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another response to a critic

11/6/2017

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Here is what a critic recently posted about my book:


“In all my years of study; with an open mind no less, I have never read a theological book so heretical. The Author has an agenda and that is not only to take down the Christian Church but also Our Loving Father and His Son Jesus. Let me state first, the Christian Church in all of it's many flavors should do a better job of coming together as one body beneath Christ. However, the disparaging attacks on the Christian Faith as whole by the Author was disconcerting to say the least. Where the Author failed is that Jesus taught the HIS Kingdom was not of this world. Jesus instructed each of us to cultivate a relationship with him from within, not from without. Something in my humble opinion, the Author clearly lacks."


I am going to respond now to each ridiculous accusation:


This person complains that I contradicted the teaching that Jesus taught that his kingdom was not of this world. Not only is this not true but I even AGREE that the true kingdom of Jesus was not in this world! This is actually one of the points that I make in the book! I also agree that Jesus taught that the spiritual life comes from within, not from without. This person clearly did not even read the entire book!

According to this person, who claims to have an “open mind,” I have an “agenda” to take down the “Christian Church.” But if this person had taken the time to actually finish the book he would have seen that this is also not true. I am only providing clarification, not destruction. Indeed, the subtitle of the book offers a clue: the intention is to reform, not to “disparage” the true mission of the Savior. Furthermore, it is certainly ironic that this person, who is clearly a committed member of the Pauline institution, would accuse me of being the one who has an “agenda.” If I have an agenda it is to seek the truth. An honest seeker of the truth must go wherever the evidence leads, even if it contradicts with what they were instructed as a child.

What seems to be happening is that people like this are getting to a point in the book that they perceive as heresy, then, in a fit of rage, jump to conclusions and give up on it and make accusations that are not true.

Jesus said that the truth will set you free. People who already believe that they know the truth despite not having the ability to back it up with facts are not free. They are confined inside an ideological box. Indeed it must be understood that this is a non-denominational/inter-religious problem that doesn't only apply to members of the Taliban, etc. The truth is that these accusations of heresy are a pre-programmed response from those who have been psychologically indoctrinated with a Dark Age understanding of their faith. These are not only people who are not ready for a higher level understanding but these are the same type of obstinate and reactionary people who put Jesus to death!

My advice to this person, and others like him/her, is to put down your pitchforks and torches and finish reading the book. 
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response to a critic

11/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Here is what a critic of the book recently wrote (I copied and pasted what they wrote, mistakes and all): 
​

" This book was an absolute waste of my money. Indo jkt reccomend this book to anyone. The author is so confused about what he is presenting. Examples he has given shows his lack of research on the subject. For exampl he presents some errors in the book of mathew where he compares geneologies of the gospels of Luke and Mathew. Unfortunately he has not done enough research to discover it was a translation error by the greek translators who have confused the word "gawra" . Its a horrible peice of work and dont bother wasting your money "



In my previous responses I remarked that these critics complain about the findings and yet are unable to cite any specific examples. At least this person actually provided ONE example. Let's now take a closer look at the example they provided: According to this person: I have “not done enough research” into the “geneologies of the gospels of Luke and Mathew”, and that I have “confused the word 'gawra'.” The fact is that the problem between the two genealogies is not based on the translation of any one word; this is because entire portions of the list do not match! The reader can see what I am talking about by going to Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38. In other words: this is NOT a translation issue. For me to say that this person is ill-informed would be an understatement; nevertheless, I am going to take the high road and leave it at that . . .

According to this person, there was a “lack of research on this subject.” I have actually dedicated the last eighteen years of my life to diligent research (I suspect that this person has not done the same). The truth is that the information presented is indeed accurate. There is no confusion. The real issue is that the information conflicts with what this person has been told by others – others who also did not understand the true mission of the Savior.

Furthermore, if this person is going to attempt to portray me as an amateur who did not do the research, then he/she would also have to accuse professional scholars (e.g. Robert H. Gundry Ph.D.; I. Howard Marshall Ph.D.; etc.) who also acknowledge that the difference in genealogies are evidence of contradiction and fallacy.

The fact is that most people (e.g., this person) are not sincere truth seekers. They tend to read books that confirm what they already believe to be true. It is also interesting how people such as this will fixate on one small thing that offends them, then spread this out to the entire thesis itself as a way to unburden themselves from uncomfortable facts (the old “straw-man” technique). Their minds and their hearts have been hardened. Jesus warned about people like this. Now I am getting a better understanding why the Savior believed that the people would not be able to handle the truth. Most cannot.

​My book is for people who are ready for the next level.


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    Aerik Vondenburg

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