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Chris Tolworthy - A former Mormon responds   1 na 1
You ask how Mormonism survives. The answer is simple, and can be gleaned from the voluminous writings of ex-Mormons (exmormon.org is a good place to start, or try zarahemlacitylimits.com for thoughtful essays). First, new converts are not told the details. Second, long-time members do not talk about the details. Third, every action of the church is designed to tie you in socially and psychologically. it is very, very hard to break away without losing your family. Those who do know the sordid truth usually reason that the benefits of leaving do not outweigh the costs.

However, your comments about church growth are only partly true. Compared with the late 1980s, the baptisms per missionary have halved. The absolute numbers of converts have remained constant due to an increasing missionary force, but this cannot continue forever.
Author: Chris Tolworthy Date: 28-02-2004
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grotto is me - Yet another ex-mormon comments.   1 na 1
What makes the church grow? It is primarily the "testimony" of the young clean cut indiividuals that knock on doors that " I know that Joseph Smith was a true Prophey of God and that this is his only true church"

Such fervently spoken words from the missionaries can unsettle many people who have never really given religion positive or negative thought.
The concept of "fellowship" attracts those that might be lonely, and people who are going through crisis are easily brought into the church.

I know this as I was once a missionary for the church 25 years ago. I left the church within a year of my return and never looked back. I practice personal meditation for peace of mind in a non-religious format.
Grotto.
Author: grotto is me Date: 25-03-2005
P. K. Dennis - A personal story that moved me   1 na 1
I am a Congregational Christian minister, and have long been interested and involved in interfaith, including the Church of Latter Day Saints. You may or may not know the story of Gary Gilmore, who was executed by firing squad in Utah in 1977 or 78. This story has been told quite well by Norman Mailer and LAwrence Schiller. It is the story told by Gary's brother, Mikal (a rock music writer), however, that can add some insights to the dreadful concept of "blood atonement" (alas, a Biblical concept, also!) and how it worked its trauma on the Gilmore family. His book is called "Shot In The Heart," and it gives one of the most chilling testimonies I have ever read on what this religion, ultimately, may be about. I don't condemn Mormonism, but if you want to see the Judeo/Christian idea of blood sacrifice taken to an extreme, and how it affected life in one family, read this book. Mikal does a magnificent and poetic job of trying to understand the pull this religious concept has on certain types of people. My rabbi had another explanation for this, close to this, but I won't forget what he said: that God had to institute animal sacrifice because of the bloodthirstiness of (unredeemed and emotionally-driven) humanity. However, the intellect/intelligence alone is not enough either. The Nazi holocaust of the Jews was, in actual practice, carried out by technicians who were indifferent to what was being done to human beings. I found "Shot In The Heart" as haunting as Eli Wiesel's "Night."
Author: P. K. Dennis Date: 30-03-2005
ofiara naszych mormonów - Zlekwidować sektę MORMONÓW w Polsce
SEKTA PRZYSTOSOWAŁA SIĘ DO REALIÓW W POLSCE, NIE WIELE MA WSPÓLNEGO Z WYZNAWCAMI TEJ WIARY W USA.
TO SĄ MORDERCY I ZBOCZEŃCY. CZEPIAJĄ SIĘ MĘŻATEK, ŻONATYCH I DZIECI, ROZBIJAJĄ RODZINY PODSYŁAJĄC CZŁONKA SEKTY I INSTALUJĄC GO U JAKIES RODZINY POTAJEMNIE, BY SIĘ OSOBA ZAINTERESOWANA NIE DOWIEDZIAŁA.
SPOTYKAJĄ SIE POTAJEMNIE I KNUJĄ OKRUTNE PLANY, WCIĄGAJĄ W TO CORAZ WIECEJ OSÓB ZA JAKIES DOBRA, KTÓRE OBIECUJĄ.
DOWIADUJĄ SIĘ O SWOJEJ OFIARZE WSZYSTKIEGO, NISZCZĄC JĄ PRZEZ NAWET KILKA LAT. TROPIĄ CAŁĄ RODZINĘ I ZNAJOMYCH
CZŁONKOWIE SEKTY ZNECAJĄ SIĘ NAD OFIARĄ PSYCHICZNIE I FIZYCZNIE.
ZAJMUJĄ SIĘ WYCIĄGANIEM ODSZKODOWAŃ Z POLIS UBEZPIECZENIOWYCH, SZUKAJĄ SOBOWTORÓW DO PODSTAWIENIA NA ICH MIEJSCE PO FAKCIE (TAJNY PROJEKT), ZAJMUJĄ SIĘ PROSTYTUCJĄ,SPRZEDAŻĄ NARKOTYKÓW I NARZĄDÓW LUDZKICH.
MAJĄ OGROMNE KONTAKTY WSZĘDZIE W POLSCE I ZAGRANICĄ I SĄ CAŁKOWICIE BEZKARNI. POSŁUGUJĄ SIĘ GŁÓWNIE POLCJĄ, MOGĄ JĄ TAKŻE UDAWAĆ.OFIARA NIE MOŻE NIGDZIE UCIEC, BO JĄ BEZWŁOCZNIE ZNAJDUJĄ.
STOSUJĄ HIPNOZĘ I PSYCHOMANIPULACJĘ U WSZYSTKICH CZŁONKÓW SEKTY.
DZIĘKI TEMU DZIAŁANIU MAJĄ OGROMNE ŚRODKI, KTÓRE INWSTUJĄ W FIRMY.
Author: ofiara naszych mormonów Date: 30-12-2006
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Author: carinamon  Date: 03-04-2024
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Author: lilycollins34  Date: 20-05-2024
emilychaney - observations
Your observations about the survival and growth of Mormonism highlight some important dynamics at play within the church. You can access slope3.com to see a summary of your points along with some additional context.
Author: emilychaney  Date: 05-09-2024
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