[sword-devel] Doctrinal Statement

[Dan Bertles]

Thanks George, 

My focus was in regard to allowing non-Biblical texts to enter the project
or not.  I definitely prefer NOT.  We come to know the real thing by
studying the real thing!  We can also know the counterfeit by studying the
real thing.  On the other hand, we should make sure that all godly texts are
available to everyone.  Isaiah 55:11 states the value of God's word
accomplishing what He intends.  Paul didn't care why people preached, so
long as the preaching was done.  If a cultist wants Sword, he's going to get
more than he is asking for.  I just wouldn't want this important project to
be smeared, compromised or defiled by false texts and doctrines.

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	George Washington Dunlap III [SMTP:dunlapg@umich.edu]
> Sent:	Thursday, July 27, 2000 11:41 AM
> To:	sword-devel@crosswire.org
> Subject:	RE: [sword-devel] Doctrinal Statement
> 
> I don't think we need to be combatative here.  Whether or not "mainstream
> Christianity" is true or not is not even the issue, I don't think.  I
> believe that most of the people who work on this project, and the target
> audience, are "mainstream Christians".  (Correct me if I'm wrong.)  This
> doesn't mean that we necessarily exclude other audiences; but that in
> chosing whether or not to accomodate them, we have to take into account
> how it will affect our target audience.
> 
> Contribution to the code, I believe, shouldn't matter a bit.  A die-hard
> atheist or buddhist could contribute to the code, as long as they do a
> good job and don't disrupt things in the mailing list, etc.
> 
> Texts may be another matter.  What I believe our brother Dan is asking
> (and he can correct me if I'm wrong) is whether we should post on our site
> & distribute on the CD-ROM texts, dictionaries, and commentaries from
> groups whose beliefs differ in some important way from "mainstream
> Christianity".  There are two possible problems I see.
> 
> The first is if someone downloads a text, commentary, or lexicon from
> SWORD for personal study, believing it to be from the viewpoint of
> "mainstream Christianity", and by reading it innocently picks up doctrines
> or ideas that "mainstream Christianity" considers heretical.  "Such
> offenses must come, but woe to him by whom they come."
> 
> The second problem is if the SWORD project gets some sort of reputation
> which will deter "mainstream Christians" from using our software.  In that
> case, the efforts of all the volunteers who have worked to make
> open-source bible software for their fellow churchgoers has been wasted.
> 
> There may be some advantages to accomodating non-"mainstream Christians",
> however, or to making such texts avaialable.  First, the increased user
> base and the possibility that there will be some good hackers in that
> community who can contribute to the project.  Secondly, it will make
> studying the different beliefs, both for the sake of finding the truth and
> for the sake of apologetics (i.e., persuading someone to change their
> mind, either to or from "mainstream Christianity") much easier.
> 
> So it might be good to consider who the target audience of this project
> is, and consider what the effects of posting any text might be for our
> target audience.
> 
> We're not stopping people from posting texts somewhere else, after all.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
>  -George Dunlap
> 
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2000, Gary Amirault wrote:
> 
> > I'm not a Christadelphian, but have you ever considered the fact that
> > perhaps the largest "cult" going might be "mainstream Christianity?"
> > Mainstream Judaism thought they were right in the flow of God and were
> > rudely awakened in 70AD. Is a repeat performance possible?
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-sword-devel@crosswire.org
> > [mailto:owner-sword-devel@crosswire.org]On Behalf Of Dan Bertles
> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 11:41 AM
> > To: Sword Development
> > Subject: [sword-devel] Doctrinal Statement
> > 
> > 
> > Troy,
> > 
> > Is there a doctrinal statement and/or standard set up for those who
> > contribute to the Sword Project?  I always look at links mentioned on
> the
> > e-mail list.  One pointed directly to an orginization called the
> > "Christadelphians" which is definitely a cult.  I would be uncomfortable
> > having someone contribute texts, etc. from someone who doesn't hold to
> the
> > standard tenants of mainstream Christianity.
> > 
> > Any thoughts on this?
> > 
> > In Christ,
> > 
> > Dan
> > 
> 
> -- 
> +-------------------+---------------------------------------
> | dunlapg@umich.edu | http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dunlapg 
> +-------------------+---------------------------------------
> | Rest is but weakness, laughter crackling thorns, 
> | If thou, the Truth, do not make them true:
> | Thou art my life, O Christ, and nothing else will do. 
> |		-George MacDonald
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