From: press2@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (barry.o.olson)
Subject: Re: An open question...
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 02:21:31 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.191027.19862@oclc.org>, jay@oclc.org (Young Jeff) writes:
> press2@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (barry.o.olson) writes:
> 
> : My Rock is become the living Rock the words point to. I know what I
> : experienced, and can effectively argue for the Lord in that experience
> : which is felt and observed in the walk of life, where in that mode, some
> : of the words of the books(words in isolation of a passage)come alive
> : for a given situation.
> 
> This occasionally happens when I read the Bible too.  In fact, 
> It occasionally happens when I read many things.  Many times 
> the other things produce better insights than the Bible on the
> same topic.

Yes, I agree. The bible is not the sole source of wisdom, insight,
and guidance, but the books do contain the pointers necessary for me
to maintain my ship in the general direction the words point to.
I can gather good wisdom phrases or passages from a novel or biography
which might help for insight, or even other holy books, but I still
cannot use these other books as The guide.

> 
> : [Acknowledgement of misuse of the Bible in history deleted]
> : are pointing out. And the living Rock keeps one just knowledgable
> : enough to enjoy his presence, but not knowledgable enough for
> : surity to facilitte using this newfound experience to Lord it over
> : others. Thus a perfect harmony of paradox in balance:-) IMO.
> 
> This "perfect harmony" for you appears less than perfect for others
> in history (As you acknowledge above).

I'm sure it would be the same for me if I lost sight of my relationship
with my lord over time. But in a larger community with all the variety
of individuals and egos, it would be easier to lose this sight to certain
accomodations encroaching on the group. The church of individuals is not
perfect by any means, but the lord promises to keep her fresh, and sometimes
this can cost people their lives if they are used by him to freshen her.
> 
> This combination of imperfect revelation and proliferation of 
> equally inspiring sources, leads me to believe that Christianity
> lacks the divine inspiration that is claimed for it.

The divine inspiration is limited imo, and for the reasons I stated for
the imperfection of the bible. Without this limitation, eager souls would
and could become too puffed and corrupted beyond hope of correction. Imagine
some group having The unquestionable divine channel, and can demonstrate it
through observable acts and arguments. Then in combination with the sheep
mentality demostrated all too often in the world of people, we are looking
at a recipe for domination worse than what we have read about or seen with
the imperfect. I wouldn't limit this to God religions or followers either.
So I do not agree a divine inspiration is lacking, just limited to
coarse corrections here and there to keep lesser captains from destroying
the ship.
At least that is my rationalization for the imperfectness.
> 
> Other than this observation, I see little to argue about.

At least you met one believer who does not conform to the standard
characterization of a believer, and there are plenty of others around
who are of the same methodology in the lord and their use of the bible
and tradition.

take care,

barry--
Xref: sparky talk.religion.misc:15061 sci.physics:13708 sci.chem:3269 talk.origins:10217 rec.arts.books:15162