◆ SpookStack

Anen Miese OOOKS were COpiea and fecOpicad many umes before they reached the form of the earliest manuscripts we posscss. This laborious work was per- formed by members of the early church which had come to regard highly the saving qualities of ritual and symbol. Errors in transcription and alterations in the incetest of “clarification” or interpretation were inevitable, Thus the task of establishing what Jesus most likely said is that of arrempr- ing to see him over che heads of his reporters. This attempr is made by examining objectively and open mindedly the historical records of his life, making use of modern methods of historical and literary criticism. Answering the questions, “Whar did he mean”, and “What has that to say to me today?”, is a task for each individual co accomplish for himself, No attempr is made by the Sequoia Seminar to promulgate any dogma or creed. Each person is encouraged t0 use the results of the group discussion in complete freedom in forming his own individual conclusions. Group Discussion Technique The success of the group discussion cechnique used in these seminars depends in considerable measure upon experienced leadership. The chief responsibility of the leader is co pose suggestive and challenging questions and to keep the discussion profitably channeled. Each member weighs the evidence examined and the contributions made by the leaders and che group and thea formulates his own independent conclusions. He assumes the responsibilixy for holding a critical but open-minded attitude. He is not asked to make any particular set : of assumptions. At the same time he understands his most dithicule task is to ‘ 7 ’ : maintain a constsne willingness co discover, look at, and abandon if necessary, A ‘ his own prejudices and preconceptions. The values he derives from the seminat ye ‘ experience depend almost entirely upon the integcity of that effort. ; a The value of the group activity extends beyond this intellectual function 4 q q 3 , i