Below is a letter I received from Ian Boyne that he asked to be published here. I also told him I look forward to hearing about his interpretation of Reformed Armstrongism and why it still maintains meaning for him today.
I apologize unreservedly if any offense was taken to my comments made in the Journal. None was ever meant. I specifically said SOME of those who posted on this blog can be crude, callous and cryptic—NOT all. (Had to use my Armstrongite trademark of the caps!) I said that because I have read highly insensitive, distasteful and, indeed, crude and callous comments made about people who had just died , with family and friends still in grief. My comments concerning the reaction to Ron Dart were to stress that his life was so impactful and impressive, especially in an environment and context where decency, compassion and respectfulness were in very short supply, that even an anti-Church of God blog like this spared him the vitriol. I never meant to convey that all who participate on this blog make crude and callous comments. That would be a total misrepresentation on my part.
My reference to “scruples” related to those who were prone to make crude statements, not to everyone here. My overarching point was that the respect and honor shown to Dart in his death was not due to any tradition of not speaking evil of the dead, for I have seen that violated here, but due to genuine high regard for Dart and his non-authoritarian, non-cultic behavior and ministry. I check this blog literally every day and find many of your comments useful and poignant. l have written in the Journal, for example, about my respect for Byker Bob’s insightfulness and incisiveness. I always look forward to his contributions. He has a fine, sharp mind, with formidable analytical skills.
You, too, Gary, are obviously a very reflective and thoughtful person, whose stand against abuse, authoritarianism and autocracy must be commended. As a minister in the Armstrong movement I, naturally, disagree with much of what is said here, but I do log on every day to see what you guys are saying and what the crazies in the movement are up to. I am sorry that because of my busy professional and pastoral life (and heavy reading schedule—which I guess is a shock. LOL), I don’t have much time to engage.
But I confess to being tempted to write a piece showing why a cerebral person like me still finds some value in what I call Reformed Armstrongism. Perhaps one day soon I might yield. In the meantime I stay tuned to your site. Thanks for giving me a voice and again no offense meant.
Ian Boyne
