Rocky

The bottom line is this: for Mike this is a social exercise of some sort. He almost certainly feels (especially after making a donation for the upkeep of the site) like he belongs here. Those who take his bait and get hooked, take his bait and get hooked. He is exceptionally skilled at pushing YOUR buttons. Ultimately, it's always going to be up to you to what extent you continue to engage with him. Your comment with the questions is certainly thoughtful. I remain convinced Mike will continue to yank your chain as long as you let him. Which is probably going to be a long time. Further, I remain convinced the only way to incentivize Mike taking a LOOONNNNGGG vacation is to ignore him. Selah

IMO, this is nothing more and nothing less than another expression of Mike's undisciplined imagination.

He may or may not be able to continue doing so on GSC. I don't have inside information on this subject, but I got the impression from Raf's interaction w/Bolsh that one of our resident trolls, at minimum, is on a very short leash...

I should clarify what I said above is MY inference on what Bolshie implied. I reported the situation to mods who will decide what to do about it.

But is GSC enough? Yes, GSC provides answers. Intellectual nourishment. However, since we humans are social creatures, and since belonging is really the need twi satisfied for each of us, can (or does, at least in some cases?) GSC provide some direction on or actual fulfillment of former followers' social/belonging need? I am already persuaded personally how GSC provides some answers to legitimate questions regarding twi positions contrary to biblical teaching and understanding.

Please expound on the difference between being ignorant (aware) of evil or (D'evil) and displacing your attention on and love for God and your neighbor with obsession w/D'evil. Then, please clarify how this (YOUR words from Wednesday afternoon) is awareness and not obsession: As for the trinity, the devil is laughing (rotflmaopimp) at mainstream Christianity just like Hogan's Heroes laugh at Klink and Schultz. Christ led captivity (the devil) captive, right? God's people are supposed to have Acts 19:20 impact (so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed), not Jude 3 impact (...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints). But the devil deceives the whole world. He's laughing at you too.

In some ways, yes. In other ways no. Mike's just along for the ride. I totally agree w/you STL on how if he is consistently ignored, he will disappear from GSC. It seems intuitive he survives on the BS he is fed in reply to HIS BS. Bolshevik, however, in private messages to me over the last few days, has seemingly revealed his intent to destroy (or at least hinder the purpose and intent of) GSC as payback for him being victimized by it/us. He is not a victim. Nobody's a victim of GSC or Waydale, except perhaps for the intended consequences of exposure of Wierwille's, Loy's and twi's words and conduct contrary to biblical teachings.

Then do your research and come back to us about it WHEN YOU HAVE FULLY explored it and validated said research with theologians and scientists. To start yammering away about it before such time is the essence of going off half-cocked.

I don't know.

Clearly, WE don't understand why those commandments would make sense. My sense is it boils down to cultural necessity and/or irrational discriminatory views. Such is a big part of the reason I look at the bible as a collection of stories as opposed to something we could possibly benefit from taking a fundamentalist approach and parsing words in the original languages. In that regard, Wierwille may have reasonably recognized the necessity of understanding "orientalisms." But he didn't have enough data/insight/available information knowledge to make enough sense of any of it. In that regard, you have a valid perspective in that none of what you included makes any sense to us. Therefore, contemporary humans just set it aside rather than demanding it make sense before adopting it as a guide.

Empty head...

IOW, I hear and see you in your writings even when you don't spell it out in as much detail.

IOW, Mike's convoluting (and rationalizing) plenty of stuff because he isn't prepared to cope with realization he's full of $ hit. I have to wonder if he might benefit greatly from therapy like that described in Galit Atlas' book. Nevertheless, Oldiesman, I agree with your analysis of how Mike has put it back on God.

I appreciate your bullet points and agree that each is a part of Mike's emotional inheritance from his "father in da vurd."... that is, I don't necessarily need to read your explanations of the bullet points to understand.

OTOH, From Emotional Inheritance by Galit Atlas PhD, first two paragraphs of the last chapter (page 263): GSC can be, and is for some, a part of journeys to process some of our emotional inheritance. Then there's Mike, stuck in a purgatory of his own making.

I don't necessarily agree. Perhaps certain individual readers/posters might be. But not the community as a whole, IMO.

We DO have relevant scriptures which run counter to Mike's half-baked notions. i.e. the two greatest commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Why would anyone be tempted to jump on the hamster wheel with Mike? Does his vain babblings empower or enhance any reader's ability or desire to love God or one's neighbor? Just sayin'

Mike has been our resident TROLL for a full two-decades. He's addicted to GSC, perhaps because people actually still do get on the hamster wheel with him over and over. Charity, I wish you the best. And I appreciate your music selection.

Oh come on Mike. There's NFW YOU will be involved in compiling an accurate history anytime in the future. You demonstrate poor communication and self-management skills. You demonstrate impulsivity that consistently (or not) undermines your efforts.

Btw, doesn't Mike's take on "scarcity of miracles" sound a lot (or at least somewhat) like when (gullible?) people talk about UFOs, or perhaps one of hundreds (or more) conspiracy theories? As in, WhereTF is he coming up with these things? I refer readers to my comment about going off half cocked.

According to whom, or what?

To me, it sounds like Mike has nothing, either experience or data or scriptures, on which to base any claim of "scarcity of miracles."

Makes one wonder these days whether or to what extent ChatGPT will take over the world... or at least internet forums. I spoke with my 12 and 10 year old grandkids this evening and they know about AI and ChatGPT... maybe more than I do.

Why would you care what "the devil is" doing at all?

To me, it is/was no problem for you to have published the quoted definition. I found no fault in what you posted. I simply got more specific. I hope you do not find that to be a problem.