See other thread on this article here.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/257445/1/Some-Mormons-Search-the-Web-and-Find-Doubt
If anyone cares.
garyneal
JoinedPosts by garyneal
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Mormon's using the web to escape their cult.
by cantleave inhttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.
when fellow believers in sweden first began coming to him with information from the internet that contradicted the churchs history and teachings, he dismissed it as anti-mormon propaganda, the whisperings of lucifer.
he asked his superiors for help in responding to the members doubts, and when they seemed to only sidestep the questions, mr. mattsson began his own investigation.. but when he discovered credible evidence that the churchs founder, joseph smith, was a polygamist and that thebook of mormon and other scriptures were rife with historical anomalies, mr. mattsson said he felt that the foundation on which he had built his life began to crumble.. around the world and in the united states, where the faith was founded, the mormon church is grappling with a wave of doubt and disillusionment among members who encountered information on the internet that sabotaged what they were taught about their faith, according to interviews with dozens of mormons and those who study the church.. i felt like i had an earthquake under my feet, said mr. mattsson, now an emeritus area authority.
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Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt
by NewYork44M inhere is an interesting article in today's new york times.. while it seems to be rough times for the cults of the world becuase of the internet, it is interesting that the end of the story suggests that the individuals are "still attached to their mormon faith.".
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html?pagewanted=1&hp.
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garyneal
From the article:
In the last 10 or 15 years, he said, “the church has come to realize that transparency and candor and historical accuracy are really the only way to go.”
This is what the Watchtower needs to do. Not whitewash their history but allow for candid discussions regarding their short history (which is shorter than the Mormon church).
“Sometimes people are furious because they feel they haven’t been told the truth growing up,” he said. “They feel like they were tricked or betrayed.”
Imagine how many of the rank and file witnesses would feel if they really learned their true history.
Mr. Mattsson said that when he started sharing what he had learned with other Mormons in Sweden, the stake president (who oversees a cluster of congregations) told him not to talk about it to any members, even his wife and children. He did not obey: “I said to them, why are you afraid for the truth?”
Brave man and well said. As it has been said here and in other places, truth has nothing to fear from a critical examination.
The Mattssons have tried other churches, but they are still attached to their Mormon faith.
This is where a lot of witnesses, including my wife, will probably find themselves at.
“I don’t want to hurt the church,” Mr. Mattsson said. “I just want the truth.”
It is good to see that the Mormon church is beginning to recognize that there needs to be more transparency with its members. I wonder if Governing Body 2.0 will every realize this?
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Bitter apostates
by Laika inwitnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.
when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.
it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.
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garyneal
Believe what you wish, my friend, but very few of the early LDS leaders led peaceful, happy lives. They were imprisoned, mobbed, run out of their homes and forced to leave their property to those who ran them off. Some had their children shot in front of them, or, in at least one case, saw their children's heads bashed in. (They boasted that it saved ammunition.) The only thing that would have motivated me to stay with such a movement is that if I knew it was true. And, finally, keep in mind that Martin spent his entire wealth financing the church's interest, including publishing the Book of Mormon, which often was given away or sold well below cost.
Jews were persecuted during the holocaust, Christians are reportedly persecuted in many places, even Jehovah's Witnesses faced persecution. As much as I hate to see people hurt for any reason (especially for their beliefs and their convictions), I cannot use that as a basis for judging that their religion is the correct one. Can you?
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A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC
by Londo111 inthis is the main series playlist:.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.
this is the accompanying video appendix:.
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A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC
by Londo111 inthis is the main series playlist:.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.
this is the accompanying video appendix:.
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garyneal
Scholar is back and I see he is up to his tired old tricks again.
Scholar, where in the Bible does it speak about the desolation of Jerusalem for 70 years?
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Bitter apostates
by Laika inwitnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.
when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.
it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.
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garyneal
Each of those three witnesses, incidentally, were well respected and known for their integrity and honesty.
According to wikipedia, Martin Harris is known for being very superstitious. Surely a man like that can be convinced to believe just like he was depicted in the cartoon, eh?
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Bitter apostates
by Laika inwitnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.
when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.
it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.
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garyneal
All About Mormons "Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum" from chewisniewski on Vimeo.
Sorry, but if this is even remotely accurate, it would be tough sledding indeed to get most outsiders to believe it.
All About Mormons "Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum" from chewisniewski on Vimeo.
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garyneal
I just heard that he was a self proclaimed hispanic. If this is true, please tell me again why is this about race?
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garyneal
Sp is Zimmerman white?
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A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC
by Londo111 inthis is the main series playlist:.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.
this is the accompanying video appendix:.
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garyneal
I think the thing that so fascinates me about this is that no one outside of the JW faith even cares about this stuff. Most people just accept the evidence that Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 BCE and go on with their lives.