Randal Martin on the CAM/Jeriah Debacle

[Josh]

To be clear, in an organisation like CAM, the worker bees (like Ernie) usually are not privy to underhanded dealings going on in other parts, or particularly in higher parts, of the organisation. And they are strongly encouraged to speak very positively about the organisation and punished if they notice or speak too loudly about what's actually going on.

[Ernie]

And they are strongly encouraged to speak very positively about the organisation and punished if they notice or speak too loudly about what's actually going on.

Yes, I am very familiar with this and often speak out against this. I'm always amazed that when non-profits give presentations then NEVER (in my hearing) mention the difficulties they are experiencing at their organization. That is because fundraising depends on presenting a model picture of an organization.

[Josh]

And they are strongly encouraged to speak very positively about the organisation and punished if they notice or speak too loudly about what's actually going on.

Yes, I am very familiar with this and often speak out against this. I'm always amazed that when non-profits give presentations then NEVER (in my hearing) mention the difficulties they are experiencing at their organization. That is because fundraising depends on presenting a model picture of an organization.

The basic problem is the entire fundraising model in the first place which encourages people (particularly wealthy people) to contribute to large organisations. The end path of that will always end up being more corruption.

[RZehr]

These are reasons that the local church, or church groups should really be the avenue through which people are helped. Not para church organizations. These are a modern day western phenomenon, probably due to US tax codes, in conjunction with a growing arms length (digital?) relationship people have with churches.

[silentreader]

These are reasons that the local church, or church groups should really be the avenue through which people are helped. Not para church organizations. These are a modern day western phenomenon, probably due to US tax codes, in conjunction with a growing arms length (digital?) relationship people have with churches.

You can, in my opinion, add to that the whole concept of "Christian counseling". I believe that if the local church is functioning properly, then there will be gifts to deal with non-medical needs. "Building each other up in love" is something we seem to be losing, and the prohibition against in-person gathering of the believers seems to have accelerated this. (IMO)

[Josh]

These are reasons that the local church, or church groups should really be the avenue through which people are helped. Not para church organizations. These are a modern day western phenomenon, probably due to US tax codes, in conjunction with a growing arms length (digital?) relationship people have with churches.

Giving money to your local church is a big tax write off - one of the best. Of course, you have to actually trust your church and want to support it to do that.

[Josh]

These are reasons that the local church, or church groups should really be the avenue through which people are helped. Not para church organizations. These are a modern day western phenomenon, probably due to US tax codes, in conjunction with a growing arms length (digital?) relationship people have with churches.

You can, in my opinion, add to that the whole concept of "Christian counseling". I believe that if the local church is functioning properly, then there will be gifts to deal with non-medical needs. "Building each other up in love" is something we seem to be losing, and the prohibition against in-person gathering of the believers seems to have accelerated this. (IMO)

This is a topic worthy of more discussion, the growing fad of “counselling” amongst plain people,
Such as building counselling centres that have hardly any patients yet solicit big donations.

[Ernie]

Thank you for your reply. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. Often times its best to know where a person is coming from when discussing issues such as this.

Your question was fair.

I'm making defensive comments about my colleagues because few others on this forum are. My colleagues are not here to answer for themselves and I don't think it is fair to surmise and speculate and stereotype and make conjectures with little knowledge of what CAM is really like and them being absent from the discussion. Online forums make it easy to do so but it doesn't make it right.

As I try to keep my equilibrium in all this, the test I use for myself is, "Would I make the same defenses on behalf of my "enemies", if the same stereotyping and conjectures were being made about them?"

[Josh]

Anyone from CAM is free to join here, answer questions, and correct misconceptions and misinformation. The fact CAM is so silent speaks volumes.

[KrisKramer]

Thank you for your reply. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. Often times its best to know where a person is coming from when discussing issues such as this.

Your question was fair.

I'm making defensive comments about my colleagues because few others on this forum are. My colleagues are not here to answer for themselves and I don't think it is fair to surmise and speculate and stereotype and make conjectures with little knowledge of what CAM is really like and them being absent from the discussion. Online forums make it easy to do so but it doesn't make it right.

As I try to keep my equilibrium in all this, the test I use for myself is, "Would I make the same defenses on behalf of my "enemies", if the same stereotyping and conjectures were being made about them?"

Question to ask yourself would you make the same defense of CAM if your son/daughter/neice/nephew was telling you the things we are?