Two By Twos

Also known as 2x2s, The Truth, & The Way.

This is an international home-based Christian religious movement that was founded in 1897 by William Irvine in Ireland. Mr. Irvine was an evangelist with the interdominational Faith Mission. He began preaching independently that the intinerant ministry outlined in Matthew, chapter 10 (“The Little Commission”) was the only real way of evangelism.

This church grew quickly. It eventually spread outside Ireland. Eventually Irvine began preaching a new order in which the hierarchy developed within the Church would have no placement. This teaching became controversial within the church. This led to his expulsion by the church’s most prominent evangelists. Edward Cooney was expelled 10 years later after Irvine. The church then became much less visible to outsiders for the next 50 years.

Some in the church state it’s a direct continuation of the 1st century Christian church. Others in the church believe that a restoration occurred in the late 19th century. Ministers are itinerant & work in pairs. Hence the name of Two by Twos. Members hold regular twice weekly worship gatherings in local homes on Sunday & midweek. (Like on Wednesday or Thursday. There are other Christian denominations that also have twice a week services.)

The Church also holds annual regional conventions for members & public Gospel meetings. Baptism by immersion, as performed by 1 of the church’s workers, is required to partake in the emblems of bread & wine (or Communion) at the fellowship gathering(s).

The orthodox Christian Trinitarian doctrine is rejected. Doctrine of the church teaches that salvation is reached by attending the group’s home meetings, accepting the preaching of its itinerant, unsalaried ministry workers, & “professing.”

The church teaches that salvation isn’t achieved through faith alone but only through a combination of faith & “works.” Works are considered acts of self-denial such as wearing modest clothes & wearing long hair in a bun (if you’re a woman) or attending all meetings regardless how far away they are. The church doesn’t do any outreach programs or encourage its members to participate in charities.

The church doesn’t have an official HQ or publications. It doesn’t explicitly publish any doctrinal statements, insisting that such tenets may only be directly imparted orally by its ministers, referred to as “workers.” Its hymnbook & various other material for internal use are produced by outside publishers & printing firms. Printed invitations & advertisements for its open gospel services are the only written materials that those outside the church are likely to encounter.

Among members, the church is usually referred to as “The Truth,” “Meetings,” or “the workers & friends.” But members deny an official church/denomination name (like Baptist, United Brethern, etc.).

Those outside the group refer to it as: “Two by Twos,” “The Black Stockings,” “No-Name Church,” “Cooneyites,” “Workers & Friends,” or “Christians Anonymous,” & journalists call it: “2×2” for short. The church has a variety of registered names: “Christian Conventions” (US); “Assemblies of Christians” & “The Alberta Society of Christian Assemblies” (Canada); “The Testimony of Jesus” (UK); “Kristna i Sverige” (Sweden); & “United Christian Conventions” (Australia).

These registered names are used only for specific purposes (like to register for conscientious objection during wartime or taxes) & aren’t routinely used by members.

In 1896, William Irvine was sent from Scotland to southern Ireland as a missionary by John George Govan’s Faith Mission. Because his mission was successful, he was promoted to superintendent of Faith Mission in southern Ireland. Within a few months of his arrival in Ireland, Irvine became disillusioned with the Faith Mission.

Irvine was increasingly intolerant of the Faith Mission’s cooperation with other churches & clergy in various communities of southern Ireland. In 1897, he started independently preaching, saying that true/real ministries must have no home & take no salary. He also held that the manner in which the disciples had been sent out in chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel was a permanent commandment which must still be observed.

Irvine’s preaching during his latest mission influenced others who began to leave their respective churches & join Irvine to form an initial core of followers. The church founded by Irvine is the only religion known to have had its origin, & early development, in Ireland.

All the church’s teachings are conveyed orally. The church doesn’t publish doctrine or statements of faith. “Workers” hold that all church teachings are based solely on the Bible. Church members & “workers” will publicly declare that the church doesn’t own any buildings. However, members own rural, or semi-rural, properties dedicated to worship, housing workers, & church gatherings. Its ministers don’t own homes or take salaries.

The King James Version Bible is the only scripture used in English-language services. The Bible itself is held as insufficient for salvation unless its words are “made alive” through the preaching of church ministers. The offhand preaching of the ministry is considered to be guided by God & must be heard directly. Great weight is given to the thoughts of workers, especially more senior workers.

Salvation is achieved through willingness to uphold the church’s standards, by faithfully following in “the way,” & by personal worthiness. Doctrines such as predestination, original sin, justification by faith alone, & redemption as the sole basis of salvation are rejected. The church is exclusivist & salvation is only through the Two by Two ministry & meetings.

Other standards include modest dress, not wearing jewelry, long hair for women & short hair for me, not getting piercing, not dying hair, not getting tattoos, & avoinding activities deemed to be worldly or frivolous (like smoking, drinking alcohol, watching TV & watching movies). The church has actively condemned pre-marital relations & don’t care for LGBTQ+ persons/identities.

The church has rejected the doctrine of the Trinity since its inception. Though the members believe in the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, the have a Unitarian view of Jesus. Jesus is God’s son, a fully human figure who came to Earth to establish a way of ministry & salvation, but not God’s Himself.

Baptism by 1 of the church’s ministers is considered a necessary step for salvation & full participation, including re-baptism of people by other churches. Candidates are approved by the local workers & are baptized by immersion. Baptisms are often scheduled for 1 morning during a Convention & are typically performed in small ponds on the property.

Members state that the church doesn’t have a formal organization. Members don’t participate in, & many are unaware of, the church’s governance. Both expenditures & funds collected remain secret from the membership & no accounting is made public. Funds are handled through stewardships, trusts, & cash transactions.

The church is controlled by a small group of senior male overseers with each having oversight of a specific geographic region. These head workers handle the 2-by-2 pairing & field assignments with the workers for that area.

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Balinese Hinduism

Officially known as Agama Hindu Dharma. Balinese Hinduism is a deeply localized blend of Shaivite Hinduism, Buddhism, & indigenous Austronesian animism.

This is practiced by the majority of the population of Bali. This is particularly associated with the Balinese people residing on the island. It represents a distinct form of Hindu worship incorporating local animism, ancestor worship (Pirtu Paksha), & reverence for Buddhist saints (Bodhisattava).

Hindu influences reached the Indonesian Archipelago as early as the 1st century CE. Java legends refer to Saka-era, traced to 78 CE. Stories from the Mahabharata have been traced in Indonesian islands to the 1st century. This version mirrors those found in Tamil Nadu.

Ancient Chinese records of Fa Hien on his return voyage from Ceylon to China in 414 CE mentioned 2 schools of Hinduism in Java. while Chinese documents from the 8th century refer to the Hindu kingdom of King Sanjaya as Holing, calling it “exceedingly wealthy,” & say that it coexisted peacefully with the Buddhist people & Sailendra ruler in the Kedu Plain of the Java island.

Upon independence from Dutch colonial rule, Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia guaranteed freedom of religion to all its citizens. In 1952, the Indonesian Ministry of Religion came under the control of Islamists who severely constrained the acceptable definition of a “religion.” To be acceptable as an official Indonesian religion, the ministry defined “religion” as 1 that’s monotheistic, has codified religious law, possesses a prophet & a Holy Book, among other requirements.

Balinese Hindus were declared as “people without religion,” & available to be converted. Balinese Hinduism disagreed, debated, adapted, & declared their form of Hinduism to be monotheistic, & presented it in a form to be eligible for the status of “agama” under the 1952 amended articles.

The central pillar of Balinese life is the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana. This dictates that prosperity & harmony can only be achieved through 3 specific relationship:

• Parhyangan:
  • Harmony between humans & the Divine
• Pawongan:
  • Harmony between humans & fellow humans
• Palemahan:
  • Harmony between humans & nature

This governs the island’s physical layout. Every village, home, & rice filled is organized according to a sacred axis between the mountains (the realm of the gods) & the sea (the realm of spirits).

Balinese Hinduism is an amalgamation of Hinduism with elements from Buddhism & the indigenous customs that imbued in the Indonesian archipelago before Hinduism’s arrival.

It combines many of the core beliefs of Hinduism with the arts & rituals of the Balinese people. In modern times, Hinduism in Bali is officially referred to by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion as: Agama Hindu Dharma. But the religion was called by many names: Tirta, Trimurti, Hindu, Agama Tirta, Siwa, Buda, & Siwa-Buda.

A major distinction in Balinese Hinduism in the spotlight on Acintya (a.k.a. Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa). While Hinduism based in India has a vast pantheon, the Balinese system was codified in the 20th century to emphasize a monotheistic foundation to align with Indonesia’s state philosophy (Pancasila).

A belief that all of the gods are manifestations of this supreme being. This belief is the same as the belief of Smartism. This also holds that the different forms of gods & goddesses (Vishnu, Siva, Shakti (Devi)) are different aspects of the same Supreme Being. Shiva is also worshipped in other forms such a as “Batara Guru” & “Maharaja Dewa” (Mahadeva).

Acintya represents the “Unthinkable” or the “Void.” All other deities (including the Trimurti) are viewed as manifestations of this single, supreme entity. In Balinese temples, you’ll see an empty stone called the Padmasana, which is dedicated specifically to Acintya.

Balinese Hinduism includes the Indian Trinity called Trimurti. In Balinese Hindu texts, the alternate tripartite concept of Shiva of Indian Shaivism is also found. This is usually referred to in Balinese as “Siwa-Sadasiwa-Paramasiwa,” where Shiva is the creator, the maintainer, & the destroyer of cyclic existence.

Along with the traditional Hindu Trinity, Balinese Hindus worship a range of gods & goddesses (Hyang, Dewata, & Batara-Batari). As well as others that are unique & not found in Indian Hinduism. Sang Hyang Widhi (literally meaning “Divine Order”), a.k.a. Acintya or Sang Hyang Tunggal (“Divine Oneness”), is the concept parallels the metaphysical concept of Brahman among Indian Hindus.

To understand Balinese Hinduism, 1 must look at the figure who shaped its modern form: the 16th century Javanese priest Dang Hyang Nirartha. As the Majapahit Empire in Java collapsed under the rise of Islamic sultanates, Nirartha fled to Bali.

He didn’t just bring Javanese Hinduism. He refined it. He established the Padmasana architecture & the priesthood system that existed today. He’s credited with founding many of Bali’s iconic “Sea Temples,” (Including Uluwatu & Tanah Lot) strategically placed to create a spiritual “chain” of protection around the island.

There are a total of 13 ceremonies concerned with life from conception until, but not including death, each of which has 4 elements: placation of evil spirits, purification with holy water, wafting of the essence, & prayer. These ceremonies mark major events in a person’s life, including birth, puberty, grain feeding, & marriage.

A newborn baby is believed to represent the soul of an ancestor & is regarded as a god for the 1st 42 days of life. The mom, however, is regarded as impure & isn’t allowed to participate in any religious activities during this period. A baby can’t touch the “impure” ground until its 105 days old, which is half-way to the celebration of its 1st birthday, according to the 210-day Balinese Pawukon calendar.

Once it reaches its 1st birthday, the family will celebrate the Otonan birthday ceremony. Once the kid reaches puberty, the 6 upper canine teeth are filed until they’re even.

Religious life in Bali is defined by Rua Bineda, the idea of “Two Opposites.” It’s the belief that the world exists in a state of equilibrium between opposing forces: good/evil, joy/sorrow, clean/unclean.

The Balinese seek balance. That’s why you see:

• The Barong & Rangda:
  • A ritual dance-drama showing the battle between the Barone (a lion-like creature representing health/good) & Rangda (the demon queen). The battle never truly ends, an eternal stalemate.
• Canang Sari:
  • The ubiquitous daily offerings of flowers, rice, & incense placed on the ground & on shrines. These are meant to appease both the gods & lower spirits to maintain the cosmic balance.

The Saka is a solar calendar from India. This calendar determines Nyepi, the “Day of Silence.” On Nyepi, the entire island (including the airport) shuts down. No lights, no work, no travel, & no sound is permitted. This is to trick passing demons into thinking the island is uninhabited.

The most important ceremonies happen after death & result in the soul being freed to be eventually reincarnated. The physical body isn’t the focus. It’s seen as a temporary container of the soul & fit only for expedient disposal. In fact, the body must be cremated/burned before the soul can leave the body completely.

The cremation ceremony can be VERY expensive because an elaborate ceremony is a way of showing respect for a soul destined to become a god with considerable powers over those left behind. So sometimes the deceased’s body is buried, temporarily, until the family can get together enough $$$ for the cremation ceremony. However, the bodies of priests, or high-class, families are preserved above ground (Think like in New Orleans.).

Balinese Hindus, under no circumstances, may eat the flesh of people, cats, monkeys, dogs, crocodiles, mouse(s), snakes, frogs, certain poisonous fish, leeches, stinging insects, crows, eagles, owls, or any other bird of prey.

Chicken, fruits, veggies, & seafood are widely eaten. Hindus, especially those of varna (caste) of Brahmin & Kshatriya, are forbidden to eat/consume, or even touch, beef. Rarely pork is touched. Also, they mustn’t eat on the street, drink alcohol, or taste offerings of such items.

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#Nazareth in the Time of #Jesus: the #Archaeological Record

https://ehrmanblog.org/nazareth-in-the-time-of-jesus-the-archaeological-record
#historicalrecord #sundayschool #mythology #religion #christianity #1stcentury