tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post8086477071512196428..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Keeping secretsRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-77163594578122320122013-11-05T17:53:57.654-05:002013-11-05T17:53:57.654-05:00Overall a very good article. I agree with what you...Overall a very good article. I agree with what you're saying here. I just wish it had some application to this Doug Phillips kerfuffle. Rather than having a sudden twinge of conscience, he "confessed and repented" only because he had to. <br /><br />Bear in mind that Doug is a lawyer and is well versed in the lawyer-ly arts of secrecy, cover up, and duplicity as part of his daily business practices. He's also very gifted and convincing in the arts of issuing lawyer-ly threats and intimidation against any who would dare to challenge or oppose him. He's done so for many years, and I have first-hand knowledge of much of it, as do the many others that he's cheated. <br /><br />Cheating on his wife is not a temporary moral lapse, but completely consistent with his character. The one thing we can believe of him in his so-called confession (much of it, particularly his sincerity, should be called into question) is that his affair was "lengthy." Indeed it was. However, it was not a "God has graciously brought me to repentance" situation at all, as though after years of infidelity his conscience suddenly got the better of him. No, Doug outed himself in a carefully orchestrated attempt to limit the extent of his exposure, and prevent the full story from coming out. <br /><br />Yes, this situation is strikingly similar to the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky tempest in a teapot "scandal". The real scandals of Bill (and Hillary) were gargantuan (and criminal) in comparison to "I didn't have sex with that woman." Orchestrating the outing of a salacious sex scandal (oh how the Press loves those!) is the only thing that saved Clinton from being exposed for far more serious charges than perjury. <br /><br />The truth about Doug Phillips' real nature isn't any harder to find than was the truth about Bill and Hillary, at least for those who will open their eyes. Doug Phillips is no more a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ than was Bill Clinton. Like Bill, Doug is first and foremost a politician, and like a good politician Doug knows the value of telling people what he knows they want to hear. Doug's confession was a brilliant political move, but also only too transparently manipulative for those of us who personally know the man. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-66158814846011032452013-11-04T11:06:58.277-05:002013-11-04T11:06:58.277-05:00Since he said the relationship was "inappropr...Since he said the relationship was "inappropriately romantic and affectionate." I think affectionate must = physical. Whether that means hand-holding or Bill Clinton stuff, who knows (not my business either). However, it doesn't sound like a purely emotional affair or an inappropriate virtual relationship.ICGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08544708750452507085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-75209725840395356432013-11-04T01:44:26.441-05:002013-11-04T01:44:26.441-05:00We can always confess to God. There are situations...We can always confess to God. There are situations in which confessing sin to the unsuspecting party would do more harm than good. You have to take that into consideration. So that's a judgment call. stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-23258968014869610482013-11-04T01:31:47.892-05:002013-11-04T01:31:47.892-05:00I'd be curious to hear your opinion on confess...I'd be curious to hear your opinion on confession of sins. Obviously we need to confess known sins against a person to that person and ask forgiveness. But what about sins they don't know about (assuming confession is not necessary in order to recompense them in some manner)? For instance, say I steal $20 from my dad's wallet. The next day I have a guilty conscience and put the money back in, with him oblivious to the whole thing. Would I have an obligation to confess to him, or would it be okay to be quiet about the whole thing?<br /><br />My guess is those who think confession in the cases you mentioned is the right thing see non-sexual but romantic entanglements as a sin against the spouse, which in turn creates the obligation of confession, even if it leads to negative consequences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com