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    %ABUSE SCRIPTURE TEXT TRANSLATION MAGIC MYSTERY+961222
   %CONTROL OTHERS LESS POWERFUL INFLUENTIAL ALIENS 961222

     Some  people are prone to abuse the text of what they
say they regard as sacred scriptures in a variety of ways:

     1.  Treating  translations  of original texts  as  if
they  were  the  actual  words  of  God  spoken  in  God's
transcendent  language---rather  than words formulated  in
the language of particular people at particular  times  in
particular  settings   within  which  the  words  conveyed
particular  meanings because of the  ways  the words  were
used in that particular time, place and setting.

     2.  Worshipping words of scriptural texts as if  they
were God---and worthy of ultimate concern and worship.

     3.  Using  words  of scriptural  texts as  tools with
which  to  inflict harm upon others who are less  powerful
and able to defend themselves than are those who abuse the
texts.

     4.  Using words  of scriptural texts  as  tools  with
which  to elevate self above the level of others  who  are
less  powerful and less able to elevate themselves by  the
use of scriptural texts in such ways.

     5.  Using   the   words  of   scriptural   texts   in
disintegrative  ways  which  are  inconsistent  with   the
original integrative intent of those texts.

     6.  Treating  the  words  of scriptural texts  as  if
their  meanings were congruent with modern paradigms which
had  not  been conceived at the time that  the  scriptural
texts  were written down---overlaying upon the  scriptural
texts meanings which are controlled by modern paradigms.

     7.  Treating the words of scriptural texts as if they
were  written  in reference to a particular  modern  time,
place   and  situation  more  than  in  reference  to  any
particular   time,    place   and  situation   which   was
contemporaneous with the writing of the texts.

     8.  Treating  the words of scriptural text as if they
are  magical  tools  with  magical  powers  which  can  be
manipulated  to accrue advantage to modern manipulators of
their magical powers.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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