Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge

Reporting facts is something like science.  There are methods to follow to establish the facts.  Science has levels of knowledge: observations are required to establish facts or laws,  theories are formulated to explain facts and laws and to predict interesting new questions to study.  Laws are compromised by observations that falsify the law, theories are compromised by failure to explain all the laws or failure of predictions from the theories.

The method that we will follow in trying to understand Ralph Rutledge will use the book "Demons in the Sanctuary" (Mariam Bellamy, Trafford, 2008, 978-1-4251-8582-4.)  I have fairly good confirmation that the book  is an accurate account of Rutledge's ministry at Good Samaritan Church when Bellamy was Secretary-Treasurer of the Board.  For example, one Board member said: "I am amazed.  She wrote it just like it happened."

Having read 2/3rds of the book to the end of Chapter 19, I want to stop here to organize the information derived from the first 19 chapters.  I want to list any assertions about Pastor Rutherford that are identified or described two or more times in this first part of the book. These assertions represent possible facts about Pastor Rutledge.  Later we will attempt to establish that these assertions correspond with the facts according to first hand witnesses.

Broad conclusions about Pastor Rutherford (and Rutledge) are more general statements.  These correspond with theories in science.  Theories are helpful if they provide a clear explanation of a lot of facts.

Theories can be tested by the amount of truth or falsity they convey.  If they explain a lot of observations then they are helpful theories.

Theories and laws can be used to predict facts which are then tested as false or true.  I am interested in making predictions about the pastor's behavior in the final third of the book based on the observations and theories derived from the first two thirds of the book.

Books sometimes describe changes in character, personality and attitude in key persons.  A Christian may soften and repent and turn from his sinful ways.  The Holy Spirit can convict; hearts can soften; life transformation can happen.  For the sake of Ralph Rutledge we can hope that Rafe Rutherford softens, gets real and repents.

With no change of character we may find further confirmation of the observations and conclusions drawn from the first two-thirds of the book.

We are not just depending upon the book for observations and conclusions.  Records of the past and first hand witnesses will be providing confirming or disconfirming evidence.