Adventism and Conspiracy Theories

[jasd]

>>Folks, please remember; the longer the post the less inclined someone is to read it. Break up a lengthy post into two or more shorter posts. <<

Should my posts have elicited the stated above – let me say that it is appreciated both for its neutral tone and its friendly advice. That said,

I did format the post into two segments.

Permit me to explain myself further... I do tend towards long(er) posts as I’ve noticed that those who do split their posts into several (or more) parts – actually – end up spamming the thread. Second,

I do not concern myself with whether my posts are read. I simply forward my best effort, such as it is, and thereafter – don’t give no tinker’s whatchamacallit to its reception Moreover, I write in such a manner as to

often require a reread of all or parts – for comprehension. That eliminates the ADDs who delight in the cursory. Then again, many will not read my posts for the fact that they are perceived as,

shall we say – in kindly manner – fuzzy? ...which, in fact, they may be. :-o

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Originally Posted By: Amelia

*GP

Folks, please remember; the longer the post the less inclined someone is to read it. Break up a lengthy post into two or more shorter posts.

Amelia

Hear Hear!!! Could this be one of the rules?

While I agree long drawn-out posts are tedious to read and I tend to skip over them with only a cursory glance, I don't think it should be a RULE as to how long someone's post is. That's completely arbitrary. IMHO

[John317]

It won't be one of the rules, but it will be one of the suggestions.

[Liz]

Uh guys I was teasing. Of course, long drawn out posts can't be ruled out. I was just kidding about that.

[John317]

True, they can't be ruled out. That's why it will only be a suggestion.

I sometimes post too long posts myself, but I've been dividing them. Even so, some are probably too long for some readers.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Quote:

I sometimes post too long posts myself, but I've been dividing them. Even so, some are probably too long for some readers.

well, erhmm... at least you don't post in size=100 :smile:

[John317]

Quote:

I sometimes post too long posts myself, but I've been dividing them. Even so, some are probably too long for some readers.

well, erhmm... at least you don't post in size=100 :smile:

No, I generally post no larger than size 14. Like this. I hope that is not offensive to anyone. I don't find large sizes at all offensive myself.

[Joe_in_RP]

Quote:

I don't find large sizes at all offensive myself.

It looks like you are shouting.

[kaseymc]

There will always be conspiracy theorists. There were in Christs day, there are today. When we are trying so hard to protect what we think we might lose, we see conspiracies around ever corner. Not to say that there aren't evil plans being laid by the enemy of our souls, but when we focus on, and worry about those plans, we lose sight of what our mission is...to become servants of God and men, to proclaim freedom to the captives, to work on behalf of sinners such as ourselves, and to perfect holiness in the respect of the Lord.

Conspiracy theorists tend to forget Who is really in control here. We have nothing to fear, our God has us in the palm of His hand, and there is no earthly power who can pluck us out.

The plans that satan is laying are not sufficient to separate us from our God. That power is ours alone, and lies in where we chose to place our energies.

My prayer is that our hope (and focus) will be placed in nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness.

[jasd]

“The real rulers in Washington are invisible and exercise power from behind the scenes.” --Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter

Conspiracist? It appears that conspircacists keep good company, yes?

Additionally,

Matt 16:3 ... O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?

doesn’t it sound as though Jesus Christ chastises those who forego discerning signs...?

[jasd]

“For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.” --Niccolo Machiavelli

Oy! sounds so Machiavellian! Yes?

[melvin mccarty]

Length of posts appears to be a bit off topic but let me observe that posts that are quotes are the ones that I skip. I am mainly interested in how you process information and you do not need to quote other's posts... just state your take on the subject and then shut up. :-)....mel

[jasd]

Is the above quotable? or simply revelatory?

I've a bunch of them - and your're entirely welcome to skip. Am only too happy to accommodate. By-the-way,

after my having posted nigh-on to 2,000 posts -- you're still uncertain how I process information!?

Oy! mel... Sorry, for myself, I can't ascertain your "take" on any given matter, as you seldom sustain ... anything! popping in here and there with quips.

[Joe_in_RP]

He replied,2 "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

I like that Mat 16:2-3.

[melvin mccarty]

I'm sorry jasd please note who I was responding to. I should have been more specific perhaps. I do read yours (usually) ....mel

[John317]

Quote:

I don't find large sizes at all offensive myself.

It looks like you are shouting.

That's one way to see it, but making the sentences or words different in size or color, or underlining, etc., is also a way of drawing attention to them, not necessarily "shouting."

[Sulla]

Here is another problems with quotes. A LOT of them used on internet are fake. Here is a nice book with a lot of the fake ones I am sure a lot of us at some point have seen.

Fake Quotes

[melvin mccarty]

I was thinking about the quoting of the other folks previous posts and not about the kind of quotes that jasd was using....mel

[Marie]

It is one thing to discuss something to help others know the truth. But to let seven pages of this heavy discussion going on with some comments very anti-christian is to me, allowing garbage in a forum that was made to bring Truth and light to a world that does not know Him. If all this had to be said, it should have been in private where people can gab on things all they want to without bothering anyone that may stumble on it by chance and read so many of these posts that are so on-Christ like. When topics get out of hand like this they should be closed down. What good is being done by letting this go on and on? I have seen none at all in what I have read.

[Joe_in_RP]

Quote:

When topics get out of hand like this they should be closed down.

Who says its out of hand? Who decides that?

This forum has survived because of tolerance for opposing views. It actually makes it a better place. Other forums have restricted speech so that unpopular posters left. The result is group think. Where everyone who is left share the same ideas. Its very boring. If my idea cannot stand up to criticism, then maybe its wrong. The one thing I like about this place is it challenges what I believe. It forces me to look in the bible and prove to myself from the bible that my beliefs are correct.

[Joe_in_RP]

This thread was started because someone was advocating restriction of speech. I made the point then and continue to believe it: How do we know these opposing views are not from God?

Did God call only one type of people to His church? The bible shows us a wide cross section of personalities and messengers. Many of whom were unpopular in their time. Hey even Jesus was unpopular. There were many tried to shut Him up. Look at the problems He caused in the church. Look at the nasty names he called our church leaders.

Lets just be careful.

[John317]

Can anyone tell whether it's from God if someone says that the Bible is untrue and cannot be trusted? Or, "God did not speak through Ellen White. She was not a prophet and did not know what she was talking about"? Or, "The SDA church is Babylon"? Or, "We can't know whether God exists"?

Are those views from God? We have some members who would say yes. But most would say no.

Nevertheless, you can find them expressed quite often here. But provided that posters follow the rules of the board, people may say those things on AdventistForum.

The reason we allow them to be said is not because we can't tell the difference between what's of God and what isn't. They're allowed simply because we invite everyone who wants to, and is willing to abide by the rules, to join us.

[Woody]

Quote:

When topics get out of hand like this they should be closed down.

Who says its out of hand? Who decides that?

This forum has survived because of tolerance for opposing views. It actually makes it a better place. Other forums have restricted speech so that unpopular posters left. The result is group think. Where everyone who is left share the same ideas. Its very boring. If my idea cannot stand up to criticism, then maybe its wrong. The one thing I like about this place is it challenges what I believe. It forces me to look in the bible and prove to myself from the bible that my beliefs are correct.

That's the way it should be.

[jasd]

Oh so sorry. My rheumy eyes find it near-impossible to distinguish the addressed from its background.

So, okaayyy, again... [/me with egg on face]

Lucky me, that I really like eggs (having a half-dozen Leghorns) – scrambled, poached, soft-boiled, hard-boiled, deviled, shirred, raw in salads, etc. ...even getting used to having it

on my face.

Oy. :-o

[jasd]

>>"God did not speak through Ellen White. She was not a prophet and did not know what she was talking about"?<<

Umm, Gd has even spoken through such as I – but you probably wouldn’t want to sit through a three-hour and four bottles of wine dinner with me. The be-all end-all of a matter is not often easily resolved. Per “not knowing what she was talking about” – not always, John317 – but seemingly, often enough.

Per Marie’s concern:

>>...to help others know the truth.<<

Sometimes, ‘truths’ can be very, very, subjective, as well, amorphous – and not always as we perceive them. True fact.

>>very anti-christian is to me, allowing garbage in a forum...<<

One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. It goes to perception.

Reticence seems to be in order when assigning any aspect of “christian” to another. To do so implies an assuredness that may not be warranted. As to ‘Xtian’ or “anti-christian” –

it is my opinion that a person ought give serious thought – before appending the term to one’s self. There is a certain sacredness to the term. It is an inflection of Gd and requires one’s utmost in representing Him.

It is for this reason that such as myself abstain from appending Xtian to him or herself.

Until we are eternally ‘transformed’, we are in this world. It behooves us to attempt to make sense of it.

>>...without bothering anyone that may stumble on it by chance and read...<<

It is regrettably conceded that so many people do not know how to ‘turn the dial’.

Lastly, though I find in Writ the adjuration to reason, I fail to find the text exhorting the Xtian to leave his or her 3-pound universe at the church door upon entering...