyond mere beliefs, (they are Actions) and SOME of them even break the law.

I am not even interested primarily in combatting aggressive proselytizing. 
(Though I personally find that distasteful.)

I do not have an academic background in either psychological or theological 
disciplines, but I have lived it. I have life experiences, both as a victim 
of cult-like practices, and also as a perpetrator (being a parent).  It is 
only God's grace and mercy that I and my wife were not prosecuted.

This is may not the place to ask for it, and I ask the forgiveness of the 
skeptics or free-thinkers (or any atheists on board) but I would like to ask 
for the prayrers and best wishes of any who feel a sympathy for my project. 

It is a risky and very delicate one, in that it is an incredible challenge 
to excise or "cut out" the disease without killing the patient. Jesus used a 
metaphor bout separating wheat from chaff.

Relgion, in practice, does an awesome amount of good in the world.  But it 
is also responsible for a rather hefty amount of evil, also. I mentioned the 
Christian Inquisition under the politically correct (Theological) 
Dominicans. They were the scribes and Pharisees of their day. The orthodox. 
The Rigid Religious Right.

upper Sacramento Valley

"When men are pure, laws are useless;
   when men are corrupt, laws are broken." 
                          - Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881) 

Visit our web page - A Tribute to a beautiful child -
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/1327/index.html


My other page is - On the witness stand: my unique theistic outlook -
http://www.webspawner.com/users/debbieliz/

Email = rshepherd@...