Readers respond to Adventist Review article
This situation is not in any way unique to LSU. Within the confines of the campus of Canadian University College, Lacombe, Alberta Canada, there were, and perhaps still are, those on staff who promote not only evolutionary philosophy but agnosticism and at least borderline atheism. My own dear brother is now at best an agnostic, and no longer has anything to do with Adventism, after his exposure to classes there during the ’90’s. They not only strongly promoted the reading of such authors as Northrop Frye, but the writings of Richard Dawkins, and others. The authenticity of the biblical accounts were regularly called into doubt by suggestion, if not out and out promulgation by some professors, of such ideas as that which promotes the thought that the miracles of the Bible have plausible and non-miraculous ‘explanations’ (the showdown on Mount Carmel, for example, was, in one class, ‘explained’ by the proximity of a methane gas deposit, which was ‘conveniently’ touched off by lightning the day of the demonstration of God’s mighty power in consuming not only the sacrifice but the stones composing the alter which Elijah had erected on that monumental occasion). The idea that many of the biblical accounts have a ‘legendary’ tone and character is exampled by the suggestion that such facts as the description of the giant, Goliath, has been greatly exaggerated, the better to emphasize the power of God working through young David. I long ago ceased to put any faith in the Adventist education system, per se, due to such things as these and many, many others. It has become a den of iniquity run by power honchos often backed by more than a few self-serving board members who, running on the ‘Peter Principle’ of the sixties, manage to ingratiate their way to the top and gradually push out many or most of those around them of the old school thinking who are honestly trying not only to maintain a high standard of academic freedom and excellence, but who truly teach the truth for this time.

Clifford Goldstein: Seventh-day Darwinians, Redux
The REAL problem (and inevitable outcome) in all this supposedly ‘harmless airing’ of this new philosophy and many other alternative viewpoints on such lofty themes, would be in what has obviously happened: the setting aside of the biblical accounts as merely one of many POSSIBLE explanations of origins. At risk of sounding biased, or even narrowly viewpointed, I will unequivocally state, here and now, that, unless one is thoroughly read and completely ‘educated’ as to what the Holy Word is really saying and really worth, one can NEVER be ready to realize what these many alternative viewpoints are: utter nonsense and trash, and cleverly-devised and demonically-inspired fables!

Video show LSU undermining church doctrine
QUESTION:…no, wait a moment here…let me rephrase that just a little…VALID question: Precisely WHAT does Warren Trenchard have to fear from having the video of his lecture posted on this website??? Does he somehow perceive some sort of threat to his tenure or pedagogical credibility??? Is it that he fears being missrepresented??? In what WAY??? Would there not be even greater danger of missrepresentation, Mr. Trenchard, now that you have denied us the opportunity to HEAR your own words, and having now to limit ourselves to QUOTES (by OTHERS, who may or may not agree with you) from your lecture, which may or may not be accurate??? Please have the courage and courtesy to reply DIRECTLY to this, Mr.Trenchard, and retrieve whatever may now be left of that very credibility which you seem so determined to protect…

Private: Dealing with religious offenders
Most heartwarming, Bob, to have someone say to me what you just did! Thank-you, from the DEPTHS of both our hearts, for your inclusion of us on your prayer list! I will never forget it. And may God bless all of YOU on this website as you struggle to deal with these difficult and perplexing issues.

I have always taken encouragement from a statement given in the Sabbath School lesson quarterly of many, many years ago, back before my first wife and our seventeen-month-old son were run down by an impaired driver and killed, (without a doubt, one of the WORST things I EVER faced!), WHATEVER perplexes US, is of note and concern to God…for it was, after all, GOD who so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSEVER believeth on Him, Should not perish but have everlasting life–and THAT, I have always understood, and despite WHATEVER I now regret having done, includes ME…praise Him forever. God bless you, Bob, ALWAYS…

Private: Dealing with religious offenders
Just so there will be no missunderstanding in any way, I wish to add, here, that I will not be visiting this website until possibly next Tuesday, due to the library being shut down for the holiday weekend. Have a happy and blessed Sabbath everyone, and may God richly bless and safely keep each nd all of you.

Sincerely,

glenn

Private: Dealing with religious offenders
I stand somewhat ashamed of myself here, at least for YOUR comment to me, Bob, in reply to my query as to whether you thought I was a ‘religious offender’…I actually expected to get a simple ‘yes’, (that you see me as a ‘religious offender’)and be left to think that you were being hypocritical at best.However, the kindly and simply- informative tone of your answer was much appreciated, believe me. Forgive me, please, for expecting the worst, but the nature of past experiences has trained me at least somewhat.

As I mentioned earlier, my partner and I have had no success in getting her ex to give her a divorce these past several years. This despite the fact that, when she left him due to great abuse, and he picked up with someone else within days, and also that he initiated a divorce prodeeding, several days travel away from where we live, he remains obstinate. He paid for HALF the divorce but, in the end, left it unpaid and incomplete, WITHOUT informing her, and then went on with his life. It was, by that time, according to HIS lawyer, too late for HER to pay the other half, by the time she found out what he had done and not done.

I have had my own divorce for several years already, on biblical grounds, if that is any assurance to anyone. We are too poor to be able to seek legal help to acquire hers. We took our OWN vows, before God, long ago, therefore, and committed to each other, just as any couple would in ANY marriage ceremony, and for life. The only ‘witnesses’ we have, however, are ‘the heavenly family’. And THOSE witnesses carry much more weight with both of US than any earthly ones!

We have known and adored each other since we first caught sight of each other, back in high school, in the mid-1960’s. We were just ‘handicapped’ back then, BOTH of us, being too shy to pursue the possibility of what might have been–hah!…Now, years later, here we are, together at last, for the rest of our lives.

It is probably too much to hope that the church might acquiesce in this case, and recognize the government’s recognition of our ‘common law marriage’, but it would be wonderful, indeed, if they might consider such as us on a case-by-case basis. Probably not…realistically, I’m thinking.

No, I don’t expect that the church ever would ask for verification of marriage or commitment at the door of the church before admittance were granted. I was being facetious, simply to generate a response different from the usual either condemnatory or blase ones that I usually receive on this issue. I am one of the rare ones, however, whom you will find HONEST enough to admit my real status, and continue to strive for some consideration.

The second comment here, made by ‘David’, then, you can now see has absolutely NO relevance to OUR case whatsoever. I don’t understand why it was THROWN IN at this point, but it is, after all, a free discussion forum, isn’t it?!

I would appreciate it forever if any and all of you would keep us in your prayers in the days and years to come. We trust, under the circumstances, as you now can readily see why, that the Good Lord has indeed forgiven us and granted us recognition for His part, anyway, for our obviouis sincerety and commitment in spite of the odds against us.