Originally Posted By Mr X ***It's quite an intense place.*** I should think so. How do they decide who should learn a foreign language? Is it something they examine, maybe choose people who show an aptitude for learning languages? Or is it just; Jones, Thomas...assigned to Zimbabwe, go down to room 4B for your first Zimbabwaneese lesson.
Originally Posted By teddibubbles some times I think some THING of a question. may hold people back from just beleving in the lord. I wish the questions where here for me to read and try to responed to. to help people that just have questions.. its kind of hard just to give a blanket statement . that covers it all. I am me! the brat you all know lol. but my heart is full of love and hope!.. but.. if you wish to email me and ask some questions personal. I will do my best to help you! and to help you understand consepts of why you can trust in the lord. / to come to know the lord.
Originally Posted By Elderp "Or is it just; Jones, Thomas...assigned to Zimbabwe, go down to room 4B for your first Zimbabwaneese lesson." There are several MTCs arround the world, the biggest however is in Utah.That is pretty much how it goes. About a month or so before you report to the MTC (kind of like Missionary boot camp), you get a paper from the church that says where you are going. That pretty much decides what you will do at the MTC. If your going to a mission within your own country and it is the language of your country you train for three weeks. If you are going to a country outside your own country you go for 2 months. I enjoyed my time in the MTC. The only thing was I went to Argentina and I already knew Spanish and there are only so many culture classes you can take before you want to get out there and experience it for yourself.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I think X should personally e-mail teddibubbles and ask some questions. Then go back and revisit the heaven and hell thread with his new perspective.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz Much like those people who know there is a god I know there is not so there is nothing that would convince me that there is. If "the long hand of god" reached down and pulled me to "heaven" and perched me on "his" knee and started to talk to me, I would think I was poisoned or on drugs or that an alien got a hold of me. You could have partings of seas and other spectacular events and I would believe it was the forces of nature or, again forces from outside earth or what ever. Some might say then that perhaps aliens are god, but I don't much think that aliens would preform the above acts and don't think we have been visited by them...though they may be out there. The idea of "God" of "Gods" is not logical nor does it fit in with my view of the world. There is not anything that would make me beleive.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, facinating thread. I wish I had joined in sooner, shame life got in the way. Well not much for me to add, except that I think Mr X, Super Dry and Ursula have summed up most of my thoughts. Having travelled extensively in my life, learnt languages, attended celebrations and ceremonies, and interacted with people around the globe, I have come to the conclusion that there is "NO" 1 true religion. I do believe there may be a god, and I certainly believe we do have a higher purpose - whether physical, theological, sociological, political or psychologically driven, we do all have a sense of ethos. What would make me believe in the conventional view of god as one faith ascribes god? Either being told by god directly, or witnessing enough modern evidence to demonstrate it is so. I am a fan of god as an architect theme. Maybe god created the world, and we are all to interact into it. We may be glorified lab rats. Or just like Disney started with animation, got bored, moved on to DL, got bored, and then moved on to Epcot. Maybe god could be like this too. God could have created the world millions of years ago and never looked back, or occassionally peaks in on us from time to time. Or if god were a higher being, god may have themselves died. Is this possible? I am a big believer that humans want to have a purpose. They want to have somewhere where the grass is always greener. So they look for a faith. Also, others want control. and if not found by politics, then religion can be a way - look at Moses, maybe Jesus, Ra, Ramesis, and many more. Could they have not manipulated people and their faith for their own ends? No different than a politician, a cult leader, a CEO? Look at the 10 Commandments and the food laws of Judiaism. These are really smart rules for health and wellbeing in desert environments with little hygene. Could Moses have been a really smart civic leader, but realised that superstitious people needed more than just one man's word? And then when he said it was the word of god, there were no other societies, media, tv, education, internet to dispute it. So people accepted it. And a story became real. And over generations, as more people bought in, the more real it became. An urban myth of antiquity? Personally I feel the Bible, Koran, Torah, the writings of Buddha, and Taoist scrips make a lot of sense. As do the stories of Vishnu and Bhrama. And the Illiad and Odysee. All have fanatastic teachings to evolve human ethos. Question is, how many devoit Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Methodists et al, have actually read the other teachings or critiqued their own. In my experience, not many. So, I have a real problem subscribing to one sect. I excercise my free will. And I consider myself to have a high moralist creedo. However, to ascribe to one faith and truly believe - then only god talking to me, or unshakable quantities of modern evidence will make me believe. The Turin Shroud, a proven fake. Across Europe and Africa, there are so many pieces of Jesus, he would have had to had 3 times as many bones as you and I. And having seen religion twisted so many times for human gain (invasion of England by the Normans, the conquestedors of the new world, the destruction of Africa's tribal system). Well to say I am cynical.
Originally Posted By Elderp "All have fanatastic teachings to evolve human ethos. Question is, how many devoit Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Methodists et al, have actually read the other teachings or critiqued their own." I agree I think truth can be in many places. Part of my believe in my church is that there was a breaking away and therefore bits of truth were scattered everywhere. Having said that I believe my church has the totality of the truth, but that doesn't mean I can't find something of worth in another text.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Elderp, I agree that there are great teachings in other books. But what is your view of the Tamult, the Koran and non christian teachings?
Originally Posted By Elderp I don't know much about the Tamult so I really can't comment. I have read the Koran (I think I still might have a copy). I think overall it is pretty good. I was quite amazed when I read it on how much care is given to women. I guess it is all in the interpretation though because I don't see that manifested in the Muslim religion. In general I think Mohammed and his followers who wrote the Koran were very intelligent people. It is a very well written book, I don't understand Arabic (only have read it in English) but the combination of prose and poetry is something I can see as very influential to a believer.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed Elderp, just as we have seen Christians twist the bible for their own end and get criticised for it. So too do Muslims. In my experience most muslims I have met are wonderful people. Same with Christians. Just as I have met bad apples from both faiths.
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
