Tonight, at dinner, my dad was explaining Aaron’s view about how it was the people in 70 A.D. that were salted and his view of destruction, that now, of course, I can’t recall. It’s amazing how many ways to look at things there are. And until it’s explained to me it never even occurs to me that there is another way to see it. It’s understandable that there are so many outlooks. It’s hard for me to understand how there are some that see things so black and white. It’d be nice, at least, if people could appreciate the complexity of scripture and acknowledge the reasons for our differences, that we genuinely see scripture differently - not that we are trying to twist everything up. Sometimes it feels as if the more I learn, the less I know. It can be disconcerting. Most of us just want to be told what to believe. It sure would be easier that way. I’m so glad God doesn’t care that we have all the things sorted right in our head.
I’m nervous for you Alex. I hope the people you share with treat you well. I think they are decent enough people, but even decent enough people with the views that Joe expressed about the reasons for why one should leave their church can justify in their minds reasons to exclude people like you, even as you are desiring to be tolerant of them. But let’s think positive, right!
I’m following in Sonia’s pessimism here. Uh oh!
I’m only a short-term pessimist, in the long run I’m very optimistic! 
I imagine that Joe is a good guy. It’s been my experience, too, that minds aren’t easily changed. I think convictions take time to develop and are affected by our experiences.
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