Posted by felix a [angler] on November 05, 1999 at 05:39:18 {6xiCHW3gJ2P6iqioOwugXXuUsiPcoA}:
In Reply to: *What I've learned on H2O. posted by Randy Watters on November 04, 1999 at 20:38:58:
Randy,
I agree with your remarks, where you make mention of the compartmentalizing what we do to protect our fantasies and dreams. Putting things in neat little boxes so that we know what we are willing to think about and what we are not willing to think about is what frequentlly happens, and often we do this without questioning.
We listen to those who have a position of authority and then hear them twist the words of scripture that seemingly anchor their authority and you're right we want to believe, I wanted to believe in something outside myself, I wanted to believe in what my family believed, I wanted to believe that all these older men knew what they were talking about. Instead I learned that the authority of the elders as described in Hebrews is one built on the persuasiveness of their reasoning on the scriptures. And that if they cannot persuade us of the validity of their position or understanding we are under no obligation to accept it just because they are elders. Their authority is not like the secular powers whose authority is based on position and not neccessarily the reasonableness of their argument. This knowledge and understanding for me was what has helped me start opening all the boxes I've made over the years. All those questions that I had and had put away as already answered, could now be brought out and answered.
As you said driven by fear...and fearing no more.
Regards and thanks,
felix a