From: muehlhau@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John Muehlhausen)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: This is SO pointless... PLEASE READ THIS EVERYONE
Date: 22 Aug 92 03:32:06 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

Hi all... I am back from an AWESOME summer.  Just a few observations:

1.   This group never gets anywhere with any of the discussions and
     arguments are never decided.
2.   The only thing anyone learns is how to defend themselves and
     maybe (just maybe) a little theology.
3.   The honesty and willingness to learn and change is severly
     lacking in many poster personalities.

Fear not!  I think that we can "get somewhere" as a group if we agree
to approach one question at a time from the ground up and search our
souls and ask God to lead us in seeking him.  We must not be victims
of a "seared conscious" in all of this!  I am assuming that there are
spiritual absolutes.  If you do not believe this then you should not
be reading or posting to this group because after all everything is
relative so you can seek God however you want... Bye.

For those left we must remember that the only plausible God is an
infinite-personal one and how we can come to Him is based on how He
wants us to and not on how we want to.  Because I know we will not
agree on this or even on the spiritual absolutes thing we will make
that the first issue.  Notice I am not trying to moderate -- only to
get somewhere.  My time is incredibly precious and I will not
squander it!

For starters, post your stance on spiritual absolutes:

   I, ____, believe that there are spiritual absolutes that can be
   sought after and found by honest individuals who want God's will
   to be done in their lives.

   I, ____, believe that there are no spiritual absolutes because
   ______________________________________________________________
   and I read this group and post because ______________________.

Please participate!

The plan is to come to a conclusion on this as a group and then move
on.  I know we won't all agree, but the groups that are formed can
then pursue their interests more appropriately and productively.  For
instance, I think that this group is meant for the first group and
thatthe second group would be more at home in a New Age type
newsgroup (I am almost sure one exists).

I know there are others of you who want to do something other than
argue endlessly.  Please help in making this a reality!

If there are absolutes, God wants us to know them.  If He wants us to
know them, then He has to make them knowable!  God will show himself
to honest hearts!

I am not trying to kill the individuality of each persons
relationship with God, only to separate us into two groups: one that
says God does have a plan that is common (in a broad sense) to all
his creation and one that says God has no plan for his creation other
than the one they make for themselves...

Get those wheels turning!

Post on the first issue!

Lets gain some ground for once!  PLEASE!  Why waste your time with
less?

John M.

P.S.  I do have my own views as many of you already know but I will
be objective as I hope everyone will be.  I am sure I will learn from
all of you if we can cooperate?  May I suggest that there _may_ be an
evil force that _may_ be causing the chaos we have seen so far on
this group?  Be careful!
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.atheism