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In Reply to: Some verses from Reader posted by Reader (reposted) on September 29, 2002 at 12:13:54:
"We should" is a big red flag to me. I have probably used it myself at times. Hooray for different opinions, but we are individuals now, some of us, and not part of a group that tells us how to interpret, how to think, or even what religion, if any, we should follow. I do believe in following a gut feeling and that there are a small minority of people that do not have a conscience. I believe Berg was one. I am glad at this board there is freedom of religion or freedom not to have one. I think that gut feeling is a good measure to be aware of so that if I am involved in a religion or a community and something feels wrong about it I can listen and then alter my course. I say, if you want to be pentecostal, go for it. If you want to be pagan, go for it, if you want to be agnostic or atheist, go for it. What happened to the group "The Children of God"? It's leader core was rotten from the get go in my opinion. There is history to read about Berg which anyone can read and form their own opinions about. Those truly out of the group now are either romancing something similar(like a battered woman might find a man with a battering personality attractive after getting out of a bad situation, unaware of what the relationship will become--I've done this since leaving...),or finding a place where they feel comfortable in their chosen religion or philosophy, or are lost in an abyss of drugs and alcohol (and I hope they get help, because they deserve it), or joining a community which is healthier. Or they just don't trust enough yet to be vulnerable for anything. (I am THERE in some ways now, but feel like I am on the way to opening up more.) The bottom line is that life is a process and I am free to make choices that can help me or harm me or just be a choice. What is poison to one may be helpful to another. But that gut feeling is important, I believe.
