Rocky

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. -- Albert Einstein

Mike, until you stop posting and work on your thesis, you'll never get it done. As you must be aware, most GSC posters don't believe you'll ever get it done anyway. Being a pinball just plays into those expectations. It doesn't matter what you are proposing. It will only matter if you ever get to doing it. Your rationalizations of clarifiers and small talk simply reveal your personal excuses for never getting it done.

I would add the qualifier that Wierwille likely BELIEVED that at least some of his writings were God-breathed...

It illustrates Ephesians 4:14 in terms of this thread. The lyrics are all included in the 20th post on page 10 on this topic. It's not a triviality. It's what's keeping you from developing your thesis.

Really? Don't continue in the role of pinball, Mike.

Really, Mike? Sure, you'd appreciate it, but should you really expect it? Pinball Wizard, Mike. Until you become like the Pinball Wizard instead of the pinball, it just ain't gonna happen.

Ephesians 4:14... Mike, your writing (at GSC) suggests you emulate the pinball. Unless you take the time to emulate the Pinball Wizard, you'll never accomplish your claimed goal.

Do you believe Mike has any idea WHY he might be thusly committed? I'm not even sure Mike knows.

I went one semester to college after high school then dropped out to enlist in the USAF at age 18. IOW, I didn't accomplish much before TWIt. But after leaving, I finished college have had a career or two and am now retired (not living lavishly). But I'm comfortable with my lot in life... raised a daughter and now have two lovely grandchildren.

I'm confident Skyrider would NOT look that good in a miniskirt... then or now.

I drove a '58 Ford... best friend had a '63 buick convertable.

SMH. Mike, whether or not YOU should take a break from posting (and reading) GSC is NOT dependent on what others post about you. It's about whether or not you are able to focus on your stated goal. THIS is further indication (as in Eph 4:14) that you are tossed about with all sorts of distraction. It also lends credence to my suggestion that you seek to be approved to people here, on some level even if not consciously. The sentence I highlighted is in YOUR words indicating that you were responding to people here rather than focused on your stated intent. Perhaps you might reflect on your intentions more to be sure you're clear on what you want to accomplish... oh and btw, if you really do want to stop getting distracted, you're going to need to sign out, ignore notifications and stop reading posts here... for (substantially) MORE than 24 hours.

"By emphasizing shared symbolism, religious teachings and practices help promote social cohesion. An example is the Christian ritual of communion, which not only commemorates a historical event but also allows followers to participate in the unity ('continuum") of themselves with other believers (McGuire, 2002). All religions have some form of shared experience that rekindles the group's consciousness of its own unity. Religion has played an important part in helping members of subordinate groups develop a sense of social cohesion and belonging even when they are the objects of prejudice and discrimination by dominant group members..." From sociologyassignments.com It's pretty basic.

Seems to me the only way you're going to get that calm is to step away from posting.

Not guessing. Just READING your typed comments. Mike said: you might feel is a better answer. It wont be a proof that can force anyone to believe, but it will show you that it’s NOT been an irrational, delusional, stupid, unprofitable, and degrading path to PFAL that I've been on. Self-awareness is key to recognizing your task. "you might feel is a better answer" and "it will show you that it's NOT been..." those are words that give away your intent.

Mike, Why do you feel you must show yourself approved before GSC? I've not been suggesting things so that you can be approved before me, but rather to give you ideas that relate to your stated intent.

Do you only want to hear responses from people who believe the original scriptures were God-breathed? Because I don't.

No, the tangents are not important also. You either can make your case without distraction or you can't. Don't expect sympathy from anyone here because you have a problem with instant gratification (which is what getting distracted is all about). Yes, anything can and will be picked apart. EVERY argument humans make are is subject to people finding holes in them and point out the holes. If you genuinely want to accomplish what you have claimed you want to accomplish, get to it. But you're not fooling anyone here with your weak-willed inattention to your claimed intent. If you don't go offline and make your case, every person here who has vocally scoffed at your intent will (continue to) be justified. If you DO write up an argument then come back here to present it, if you are sincere about your intent, you'll look at the criticism that follows as opportunity to go back offline and update the argument. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I understand... and explained why (on the god-breathe thread) it is not possible for him to do so by interacting on this forum while he's trying (that's giving his motivation the benefit of the doubt... otherwise he's just pretending) to make a case. I pointed out Ephesians 4:14 which highlights the concept of getting distracted.

I understand. Mike, you will NEVER succeed in making your case until you go offline and actually think about making your case and FOCUS on writing it up. It's just not possible. Not only will you never be able to focus doing it like you've done it here, but "I investigate what satisfies people" suggests you have no idea HOW to actually make a case for anything. Have you ever read Ephesians 4:14? I realize it's not necessarily "God-breathed" (/snark) but in consideration of the subject at hand, it MIGHT provide some insight. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" If you don't like that translation/version, there are quite a few others at the link I provided. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt for a while. But it really seems like you either don't know how or don't want to make your case and then present it. It is simply impossible for you to do so being distracted with every tangent anyone takes you on when they challenge every little point you try to make.

Mike, you're not helping your cause by responding to every tangential point anyone tries to make. Make your case, as clearly and succinctly as you can. I'd bet you'll feel better when you do. Perhaps if you go offline and write it up as such, then come back and post it, it will be less frustrating for you and other readers and posters. I'm confident, however, that when you do so, people here will still pick it apart. But at least you'll be able to say you made an effort to develop a coherent case.

Because it was not a conscious thing they were trying out. It's a social phenomenon. Modeled behavior indicates what the real beliefs of the organization are. If anything, that social "progression" tends to prove that if the god who breathed PFLAP is the true God, he/she is not a god of love.

Bull$hit is one of my favorite words. It's reasonable and effective in many situations. The link is to a book written by Harry G Frankfurt, a professor emeritus of philosophy at Princeton University (NOT Princeton Theological Seminary) on the subject.

Mike, you weren't way corpse, right? The screaming started in the WC by dictor behaving as an entitled a$$hole believing he had every right to abuse people especially in the WC. Martindale kicked it up several notches BEFORE his dancing career (AoS) but really never moderated his behavior. Of course, Martindale was eventually humbled and lost his platform. However, as a WC outsider, the time correlation you suggested tracks with WC getting acclimated to a culture of being demanded of and then demanding of everyone else. That is a(n im)practical outgrowth of dictor's version of "god-breathed" doctrine.