gizaap

"what is your view of ULC NOW.....not why you joined but I guess why you are hooked on staying?" The ULC appears to be weathering the course of time just fine. It serves in my desire to seek my path as a person of independent christian persuasion. "What attracts you and holds you to the Forum?" I don't post often to the forum but that doesn't mean I don't read it a great deal. Every so often, I'll see a reference and/or a new perspective that I hadn't considered. There's value in some of the posts that may never be fully understood.

I received a copy of this in an email group for the ULCCF today. Its seems be fitting to the original topic so I quote in entirety. "On Oct 14, 2013, at 12:24 PM, Frank Coleman wrote: Morpheus: “The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters; the very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system... You have to understand; most of the people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it.” It is all they know. The main point is once you are comfortable with the institutional church, there is a real cost to unplugging. We need to count the cost of freedom and growth. Many “church” people will react in fear we we stop playing the “church” game. When people are fearful, they usually react in the fight of flight mode, in which they will either turn away from you or turn on you. Most of us, while under the influence of the church system, were fairly fearful. We have been programed by the church system to be fearful about most everything. We are afraid of God because the Old Testament Law is still taught in church, as if we, by our own willpower, could ever keep it. We couldn't, so we often felt like failures. We were certainly afraid to question the many contradictions of the church life because we would have risked rejection or ostracization. We were afraid to think for ourselves for fear that we might come up with a different answer to the church dogma and be out of sync with our friends, denomination, or church beliefs. We were taught if you are “out of church” too long that the devil will get a hold of you, trick you, hurt you, and cause you to backslide. Church attenders have been assimilated onto a system that is based on this world's ways, disguised as the Body of Christ. Things contrary to Christ abound: association around a denomination (division), approval based on works, coercion and manipulation using shame and guilt, law keeping, motivating by using fear, honoring the wealthy, to name a few. Many people have been involved in church for years, or even decades. Church involvement is not an easy pattern to get free from because we get so entrenched in it. But freedom does exist. -Excerpt from, “Was church God's Idea?” by Marc Winter (italacs & bold mine)"

Most of the book is gobbledygook to my educated mind. I skipped to the section about Jesus. The story is a fun read but sometimes disconnected as if multiple writers filled in stuff or someone felt the need to explain what they wrote. I can't see myself being too inspired by this work.

Yep.

But do you personally preference the freedom of everyone, before your religious/spiritual beliefs? A. I prefer freedom for everyone and their individual religious/spiritual beliefs can remain secondary as long their beliefs do not infringe on my freedom. Does Liberty require a secular governance of a nation, to ensure the freedom of religion? B. Yes. However, therein lies the issue of what is meant by secular. I believe that to mean no endorsement of any specific religion in favor of another. However, I'm troubled with what seems to be an almost anti-religion perspective on the term secular since I believe we are all influenced by some form of spiritual perspective. Or should Liberty take a back seat if it means tolerating things that go against your religion? Liberty should never take back seat. Although, ensuring liberty for all practically means tolerating things. This answer may appear contradictory to the first answer. I don't think it has to be.

I'll just state: 'Excellent, Brother, be blessed.'

Psalm 106:1 1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

One day longer than how old you were when you became responsible enough to make the important choices in your life.

I'm sincerely surprised that I haven't seen more feedback on this subject. That being stated, I thank those of you that have provided feedback.

God's love is Great. Happy Easter.

Please continue ...

Interesting insight. Thanks for the response.

I was serious. I have 3 acrredited degrees of a securlar nature so I wasn't curious from a resume standpoint. However, from a spiritual standpoint there is always something to learn or reflect on. Brother Earl

Just picked up a book tonight that I am anxious to read. The Code of the Holy Spirit --- By: Perry StoneBrother Earl

I didn't see this discussion on the forum and I searched so if I missed it, I apologize. Please don't hesitate to steer me in the right direction. Have the ministers here discussed how they have benefited from the ULC Courses in terms of learning or spiritual progression? I was curious about any insights. I am referring to the courses offered at http://www.ulc.net/index.php?page=shop&cat=17 Brother Earl