A recent report from a reliable source pertaining to the Salvation Army, revealed a more stricter stance on guiding principles regarding essential Christian doctrines. The organization has been leaning more toward the recent popular theme of political correctness relative to religion. In this case, they have been rejecting terminology that promotes Jesus as the central figure for their existence and purpose. More specifically, traditional efforts of Christian evangelism are regarded as spurious and reprehensible. Obviously this is a very serious assertion; however, I would have not posted it unless I had first hand experience as previously posted in Post #9, on April 27, 2012. This current stance is a huge deterioration from the original posture of the Salvation Army as was posted in the following link about Skid Row: http://sonnyboystory.com/2012/09/12/south-street-and-skid-row-2/ Needless to say, this is opposite the thrust of the organizations original founders.
Post 110: Salvation Army Update
May 16, 2013
Alcohol, Christian Orgs, Testimonies Leave a comment
Post #109: Which Christian Deliverance is Best?
May 12, 2013
Analysis, Christian Orgs Leave a comment
What religious angle really works?
Deliverance from drugs can occur through a diverse assortment of Christian ministries. Following are a list of examples: Assemblies of God, Teen Challenge, Salvation Army, Baptist Church, Full Gospel Business Man’s Fellowship, Episcopal Church and so on. What do they all have in common? The answer should not require any stretch of the imagination, nor defy logical deduction. In each of these organizations it is the religious angle—the Lord Jesus Christ. Granted, deliverance it is not a straight forward and simple formula. It is difficult to deduce just how deliverance will occur and under what circumstances. Moreover, how long will it take—immediate, or over some stretch of time. Similar to miraculous physical healings, a person’s faith, their desire and God’s mercy are all brought into the mix. Please feel free to provide feedback by clicking the Leave a Comment icon above, or go to the Contact Me page.
Post #108: Sonny Boy’s Story Table of Contents
April 25, 2013
Go check out the table of contents of my personal memoirs at blogdogit.com:
Post #106: AA: Religion or Not ?
April 23, 2013
12 Step Programs, AA History, Analysis AA 2 Comments
MD Weaver: Anti – 12 Step Prgms
AA is a religion by definition: AA often claims that it is “spiritual, not religious”, however, AA has a divinely inspired holy book (the Big Book), a congregation (AA members), and inviolable dogmas based on divine revelation but not supported by scientific evidence. AA meets all the criteria for defining a religion. Moreover, 3 federal district courts have ruled that coerced participation in AA is a violation of the first amendment of the constitution because AA is a religion. These are: The Ninth Federal District Court (MT, ID, WA, OR, NV, CA, AZ, HI, AK, Inouye v. Kemna, No. 06-15474; Docket No. CV-04-00026-DAE), The Second Federal District Court (NY, VT, CT, Warner v. Orange County Department of Probation, Docket No. 95-7055), and The Seventh Federal District Court (WI, IN, IL, Kerr v. Farrey, No. 95-1843).
In point of fact AA is a Calvinistic religion which teaches predestination. This is evident from the following AA slogans: “there are no coincidences in God’s perfect world” and “no one walks into an AA meeting by accident”. Moreover, AA believes in a God that created the 100% fatal disease of alcoholism and let everyone die from it until He decided to give the cure to Bill W in 1935. This is not sort of a God for me.
Post #105: Be Aware of Counterfeit Folks
April 20, 2013
Analysis, Cults, Secular terrorism Comments Off
Everyone is not whom they seem to be
The Boston bombers have been given accolades by some for having the typical boy next door type personalities. Some of their relatives, close friends and many acquaintances fail to comprehend that they were not the conventional all Americans; instead they were the utmost anti Americans one could encroach upon. Regardless of what their admirers thought of them, they were deep into executing their plot and finally successful in pulling it off. Even after viewing the news of their evil terrorism, their fans remain hoodwinked and some refuse to accept the reality of what had just went down.
It is this sort of naivete and obliviousness that is displayed by many that fall prey to cultic movements. Some would even be susceptible into joining the terrorists group themselves. To cap off: Don’t be deceived. Rather be diligent and alert. Moreover, remember the magician who teaches: everything is not what it seems to be. In this case: everyone is not whom they seem to be.
Post #104: Be Discerning of Rehab Authority
April 6, 2013
12 Step Programs, Analysis 5 Comments
Some counselors abuse their authority
Just because rehab counselors have superior positions, doesn’t mean they are beyond infallibility. Granted, they have been trained to supervise addiction treatment by monitoring one’s progressive, give advise about adverse circumstances, provide tools to equip one to overcome temptations to relapse, and other vital training for successful recovery. However, their training and experiences does not preclude them from making bad decisions and abusing their positions. Therefore, the client should be constantly vigilant to discern instances were the counselor proclaims to be always right, while the client is declared to be always wrong. For instance the common saying: “It was your thinking that got you here.” Of course the client may make mistakes; on the other hand they should also take into consideration that the counselor may also make mistakes.
Post # 103: Religious or Spiritual ?
March 25, 2013
12 Step Programs, AA History, References, Analysis, Secular religious, spiritual 2 Comments
The original movers and shakers of the 12-Step program had redefined their reference to God in order to circumvent being branded a religion. The major objective of this shift in their belief system, was to deter turning off potential loyalist, and allow acceptance in government and health care circles without being tagged a religion. It was this religious aspects of the 12-Steps that had caused many to regard the program as having a cultic flavor. Therefore, they’ve labeled the program as being spiritual, rather than religious.
When referencing the meaning of these two words in a thesaurus, they are considered to by synonyms. In gist, religion can be defined as a way to express a person’s spirituality—through doctrinal beliefs, prayers, and worship (liturgy).
Post # 102: Testimony of a Former 12 Stepper
March 22, 2013
12 Step Programs, Alcohol, Analysis, Testimonies 12 Step, AA, The Fix 2 Comments
Why She Left AA After 12 Years: A Most Revealing Testimony
Life after leaving 12 step programs has been proven most beneficial for Louise Wareham Leonard, a former 12 stepper. After 12 years of stepping, she realized life was much better without the programs. After discovering that weeks and months without 12-step orthodoxy was achievable, she realized she would never go back. A display of her testimony from The Fix.Com website can be accessed by clicking here.
Post #101: 12 Step Programs Don’t Really Work
March 12, 2013
Get the real skinny on AA
Nancy Redd on the program HuffPost Live interviewed Dr. Stanton Peele, Dr. Marc Kern, and other destinquished guest about the failure of AA and other 12 Step programs. To view the video: Doctor: 12 Step Programs Don’t Really Work in America on a separate browser page click here. These notable professionals provide a critical analysis of 12 step programs. To view additional videos via the AOL.Com Relationships channel on a separate browser page click here.
12 Step Analyst
