tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71462732012-02-07T19:33:36.199-05:00A blog showing research into world religions and religious cults. Sociology of religion rather than Christian apologetics. Just a college student on summer vacation...Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1136433069822647772006-01-04T22:47:00.000-05:002006-01-04T22:51:09.833-05:00

Beginning of December, I had to present my senior study topic and hand in a proposal. I have narrowed my topic to the Mandaean gnostic sect within Iraq and Iran. I believe that they are a pre-Christian sect. They are the one true surviving Gnostic religious group. Will begin reading The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran by E.S. Drower tomorrow. More to come...(hopefully)

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1128138576630083842005-09-30T23:47:00.000-04:002005-09-30T23:49:36.633-04:00

Currently, my senior study will be on the Mandaeans of Iraq. My interest in Gnosticism led me to the dualist Mandaeans and Manichees, and I think I've decided the former, mainly because they were prior to the latter.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1123275931310724022005-08-05T16:50:00.000-04:002005-08-05T17:05:31.316-04:00

This past Wednesday I went to a Wed. night meeting with my church. For lack of a better topic, the leader just decided to circle the room asking everyone where they were spiritually. It seemed as though everyone was telling approximately the same story...until it came to me.I told how a single church is not adequate in understanding the divine. I have spent the past year touring various

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1121465894912143302005-07-15T17:50:00.000-04:002005-07-15T18:18:14.920-04:00

Recently I've read everything from Arthur Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot to Brian Greene's Fabric of the Cosmos. My hypothesis on tarot: the subject modifies the results and/or their consciousness to fit their personal life. I have conducted four readings on four different subjects; three subjects reported a surprising relevancy. I'm thinking I give a survey prior to a reading and

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1121464247879427872005-07-15T17:47:00.000-04:002005-07-15T17:50:47.883-04:00

I have just checked The Final Freedoms and downloaded the PDF. Will look at this soon.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1109297829021159302005-02-24T21:09:00.000-05:002005-02-24T21:17:09.023-05:00

I'm reading for Philosophy of Religion class tomorrow, and find a sentence that expresses my view on the Christian church. Charles Hartshorne says that his father was "not a fundamentalist, that is, not a Christian who confuses worship of God with worship of a certain set of ancient documents written (and translated) by human beings" (Hartshorne 65). Those that regard the Bible as the

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1108873811748693352005-02-19T23:22:00.000-05:002005-02-19T23:30:11.750-05:00

I have a presentation to do on cult groups for Sociology of Religion. I'm not sure if I want to do Charles Manson and Helter Skelter (I'd love to play the song to set up my speech) or Jim Jones and the People's Temple. I think Jim Jones would be very easy, just following the events leading to mass suicide. However, I also think many people do not really understand Charles Manson, his supposed

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1108346847062194892005-02-13T21:00:00.000-05:002005-02-13T21:07:27.063-05:00

Earlier, I said that there is no proof da Vinci was involved in any occult group, including the Priory of Sion. However, I am now reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail, and they speak of the Dosiers secrets. In these documents, a list is given of supposed leaders of the Priory. This list includes Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and others ranging from 1188 to 1918. I do not think this

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1107985642451161492005-02-09T16:43:00.000-05:002005-02-09T16:47:22.453-05:00

I just found the website of the ministry that I have worked with in the Dominican Republic! It makes me want to go back. I've been there twice, and helped build a house in Villa Ascension last time. Visit the page, DominicanCrossroads.com

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1107983344518324122005-02-09T15:59:00.000-05:002005-02-09T16:09:04.516-05:00

OK, I've just received my page on Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life" back. Figured I'd post it, I just like what it says. Titled "Rick Warren's Assumptions" Rick Warren, in "The Purpose Driven Life", makes the argument that there is no accident in the broader view of events. He presents God as the overseer of everything that occurs in the world, and that everything has been planned prior to

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1106970140580557342005-01-28T22:36:00.000-05:002005-01-28T22:42:20.580-05:00

"Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen." My favorite quote in this week's Time magazine. Then, President Bush says, "The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." His expansion of freedom involves forcing the people to change their lives, government and view on society...this seems to limit their choice. OK, I'm done.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1106010434392255922005-01-17T19:51:00.000-05:002005-01-17T20:07:14.393-05:00

So, it's been five months since my last post. Wow! I just thought I would post again for my own good. As long as I have a website, I might as well use it. Right now, I'm in Maryville College January term "God at the Movies". We've watched four movies so far, "Breaking the Waves", "Mystic River", "Devil's Playground" and "Saved!" They're pretty good, I believe each movie has been better than the

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1091680510994032502004-08-05T00:02:00.000-04:002004-08-05T00:35:10.996-04:00

Reading Introduction to Freemasonry I-III, I believe it shows a religion on nearly every page, except those few pages where it fights the definition of religion. Religion is defined as: Merriam Webster 11th Edition: 2: a personal set or institutional system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices 3: scrupulous conformity 4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs helt to with ardor and

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1091072580295296592004-07-28T22:31:00.000-04:002004-07-28T23:43:00.296-04:00

With the different readings (I have completed Introduction to Freemasonry I and History of Knoxville Scottish Rite Bodies) I have learned the differences between Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite, operative and speculative, and guild masons and freemasons. I just wonder why the operative mason is revered in the speculative form of today.  If one can find these principles in masonry, where are the

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1090468946960408872004-07-21T23:50:00.000-04:002004-07-22T00:02:26.960-04:00

Before I get off, I wanted to address the issue (my issue) of straight edge.  This group of punks is dedicated to three restrictions, no drugs, no alcohol, no sex until marriage.  Now I have been in argument with someone who follows this to the extreme, reading Peta only news (will not hear the other side of an issue), purchasing a hemp wallet and shoes, and becoming a vegan.  The straight edge

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1090382804195657872004-07-21T00:06:00.000-04:002004-07-21T00:06:44.196-04:00

Religion News Blog : Popular version of Kabbalah is more New Age than genuine: An article beginning with original mystical Kabbalah, then comparing the popular Kabbalah. "Today, many well-known celebrities have popularized a New Age pop-psychology distortion of Kabbalah" (par 25). May write more tomorrow.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-109038125040408722004-07-20T21:41:00.000-04:002004-07-20T23:40:50.406-04:00

In studying Mormonism, I have come across Freemasonry several times.  Having very little idea what it might encompass, I bought (through e-bay) the History of Knoxville Scottish Rite Bodies (published 1981, so far talks about temple in Knoxville, even describing the interior), the Masonic Bible, three masonic handbooks and introduction to freemasonry.  The secret society can be seen in many

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1090374046108905992004-07-20T21:10:00.000-04:002004-07-20T21:40:46.106-04:00

Just going to rant and rave for a minute.  Reading Newsweek this afternoon, I'm hearing that the "threat today from Al Qaeda may be just as serious as in the summer of 2001".  The "relationship between Iran and Al Qaeda" has come from the commission this week, and the only thing I can say is that's stupid.  Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran; the blame for destruction has been moved from country to country,

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089945387516167542004-07-15T22:16:00.000-04:002004-07-15T22:36:27.516-04:00

Here it is, Thursday night, only 24 hours left until the bachelor party starts.  Philip gets married in less than a month, so the guys are going out to the wilderness tomorrow.  I just thought I would say here that (while you think I'm going to say I hope he has a great marriage and a happy life, happy children) John is my scapegoat when I'm the only one without some kind of gift.  He said he

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089760020960557392004-07-13T19:07:00.000-04:002004-07-13T19:07:00.960-04:00

Religion News Blog : Cult of the Day; Celebs Snared Just a few days after I bring up celebrity Kabbalah and Scientology at the same time, I find an article on the "Hollywood craze for Scientology or Madonna's favourite, Kabbalah" (par 2). Found it Tuesday, it was posted Monday, reported Sunday (same day I wrote, I think). So, I'm not the only one who sees Philip Berg as a man who set out to

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089604300999095332004-07-11T22:54:00.000-04:002004-07-11T23:51:41.000-04:00

OK, I've been thinking about writing something on the upcoming election, but wasn't sure if I should. I'm not a very political person, so I have no idea how to express myself here. But then I see the George W. Bush speech at Pennsylvania (recorded from Friday) and know I should say something. Having read Bush at War, I know where the administration was following the September 11th attacks.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089514914155198242004-07-10T21:36:00.000-04:002004-07-10T23:01:54.156-04:00

Reading the Newsweek today (yes, I read Newsweek every week, and scan the New York Times every day, it's free in e-mail, everyone should get it), I saw the article on Kabbalah with the picture of Madonna (that is her name, right?). I just can't believe the 'spiritual quests' that people and celebrities are taking. Two examples are 'Kabbalah' and Scientology, the former claiming to be authentic

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089428552083545022004-07-09T22:29:00.000-04:002004-07-09T23:02:32.083-04:00

World Religions was perhaps my favorite class in college. I feel that everyone should see the alternative to their own beliefs and understand where they are. We covered Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. An example of the benefit of hearing the other side (or rather, disadvantage of not hearing) is the avoidance of stereotyping. One excellent example of a debate in which one person (

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1089154688807601992004-07-06T18:55:00.000-04:002004-07-07T22:54:47.406-04:00

I'm going to present the (essential) doctrines of the current Christian church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and do a little comparison. Anyway, I guess I'll start with my main point. I don't believe Mormons are Christians. Either that, or Christians aren't Christians. Considering the history of Mormonism, I would think that they would believe the latter to be true.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1088978706090464162004-07-04T17:49:00.000-04:002004-07-04T18:05:26.473-04:00

Happy 4th of July from Florida! I'm in New Smyrna with family just waiting for the fireworks tonight. Been geocaching from Orlando to Daytona, and had a good time. I'm going to tell about my previous readings and discussions. Probably only the LDS church right now (may change next month, in another hour, or whenever). I'm not going to present the many websites from both sides right now, but

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1088049983629421032004-06-23T22:50:00.000-04:002004-06-24T00:06:23.630-04:00

I've just read of the death of the exalted prophet. Joseph Smith dies June 27th, 1844, "throwing his gun at the assailants and lunging for the second-story window in a vain effort to escape...yelling out the first four words of the Masonic call of distress: 'Oh, Lord my God'" (Abanes 199-201). Before this, he has been through legal (and physical) disputes, moving from state to state to avoid

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1087878877537053342004-06-22T00:20:00.000-04:002004-06-22T00:34:37.536-04:00

Haven't posted in a while...I've been reading One Nation Under Gods - A History of the Mormon Church. It's been good to read of Joseph Smith's true life, contrary to what you might hear in the History of the Church. This work cites about every other sentence, so the idea of Joseph being nothing but a treasure seeker is supported by journals. Time for bed...

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1087057251578575042004-06-12T11:36:00.000-04:002004-06-12T12:20:51.576-04:00

Articles of Faith, Ch.24, p.430 - p.431 Anyway, I find that chapter 47 of the Gospel Principles (personal study guide and teacher's manual for LDS) does not speak of the power of God, but rather the potential power in each man (most likely man alone). It alludes to God having once been a man, and man becoming a God. "If we prove faithful to the Lord...We will become exalted, just like our

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1087054231967923242004-06-12T11:30:00.000-04:002004-06-12T11:30:31.966-04:00

This is the grand hall in the temple. The next day, I went to Saint Patrick's Temple and Saint Thomas Church, and trust me, they beat the LDS by a long shot. 

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1087012895525048182004-06-12T00:01:00.000-04:002004-06-12T00:01:35.526-04:00

Meridian: The Place Where Latter-day Saints Gather I'm just going to write about the LDS temple, whatever comes to mind. And BTW, they didn't require tickets to get in! I had mine printed 2-3 weeks in advance to ensure I would get in. Found some pictures of the inside of the Manhattan temple. Seeing this...ehh, it's not that impressive. It looks like a hotel lobby. The paintings were

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1087002833677733532004-06-11T21:00:00.000-04:002004-06-11T21:13:53.676-04:00

Here I am struggling to get online for the past 3-4 days, and then when I give up, ready to call the people, it works. Amazing, it must be reading my mind. Anyway, I'm back from NY and I've had a lot of time to read. Purchased Bush at War in Huntington, NY, and I've almost finished it. It tells of the 100 days after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It's very interesting to hear what's

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1086047341253361312004-05-31T19:27:00.000-04:002004-05-31T19:49:01.253-04:00

Well, I'm off to New York in less than 12 hours. I don't know when I'll be able to post again; all that matters is that I'll see my favorite city of the US. Anyway, Friday at 1 I'm going to the new LDS Temple for the tour, and I still have no idea what will happen there. I'm pretty sure they will give us time for questions, and I thought I might ask about the exaltation and where that places

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085967898751247932004-05-30T21:13:00.000-04:002004-05-30T21:44:58.750-04:00

OK, as to the Bible, I'll just come right out and say it. I do not believe this book is the Word of God. It may be the words (lower case) of men expressing their love towards God, merely writing down what they feel towards heaven. It is the human response to God. Example: Interpreting the story of Creation literally is a display of "conscious literalism", seeing the story as reality despite

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085954918735235622004-05-30T19:04:00.000-04:002004-05-30T21:05:39.680-04:00

When describing the cult as a social system, it exhibits four characteristics. These are transformation, monitoring, feedback, and boundary control. Transformation is when systems take "input from the outside, which can be raw material, energy, or information, and process it into output...allow(ing)the system to carry out operations essential to its own continuity or to the needs of a larger

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085931042971171892004-05-30T11:30:00.000-04:002004-05-30T11:30:42.970-04:00

LDS Manhattan New York Temple...I'll be visiting this temple this coming Friday, staying with my relatives in Huntington until then. I hope they show the majority of the rooms, and explain what happens there. I don't know how long this tour will last, as a new one starts every 15 minutes...I believe it will be a 10 minute video and then the group is given the tour. Considering the Sociology

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085887707072181652004-05-29T23:16:00.000-04:002004-05-29T23:28:27.073-04:00

Right now I'm studying cults and their effects on the followers. As long as it's summer, I figure I can study whatever I want, but come fall semester, I'll be back to the syllabus. So I'm reading Cults by Marc Galanter right now, and he defines charismatic group as a group whose members "(1) have a shared belief system, (2) sustain a high level of social cohesiveness, (3) are strongly

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085879743528515402004-05-29T21:14:00.000-04:002004-05-29T21:15:43.526-04:00

I'm going out to play pool, one of my favorite sports. I'm finally getting the hang of it...

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085839693421072052004-05-29T10:08:00.000-04:002004-05-29T10:08:13.420-04:00

Geocaching is only the best way to spend your weekends out there! I found the geocaching website when a friend mentioned everything you can do with a GPS. Now I have another excuse to go hiking and "treasure hunting". All you need is the GPS and the heart to make it through those you can't find.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085812024522347192004-05-29T02:24:00.000-04:002004-05-29T02:27:04.523-04:00

Here it is 2:30 in the morning, and I'm up posting to the Internet nothing at all. I just wonder who will see this first? Anyone out there? :) OK, good night, Knoxville.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085810832530428082004-05-29T02:07:00.000-04:002004-05-29T02:07:12.530-04:00

Ship of Fools: the Magazine of Christian Unrest check out the first online church, I've been there several times, it's...interesting...to say the least. Discussions can be great, but spammers get in the way.

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146273.post-1085810488700774752004-05-29T01:59:00.000-04:002004-05-29T02:01:28.700-04:00

I just thought I could try this...if this is my only post, oh well!

Awkward Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250571359336921566noreply@blogger.com0