I guess we see things differently. I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. I was just saying that Richard Beck and the mystics were correct. And then said R.C. sproul’s Calvinism is the doctrine of demons. Not meaning that Richard said that.
Dave,
You support the greatest abuser of them all - Trump. He’s insanely abusive.
Thanks Michael.
Michael - I’ve never said I support Trump. Lots of folks read that into what I DO support: anything Trump does in the interest of America, Which is his job. If he does well, I support it. If he doesn’t, I don’t.
He’s a maniac Dave and he abuses women.
I wasn’t aware that saying “Calvinism is a doctrine of demons” is against the rules here, but apparently it is (see below). No doubt some here think that even if they don’t say it.
Well, I would be very interested in what everyone will say… Jason and Cindy will no doubt chime in and should.
Good luck all… 
They’ll probably both protect the abusive doctrines. They’re both blasphemous.
Despite supposedly being blasphemous supporters of abuse, the ad/mods have been aaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy tolerant of you and your activities over the years, Michael.
Not that we expect gratitude or even common sense in return. (You’re daring on your own supposed spiritual enlightenment, thanks to Buddhist study of all things, to declare various people have in all likelihood or even certainly gone to hell for who knows how many millions of years, but I’m the one who is committing blasphemy somehow??) But I thought I’d point that fact out. You didn’t get temp-banned for the first thread, nor for this one either. You haven’t even been given an official warning.
The institution of the rather complicated rule about spiritually badmouthing other beliefs and the people associated with them, was reluctantly and after great patience put into place by the owners and ad/mods after partisans on the forum nearly tore it apart years ago. Even then we have been highly lenient about enforcing the rules.
We’re being highly lenient about this trollish flamebaiting now, to give the most immediately pertinent example. But we don’t have to be.
Sorry Jason but I’m getting better and it is because I have moved away from R.C. Sproul’s Calvinism. It is the exact thing that causes me to experience megalomania. I find that his Calvinism of self-esteem and being highly valued as an image bearer of God and being God’s special chosen exacerbates the mental problem. It places me at the center of the universe with no break in the deterministic chain of logic. Being at the center of everything is just an egoism delusion that paranoid schizophrenics have to an extreme degree. This is why I have become nothing or nobody special. Here’s how Eckhart Tolle describes the mental illness:
This has been my experience as well. When my ego deflates and I’m no longer a “somebody” or a special famous person the symptoms subside. I’m no longer boxed in on center stage all the time. The Buddhists, mystics, and psychologists like Richard Beck are correct. The doctrine of self is demonic. We die to self and become poor in spirit. Thanks for your tolerance with me but I’m not changing my views on this. I have experienced this and know it’s the truth.
Some questions for you, Michael
How is this any different from folks who claim God, speaks to them of the tribulation? And they see the zombie apocalypse happening? At least - for that - I can point to different people…not related or who know each other…who have similar experiences.
Folks get their experiences verified. Catholic and Eastern Orthodox lay folks and clergy, have priests or spiritual guides. The Native Americans, get help from an elder. Folks practicing Zen, consult a Zen master. Tibetan practitioners consult a Tibetan lama. Have you consulted anyone of spiritual authority - to validate your experiences?
How do you know, that Michael is not going to hell - for trillions of years? What is your criteria - for saying you are saved and someone else is damned? Even the Roman Catholic church, won’t say someone is DEFINITELY in hell.
I can ask other questions. But let’s start, with the 3 above.
The words of the psychiatrist David D. Burns ring true
After you achieve unconditional self-esteem, you can climb another step up the ladder if you want. On the next step, you can adopt the even more radical position that there is no such thing as self-esteem…On this level, you can discard the notion of self-esteem entirely and refuse to deal with it. This solution to the problem of is in the Buddhist tradition because self-esteem is rejected as a useless illusion. Giving up your self-esteem once you have discovered it may sound like a negative notion. It may feel like a loss and seem like something inside you dies. All of us naturally want to feel special and worthwhile. However, there is a rebirth, because the death of your pride and ego can lead to new life and to a more profound vision. When you discover that you are nothing, you have nothing to lose, and you inherit the world…Instead of worrying about whether you are worthwhile each day you can have goals that involve learning, personal growth, helping others, and so on.
Randy,
When you die to self you reach enlightenment. R.C. Sproul’s Calvinism contradicts this. He could have died to self before he died. Even Hitler could have found enlightenment before he died.
Sorry, Michael. Folks can claim to be “enlightened”. But enlightenment validation - is passed on. It’s a linage. Whether it’s Zen Masters, Tibetan Lamas, Sufi mystics, or RC and EO mystics. The RC and EO churches, declare someone is a saint. Another Zen master, says someone is enlightened. Another Tibetan lama, says someone is enlightened. Another Sufi sage, says someone is enlightened. Otherwise, it’s just New Age balony.
I’ve changed Randy. My whole family sees it. My old friends see it and my psychologist sees it. I’m different now.
I’m glad you changed. I hope it’s for the better. And you embrace more of the love, that Christ talked about. And more of the wisdom and compassion, that Buddha talked about.
Exactly Randy.
compassion and gentleness. Kindness. It’s the opposite of R.C. Sproul’s self-esteem and specially chosen.
It’s taken me years to get where I’m at today. I’m happy and I communicate just fine now. I’ve never been able to do that my whole life. Not you or any of the so called experts of EU are going to manipulate me into thinking I’m not okay when I am. I’m clean and sober and losing weight. I’m doing just fine. No thanks to R.C. Sproul’s Calvinism.
You have no idea what you are talking about. It isn’t your business to know who goes where. Besides, your theology changes weekly. So I am not really sure anyone even takes your opinion seriously. That said, I do not wish any I’ll of you, nor to make you feel less than anyone else. I don’t know your past nor trials, but to a forum regular, you are not stable enough to engage in any meaningful conversation. You don’t even know your own position. You remind me a bit like Donald Trump’s in that regard. All the best, but please refrain from speaking poorly of the dead.
You just bring up my past Gabe when I was manic and off my meds. You know nothing about me and my life. Sproul could have died to self before he died but He taught the false self-esteem gospel. This is contradictory to the true death to self born again experience that I’ve had. And you obviously haven’t or you wouldn’t continue to bring up my past. You don’t know what you’re talking about.