When I agreed to do a story about demonic activity, possession, and exorcism for Crisis, I thought it would be fun—a spooky thrill. I’d write the article, warn about being too preoccupied with the subject matter, and be done. Instead, I got sleepless nights, horrifying conversations with those who have been involved in exorcisms, and a new point of view on the demonic world.
For those who have never had any direct contact with this world, it sounds utterly ridiculous. For those who have, and know those who have, it's impossible to deny the mysterious and hideous reality of what lives beneath the surface of things. You never forget.
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Harvey - YES, YES, YES!
This is exactly how I feel about the Bible. There is absolutely nothing about extenuating circumstances. Nothing about emotions or mental illness.
I have been in the Catholic arena and the Protestant arena and the born-again arena. I would say of the three the Catholic and born-agains were far more authoritarian in nature.
The born-again crowd was by far the most judgemental. I just honestly couldn't take it anymore (this was even before my son told me he was gay - I left the church before that anyway).
They wasted far more time & money on things that are just dumb, and certainly didn't spend it on the sick & hurting in our world.
I think that if Christ works for you great, if Buddism gets you through life then go for it, etc.
At the end of the day, I am still a great person and just wish we could all love one another & respect each other. I give money to groups that I believe are spending it wisely and I treat others as I wish to be treated.>
Evening Deb. Nod E Dozer is getting his butt chewed as we speak. My wife wasn't too keen on Nod E. but as of this moment, he's being referred to as Nod E and not Dozer.
One of the things that gets me when we start discussing faith is the position that what worked back in the day will work now.
We don't feel that way about anything else. Why would we assume it's true in faith issues?
A case in point. In the early seventies I stopped into a Circle K in southern California. They had a small coffe maker on a counter and cups of coffee for sale. I thought it was the coolest thing.
Today you go into any convenience store and a staple is coffee. Some of them have a buffet bar for coffee drinkers to browse.
Back in the day the only stores you went to get everything, everything but groceries, was Sears or Wards. Now we have Super Targets and Walmart Supercenters where you go to get everything.
People change, tastes change, business and culture changes too. Most of the time for the better.
I believe the biggest difference between faith today and faith back when Rod was a kid and the world was perfect in every way is attitude.
Back then most people assumed they were stupid so they left the important stuff to the experts. I mean how many parents back then would have considered homeschooling even though there were a lot more stay at home moms?
People just took the word of the priest or preacher as gospel and got along.
Today everyone's an expert on everything. And what they don't know they sure as heck aren't afraid to question. Therein lies the hazards for religion today.
And of course the one thing religion has always stumbled over is questions. It's about faith and faith doesn't question. Explains Jesus asking for the faithfull to become as a child, non-questioning.>
Harvey - you are right. My sister and brother-in-law are southern baptist and EVERYTHING is black & white. Of course, this might be good because when they found out about my son they blamed my husband & I. Why? Not because we were bad parents, but Dr. Dobson said that parents cause their children to be gay. The reason this is good is that they still love my son & care about him because it is not his fault.
I have decided that perhaps it is easier for some people to want to follow rules (even if they are made up) because they are afraid of the unkown. My MIL wears at least 20-25 necklaces areound her neck (she is RC) and she really believes that she doesn't want to offend any of the RC saints. What if she died and didn't have them on? She REALLY worries about this. She prays at least 3 hours everyday using prayer cards.
The saddest part about this website in general is that it is so hard to have a legit conversation because everyone will spit a verse out at you (specially on Jim Wallis' page where most of the born-agains are). It leaves absolutely NO room for discussion.
Oh well, love the name of the pup. Are you going to take a picture of him and put it on your website? Would love to see him. There is nothing cuter than babies.>
Here you go Deb, Me training Dozer
My wife is finding out that sometimes the puppy deserves to be called by his first name and middle initial, "Nod E! Nod E!">
Hi Harvey, I can't find the picture? I don't know if I am doing something wrong or not.
The funny thing about our pup is that we got her to sit, roll over, laydown, you get the picture. Haven't been able to totally potty train her although she is pretty good. The worst thing she does is when we all leave her for a while she will get into the kleenex box & she has even been known to pee on my bed. Consequently she is only allowed in a certain area when we are gone.
Thankfully, she is so cute or......>
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