by Simon 12 Replies latest social entertainment
If it wasn't for Knorr taking the religion to the world
A good observation. Knorr was more of a businessman than a theologian or religious leader. Seems like he thought of the JW religion like it was a multi-national business. It wan't a coincidence that they created Gilead and started sending out missionaries within just a year or two of his taking the presidency of the WT
Simon, you are so right about Mormon history! Last Christmas someone gave me a book entitled, Under The Banner Of Heaven. It was a history of the Mormon church, from its inception. Wow, so much violence! Also, Joseph Smith was such a sexual deviant. He just married any young girl he wanted to have sex with, I think some were only 12. He had, if I remember correctly, 37 wives. In addition, he was a frequent visitor of the local brothel. Which makes me wonder how he managed all of this, especially since Viagra was not available back then.
A lot of crackpot religions thrived in Pennsylvania thanks to William Penn and his tolerance of them.
Some notable contenders:
Moravians
Unitarians
Christians Scientists
Seventh Day Adventists
Amish
Quakers
Shakers
Transcendentalists
Spiritualists
Swedenborgian Church
Mennonites
Jehovahs Witnesses
Dukhobors
Harmonists
Pennsylvania was a breeding ground for fringe religious ideas. It makes sense that some grew and some didnt. Natural selection at work. JW's claim to be special but they are a by-product of what came before them.
