oldiesman

The TWI definition of it doesn't make sense to me anymore. What does make sense to me is that the unforgivable sin is self-inflicted, i.e., you come to a point that you never seek repentence, never ask God for forgiveness for your sins, so hardhearted that it's a self-imposed destiny.

The scripture itself above refutes Branham's belief. What I remember: the original sin as taught by VPW was masterbation (CFS class). Sometime later, Craig said that Eve had a lesbian relationship with the serpent who appeared to her as a beautiful woman, but I don't recall if he ever said anything about that producing fruit? I don't think so; I think that also was in the context of the original sin. The seed of the serpent teaching of VP (the unforgivable sin) was a person confessing satan as their god, thereby getting born again of the devil's seed, thereby making it impossible after that to get saved. That alone does contradict other scriptures and promises of God of what happens when people repent and ask God for forgiveness.

That was excellent George -- Thank you, and nice job! Did I ever tell you that a long time ago, I went to the HS of Performing Arts in Manhattan and played the string bass? That was fun-- ahhh those memories.

Hard to remember. Are you talking about the guy who was carried to the teaching center in his pajamas? He had a habit of sleeping through teachings so they finally decided to wake him up and carry him to the front of class... he took it like a sport and later became a Rev. I do remember the hitchhiking trip from Emporia to HQ and back, and how I fought with my partner all the way there, took us twice as long to get there, then when time came to go back to the college, asking Craig if I could go back alone he said yes, and it took me half the time doing it alone.

I apologize for another diversion but I just remembered something else: that was the night that Sunny Sanders left as well. I believe she was asst. corps director or something like that. She was a nice person and I didn't spend any time with her on campus, even to talk. Guess she was tired of all the BS and I suspect she has many stories to tell.

He was the corps director... but I suspect he called VP first.

Nope you made a good case for it to be called into question. Thx.

When I took their RCIA course a couple of years ago, they told me right off the bat that the RC church doesn't always go by scripture. That's not to say they do not revere it, they do. Their missals are full of scriptures. But they account for other phenomena as well. So I took that to mean that there are truths in this universe that are not written in scripture and I have to say that now I do believe that is the case.

I don't think RC baptism is any different from any other Christian groups' water baptism and I hear that RC church recognizes water baptism from other Christian groups. All I ever thought water baptism was was to cleanse the soul (clean slate) from original sin.

Apparently there was much spiritual chaos, at least a little too much for Craig to handle, so he gathered all everyone on campus (even the college kids) to meet up in the Ermal Owens Sunshine Room and he dismissed everyone in the 6th corps. This was Sunday, March 7, 1976. Then he said that anybody who wanted to re-commit themselves to the corps program can do so. I think he may have passed around a clipboard but I don't remember now. But I do remember that I wanted to recommit myself but earlier in the day, Craig personally dismissed me in his office, so his offer to the whole corps didn't apply to me. Then I found out later that a sizable number of people didn't recommit themselves... so that was how that all happened.

The very fact that it was sound doctrine for centuries leads me to think that we in this century can be wrong and not centuries before. Traditional Catholics pride themselves on tradition and age-old concepts so why would this concept be any different. George Carlin said there is no God. If he said there is no heaven, hell, limbo, etc. should we believe him. He is very funny and a gifted entertainer; but is it wise for a believer to take serious spiritual advice from an unbeliever?

Totally agree with all of this ! Thank you.

Yes I think it was. Maybe that's why so many were removed that first year, myself included. Too afraid to leave? I was. Too afraid to accept this wasn't really for you, but afraid that something bad would happen if you left on your own. I was. No matter... Craig made the decision for many he simply let many of us go. (for various reasons). Now after that I stayed a few years more but nowhere near the level of 'corps commitment' or 'loyalty to the corporation' as some may say.

Limbo. According to Roman Catholicism it's the place where unbaptized infants go, and some say the just who lived before Christ. I heard that it actually is a level of Hell, but with no punishment. No punishment but missing out on the Beatific Vision. It was that way for centuries until Ratzinger discontinued it in the 90s. Many traditional Catholics don't consider him a valid pope, but that's another story. Now is limbo as being a level of hell, just another way of saying "the grave", "soul sleep" until the great general judgment? I believe we will find out!

Very nice, thank you for sharing it!