Pentecostal Religion

From: monkey

To: ed.babinski

Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 4:33 PM

Subject: Pentecostal Religion

Hello,

 

My name is Emily. I wanted to write you a note regarding the Chicken Soup for the ...... Soul article that I found while doing and internet search by typing in Pentecostal in the search engine. I not only am awe-struck by what you wrote I am praying for you as well. There are many "versions" of the pentecostal religion, united pentecostal, assembly of God, and then there is just the pentecostal religion. About 20 in all. But my point is this. Your article bashed ALL of them. You know, talking in tongues is NOT something bad. As a matter of fact I spoke in toungues last night at church. Praise God! There are MANY verses in the Bible where it refers to speaking in tongues as an act of God.

When you receive the Holy Ghost you speak in tongues.

Acts 2:4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2:3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

2:4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter.

Acts 19:6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied

1 Corinthians 14:18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1 Corinthians 14:22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

14:23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

14:24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

14:25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

14:26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

There are many more that verify that speaking in tongues is OF GOD! I do pray and hope that maybe someday you can experiance the JOY and peace that you receive from this. It is Amazing! There is nothing more amazing than feeling the presence of God come over you. Next time you feel like bashing a religion try looking it up in the Bible, so you don't bash the Truth.

In faith,

Emily

From: Ed Babinski
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 8:48 AM
To: monkey monkey
Subject: Re: Pentecostal Religion

ED: Thanks Emily, I am happy your Pentecostal faith has saved you from depression. But you are only at the beginning of your Christian journey. To make a crass comparison, it is not unlike a heroin user's first injection (which they claim is always the best, and which they strive to acheive again for the rest of their lives). There is always joy in the beginning. Then comes the dogmas, the head stuff, like hell for non-believers which includes friends, relatives even perhaps for your own children who "go astray' concerning the "one true faith." And further questions such as "Why do other Christian denominations frown on speaking in tongues?" "Why do so many different denominations disagree over what the Bible really treaches from Genesis to Revelation?" What manner and types of "truth" are there "in the bible?" Or, what happens when Pentecostals themselves disagree?

"Emily !" writes:

Ed,

Is it not true that we are not to look into the future with doubt? Hasn't it been said, if you want it to be bad...it will? Rather than looking into the future, look at the present. I've been repeatedly told not to dwell on the past...it won't change it. As worrying on the future...it isn't going to change it. God's already got it planned. And I would much rather trust him and allow him to guide my steps rather than me worrying about when my depression will come back, but most importantly IF it will come 2back. I am not here to PLEASE other people. My friends and family, sure I love them. But truthfully their opinion doesn't hurt me or help me. They don't choose my eternity? Why should I live for and through them??? A thought provoking idea. From my theory, religion is not inherited which is what you made it sound to be. relatives even perhaps for your own children who "go astray' concerning the "one true faith." I am not allowing anyone to choose my faith I am going by a God led heart driven faith trusted feeling. As for my children (who may someday come...not now, I have none) but when and if they do, sure I will raise them in the religion that I am and allow them to grow and prosper as God leads them.

If they choose to "go astray" that is between them and God. It will hurt, yes, but I won't allow it to crush my faith. If they find another religion that they like or deem more suitable for them then that is most e2xcellent. I will pray for and with them. Because it isn't about what building you go to, what religion you are, what clothes you where or what color your eyes are It is about the one God that you serve. It is about following your OWN heart, allowing God to work through you and obeying the convictions that he places on your heart.

With Faith,

Emily

From: Ed Babinski"
To: "Emily !"
Subject: Re: Pentecostal Religion

Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 13:47:12 -0500

Emily,

You mentioned below something about "opinions hurting people," and how "their opinions doesn't hurt me or help me." But my opinions on the web still bother you?

Ed

I've prayed and will continue to pray for you. Last night I had a wonderful service and a wonderful encounter of the Holy Ghost. Life is on the up and up...;) Take Care.

ED: You too, Emily.
From: Ed Babinski"
To: "Emily !"
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: Pentecostal Religion

"Emily !" writes:

Ed,

Although I am at work I wanted to take a second to write. No, your opinion no longer bothers me. Truthfully they have never bothered me...they irritated me that the Devil could sway someone who HAS experianced truth.

ED: The author of WHEN CHRISTIAN KIDS LEAVE THE FAITH felt the same way about a friend of his who used to debate atheists and was extremely strong in his faith. His anguish at his friend's departure from evangelical Christianity is poignantly recorded in that book.

Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith by Tom Bisset, John T. Bisset

Banned Book: About Leaving the Fold by Edward T. Babinski

"The book was recently removed from the shelves of the Anderson County Public Library in South Carolina (Babinski's home state), due to complaints from patrons. The book contains nearly three dozen first-hand testimonies from former fundamentalists who have become liberal Christians, agnostics or atheists. According to Babinski, 'I've tried to get the local newspaper to interview me since writing my book, but they never had the time. Sales have been slow. Now, miracle of miracles, the book is being mentioned in newspapers, television and radio. God bless those Christians!'"

The Secular Humanist Bulletin

Your comments are welcomed!

---

Controversial Book: "Leaving the Fold: Testimonies of Former Fundamentalists"

by Edward T. Babinski

This book is primarily a collection of testimonies by people who were Protestant Christian fundamentalists and who later left fundamentalism (with the exceptions of Tom Harpur and Harvey Cox, who were moderate Christians whose views underwent a broadening similar to what some fundamentalist contributors experienced).

A hard-line fundamentalist may wish to warn the authors of this book's testimonies, and anyone reading this book, that "hell" is probably their "next destination." But he will have to do better than that if he hopes to convince his former brethren to rejoin him in his "straight and narrow" appreciation of the Bible and Jesus. He may even have to read this entire book to understand where his former brethren are "coming from" rather than simply predict where he thinks they are going.

I first tried marketing this book in parts. The testimonies of those who had left fundamentalism but remained Christians were to be published by a moderate liberal Christian press; the testimonies of those who had left both fundamentalism and religion were to be published by an atheist or agnostic press. However, some testimonies, such as those by William Bagley and Ernest Heramia, did not fit easily into either category.

I contacted several moderate and liberal Christian publishing houses and found that none of them were interested in "testimonies." I think that is a defect of moderate and liberal Christian sensibilities. Perhaps they do not wish to "lower" their standards, so to speak, by copying confrontational evangelistic techniques used by conservatives and fundamentalists, one such technique being "testifying." (Can I hear an "Amen," brother?) Yet personal testimonies are remarkably effective at conveying feelings, not merely facts; deeds, not merely dogmas; and they incite people to act as well as to think. For many years evangelical Protestant Christianity has used the power inherent in a single person's "testimony" to win new converts and buoy the faith of old ones.

So, after several rejections from moderate and liberal publishing houses, I offered the testimonies to the largest free-thought press in America, Prometheus Books. At first I was skeptical whether a "free-thought" press would print testimonies by people who had remained Christians, but I was assured that promoting genuinely free thinking was more important to the press than selectively chopping up every hundred-thousand-word manuscript they bought until it resembled a ten-page primer for atheism. Prometheus has published three full-length autobiographies of people whose faith in Christianity was shattered after they had witnessed the unethical or demagogic practices of church leaders and the naivete of their followers (i.e., Salvation for Sale, Don't Call Me Brother, and Jesus Doesn't Live Here Anymore). None of the authors of those books is an atheist. Furthermore, printing only testimonies advocating atheism would be to fall into the same error as that of the fundamentalists, who feel it imperative that everyone believe exactly as they do.

I suppose that the nearest that fundamentalist Christians ever came to advocating greater diversity rather than greater uniformity was when Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority, which, until its demise in 1986, focused on the moral (and political) concerns of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Considering what fundamentalist Protestants teach about the grave errors of Catholicism (not to mention Judaism), that was quite an amalgamation for a fundamentalist like Jerry Falwell to construct. But, as they say, "politics makes strange bedfellows." For that matter, so does televangelism."

(Chuckle.)

This book exemplifies how an even more diverse array of people (far more diverse than the Moral Majority) is willing to band together to speak out on an issue that has intimately affected all of them, hoping thereby to increase the volume and scope of their declarations.

Once you have read all the testimonies, certain threads linking them together become apparent: the dilemmas and fears each person faced in leaving fundamentalism behind; their gradually dawning courage to ask crucial critical questions, and to continue asking more questions; their discovery of how wonderful it can be to allow one's innate curiosity the freedom it craves; and the blossoming of their distinctive personalities and beliefs. Anyone who enjoys a novel with idiosyncratic and markedly diverse characters will enjoy reading what lies ahead.

Of course, people who have left fundamentalism can differ markedly in their reactions to it. At one end of the spectrum are those who bid fundamentalism a "fond farewell." They had fun as fundamentalists, particularly in their youth. They also remind us that belonging to a fundamentalist church is a healthy alternative to drug addiction, alcoholism, and crime. A fundamentalist church setting can provide some with the social and psychological context that helps them to legitimize and catalyze radical changes they wish to make in their lives. (Of course, individuals must also want to change in the first place. No mere context can do that for you, as groups like Alcoholics Anonymous have pointed out.)

At the other end of the spectrum are those who aim both barrels at their former fundamentalist lives and beliefs. They view fundamentalist organizations as robbing people of their money (through "tithing," "giving till it hurts," and phoney come-ons to garner more contributions than a television ministry knows what to do with); robbing people of their time (every minute involved in church activities); robbing people of their health (phoney promises made by "faith healers"); and robbing people of their individuality, their freedom of thought, or even their ability to appreciate life.

Both perspectives can undoubtedly be true, depending on each individual's personal experiences. It was left up to each contributor to discuss in whatever terms they chose their entrance into and exit from fundamentalism, and to explain where they are today.

If you are a Christian, you may be interested primarily in testimonies by former fundamentalists who remained Christians. If you are not a Christian, but open to non-Christian spiritualities (wiccan or eastern), then you may find testimonies of that nature more to your liking. If you "don't know" which part of the book you might enjoy reading first, try the testimonies of those who became agnostics. If you are an atheist, your curiosity may be peaked by that section. Or, if you are a historian, you may wish to flip to the final section of testimonies of historical figures.

Readers of all persuasions should peruse the annotated bibliography that lists further testimonies. Or, you may wish to advance directly ahead.

© 2003

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