[Vision2020] [Bulk] A Caution
Paul Rumelhart
godshatter at yahoo.com
Wed Oct 10 19:39:12 PDT 2007
I can agree that money and consumerism has replaced religion to some
degree, but I would also add the manipulation of our media to the list.
By this, I don't mean just the propaganda put out by the government, but
also the massive marketing campaigns of the huge corporations who are
desperately trying to mold us into a society that will buy their crap at
the drop of a hat. I think part of the religious "gig" early on was to
control the communications. Before the printing press, only the clergy
could actually read or have the access to read the holy books so people
were dependent upon them for their information about the disposition of
their souls. Now anyone can read their holy book of choice online in
most cases. So now the media can sway us just by focusing on one piece
of trivia and ignoring the issues that matter. Thankfully, the Internet
is here - a perfect place for anarchy and the perfect means of finding
your own answers (if we can stop the people that want to control that too).
Paul - your friendly neighborhood subversive and underpinner of
ideological foundations
Ted Moffett wrote:
>
> Paul et. al.
>
> While I don't mean to express a totally cynical view of organized
> religion, it has been one of the most effective ideological means of
> control ever devised. Promises of eternal bliss and threats of
> eternal damnation, if truly believed, are perhaps the biggest
> ideological carrots and sticks anyone has conceived. Religion is for
> the most part about enforcing social conformism to an ideology, to
> serve various social, political and economic goals, critical to
> society, though I don't want to discount the personal needs religion
> satisfies in a positive manner: solace in the face of death or loss,
> loving structured community, ethical coherence, etc.
>
> But a solitary individual (Paul?) who attempts a spiritual quest to
> discover "religion" on their own, and is willing to follow what they
> find, is thus engaging in one of the most subversive activities,
> posing a threat to the fundamental purpose of organized religion, to
> the very ideological foundations of society.
>
> However, we now tolerate the agnostics and atheists and "alternative
> religions" among us more than in the past, in part because the worship
> of money and consumerism has to some extent replaced God and religion
> as a new ideology. As long as the agnostic or atheist show the proper
> worship for money and consumption, they are buying (no pun intended)
> into one of the dominant ideological social status and personal
> identity reinforcing trends of our time, a trend that was not as
> evident before the rise of modern industrial consumer capitalism, so
> their lack of conformism to dominant traditional religions is thus
> less of a threat to the social/political system.
>
> Is it true that money and consumerism has to some extent replaced
> religion as a focal point for organizing society? Many think so...
>
> Ted Moffett
>
>
> On 10/9/07, *Paul Rumelhart* <godshatter at yahoo.com
> <mailto:godshatter at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>
> I would go one further and suggest that it's your personal
> relationship
> with whatever gods and or goddesses you believe in that matters. All
> the rest is window dressing.
>
> I can understand the need for fellowship. As far as I'm aware,
> I'm the
> only person who believes what I believe within a hundred miles of
> here.
> It's my considered opinion, however, that you'll be better off
> avoiding
> all large-scale religious institutions. Read your holy books of
> choice,
> study them alone or with friends, do your meditations, commune with
> nature, discuss the finer points of the Matrix over some beers with
> friends, or have your seances in your own parlor - whatever your
> manner
> of worship is. Cut out the middle-man.
>
> Of course, that's just my opinion.
>
> Paul
>
> Giselle McCourt wrote:
> >
> > *Dear Friends in Christ and Neighbors of Goodwill,*
> >
> >
> >
> > This short message is addressed to those of you from other area
> > churches who attended the Launch Service of Real Life Ministries
> last
> > Sunday and to those that might like to attend further services in
> > order to see if Real Ministries could become the church of your
> choice.
> >
> > There are certain pastors in this area who look upon their
> > congregations as their personal property. They covetously regard
> > members of their congregations as chattel to be used as they decree
> > rather than as souls to be lovingly guided into the arms of Our Lord
> > Jesus Christ, and into the way of righteousness, goodwill, and
> eternal
> > salvation.
> >
> > These unholy pastors often resort to dire and to unchristian
> measures
> > to either persuade or to force members to remain shackled in the
> > ungodly, grasping jaws of their spurious ministries. Hence, I
> repeat
> > the following from my first message (also appended). *(If you know
> > any trapped and struggling Christians caught in such circumstances,
> > please, please help them by forwarding this message.*
> >
> >
> > The choice you make of the Christian church to attend is a matter
> > between you and God, only. You do not need to ask or receive
> anyone's
> > permission to change Christian churches, nor do you owe anyone
> notice
> > or an explanation if you do. It is a decision between you and God
> > alone. If your pastor or members of your church attempt to
> coerce or
> > to wheedle you in any way to remain in the grasp of their church –
> > persistent pressure, guilt, promises, visits, telephone calls,
> > threats, spying, extortive tactics, feigned sweetness, feigned
> concern
> > for your soul, etc, – you are not in a church which preaches the
> True
> > Teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ and who sincerely loves The Lord
> > Jesus Christ. If any of the above unchristian tactics has been
> > applied or is applied to you please let the good folks at Real Life
> > Ministries know: askreallife at reallifeministries.com
> <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com>
> > <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com
> <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com>?subject=Ask%20Real%20Life>
> >
> >
> > *Reminder:* *Great news!* The fastest growing church in America,
> > *Real Life Ministries*, is now in Latah County.
> >
> > http://www.reallifeministries.com/index.php
> >
> > http://moscowreallife.com/home.html
> >
> > Come, join, and start to be united with the community and God
> through
> > Our Lord Jesus Christ.
> >
> >
> > *Real Life Services*
> >
> > *Sunday, October, 7th 9:00 and 11:00 AM, 3148 Tomer Rd.*
> >
> > Directions:
> >
> > From Moscow: Travel east on Highway 8. Turn right onto Carmichael
> > Road. Turn left onto Tomer Road. Continue until you reach Palouse
> > Hills Christian School.
> >
> > From Troy: Travel west on Highway 8. Turn left onto Lenville Road.
> > Turn right onto Tomer Road . Continue until you reach Palouse
> Hills
> > Christian School.
> >
> >
> > Your neighbor and friend in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
> >
> > Giselle McCourt
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > This message has neither been officially approved nor sent by the
> > Boards of Directors of Real Life Ministries, Inc., Real Life
> > Ministries, Ltd., Real Life Ministries, Cie. nor any member thereof.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ************************************************************
> > Previous Message
> >
> > *Dear Neighbors and Friends in Our Lord Jesus Christ,*
> >
> > *Please pass this message on to anyone it might benefit.*
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > */Regardless of the church you now attend/*, for the sake of
> your own
> > eternal salvation in Our Lord Jesus Christ, please take some time to
> > consider very carefully in your heart of hearts the following
> questions.
> >
> > Does your pastor unite the community or does your pastor divide it?
> >
> > Does your pastor respect everyone equally or does your pastor have
> > favorites amongst your congregation?
> >
> > Does your pastor disdain or ignore the worth of any or many of God's
> > children?
> >
> > Does your pastor display way too much self-love?
> >
> > Is your pastor much too fond of rich foods, fine wines, and other
> > voluptuary pleasures?
> >
> > Is your pastor ever vindictive, spiteful, punitive, or dishonest
> > especially towards those with whom your pastor disagrees or
> those who
> > have chosen in God's name to leave the clutches of his ministry?
> >
> > Would you trust your pastor with your purse? With your real estate
> > agent? With your wife?
> >
> > Does your pastor hold wacko ideas like the antebellum slaves were a
> > happy lot and lived in wonderful harmony with their masters?
> >
> > At your pastor's rigid insistence is your church music full of
> dark,
> > chilling, mournful words and music rather than raising a "Joyful
> noise
> > unto the Lord" as commanded by the bible? Psalms 100
> >
> > Has your pastor engineered the purchase land for a new church
> that is
> > not only too small for a church and cemetery, but even too small
> for a
> > moderately sized church? Did your pastor pay about twice the market
> > value for the land? Is that land now known as "------'s Folly?"
> >
> > Does your pastor demand, coerce, or wheedle so much tithe that it
> > hurts your ability to give what they need and they deserve to your
> > family and community? Have you been asked to sacrifice heavily
> and to
> > tithe in God's name so that your pastor can pursue his ambitious,
> > mostly personal goals?
> >
> > Does your pastor's money management problems and love of his pet
> > projects that serve him more than God often lead to calls for
> further
> > tithing and sacrifices? Does your pastor try to con and to
> manipulate
> > you by insinuating that the amount of your tithe is directly
> > proportional to your love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, champion of the
> > poor? Matthew 19:16 - 30, Matthew 25:31 - 46
> >
> > Does your pastor pack the various parts of his ministry's
> payroll with
> > overpaid relatives and kowtowing friends and their relatives, thus
> > putting even more stress on church finances and leading to further
> > demands for tithes?
> >
> > Does your pastor look at new members more as a source of tithes and
> > straw and mud with which to build his empire, rather than as
> souls to
> > guide into the loving arms of Our Lord Jesus Christ?
> >
> > Does your church have a hidden missing funds problem? If so, is it
> > possible that some of those funds have disappeared into off-shore
> > accounts of which your pastor is the sole signatory?
> >
> > Does your pastor flout the civil law? Romans 13:1 – 7
> >
> > Does your pastor ever direct members of your church to perform
> illegal
> > or sinful activities or to ignore illegal or sinful activities
> done by
> > church members?
> >
> > Does your pastor ever practice flagrant dishonesty in the name
> of The
> > Lord or in claiming to do the work of The Lord? Is this something
> > Jesus would do?
> >
> > Are your pastor's theological views so far out that were recently
> > rejected by over 96% of a very large body of his fellow Reformed
> > Disciples that carefully examined them?
> >
> > When vehemently defending his version of The Word of God as the
> only
> > "correct one," does your pastor sometimes appear to be mentally
> > disturbed?
> >
> > Is your pastor more interested in enriching himself and his family
> > then your pastor is in exhibiting himself as shining, living
> example
> > of the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, especially doing this by
> > showing agape towards all, showing humility, showing disdain for
> > wealth and its trappings, and showing great concern and charity for
> > all the poor and unfortunate? Matthew 19:16 - 30
> >
> > Does your pastor have a double standard when it comes to adultery?
> > When it comes to rape and adultery in church schools?
> >
> > Has your pastor encouraged divorces when it would benefit him in a
> > very personal way, or encouraged divorces with unchristian
> > vindictiveness to inflict great pain and sorrow upon certain critics
> > of his actions and claimed beliefs?
> >
> > Does your pastor ever appear to place himself on an equal
> footing or
> > above God?
> >
> > Does your pastor place himself as a barrier between you and
> God? Does
> > your pastor blasphemously style himself/herself as a necessary
> conduit
> > between you and God?
> >
> > Does your pastor blame others for his shortcomings?
> >
> > After having made a serious mistake in judgment does your pastor own
> > up to it, or does your pastor sometimes claim he/she has a
> secret plan
> > and the congregation must "trust" him/her that eventually all
> will be
> > right?
> >
> > Does your pastor keep important church information secret from not
> > only the congregation, but from some of the elders and deacons too?
> >
> > Does your pastor unchristianly operate your church like a secret
> > society in the community rather than like the open arms of Our Lord
> > Jesus Christ?
> >
> > Has your pastor imported child molesters into the community? If
> so,
> > is it possible that your pastor knew something of their particular
> > sinful proclivities beforehand, but imported them anyway?
> >
> > Has your pastor written a letter supporting leniency for a
> convicted
> > child molester, one who did dreadful, despicable things to many
> > different children, who attended one of the ministry's schools, and
> > one who defiled the children of the church family with whom he
> > boarded? If so, was that letter hypocritically contrary to your
> > pastor's past preaching, and most important, blasphemously
> contrary to
> > the requirements of The Word of God?
> >
> > Does your business or relationships with your neighbors suffer
> because
> > your pastor has – with his outré views, unchristian actions, and
> > harsh, in your face, unchristian polemics – caused many of the
> > community to shun your business or avoid yourself and your family?
> >
> > Does your pastor use divisive tactics and polemics to persuade you
> > from listening to the words of your neighbors and dividing you
> from them?
> >
> > Does the majority of your community regard your pastor as a crook,
> > clown, or perhaps even an anti-Christ?
> >
> > Does your pastor ever bring to mind the following passage from
> Matthew
> > 7:15 - 20?
> >
> > 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing
> but
> > inwardly are ravenous wolves.
> >
> > 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from
> > thorns, or figs from thistles?
> >
> > 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the
> bad tree
> > bears bad fruit.
> >
> > 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear
> good fruit.
> >
> > 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
> > into the fire.
> >
> > 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
> >
> >
> > Does your pastor make up insulting, abusive names for those that
> > question his bizarre views and actions? Does your pastor
> belittle his
> > critics and assassinate their characters or take other vindictive,
> > punitive measures rather than act like Our Loving Lord Jesus would?
> > Matthew 5:38 - 48
> >
> > Does your pastor attempt to coerce and to wheedle your continuing
> > church membership rather than trust in your faith in God and
> God-given
> > conscience to guide you to make the right choice of church to
> attend?***
> >
> >
> >
> > *Does any answer to any of the above questions about your pastor
> > trouble you?* Does any answer trouble you especially considered in
> > the light of the Teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ and your
> God-given
> > conscience? If so, then perhaps it is time for the sake of your
> > immortal soul to consider moving to a true church of Our Lord Jesus
> > Christ in God, and away from a church that will only lead you away
> > from the path of righteousness, goodwill, and eternal salvation.
> >
> >
> >
> > *Great news!* The fastest growing church in America, *Real Life
> > Ministries*, is coming to Latah County.
> >
> > http://www.reallifeministries.com/index.php
> <http://www.reallifeministries.com/index.php>
> >
> > http://moscowreallife.com/home.html
> >
> >
> >
> > Come, join, and start to be united with the community and God
> through
> > Our Lord Jesus Christ.
> >
> >
> > *Real Life Launch Services*
> >
> > *Sunday, October, 7th 9:00 and 11:00 AM, 3148 Tomer Rd.*
> >
> >
> >
> > Directions:
> >
> > From Moscow: Travel east on Highway 8. Turn right onto
> Carmichael
> > Road. Turn left onto Tomer Road. Continue until you reach Palouse
> > Hills Christian School.
> >
> > From Troy: Travel west on Highway 8. Turn left onto Lenville
> Road.
> > Turn right onto Tomer Road . Continue until you reach Palouse
> Hills
> > Christian School.
> >
> >
> > I hope to see you there.
> >
> >
> >
> > Your neighbor and friend in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
> >
> > Giselle McCourt
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ***The choice you make of the Christian church to attend is a matter
> > between you and God, only. You do not need to ask or receive
> anyone's
> > permission to change Christian churches, nor do you owe anyone
> notice
> > or an explanation if you do. It is a decision between you and God
> > alone. If your pastor or members of your church attempt to
> coerce or
> > to wheedle you in any way to remain in the grasp of their church –
> > persistent pressure, guilt, promises, visits, telephone calls,
> > threats, spying, extortive tactics, feigned sweetness, feigned
> concern
> > for your soul, etc, – you are not in a church which preaches the
> True
> > Teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ and who sincerely loves The Lord
> > Jesus Christ. If any of the above unchristian tactics has been
> > applied or is applied to you please let the good folks at Real Life
> > Ministries know: askreallife at reallifeministries.com
> <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com>
> > <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com
> <mailto:askreallife at reallifeministries.com>?subject=Ask%20Real%20Life>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > This message has neither been officially approved nor sent by the
> > Boards of Directors of Real Life Ministries, Inc., Real Life
> > Ministries, Ltd., Real Life Ministries, Cie. nor any member thereof.
> >
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > =======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto: Vision2020 at moscow.com
> <mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > =======================================================
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com>
> =======================================================
>
>
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