I was raised a jehovahs witness. I don't classify that as a legitimate religion because it's too much like a cult. They control everything down to what facial hair you're allowed to grow, what people you're allowed to talk to (including family members), how many squares of toilet paper or towels to use when using the restroom (no shit, that was in a talk at a local congretation), what medical treatment you're allowed to have, what education you're allowed to pursue, what holidays you're allowed to acknowledge or celebrate, and finally they encourage parents to disown their own children if the child wants to leave the church after being baptized. These standards are all imposed by a group of men in Brooklyn New York for which the average member is unable to distinguish from god. It's sad. If you disagree with any of the teachings in the monthly publications or given from the platform, (which have changed constantly since the organization's inception, involving numerous end of the world Armageddon predictions on specific dates that never happened), you're not having a disagreement, you're "turning your back on Jehovah" and are considered "mentally ill" and diseased, or perhaps the most outrageous, you're using "independent thinking." Independent thinking is known to most people as simply "thinking."
Last edited by dusselldorf; 2014-06-17 at 04:25 AM.
I didn't say anything about census data. I say "trumped" because you acted as if the sample and its stats measures were enough that you didn't need to care about anyone who wasn't polled.
I'm really just trying to make the point against someone who thinks with 100% certainty, and after reflection it doesn't seem like this is you. So, I apologize if I came off as rude to you personally.
A cult employs illegitimate mind control techniques. One of the most basic tests is whether the organizations asks its members to disown family members and whether people are free to leave. If you've never experienced it, (or if you have), I'd recommend this book. The author was a former member of the Moonies and went on to get a PhD and write about his experiences.
http://www.amazon.com/Combatting-Cul.../dp/0892813113
It's good reading for anyone.
Guys were getting a bit off topic and into religion bashing.
If a cult grows to have n millions of people, it becomes a religion.
Rincewind: Ah! We may, in fact, have reached the root of the problem. However it's a silly problem and so I am suddenly going to stop talking to you.
The better character questionnaire (D&D)
Chill. For the record I will not be labeled. As no ideology defines what I think or believe. To respond now it's obviously not meant for everyone. I'm not saying your wrong. I'm saying I've been a part of both sides of the spectrum and have met some really good intelligent Christians. Even though I don't believe in it. Most of these guys I speak of anyway seemed to know what to take seriously and what to not. You sound like your referring to zealots. Yea zealots are bad in any ideology. Even atheist Zealots.
Last edited by Stonecloak; 2014-06-17 at 04:31 AM.
By definition, the supernatural is untestable. A person can absolutely be an agnostic but not an atheist, because an atheist has an active believe about the existence of a god, whereas an atheist is open to the idea but has not arrived at any conclusion, which is really the only logical choice for something that is untestable.