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From Gene;
" By the way, if you don't think we are tribal critters, just read history (including the BIBLE) where we see it all the time and even now we have the Democrate Tribe and the Republican Tribe and the Independent Tribe and the Conservative tribe and the Liberal tribe and the Black tribe and the White tribe and the Native American Tribes, etc. The main thing is tribal loyalty. If you can't be loyal to your tribe, you have to find another tribe. Tribes do overlap some so you can be a Black Liberal or a Black Conservative. Think about it. What tribes do you belong to?"
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Gene, you are correct in much of that statement. My only comment is that we at least until now in the USA, can have our free will to choose which 'tribe' we want to associate with, and it would serve us well if we were to examine the beliefs of that tribe, long before we join in. As a youngster, I was theologically introduced to two other 'tribes', but after some years with them, I found more grating questions... than answers. So, later in life, I started with a tribe that studied and debated the scriptures... just as Jesus did with the leaders in the synagogues. Once I had learned enough about the 'tribe', I found a theological home. It was that simple.