Yes, I read people of the lie, and while it did provide much insight into evil, it was not as important in my own growth as "The Road...". I also read "The Different Drum", which dealt with the concept of community. Again, it was itneresting, but not life changing for me.
Perry
From: "ShieldsFamily" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] M Scott Peck a Christian LOL Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 22:49:25 -0600
Perry,
I am so glad to hear that M. Scott Peck was of some assistance to you when
you were a seeker. Yours is a perfect example of what Bill and I were trying
to discuss before we were interrupted: that all Truth is of God, and
therefore beneficial to those who are willing to hear it. The Lord has not
just given all truth to Christians, or to Christians who have the "right"
doctrine, or Christians who have the "right" doctrine plus perfect lives. To
ignore truth from non-Christians is to me a lack of faith in God's
Omnipotence. He is Big enough to speak through a donkey, and certainly
through any human with an open, inquisitive mind.
That's what astounded me by Peck's book "The Road Less Traveled". He wasn't
even a Believer, yet it was so full of amazing common sense and practical
wisdom that anyone could understand. Things like "Love is hard work." Don't
think you "love" someone if you aren't willing to do the work that it
requires, like spending time with them, etc. What was it that spoke to you
at the time?
My favorite book, by far, of Peck's is "The People of the Lie". Did you read
that one? In it he says that he believes that psychiatry should have a
diagnosis of "evil", and he spends the book describing his encounters with
"evil" people who were his patients, and his experiences with attending
actual exorcisms. His explanation of how to diagnose and comprehend the
behavior of evil people was EXTREMELY helpful to my husband and me when we
were dealing with a nightmare situation of slander against him. It helped us
gain perspective when we were reeling with the emotions one goes through at
a time like that. And it has helped us strive for forgiveness by
understanding that "they know not what they do" when evil people "project"
their own self-hatred onto their victims.
Whether Peck is a Christian today is only God's decision; who of us can look
inside another's heart? He is definitely under RCC persuasion, and is
influenced by a whole lot of his past life (aren't we all?). He also still
clings to non-Biblical beliefs in a lot of areas. But he claims to have had
a definite conversion from paganism to a love of Jesus Christ, and I accept
his statement at face value. One doesn't grow to perfection in a day-it is a
process that goes beyond our lives on this earth, in fact. However, I notice
that the Peck books that we have in our library do not sit in the
"Christian" section, but in the philosophy section. He is no theologian.
My personal philosophy is that where you are on the spiritual spectrum is not nearly as important as which direction you are heading. Are you heading towards Jesus, or towards darkness? The ones who think they have "arrived" are often the most dark of all. You can read about them in "The People of the Lie".
Izzy
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Perry Locke Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 3:29 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] M Scott Peck a Christian LOL
TT'rs,
Could it be possible that Scott Peck and his writings have a purpose in
the world outside of bringing people to Christ?
In the early 80's I was reading Peck's "The Road Less Traveled". It was
instrumental in my growth as an individual, and helped to place me on a path
of peace, tolerance, understanding, and others awareness. At that time I was
not a Christian, but a seeker.
10 years later I became a Christian and, if it was not for the changes
made in my life that I underwent in the early 80's, at least in part
assisted by Scott peck's book, I might not have ever found Christ (or, maybe
I would not have ever let Him find me!)
Would I have sought Christ without Scott peck's help? Would I have let
Him seek me without Scott Peck's help? Only God truly knows. But, I do know
that Peck's book was instrumental in turning me from an inward position,
focused on self, to an outward position, focused on others. Without this
turn, I may never have been able to recognize the movement of the Spirit
within me.
Perry
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