In Reply to: Re: So many beliefs posted by ray on July 07, 2003 at 10:12:58:
My explanation is relative to our own experience. Many people were already detached from social anchors (drop outs) and so their/our transition was easier but I remember the rich man not wanting to sell all that he had to follow Jesus. So there were and are many complex reasons to join, to remain and to disjoin. What I was explaining was my view of similar ideas, but yet different, co-existing within mankind. I was not talking about the social processes or facts that cause group/community separations. A good example is that of the rapture. How come some very learned people believe in it and some other equally learned people don't believe in it. The same can be said about contradictory prophecy interpretations.
Consensus is not necessarily an infallibible proof of facts but maybe only reflect a necessity of our social nature as humans. Sometimes consensus results from the necessity to agree, and belief follows. At other times, the arrow moves in the opposite direction and consensus results from belief. I am sure we could find good social examples for these two.
But your point of "what fellowship hath light w/ darkness?" about being from the same "source" is well taken. I don't disagree but something seems amiss. Notice that deception does not come in big chunks but in small increments. Because of this, the source of two contradictory positions CAN be the same. What is questionable is the reason (or source) for that separation. Using the same word, "source", for two different and separate things can confuse.