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In Reply to: whether or not a person identifies themselves... posted by ray on July 05, 2002 at 07:11:53:
>as you say much has been done wrongly by those who 'name the name',
>but this is also true, and arguably in even greater degree by muslims,
>buddhists, atheists, animists, western and nonwestern, and those who
>have nothing to do w/ mo. seems to trace back to gen 3 imo.
Yes, arguably so. I have a different opinion, but that's just my opinion.
>once one is liberated from the stifling deceptions of mo & co., it seems to
>me the most fruitful effort is not trying to define truth in terms of its
>relationship to errors in mo, the west, failed missions etc. , ....
Actually, I never said it was anything to do with Berg. My generally unfavorable attitude towards most missionary work comes from reading history, being involved in a host of volunteer organizations and seeing firsthand how they work. I was already working as a volunteer and "saved" way before joining the Family, and I have been involved with other work since I left.
>...but rather by a sincere search for it wherever it may be found, even
>if sometimes it may paralell a position held by a false teacher,
>movement, etc....
No worries, I'm not one to be afraid of anything good that parallels Berg. Berg is too small and insignificant a bump in my path, to obstruct my proper spiritual journey. Maybe you think I'm hung up on Berg stuff and it's holding me up? Not so.
>it seems to me by focusing on what jesus said, in the context of the
>gospel, w/o getting overly wrapped up in the boo-boos and bad guys,
>(other than to take note of dangers, like those left on roadsides in africa
>to remind drivers...) that there is a better chance at getting at , or at
>least closer to, what he actually taught.
There is a lot of truth in this. But the exit process and healing process may require some taking note of what really went down, and sorting through an entire belief system. In the process there are a range of emotions and many stages we go through, from sorrow and anger to talking shit about Berg and calling it like it is when we wake up. I feel fortunate to have my faith intact. For many others, it is not the case.
>...it has struck me that at times it was easier for me to focus on the
>sins of others in their contradictions of the word, rather than to
>focus on those bits that contrdict ME!
Isn't that so true! But sometimes it isn't about casting stones at all. Somtimes it's about acknowleging and confirming that something did go horribly wrong, and it wasn't just our imagination. It's important to call a spade a spade and incest incest, etc.
>no doubt there is much one can appreciate and learn from those of
>other cultures and religious traditions. but if jesus really said, and DID,
>what it says he said and did, then God sending his son to die for us
>seems to put the importance of this news , and sharing it w/ others,
>in a totally different category than anything else.
That's what you and I think/believe. We just have to go about it the right way, (whatever that is).
>i have seen many bad examples, and been one at times, of how not to
>do it, yet categorizing all efforts w/ the worst seems a mistake to me.
>perhaps this was not your intent. but it did strike me somewhat in that vein.
Well, as I said I am not overly positive about "missionary work" in general. Maybe I prefer it if people made friends and lived in foreign countries and learned the language and took an interest to make more friends. This "missionary" word just doesn't go down so well with me. But that's just my neurosis. :-p
