From: lej@pdn.paradyne.com (Leo James)
Subject: Re: New Age/Christian Survey -Help!
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 18:16:32 GMT


In article <1992Apr5.032439.10051@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> you write:
>I am about to give a guest lecture to a sociology class at the
>University of Virginia.  The Topic:  "Christianity and the New Age
>Look at Each Other."  When Writing about such subjects, I like to
>talk to the people who actually practice the faith.  So I would
>like to ask anyone who would care to answer...
>
>1.  What makes a person a Christian?

A personal relationship with  Jesus Christ which starts  when one's heart  and
mind turns to Jesus (i.e., away from the world in repentance), is committed to
(through baptism in Jesus' name),  is consumated  (by receiving the Holy Ghost
with the evidence of speaking in an unknown tounge),  and is nurtured  through
living a life that is continually being sanctified,  or cleansed, by God.  See
Acts 2:38, 10:44-48, and 19:1-6.
>
>2.  What makes a person a follower of the New Age?

Deception by Satan.  See Revelations 21:7, 8.
>
>3.  What do you think of evangelical-fundamentalist-charismatic--
>pentecostal Christians?

If a man or woman has done what the Bible says they must do to be saved (see 1)
then they are pleasing before God.  If not, then they are not.
>
>4.  What do you think of mainline Protestant Christianity (i.e.,
>Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc.)

Ditto.
>
>5.  What do you think of Catholics?

Again, ditto.
>
>6.  What do you think of channeling?  meditation?  pyramids?  Tarot
>cards?  astrology?  crystals?  UFO's?

If one accepts  the Bible as the truth,  thus giving one a solid foundation on
which to build one's world view, then one will see these practices as contemp-
table before God.  See Exodus 22:18, Dueteronomy 18:9-14,  and Galatians 5:19-
21.
>
>7.  Who or what is God?  Who is/was Jesus?  Who or what is the Holy
>Spirit?  Do you think the literal Resurrection of Jesus literally
>took place?  What do you think is the meaning of the resurrection?

God is the eternal,  omnipresent,  omniscient, omnipotent spirit which created
all things and, by which, all things consist.  Jesus is God manifesting (show-
ing) himself to us in a visible (fleshly) form. The Holy Spirt is God's Spirit
which comes to live inside of us. And, because Jesus is God, I take him at his
word that he did raise himself from the dead.  That which was dead coming back
to life again is resurrection.
>
>8.  Do you think Jesus will come again?  What do you think of the
>Bible?

Yes, I do.  And, I believe this because I believe the Bible to be the infalla-
ble word of God.  See Matthew 4:4 and Acts 1:9-11.
>
>9.  Why do you consider yourself a Christian?  What do you think is
>(are) the central tenets of your beliefs?  How did you come to hold
>these beliefs?  Are you a member of any formal religious group(s)? 
>Which ones?

I know that I am a Christian (a follower of Christ) because of my personal re-
lationship with him (see 1). I came to be a Christian by observing the reality
of Christ in the lives of my parents and then accepting  Christ as my personal
savior.  Yes.  My church (Christ Temple Church in Clearwater,  Florida) is af-
filliated with the P.A. of W. (The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.).
>
>10. What is your age?  sex?  Occupation?  [Optional, for
>statistical use only:  are you single-married-divorced-widowed-
>living with someone-under a vow of celibacy?  hetero-homo-bisexual? 
>What race do you describe yourself as?]

I am 32 year old, black man.  I am married and heterosexual.  My secular job is
as a Software Engineer.
>
>11. [More optional questions:  What happens to us when we die? 
>What makes an individual good or bad?  Do you think that there is
>an absolute standard of right and wrong?  What do you think are the
>central problems of American and World society?  How does your
>faith address these problems, if at all?  Do you think that your
>faith is the only way to salvation or self-fulfillment?  Is it the
>best way?

When we die, our physical and spiritual bodies are seperated.  Reincarnation is
not scriptural and is, thus, false.  If we had a personal relationship with God
before we died, this relationship will continue.  If not, it is too late to be-
gin one after death.  Yes, there is an absolute right and wrong.  It is defined
by the word of God and interpreted to us by the Holy Ghost.  Sin,  man's rejec-
tion of a relationship with God,  is the central problem in the world today and
salvation, the re-establishment of that relationship (again, see 1) is the only
solution that there is.  No, this is not just the best way, it is the only way.
>
>------------------
>
>Thank you for your time.  I may wish to quote from this material in
>class and/or (maybe) in a later scholarly work; quotation will be
>anonymous if requested.  As I mentioned above, sensitive material
>is for statistical use only.  
>              
>               John Bozeman (jmb5b@virginia.edu)
>                            (jmb5b@virginia.edu.bitnet) 
--
+---------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
|Leopold E. James     | "A heart, a soul, AND | AT&T Paradyne         |
|ph: (813) 530-8425   |  a mind are terrible  | P.O. Box 2826, LG-132,|
|lej@pdn.paradyne.com |  things to waste."    | Largo, FL 34649 (USA) |
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