ex10

Well, being the big mouth that I am, I just gotta say that "fellowshipping" with other Christians based on "doctrinal beliefs" is doomed, before it even gets started. Unfortunately, that seems to be the norm in "organized religion." I guess that's why I'd rather volunteer at the homeless shelter and the local soup kitchen. Or be involved in church functions that include visiting the sick, and helping older people who are "shut-ins." That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :B)

All I can say is, I just someone would slap me, when I get outta line. Love you guys.

I'm crusty chickensniffer. Oh my.

Yeah, Bliss. VP taught this record in Acts the way he did, so it would fit with his theology about suffering. Instead of getting to the (many) truths to be found in the record, VP taught that Paul "sinned" by going to Jerusalem because it wasn't God's will for him to go. Wrong again, VP.

Ricky If you go to the website, www.truthortradition.com (Dmiller posted the link on page 2) you will find many fabulous articles on the subject of the Chrisitan's Hope, which will answer your questions. In fact, even some of the chapters from John Schoenheit's book on the subject are available to read. Check out the website, and you won't be disappointed. ;)

48 for me.

Can Tommy please come too, dooj? We'll let him by the shiner bock, or the cote du rhone, or whatever. :D

Ok, I'll get J to check his calendar tomorrow. ;)

Hey dooj, Hubby has a continuing ed seminar he has to go to sometime in the latter part of June I think, up in your neck of the woods. Don't know the exact date yet. But, if you are gonna be around I might just have to come along, and we could meet up? T.

Amen, Danny. I agree wholeheartedly. You expressed it well. Nll, You ask some fantastic questions. Maybe a thread in the Doctrinal Dungeon could help answer some? There's alot of info "out there" about what you asked. I'm sure there are posters here who have looked into those questions. Maybe they could share some of their findings? Asking these kinds of questions, is ALWAYS GOOD, in my book.

Yeah, I really hate sin, as it can really cloud one's vision, and mess ya up big time. I so wish it didn't exist.......but alas, it does. It was a real rude awakening to me, when I left the cult, and had to face my own SIN, all by myself with no bible rationalizations going on. Geeeze, I hated it. Stll do, matter of fact.

Roy, You don't know how much you post to me means. Thank you so much.

You are so insightful, Oak. But here is the travesty of the whole situation, to me. Studying the bible, can never replace the relationship that we are to have with our Lord and Saviour. I know you are agnostic, and I don't have a problem with that. Honestly. What makes me sad, is that there were those of us who were led on a path of ..........like, I don't know....learning? acadamia? knowledge? devoid of real life, eveyday, experiencial living that distanced us from relationships with others, and actually had not too much to do with our real lives. It's sad, because I think the point of all study and research is to lead us to Jesus Christ. Who is the expert at relationships, and helping us get along in life, "being better." Somehow, it didn't happen in the cult. Just makes one wonder.........

Thank you, Roy. You are very thoughtful.

Have fun and celebrate! dearest Hope.

Goey, Check your pm.

Ha! My strange friend. Funny thing, I graduated from the Way Corps, and never knew what the word meant either, til I started reading REAL bible scholars after leaving the way. I had never heard of "Christology," or "Eschatology," either. Kind of odd, seeing as how the corps program was supposed to be the best Christian Leadership Training program available from a "biblical research ministry." Sheesh. Biblical research, yeah, right...... VPW claimed that the bible could be interpretted literally most of the time, except for figures of speech. I think that was in PFAL. But anyway, that's what he claimed. Yet, when it came to major topics in the bible of interest to any Christian, the story changed. As I mentioned before, SIN wasn't really sin, it was something else. FAITH wasn't really faith either. It was the "law of believing" and other such nonsensical things. And let's not even mention the subject of adultery. "Adultery" in the bible didn't LITERALLY mean Adultery, doncha know. It's ridiculous. But I was a naive kid who didn't know any better as most of us were. The biggest thing I got from PFAL, was that I can read and study the bible for myself and understand it. I don't need a priest or a phd, or anybody else to explain it to me. For that, I am grateful. And I did learn how to use lexicons, and concordances, and study materials. Yay. And I did memorize alot of verses. All the other stuff, well, whatevah.....

Shell, I hear you loud and clear. I get sick of the contentiousness too, and the lack of respect for other's experiences and points of view. So I just back off and disappear into my real life for awhile. :B) Sometimes I wonder if the insistance that people agree with our individual povs, isn't just a "way hangover." You know, no conflicting opinions allowed, ever, for any reason. :ph34r:

Yup, Evan. Thus the unbearable legalism...... Quite a twisted tangle of a mess, huh?

I'm pretty sure that wouldn't happen in this lifetime, d. Like I said, Whatevah.

Safari Are you saying that John did a public meeting with no shirt on? in short shorts? As far as the firm likes and dislikes, uh... Sheesh, nevermind. Whatevah.

Wow t-bone, you been reading my mind? or what? I've been thinking about the whole "sin" subject lately, too, in light of its non-existence in TWI theology. Just one minor point, I don't think Adam and his lovely mate rejected "the word of God," but they rejected God Himself. (Ok, I see you made that point, nevermind.) Wonderful musings though.

My theme song for life is: Bono's song on The Joshua Tree I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For I have climbed the highest mountains I have run through the fields Only to be with you Only to be with you I have run I have crawled I have scaled these city walls Only to be with you But I still Haven't found What I'm looking for I have kissed honey lips Felt the healing in her (his) fingertips It burned like fire This burning desire I have spoke with the tongues of angels I have held the hand of the devil It was warm in the night I was cold as a stone But I still haven't found What I am looking for But I still haven't found What I am looking for I believe in the Kingdom Come Then all the colours will bleed into one But yes I'm still running You broke the bonds You loosed the chains You carried the cross And my shame And my shame You know I believe it But I still haven't found What I am looking for But I still haven't found What I am looking for This song came out right when I was leaving the way. Descirbed my life perfectly.......and still does.

So ok, I didn't wanna get this deep...but......... VP's "keys to interpretation" actually represent a very literal interpretation of the bible. You know......"the word of God is the will God, says what it means, means what it says, etc." So he was very adamant about that. But...........BIG BUT HERE........when it came to certain subjects, for example SIN, FAITH, and many other topics I could list if I think about it long enuff, the hermeneutics differed. But the inconsistency, was blatant, and confusing to most of us novice bible studiers. Hence, all the unaswered questions about life, the bible, the pursuit of God. And the contradictions in theology. My belief is that, VP's own conflicted beliefs and lifestyle, account for the contradictions. Go figure.

Part of the problem, was the "basic keys to research" were not presented in their hermeneutical setting. I don't think it was so much a problem of "error" as one of hermeneutics.