Rocky

How is it YOUR place to determine what she should have done? It may have been nicer from your perspective for her to have done differently, but expecting someone else to do as you prefer? It seems like an emotional boundary problem. That's the BIG problem with twi. They far too often judged what other SHOULD have done, or should do. And when the person doesn't, do they hold a grudge? Sometimes. Again, the woman didn't invade your emotional boundaries by expressing her love for you the way she did. Did she? I hope you can let it go very quickly.

Even without God, humans still need community... (and belonging).

Well, I see the implication of that response to you completely differently. Instead of what it implies about YOU, I'm recognizing what it implies about her. Namely, that SHE VIEWS you with love and that's what she does to express that love for you. I still believe in prayer. But I don't view it as exclusive to Christians. I'm thankful that regardless of her beliefs, she expresses love for you and your grandson. What happens after that isn't up to either you or her.

Wow! Yeah, I suppose that's true. I don't prioritize obedience to any human's version of what God wants me to do or believe. I hope, Charity that you get comfort from what you're figuring out.

What is a fish storm? https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/breaking-down-the-phrase-a-fish-storm

A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. -- Shakespeare, Wm

Not necessarily directly. IMO, the problem is millennia-old orthodoxy that's extremely difficult for people to get beyond. Yes, many churches are problematic today. But not all of them. I think of definitions of cult, cults, and cultism as high-demand groups and organizations. Ones that are not high-demand groups still deal with problematic doctrine and orthodoxy, but can and in many cases do provide positive benefit to society. I am not interested in naming names of groups which aren't bad.

I didn't bring that up, though perhaps you thought of it as a result of reading my comment. I too hope my family find growing peace and inner strength. I believe we are millennia beyond blaming religious institutions for being part of the problem. The problem(s) is/are what gets built into the brains/minds of hundreds of millions of people, IMO. Solving it/them is (also IMO) massively complicated. Can society/civilization be changed? Gosh, wouldn't that be nice. Curiosity, aka spiritual hunger, has been a major factor in promulgation of cults. Actually, as I see it now, it's far bigger than I can imagine.

However, the problem-filled lives of teenagers trying to figure out how to become integrated into society IS a necessary burden for both sides to solve somehow. ln today's version of Western Civilization, doesn't religion (Christianity) present (obviously imperfect) ways to cope with those problems? I remember being thankful for my nieces and nephews having a structure to guide them along that path. Now it's a set of problems my daughter and grandchildren are navigating... IMO very complicated and not so easy. Just my limited point of view.

Is anyone likely to sue them for using it? Btw, it sounded more like Good Seed to me. I'm an old guy, I could be wrong.

Thanks Nathan for posting that YT vid. I feel sorry for the people who committed a year (or however much time) to this latest iteration of the way ambassador outreach program. Old wine skins, as the bible says.

It's not so much cringe worthy as an attempt to invoke nostalgia by way of using VERY OLD way music.

I'm not getting the connection to ROA 2025. Please at least give a clue or two.

Fair question. It goes to the heart (or core) of what we understand, and unquestioningly accept as the essence of Christianity. It may have been more apparent centuries ago that humankind (and humans individually) needed saving from the fallen nature of the "old man." There are so many more people on Earth now as a result of advances in agriculture and science, that it may not seem as universally true these days. Then again, maybe people will post cogent arguments to answer your question here soon.

This is essentially why Proverbs 2:1-5 is my favorite scripture passage. Btw, it just now occurred to me that those who stopped being active on GSC over the last year or two, when they complained about people disagreeing with them about the bible, may really boil down to, for them, a lack of that hunger for spiritual insight... I can't say I know that I know that I know such a thing. Because I can't tell what's really going on in their heart of hearts. But it seems plausible.

I hope you don't get too disappointed if she never responds to your inquiry. I figure many (most?) people never consider the question at all. I only do because I embrace (rather than shy away from) uncomfortable questions, with curiosity.

I have no problem with you using the word "fact" in your post/comment. Further, I now believe "inspired by God" has a much broader meaning than what Victor Wierwille taught us. I believe something (one says or writes) CAN be "inspired" by God even though it's not necessarily directly given by God (whomever (or whatever form) she or he may actually be) verbatim. But that's an entirely different discussion. Nevertheless, I take no issue with your post/comment and appreciate the thought you put into it.

I'm not going to fact check the number in your claim, but I acknowledge your overall point. I listened to a discussion between Steven Pinker (cognitive scientist) and an interviewer with the Free Press. The interview is NOT politics. Though the clip is about 44 minutes long, I got the main takeaway very early on in the interview. Essentially, for thousands of years, facts eluded most people. Therefore, people evolved to learn from and believe STORIES. Stories that made the most sense to the people hearing them at the time. For those thousands of years, one of the main objectives of humans (who lived and traveled in TRIBES) revolved around survival. Facts did not always provide protection for the tribes. Today we have databases and research that rapidly contribute to the amount of truthful and factual knowledge. However, people STILL are inclined to learn from and believe their favored stories that contribute to their tribe's wellbeing. Religion is one of those areas of knowledge that is evolving rapidly. Victor Wierwille, even if he had been an honest seeker of the truth of God's Word, did not seem to contribute to any database or factual knowledge that humanity in general has been able to benefit from. If you'd like to check it out, here it is.

Well... other than the "I'm right and they're wrong" aspect of your post I figure there could be some reasonable insight to looking at Jesus as fulfillment of OT law. I totally reject the paradigm of black/white, wrong/right interpretations of scripture. WE (humans/humanity) IMO are far too limited to be able to clearly define (most) interpretations of scripture as such. Stay curious and be willing to consider new ways to look at them. Just sayin'.

This showed up in my YouTube feed this morning.

Of course it makes sense. EVERY human is highly qualified to rationalize and therefore justify what they believe about anything, including what they consider God. Same goes for EVERY religion. There is no religion that can rightly claim their God (or god or gods) is/are the only true God and that they can prove it. It's all about taking it on faith. IOW, every religion has an origin story and a narrative about what they believe is THE truth.

Even IF it's "belief that since God can do no wrong, it is always wrong of the person if they leave the faith..." that's just how a person's very human rationalization for their criticism is simply a manifestation of the human tendency to criticize something they disagree with.

I certainly don't speak for anyone who criticizes anyone like you. But I do suspect the culprit may be human nature which finds ways and reasons to justify criticizing anyone with whom they disagree. I'd recommend, to the extent possible, you just let go of your irritation (or whatever you experience) when recognizing such criticism of you and your path. We ALL get criticized. Sometimes justly, other times not.

Yeah, I get it. However, you became the you that you are because of the decision that you made. IOW, I look at the fact that I didn't graduate from college until I was 31 differently, though my detours were both US military service and TWI. I lived some life and gained some insight I wouldn't have been able to if not for the experiences, good and bad, I had as a young adult. Ultimately, I expect to reach my 70th birthday this year. I'm a survivor. My first introduction to twi was in October 1974.

I hope you eventually did go to college.