Packaging, marketing and promoting a timeless product: GAWD

by Terry 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Terry

  

  For thousands of years humans lived together intimately without bottled mouthwash, toothpaste, underarm deodorant or dipilatory creams.
  
  Then, some smart merchandizer started advertising an incessant message: YOUR BREATH STINKS, YOUR TEETH AREN'T WHITE, YOU'RE PITS ARE ODIOUS, and HEY LADY, YOU'VE GOT A MOUSTACHE ON YOUR LIP!
  
  Suddenly made self-conscious by these accusations the world scrambled to stock their bathroom cabinets with billions of dollars worth of the products!
  
  
  Religion has done exactly the same thing in order to sell their products.
  
  Create a FEAR and establish a perceived NEED and then offer carefully packaged SOLUTIONs for $$$.
  
  
  Some Carnival barkers are always screaming at us, "Step right up, Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! It is a fearful thing for you sinners to fall into the hands of an angry God!"
  
  
  They give you RITUALS to keep you busy while they constantly SHAME you.
  
  Then, like an abusive husband who's been beating his wife all weekend---they get all LOVE, FORGIVENESS, PROMISES and CONSOLATION on you.
  
  
  The Classic Catholic and Protestant church had this down to a fine science keeping their members off-balance, cowed and malleable.
  
  
   All this abuse has caused enerprising COMPETITION from those willing to scrap the classic message and REINVENT Christianity by turning their ministry into a HOSPITAL for sinners rather than a MUSEUM for SAINTS.
  
  Since everybody just makes all this stuff up anyway......what difference does it make who teaches what or why???
  
  
  People seem to CRAVE the fellowship of others who embrace some tailor-fitted garment of HOPE in a chaotic world.
  
  Why not?
  
  I say, good on them......just don't expect me to actually believe any of it is anything other than a palliative.
  There's a huge throng of suffering humanity who keep God next to their bed in a drawer with batteries and plenty of holy vibrations!

  

  
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  tornapart

  I like your posts Terry.. they always make me think!
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  designs

  If the Photos above made you want to reach for your Credit Card you could be Religious.
• 

  Terry

  I once attended a Unitarian Church.

  I sat in the pew, sang a song, listened to the speaker, stood and sang again and mingled afterward.

  When all was said and done I was later asked if I thought I might like to attend regularly.

  I said this. "What I always disliked about the religion I was in was sitting, singing, listening to boring crap, more singing and then

  mingling. Why would I want to simply change location?"

  And that is just me. I hate that ritualistic socializing. I associate with thinking people that I choose to spend time with. If somebody starts unloading a bunch of nonsense I can excuse myself and walk away. Why waste my time?

  There are many, many people who think and feel and believe DIFFERENTLY than I do. Church, religion, ritual IS for them, something essential.

  Okay by me.

  I just don't want to be around that or them while they're doing it.

  If they secretly feel I'm an idiot, that's okay. Think what you like.

  But, if they knock on my door--that's trespass!
• 

  WTWizard

  This is one more reason I would make a lousy missionary. In any religion. The Christian religion is rubbish right from the core. "You are scum, because of what the first humans did. But Jesus agreed to give you the means of salvation IF you obey the rubbish found in Paul's writings." Most people in foreign lands, and right in our own territories, don't give a fxxx what some people did 6,000 years ago. Usually, all you successfully do is pxxx off people.

  Islam is little better. In Islam, they drop the original sin scam in favor of "earning your way to salvation". It is on your own merit that you have any chance of salvation. Trouble is, who decides whether you get salvation? How many demerits is it for eating pork or drinking or gambling? How many credits do you earn by fasting every day for Ramadan and giving to the poor on Eid Al Fitr? It is rigged to make you think that one little slip-up will damn you to hellfire. Besides, Islam in its present form is the most repressive religion with regard to sex, with the Orthodox Catholic church a close second (the witlesses were not rated, but they have to be right up there with Islam).

  With most churches, they have multiple levels of membership. The most common is the regular member. Out of those, you are called on to become more involved with your churches. Some have monastery-style work (including the witlesses: it is called Beth Hell). All have missionary work. (I am not sure whether Islam has missionary work, but all Christian denominations do.) Problem is, most missionaries are sent to the dredges of the world. Whether it be Central and South America, Africa, or the Middle East, you are sure to be surrounded by all things that are base. You are certain to have limited success--people that will fall for the scam, only to have a Muslim community drive you off the land. Hardships abound, including disease and shortages. The weather is usually very hot--hot and dry (as hot as 55 o C in the desert, or hot and very muggy (temps near 40 o C with dewpoints near 25). Rainy seasons mean hazardous travel, not just a nuisance.

  And for what? You may "save" one person, if you are lucky. But, in the long run, even without Agenda 21+ breathing down our necks, Christianity has proven unstable. Either some tyrant will usurp it and usher in the Second Dark Ages like they did the First Dark Ages, or some other religion (Islam) will push Christianity into small pockets. And, even if you do get a whole region into Christianity (don't waste your time and resources trying--Paul had virgin territory to work in, and you need to be almost as good as Paul to do it independently; doing it within a church is impossible), what good does it do you? None.
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  Knowsnothing

  I like real talk as well, Terry. Fluff and politically correct just don't cut it no more. Dig for the deeper issues in life.
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  tec

  I like real talk as well, Terry. Fluff and politically correct just don't cut it no more. Dig for the deeper issues in life.

  I do as well. All that fluffy stuff can make me feel like I'm acting, or passing the time before I can back to the real world.

  On the other hand, fluff (small talk) is fine with actual friends. You already know how one another feels, and you don't need to have the deep talking constantly. Nice to be able to just take it easy.

  And besides all that^^^... small talk tends to be what you start out doing while you're feeling someone out. Learn a little about them (not by the small stuff, but by their deeds, the way they talk, their family and friends, their demeanor), then get into the deeper stuff.

  There are some people who need and that ritualistic socializing though. Introverts just tend not to be among those, lol.

  Peace,

  Tammy
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  Terry

  And besides all that^^^ ... small talk tends to be what you start out doing while you're feeling someone out.

  Now Tammy, keep those hands to yourself!!
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  james_woods

  Terry, I think it was very mean of you to lump the reverend Melissa Scott in with that group.

  She is on a plane all on her own.
• 

  Terry

  Terry, I think it was very mean of you to lump the reverend Melissa Scott in with that group.

  She is on a plane all on her own.

  I had a terrible crush on her before she went off the air.

  I'd love to pilot that aircraft!