Posts by Qcmbr

Little Red Hen - If LDS go to the temple they get underwear that is white and fairly basic. It represents the covenants made in the temple (basically to obey God in all things) and so instead of wearing a dog collar or a cross the symbols of belief are personal and private. They aren't discussed because some people make fun of sacred things - simple as that.

In the bible there are several references to clothing representing contact between God and Man - (Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses and Aaron.)

3

"Got m' own church" -do you think types of people to go to certain churchs?

by Qcmbr in

jw
friends

when door knocking i was always a bit cheeky when people said they had their own church - i'd make some silly comment about was it in their living room - where they the pastor etc.. anyhow i do remember that after a while you kinda got to know the different type of people that the different churches attracted as below (this was only true in the uk) .

general trend: .

1/ rollers in hair, slippers and print aprons (and that was just the men) - church of england .

Qcmbr

When door knocking I was always a bit cheeky when people said they had their own church - I'd make some silly comment about was it in their living room - where they the pastor etc.. anyhow I do remember that after a while you kinda got to know the different type of people that the different churches attracted as below (this was only true in the UK)

General trend:

1/ Rollers in hair, slippers and print aprons (and that was just the men) - Church of England
2/ Thin old people, often with Irish accents, immaculate houses - Catholic
3/ Young, beard and glasses (guitar in hallway) - Born Again
4/ Gorgeous women , children quiet and in Sunday best, men often also in suit - JW
5/ Track suit, bum fluff, cigarette (men and women)- Atheist but believed in Nintento 64.
6/ Scruffy garden, lots of kids - LDS
7/ Trilby, old , smiling - Plymouth Brethren (the nicest bar none ppl I have ever met)
8/ Jamaican, red lipstick, very smart - Seventh Day Adventist

While of course there are no stereotypes and I'm only joking around I really got quite good at being able to predict which church, if any, people belonged to by how they behaved and looked.

Has anyone else noticed this?

36

Papal ceremony fairly ludicrous for Christians?

by Qcmbr in

for anyone who is a catholic stop reading now - i'm about to mini vent.

i don't doubt that the recently departed pope had many redeeming qualities and this post has nowt to do with him as a person.

i cannot get away from the fact that the pomp and ceremony of the catholic church (including the regalia) is so far away from the humble woodcarvers son and his example.

Qcmbr

Hi all,

Right had a good nights sleep and thought I'd respond.

Thanks for being kind to me - I always have that small feeling of trepidation when I do put something up that is a little divisive - I don't want to hurt anyone (one of my pet peeves is personalising criticism etc..) so like I said I don't know enough about the Pope to say that he's at fault but I know enough about myself to say I am often a grade 'A' wally. I just don't find the pomp teaches me anything useful..except that the Catholic church is well loaded (which isn't a ctiticism - I think money rocks)

You know that feeling you get when you see people given great power and responsibility and you really want them to genuinely care, not get above themselves etc.. for example Nelson Mandela (handled it very well), but then you somehow feel they just caved in and didn't actually deliver (like most politicians and some religious leaders)and you feel a bit let down. That's how I feel when I see all the grandeur and what I really want is less incense and rehearsed prayers and more hats doffed, bended knee style humility...

As for LDS pomp and ceremony yea we do have it but it is behind closed doors of the Temple and for anyone whose been to the temple (nobody here I presume?) there are some key points about it that you could corroborate (and I hope no one takes this for preaching this is just simple info!):

1/ Everyone wears white in the temple - money, education, size of house etc.. is left at the door - I like how there is no class, politics or division and except for the temple president (whose in charge but is rarely seen) no heirarchy or anything. Great leveller.
2/ Everyone whispers or talks quietly so it gives a very reverent feel to the place.
3/ The actual ceremonies are very personal (not for show) , a little weird but the weirdness is actually explained, fairly quick and very Christ centered.
4/ The Temples themselves are built to a very expensive standard because: They are meant to last for as long as possible (no we don't believe they get magic protection despite what some LDS may say) and they are meant to be places where Jesus can literally come and talk to ppl (we argue that the original purpose of the Mosaic temple would have been to reveal God to the House of Israel 'cept they worshipped that gold calf.) The temple is an earthly representation of the Celestial Kingdom , Terrestrial Kingdom, and Telestial Kingdom - three major divisions of Heaven - so it has to look good. Bit of a bummer if the Celestial kingdom was bare poured concrete with loose wires etc..
5/ Our ceremonies do the following in LDS land -

Baptism for the Dead where all of mankind has to be baptised(finsh it during the Millenium) - they can of course reject it just as Christ died for us and we can reject Him.

Sealing of marriages for eternity (only one marriage per person at one time hehehe).

Sealing of families for eternity.

The endowment - our receiving of the 'new name' and instruction on the cruxifiction , creation , purpose of life and the making of additional covenants with God complete with signs and tokens to remember them (analogous to baptism being a sign and token for outward show)

Washings and anointings - preparatory work to the endowment.

At the end of the day each of these things is related to our belief in Jesus - is very very private and isn't actually all that full of pomp (only the W & A and Endowment have any real ceremony)

:)

Have a great day everyone - I gotta go in the garden and mow that sucker.

36

Papal ceremony fairly ludicrous for Christians?

by Qcmbr in

for anyone who is a catholic stop reading now - i'm about to mini vent.

i don't doubt that the recently departed pope had many redeeming qualities and this post has nowt to do with him as a person.

i cannot get away from the fact that the pomp and ceremony of the catholic church (including the regalia) is so far away from the humble woodcarvers son and his example.

Qcmbr

Avishai - gotta say I recognise that one of my weaker points is to pick holes and then suggest smugly that I got something cool - however , I also hope that everyone can see that I'm more than willing to stick my head up above the parapet and let everyone get a good shot in - and I don't get upset when people don't give a fig for anything I gotta say.

One thing I try to do is to give clear unvarnished matter of fact - facts on what one very minor religion believes , sprinkled with dollops of my views but also not hiding anything that's dodgy or trying to paint a rosy picture of LDS world. In fact I'm surprised I haven't had more people really have a go at some of my thoughts - and really I don't mind if people do. I like it here - I like to read the vast and wide opinions! Right , he says putting on his tin helmet, time to get back in the bunker - night from Blighty.

36

Papal ceremony fairly ludicrous for Christians?

by Qcmbr in

for anyone who is a catholic stop reading now - i'm about to mini vent.

i don't doubt that the recently departed pope had many redeeming qualities and this post has nowt to do with him as a person.

i cannot get away from the fact that the pomp and ceremony of the catholic church (including the regalia) is so far away from the humble woodcarvers son and his example.

Qcmbr

For anyone who is a Catholic stop reading now - I'm about to mini vent.

I don't doubt that the recently departed Pope had many redeeming qualities and this post has nowt to do with him as a person.

I cannot get away from the fact that the pomp and ceremony of the Catholic church (including the regalia) is so far away from the humble woodcarvers son and his example. I bet the elaborate , manmade, ceremony has sent more people to the JW religion than all the watchtowers and awakes. I watched a few minutes of the popes funeral and I had to turn over becasue I felt nauseated. I thought back to the funeral of my Grandpa (no religious persuasion) where it was simple, humble and dignified and while I of course had an emotional investment in Gramps I just know that what is happening in Rome is some sort of parade of death rather than a farewell. Shame I never got to the know the man behind the hat - I could have felt sad to say goodbye to him. I find no scriptural evidence for papal props and pageantry. bleuh.

Sorry - I try not to be too negative - especially about other faiths but this one sticks in my throat.

57

Give me ONE good reason why Adam could not have been black?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i just read love2bworldys thread at did u know about the early white supremicist view of the jw's?

not wanting to hijack or divert that topic i ask the question here.. .

adam was the progenitor of the whole human race, from his genes sprang the negroid, caucasian, mongoloid, indo-european and every other race on the planet.

Qcmbr

Maybe 'Adam' was more than one person.....

19

God and the Devil are both a bit evil

by Bas in

i'd like to think of god and satan as the same power...if you like, god can be evil and the devil can be good.

it probably doesn't make much sense to you but i think as reality is as grey as it is (and not black/white), then probably the higher power(s) are/is too.

i honestly believe that thinking in terms of devil/god is not very fertile thing to do.

Qcmbr

More doctrine from the world of the Morms:

1/ We are the same as God , Satan is the same as us , Jesus is the same as us - we are all intelligences who are Not created - we are eternal , undestroyable and uncreateable.
2/ God has progressed in intelligence and glory and wants us to do the same - he makes it possible for us with this Earth.
3/ Everyone here on earth already decided not to follow Satan in the Great war in Heaven - everyone here chose God's side - hence your here with a body and a chance of eternal progression while Satan and the rebellious spirits are stopped in their progression.
4/ Satan was once good and was called Lucifer - his pride and desire to be in charge (over God) caused the whole war.
5/ Satan is still fighting the war and many people are still making the choice to reject God - even though initially they joined up for the long haul.
6/ Jesus said - make man free, let them sin, I will die for everyone and those who accept me can continue to progress - but some people would not make it and the Glory is God's. Satan said baloney , everyone can become like God , get a body, no free will, everyone will be saved , Glory be mine.
7/ Today, the two plans are still being played out in many world scenarios - many people don't want to be responsible for anything - they want a free ride - free will is often debated as to whether it even exists.
8/ Spiritual death is to leave the presence of God, physical death is to lose our body. Jesus overcame both and all will be resurrected (ie we didn't take the fruit so we aren't accountable) but not everyone will be spiritually reborn (we are accountable for our desires and choices.) Seems fair to me. In terms of annihilation of the spirit - simply impossible, God cannot destroy the spirit.
9/ God desires us as his children to progress by free will and love(being good is obeying God) while Satan wants us to progress by pride and hate(evil.) God is not evil and while Satan rebels he cannot be good.

Look up King Follett Discourse on web if you want to see some of this doctrine in all its fun.

Flame away!!

10

Dr. Who Star Quits Abruptly

by Yizuman in

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=1&id=30754 .

whoa, guess he couldn't handle the daily work and wussed out.. .

yiz

Qcmbr

Glad he left - he is the worst Doctor I have ever watched.