[Zimphire]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
A good way to keep the Jehovah's Witnesses away is make a chalk outline of a body on your front porch and toss a bunch of watch tower magazines round. That should keep 'em at bay.

I just spit sunflower seeds all over my monitor.



I've seen those magazines.

[iWrite]

Well, proselytizers and solicitors have a VERY hard time getting into my neighborhood and second of all, I have a big huge screened-in front porch that is usually locked so they have to get inside that area to get to the front door and since I keep it locked all they can do is bang and bang and I ignore them.

BUT, with that much said, I have a friend who is a Mormon and a friend who just became a Jehovah's Witness. No one else in her family is a Jehovah's Witness but someone came to her house and she listened to them and because she was having a hard time in her life and they reached out to her at that particular time, she fell for their spiel.

Well, my Mormon friend is just the nicest person you could ever hope to meet, period. You wouldn't ever know she's a Mormon, even. She's like a mother and she's never started discussing her faith -- not even once.

But, the Jehovah's Witness friend, well, she doesn't proselytize either, but she's wreaked havoc on her family. They're Christians and average Americans and all of a sudden this girl refuses to celebrate any holidays, birthdays, etc., even though she lives at home with her mother and has a little baby. Her mother isn't "allowed" to give the baby a birthday cake, or present, or take him around to see the Halloween decorations in the neighborhood, or celebrate or recognize Christmas. It's pretty sad.

Any organization that separates people from tradition and their loved ones is not a good thing. In fact, I consider Jehovahs Witnesses a well-organized cult and nothing more. I remember a very long time ago that a chick at our school would call me and my friends "devils" because we were either Jewish or Catholic -- she was a sick freak. I never forgot that.

I like the suggestion that was mentioned above: ANSWER THE DOOR NAKED.

[catsank]

"I like the suggestion that was mentioned above: ANSWER THE DOOR NAKED"

Get home, get the kit off.

What are you doing ask
the kids, I getting ready for
some religious friends...

[Wiskedjak]

I don't find Mormons to be any different/better/worse than Protestants and Catholics. Some really try to push their faith on you and others don't really care what you believe. If you don't know any from the latter and only encounter those of the former, then it's easy to conclude that they're ALL bible pushers.

Not aligning myself to any particular religion, but knowing people from several religions, including Protestants, Catholics and Mormons, I've never had a problem with any people of any faith ... so long as they don't have any problems with my beliefs.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

My Dad's a preacher at a fundamentalist non-denominational Christian church. So, suffice to say, he knows his stuff. The Elders learned to avoid our particular house after a few visits..when the Elders started contradicting themselves and one poor guy broke down in tears.....

The JW religion was formed by one Charles Russell, who I believe twice proclaimed specific dates upon which God would return (the rest of us are still waiting, of course). The Bible was translated by JW's who, in court testimony, were proven not to be able to read Greek.

Of course, Russel's failings are hardly a source of topic among the current doctrine...in fact, it's pretty much hush-hush.

So, started 125 years ago by a man who was a bit of a schiester...and it's now the "one true religion?"

Give me a break. What a crock.

greg

P.S. - All points are from memory, so you'd have to look it up yourself if you want more...

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by riverfreak:
Oh my heck! I nearly cursed!

ROTFL

Haven't heard that in a while.

Well, time for me to reveal my dirty little secret....I was raised mormon and I even served a full mission.

And like many mormons, it was my mission experience the eventually sowed the seeds of my apostacy.

I am fully recovered now.

I don't have any real resentment for the church or how I was raised. In fact, it probably kept me out of trouble.

I'm happy to answer questions about mormon theology, culture or whatever if people are interested. There are so many crazy rumors, urban legends and misconceptions that I often find people are very curious about it.

[RooneyX]

What, what. Where did all this disrespect for people's beliefs come from suddenly? I thought I held the patent on that?

According to US Patent Orifice, you all owe me ten bucks each time you disrespect religious beliefs. That's my license fee, no haggling allowed.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:

And like many mormons, it was my mission experience the eventually sowed the seeds of my apostacy.

I am fully recovered now.

Interesting. Congrats on your recovery.

Actually, I'm more interested in what experiences in your mission made you re-think your beliefs.

As I said, my gf comes from a LDS family but not all her siblings have stayed with the church. One left after their mission as well.

[boardsurfer]

Well. well. 2 pages and there isnt even wild accusations and whacked out claims of polygamy and such. I am impressed. For the record, I am LDS. Funker, I am interested in hearing your response to vmpaul's quaestion as well. I didnt serve a mission, but I do respect those that have. It is quite a dedication/sacrifice in the prime of one's life.

[catsank]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
ROTFL

Haven't heard that in a while.

Well, time for me to reveal my dirty little secret....I was raised mormon and I even served a full mission.

And like many mormons, it was my mission experience the eventually sowed the seeds of my apostacy.

I am fully recovered now. :D

I don't have any real resentment for the church or how I was raised. In fact, it probably kept me out of trouble. :)

I'm happy to answer questions about mormon theology, culture or whatever if people are interested. There are so many crazy rumors, urban legends and misconceptions that I often find people are very curious about it.

Knew you were always
far too calm, to have come
from a drug infused self
deprecating La famille.

[iWrite]

I have no problem with any religion either...

Except unless they continue to pound on my door(s) to "convince" me that their way is the right way.

I don't want ANYONE pounding on my door...except for the Girl Scouts selling cookies and trick-or-treaters.

Everyone else is trespassing and RUDE.

The next law that the government should pass, along with the anti-telemarketing telephone bill, would be one where people are prohibited from cruising around and knocking on people's doors.

[catsank]

Found this disturbing cartoon
wanted to share it with y'all.

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by vmpaul:
Interesting. Congrats on your recovery.

Actually, I'm more interested in what experiences in your mission made you re-think your beliefs.

As I said, my gf comes from a LDS family but not all her siblings have stayed with the church. One left after their mission as well.

Well, a mission is really a crucible experience. You are basically stripped of all the things that you would typically hide behind--your clothes, music, hobbies, friends, family, etc. You are not allowed to be alone at any time (always in pairs) even at home.

So you are really laid bare. You quickly must discover what you are really made of, what you really believe in, and what you really want to do with yourself.

So between the fact that you are so isolated from everything you've known previously and so completely immersed in this rigid structure (even if you have opporunity to fake it a bit) the usual result of a mission is one or the other: you either come home completely brainwashed and utra-converted to the cause of mormonism OR you come home with fundamental, primal doubts about the whole thing.

Rarely will you meet a return missionary who is apathetic or luke-warm. Most are either completely gung-ho or eventually drop out altogether.

My own experience was priceless and I feel grateful for it. I don't know that I would do anything differently. I kept all the rules and was sincerely concerned for "building up the kingdon of God", but my tactics were quite different than others and perahps to the disappointment of my superiors. I was far more interested in helping people who had already joined the church build a faith-promoting and empowering congregatonal community than I was finding new converts.

I spent probably 5-10 times more hours and effort in helping members of the fledgeling congregations build themselves up to help themselves than I did knocking on doors or preaching on street corners.

The more time I spent concentrating on community building, the more I began to feel that dogma was less and less important to the exercise. In fact, I became increasingly concerned that dogma was counter-productive to community building--at least the kind of community I felt was positive.

By the time I got home, I was really feeling like the Theology was actually more of an obstacle than a Support mechanism for bringing people together in positive solidarity.

[iWrite]

catsank:

VERY classy. Nothing like pornography on a public forum for everyone to see -- including kids if they're lurking.

[capuchin]

Who are we kidding. Kids love porn. At least, they all did when I was 8...

Originally posted by iWrite:
catsank:

VERY classy. Nothing like pornography on a public forum for everyone to see -- including kids if they're lurking.

[bobette]

Originally posted by iWrite:
catsank:

VERY classy. Nothing like pornography on a public forum for everyone to see -- including kids if they're lurking.

What porn!?!?! Where's the link!?!?!? It's gaaaawwnnnnn....

[RooneyX]

Originally posted by boardsurfer:
Well. well. 2 pages and there isnt even wild accusations and whacked out claims of polygamy and such. I am impressed. For the record, I am LDS. Funker, I am interested in hearing your response to vmpaul's quaestion as well. I didnt serve a mission, but I do respect those that have. It is quite a dedication/sacrifice in the prime of one's life.

And I shall continue on my 'crusade' by saying:

SHUDDUP!

[iWrite]

catsank (or mod?)

Cool on ye for taking that down (link). For the record, I did find it "tres amusant" but it was, uh, a little too TOO...

[catsank]

Originally posted by iWrite:
catsank (or mod?)

Cool on ye for taking that down (link). For the record, I did find it "tres amusant" but it was, uh, a little too TOO...

:cool: :thumbsup:

Not funny, just appropriate
for the context.
But it seems it was not an
appropriate context within
this forum.

It was not an inline image
only a link, Any child can
view worst on a Google
image search.

Protective or puritanical ?

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:


Rarely will you meet a return missionary who is apathetic or luke-warm. Most are either completely gung-ho or eventually drop out altogether.

My own experience was priceless and I feel grateful for it. I don't know that I would do anything differently. I kept all the rules and was sincerely concerned for "building up the kingdon of God", but my tactics were quite different than others and perahps to the disappointment of my superiors. I was far more interested in helping people who had already joined the church build a faith-promoting and empowering congregatonal community than I was finding new converts.

Not surprising. Sales directives are the same for every business. ALWAYS be closing. Here's the contest: "First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're FIRED." I'm sure you've seen the film.

Anyway, back to topic. Buy-in and rejection always comes up when we discuss my gf's family. Like I said, the ones that bought the company line are REALLY in, the others are REALLY out there. In fact they're pretty radical. It's a funny scenario. I always wonder if it's anecdotal.

I will give the LDS members credit though. Even though some of their children have opted out, I see much less 'dis-ownment' (if you know what I mean) in her family than others that follow such a strict doctrine. It's nice to see such dogmatic behavior hasn't led to extreme dysfunction in the family. Or, not anymore than any other normal family.

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by vmpaul:
I will give the LDS members credit though. Even though some of their children have opted out, I see much less 'dis-ownment' (if you know what I mean) in her family than others that follow such a strict doctrine. It's nice to see such dogmatic behavior hasn't led to extreme dysfunction in the family. Or, not anymore than any other normal family.

Well, for one thing mormons never give up. They stay close to "inactive" members because the assumption is they will be "reactivated" by followshipping and welcomed back to the fold. In fact, there is an entire organizational body in each and every congregation dedicated to the task of reclaiming the lost sheep.

And they keep records. Every congregation has a clerk to manage the records. When you move, your records go to the clerk of the congregation where you move. So "inactives" suddenly get a friendly visit from a local member just when they thought they had "gotten away".

The missionaries and local members were pretty persistant in visiting me for several years after I left the church. Always very friendly. Hardly ever did they actually bring up touchy subjects, but they alwasy invited me to some activity or another. When I first moved to LA, the missionaries looked me up and I was perfectly willing to let them in and chat with them whenever they wanted. We talked shop a bit and they were pretty non-confrontational about my "inactive" status. After a while, however, the regional supervisor was called in (probably because he was unsatisfied with the underlings results) and kinda got in my face about why I wasn't attending services. At that point, my hospitality was exhausted and I looked him in the eye and said, "If Mormon theology is correct and there really is a Celestrial Kingdom where only Mormons are welcome, then that's the last place that I would want to spend Eternity." And then smiled.

I haven't heard from anyone since.

My own family was very offish for a long time after I left but they've come around. We still can't talk about some things so we have our own little dysfunction. But we've come a long way. I've lost lots of Old Friends because we simply couldn't seem to find a way of not talking about it. The cultural difference are rather striking which you don't really realize until you're out.

But in general, I'd say Mormons are pretty non-radical and non-confrontational. Of course, Mormonism is different in different places. Place with very high concentrations have a very distinct culture from Mormons in places where they are a minority. Utah is like another planet entirely, although Mesa and parts of Orange County resemble it strongly.

[beb]

I like the Robin Williams idea, but some suggestions...

What about appearing at the door in a bathrobe with the line "I'm watching porno." "Wanna help me get it off?"

or

What about appearing at the door in a skin-tight bigbird yellow jumpsuit while leaning on a two foot samuri sword with the line "ouu.. yeah..."

or

What about appearing at the door in Army fatigues, in full battle makeup with an M16 in hand with the line "Have you seen Private Jenkins?!!!"

or

What about...

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by catsank:
Any child can
view worst on a Google
image search.

Protective or puritanical ?

Only if you let them.

[Superchicken]

Bigoted Post About Religion 8
and still going strong.