tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199633972689777295.post4882062654424397210..comments2024-03-25T10:57:21.969-07:00Comments on BARE RECORD OF TRUTH: 2020.03.10 - STAGES OF FAITH BARE RECORD OF TRUTHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04525289075352079487noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199633972689777295.post-81072239501562341872020-03-12T07:21:47.621-07:002020-03-12T07:21:47.621-07:00I wrote Passing the Heavenly Gift to help people i...I wrote Passing the Heavenly Gift to help people in Stage 4 to move along into Stage 5 and perhaps further. But the institution's Stage 3 paradigm viewed that book with such hostility and fear that they attempted to suppress it, then kicked me out to stigmatize the book so it would not be welcomed by their Stage 3 loyalists.<br />I've thought it quite an irony that if the institution had welcomed the book, and invited those for whom it was written to read it, they would have retained thousands of members who have instead departed. Many of them departed into faithlessness. Stage 4 is not merely a threat to the institution, but a personal crisis that can and often does end in a complete mistrust of religion. It is avoidable, can be overcome, and can lead to much greater things. But it is true that institutional worship will end through awakening to see a more clear view of things as they were, as they are, and how they appear to be going in the future. <br />I've reflected on the jealousy that impels the institution to be willing to sacrifice a person's faith in God in order to insist on fidelity first and foremost to the institution. It saddens me to think of that unnecessary trade-off. <br />Christ was generous and kindly, forgiving and merciful, forthright and candid, and above all filled with light. He held a very realistic view of the status of the religious leaders of His day. But that did not deprive Him of anything. Nor did it prevent Him from rising above while still participating and helping others, including leaders willing to speak directly with Him like Nicodemus.Denver Snufferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08300815485894651798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199633972689777295.post-46131458722618673802020-03-11T15:19:00.889-07:002020-03-11T15:19:00.889-07:00This is beautiful. I only recognize stages 1-4. ...This is beautiful. I only recognize stages 1-4. I feel like I've been stuck in 4 for a long time, though I've long ago gotten over the hard part of it. Really hope I don't just become one of those that stays there forever.Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199633972689777295.post-82797225908477909442020-03-11T10:09:53.670-07:002020-03-11T10:09:53.670-07:00Beautiful. Spot on. Eloquent. Thank you.Beautiful. Spot on. Eloquent. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com