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In Reply to: Re: Bobby Kelly posted by Perry on January 24, 2008 at 18:27:38:
Age is not the determining factor. I've known mature teens and aloof adults. Manipulation is only one part of the equation, and your description of soft ground implicitly acknowledges the reaction of the receiver. You may remember the parable of the sower, the seed and the fertile ground, and Jesus' own explanation. There are all types of grounds and all types of seeds. There are also all types of sowers. Berg was the evil magician and his seed is worse than tare but not all hearts are equally ready to follow his evil teachings. As we grow in maturity, as many of us have done, we may or may not realize our errors. It depends on many things, from mental illness to criminal disposition.
To suggest that Bible teachings and, more generally, religion are at the root of society's problems is ludicrous. It is in fact the libertine *respect* for all behaviors that is as bad as the oppressive fundamental conservative thoughts and legislation of righteousness.
They are not opposite to each other but one and the same because both prevent and mock real individual freedom. The problem is the generalized lack of moral compass, that comes from sources that draw from the wisdom of ages such as religion. The Family International, as evil as it is, is only one expression of fundamental teachings. Not limited to religion, these teachings bombard society praying on youth and their idealism and lack of experience.
As members of society we should support society, but which one? As individuals and friends of our surrounding clan and family, we support them. Taking away their moral compass as some secular activists try to do is like picking up the seed, any religious seed, from the ground ensuring that nothing will grow. It is almost as bad a giving them a bad compass, or seed, which is what Berg, Maria and Peter do.
Many religious people are doing good things and sowing good seeds.
