Thanks to you, Alex. You've made it fun for all of us.
Cheers!

Alex, Kudos to you and the Spectrum team for keeping us thinking, laughing...and hopeful.

I laughed at the the illustration you have for this post. Sounds like some nights in my household! =)

Ha. Me too.

In fact, a friend referenced this cartoon after I was trying to comment online while playing a board game with other people. I got the hint. : )

Thanks Alex for your work. Just recognize that there are many "experts"...not just the ones we agree with.

Regards

pat

Go team!

You forgot to mention Canada! There must be others that enjoy Spectrum as much as I do in Canada. Great work folks! I enjoy reading your thoughtful comments. I don't write much but there is plenty to stimulate the thought processes on the Spectrum Blog.

God Bless us everyone!

Dan C. Calgary, Alberta Canada

Good to hear from you, Dan.

I just couldn't include all the countries. Canada has visitors from 126 cities. Halifax, Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, and Grand Prairie lead the pack.

Alex, you mean to say that dialogue is actually working with the readers of Spectrum's blog? What a concept!

Adventists from various points of view in e-conversation discussing contemporary and traditional issues within the church, it would seem that "conversation through community" might actually work.

Pat, that was a left-field comment as we celebrate our birthday. But hey, you are welcome here too.

Although I'm not sure exactly to what you're referring, I'm assuming that it applies to those times when you disagree with me, for example on the evidence for global warming. Although this is not the thread for it, instead of tossing out an implication without linked evidence, I'd find it more educational to see actual evidence for or against an expert or position, rather than just a semi-tautological reminder that all experts are human. Evidence of careful reading of complex thinking, all the more important in light of this little misreading.

This next year I'm going to work extra hard to have good science conversations supported by careful reading of evidence and citations.

Alex,

First time I've been called a "left-fielder commenter."...scary!

Others know what I speak of...but thanks for your work.

:~)
Pat

Yes, Pat, just try that label on, see how it feels. . . left. . .hmmm. Nice isn't it? :) :)

I am grateful for this site as well. I love the intellectual challenge and I know people have put a lot of time and energy into stating their views kindly and clearly.

Yep, we got us a whole continuum from progressive Raymond to lefty Pat.

Who says we ain't a spectrum? : )

Spectrum, the Journal, was born in a period of considerable tension within the church. Answers to Questions on Doctrine was published. M.L. Andreasen was "punished". Brinsmeadism was "Born". Scholars were shunned. Administrators took charge. (Most without any exposure to the "real" world.) The China Lobby was in full strength. People with great investment in the Church, professionally, personally, and financially were discounted and/or ignored.

Loma Linda was in crisis. Was the desert more "holy" than the city? A few Seventh-day Adventist scholars with a passion for the "Truth and the Church" formed Adventist Forums and its Journal Spectrum. I was there are the creation. At times, I think it has "lost" its way as a beacon for the Church. It certainly has created a lively place for conversation if not the change hoped for. I think Adventist Forums lost its clout when the Scholars "blinked" at Glacier View. They have never been able to regain their stature or clout. To think that a scholar with the privilege of Jan Paulsen could "hold the line" as tight as he has is amazing. I believe the bottom-line is that the multi-national nature of the current Church has preserved its fundamental culture. If time should last, I believe even that advantage will disappear and one will write Ichabod. At that time, may there be men and women of knowledge, skill, and moral fiber to say "This is the way walk ye in it!"

Today, I am merely one of the left handed commentators. That should not cloud--the love I have for the people of faith--regardless of affiliation. It is obvious that I have minimum high regard for the pompous. I was born a dirt farmer and it has framed my ethos and my ethic. Tom

Alex
Congratulations and many, many thanks! I am particularly grateful for the stats. They help us get the big picture. The geographical spread is especially interesting to me. Well done!
Dave

I have no idea if I'm left or right, but this website sure keeps me centered. I think I'm ambidextrous? Thanks for the insight, research and outreach.

When is the Adventist forum conference in orlando? I can't miss that! I live here!

Tom

I wasn't at Glacier View; however, some of those who were there explained the described their experience of what took place as follows:

"We showed up with our baseballs, bats and mits ready to play at least nine innings only to discover the game was not baseball but basketball. There wasn't much for us to do but watch the others play."

I'm prepared to take them at their word. Generally speaking I think it a good idea to give people the benefit of the doubt because that's how I like to be treated.

Thanks!

Dave

Dave

That is a good analogy. However, Des, and Adventist Forums initiated the conflict. They should have been at the ready to defend Truth more than their own sustentation. If they had they would have saved both and a lot of administrators full of bluff would have asked from a retirement package.
The final blow was a riff between John Brinsmead and Robert. John went to the Conference President in Australia and told him that Robert's press had agreed to print enough copies of Des's manuscript for all of the delegates. The Union Presisent called Neal Wilson and say: Des in in bed with Robert. That was the end of the line for Des, Robert and the church. Now serious scholars concerned about tenure and sustentation study esoteric nonsense and trivial social issues and stay away from the obvious findings of Numbers, Veltmann, Adams, and Rhea et al.

So we commission a book of homosexuality to expose the brethern as being neaderthal, Or we make a terror strip out of 666 and the Mark of the Beast. Saved by Grace is a minor issue. Even less than two meals a day, or preparation for a Sabbath that contains every sort of shopping pleasure. Obviously one should not go into Marie Callender with un- shined shoes an Macy's in common street clothes. If they do it in Richmond County Geoegia, you can be sure they do it in L.A. ! Never-the-less, less than one in ten could recite the Apostle Creed and if they could they would deny its significance and claim it as part of the mark of the beast.

Finally, I give them the benefit of the doubt. They came for a fair discussion and found a power play they were totalling unprepared to address. Not knowing that the church could survive without drones but not without Biblical Scholars.

Now the scholars struggle to survive. So they dwell on maginal issues of little consequence to the body of the Church.

They mock the mavericks, tbey chumor the compliant, they endure the fringe. and the promote within. So what else is new? Tom

Jared Wuz Here

Yikes! Has my compulsive checking of the conversation here really driven Grande Prairie into the top 5 in Canada?

I want to make sure Alex is also thanked. I know how tough it is to spearhead a blog and make it work. That takes a certain kind of compulsiveness on its own. I hope you are getting your beauty rest, Alex; it's part of temperance.

Alex, I too would like to say thank you and congratulate all of those involved that have been willing to "take a risk". Those who put the Blog together -with very - very - little cash - who put their time, reputation and creative genius on the line --- for all of us to enjoy. Also, for those who have added to the conversation - who have been willing to put their ideas out there for all to see - IT CAN BE SCARY - I remember a colleague of mine who once said to me "Ellen, it is not so bad to appear dumb as it might be for you to open your mouth and remove all doubt". However, those who have entered the conversation, for the most part, have been very kind -- Thank you. I would like to make a very special appeal -- If you have enjoyed this blog - If you believe it can make a difference - and if you are able - Could you take the time to also support it financially? Your help can make a difference --- and it is needed. Thank you Ellen Brodersen - Adventist Forum Board Member

I was amazed at the stats given above and am wondering if any of it could be permanently added to the Spectrum website. I’ve seen sites that have a small running tab on the number of hits, some have hits/page and I’ve also seen where a small map of the world is pictured with pinpoints showing every area of the world that is accessing them. Even just watching a running tab on the number of “Absolute Unique Visitors” would be interesting to see.