I think Mormonism has it's pros and cons like any other high-control group, uh, religion. Some maintain that Joseph Smith was nothing short of a con artist himself. This site might be of interest to some of you:
detective
JoinedPosts by detective
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60
The mormons vs the jw?
by Nicolas ini saw a report on tv about the church of jesus chrisht of latter day saint and they have a lot in common with the jw.
they go from door to door and as the jw, they believe that they are here to save the world.
do you think that this church will become more popular while the watchtower is losing his popularity?
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What's the latest on "The Danni X-Files&qu...
by Bendrr inlooks like it's just disappeared.
no more posts from danni.
no more posts from mymy.. just to add my own little tidbit here, has anyone heard of a park hills (or parkhill) congregation?
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detective
This is really too bad. It seems like some decent people who trusted got a bit abused in the process.
I can see where you are coming from on this one Teejay. What happened to those who were hesitant or skeptical shouldn't have happened. If people don't understand what he's speaking of, I will speak of my own experience in this situation and maybe it will contribute to a general understanding. I definitely was the recipient of a number of not-so-nice remarks as this story was developing. I was mocked by Danni and others. It was intimated that I was a supporter of the elders and the organization. I was told I was something of a sissy-liberal who doesn't believe in taking action. I was nearly labelled a pedophile promoter. All this, simply because I didn't throw in my support whole heartedly. And when I asked people to refrain from personal pot-shots I was told to quit whining! Frankly, the only reason some people will consider what I'm saying is because "Danni" may be a hoax. Well, dammit, beggars can't be choosers so I'll take my "audience" any way I can! So...It was an emotionally charged situation and I realize that when you touch a nerve people respond in all sorts of ways. That's over now and somehow, some way...I think I'll be able to move on. I'm lucky that I have a sense of humor because it enabled me to let some of the uh, less than nice comments roll off and recognize it as the result of extreme, emotional fervor. Everybody has their moments where they'll take a swipe at the poster themselves but it really can feel overwhelming when many, many people start taking shots at the person behind the computer.
I think the point is that those that didn't get on board were really taken to task over it. That's over now and we continue to move forward. Let's just try to keep in mind that this can happen and try to avoid it next time around.
Thank goodness I'm insensitive or I really could have had my feelings hurt! I'm kidding, of course. I'd just hate to see you lose better contributers to this board than I'll ever be because people get so swept up in the emotions that they take aim at the people behind the counter-points instead of the issues behind the counter-point.
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murder victim "guided" in divorce act...
by detective ini thought the brief statement by the alleged killer's friend was an unusual choice of words.
here's the link:.
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/east02022002.htm.
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detective
I thought the brief statement by the alleged killer's friend was an unusual choice of words.
Here's the link:
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/east02022002.htmEastie man held in wife's strangling
by Dave Wedge
Saturday, February 2, 2002A nasty custody battle and divorce turned deadly in East Boston when a city tow truck driver strangled his wife with a necktie and then fled to a New Hampshire ski resort where the couple vacationed and tried to kill himself, officials and sources said.
``He just wanted to stay in the house with his kids,'' said a close friend of Kevin Hensley. ``I think it just got too overwhelming for him and he didn't know what to do and this is what happened.''
Hensley, a 55-year-old Boston Transportation Department employee, allegedly strangled his wife, Nancy, in the family's Byron Street home Thursday afternoon. The couple, who have four kids, were in the midst of a bitter divorce that began just three weeks ago when Nancy Hensley, 45, tossed her husband out of the house and got a restraining order against him.
According to police, the couple's oldest daughter made the grim discovery in the basement of the home around 2:15 p.m. and called 911, saying that her mother was unconscious and her head was covered. A source said Hensley was strangled with a necktie. Kevin Hensley, described by friends and neighbors as a hard-working father, was not at the home when police arrived. Thursday night, Waterville Valley police officers found Hensley unconscious in his wife's 2000 Buick LeSabre. A source said he attached a hose to the exhaust pipe and stuffed it in the window in an apparent suicide attempt.
He was taken to a local hospital where he recovered and was arrested by New Hampshire state police on a Bay State warrant charging him with his wife's slaying. He was ordered held without bail after a hearing yesterday in Plymouth (N.H.) District Court. He is due back in that court Feb. 28 but prosecutors hope to bring him back to Massachusetts sooner to face the murder charges, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office spokesman David Procopio said.
Kevin Hensley's friend, who didn't want his name used, said the couple used to vacation at the New Hampshire ski resort.
``Waterville Valley was a place where he and Nancy would go in happier times,'' the friend said. ``He just went there and was trying to remember the happy times.''
The friend said Hensley was ``embarrassed'' when he was served with a restraining order last month at work. He described the Hensleys as ``the perfect couple'' and said they ``fought no more than anyone else.''
In court papers, Nancy Hensley claimed her husband was ``violent,'' verbally abusive and once punched a hole in a wall. She also said he recently spied on her at a local gym, sporting a phony beard and sunglasses.
``I was at Bally's and he was there in disguise, with a fake beard and sunglasses, stalking me for 45 minutes,'' she wrote in a court affidavit obtained by the Herald. ``Then he seen (sic) me speaking with someone for 3 minutes and he came over and verbally abused me and left. I stayed out for a while going food shopping because I was afraid to go home.''
She also alleged that he violated the restraining order several times by going to the Byron Street home. The divorce and a motion to extend the restraining order were still pending but the case was moved out of Suffolk County to Middlesex County because Nancy Hensley's sister worked as a secretary for the Suffolk judge assigned to the case, court papers show.
Kevin Hensley's friend said Nancy Hensley was a recently converted Jehovah's Witness and claimed that ``someone was guiding her in this (divorce).''
Neighbors yesterday said the Hensleys appeared to be a happy family. Nancy Hensley often jogged and rode bicycles with their daughters, ages 20 and 10, while Kevin Hensley shot hoops and worked on the house with their sons, ages 17 and 6.
Nancy Hensley, who was unemployed, was recalled by one female relative yesterday as a ``good mother.'' Alice Norton, the Hensleys' 81-year-old wheelchair-bound neighbor, called Nancy Hensley a ``beautiful person'' who often stopped by to check on her. ``She was a lovely, lovely lady,'' Norton said. ``They're very nice people. I'm just shocked that this happened.''
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91
What's the latest on "The Danni X-Files&qu...
by Bendrr inlooks like it's just disappeared.
no more posts from danni.
no more posts from mymy.. just to add my own little tidbit here, has anyone heard of a park hills (or parkhill) congregation?
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detective
I was wondering how this turned out too. I refrained from asking about it because one poster (Dave I think?) requested that people stop discussing it. I don't understand why people don't want it discussed here but I'd be interested in hearing developments.
I'm still skeptical about how some of these events transpired and remain curious but if those most closely linked to it want matters dropped I'll just have to be satisfied never knowing! -
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"Persecution"
by Norm inlooking over some of my old papers i came across this quite amusing article from the awake magazine.
the awake!
starts up its lament with a text from the bible: .
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detective
Nice article. Thanks for putting in so much time and effort in researching.
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Will JW's Emulate Catholics?
by Kenneson innews article in today's paper is entitled "credit catholics for cleaning house" by stanley crouch (new york daily news).
"somehow in our nation we are almost always called upon to lead the way when it comes to things of human concern.. "that is why, after all these years of the catholic church's hiding behind cathedral doors, miters and robes, we should be glad that boston's cardinal bernard law has ignored the dictates of rome and called on his clergy to report to the police all the charges of sexual abuse of children by priests..............."
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detective
All I can say is that here in Boston the press coverage for the Catholic pedophilia issue is stunning. It's all over every channel and gets story after story after story in the papers. It's about time they start handling this issue, it's long over due. One would think that this might act as a reminder to other groups to really question whether or not they have effective policies in place for dealing with this issue but as we know, many groups are hesitant to go public with the problem to spare their reputations. It's pretty sick. But, perhaps the tides will turn a bit and people will start cracking down on this in their religious groups. Hopefully.
As for Catholicism being like a cult- I see a few major differences that should be considered. For example:
*you can leave Catholicism at any time without group punishment (I suppose your Grandma could stop talking to you but other than that there isn't a particular group stigma attached to leaving).
*You can come and go freely without social ostracization.
*You actions are not monitored or reported on by rank and file members
*Reporting your own "sins" is not forced out of you
*Reporting the sins of others is not forced out of you
*You can openly voice your opinions regardless of whether or not it is in line with the churches opinionWhile some of these things may be recent developments (confession not required- I don't know how long that's been in effect or if it was always optional), I know some of these things MAY occur on occasion in isolated cases but are not the rule. (ie. I know there are probably people who try to tell on you!)
Essentially, the difference isn't in the totalitarian structure, it's in how it's enforced. I base my personal assessment of cult vs. non-cult on some simple facts. High control? Can I leave whenever I like with recourse? If so, then it's a big no to being a cult, in my opinion.By the way, the Catholic church doesn't have any official "writings" that I know of, indireneed. I don't know what you meant by this? Maybe I'm just drawing a blank? It has been a long day!
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What is going on?
by gilwarrior inthe following was a letter that i wrote to myself several weeks ago.
i'm not sure what to make of this.
ok, tonight i went to my dance class.
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detective
Hey Gil,
I have a weird, though not life-altering insight that I can provide but I'd rather you email me if you are interested in hearing it. My email is open. -
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Wrath Of God Bible Quiz (part 2)
by sf innot sure where part one is.... < http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0102/wrathofgodquiz.html.
the wrath of god bible quiz - part 2. objective: determine the number of living things killed by or in the name of god in each of the following circumstances.
after taking the quiz, you can find explanations of the correct answers by clicking here.. 1. how many men did god kill because someone decided to peek into the ark of the lord?
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detective
Wow! That website is too funny!
"I've got a heart on for Jesus!"
(shaking my head and cracking up...too good!) -
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"I read only non-fiction..."
by patio34 inhi all you wonderful folks!.
i know a couple of people who made the above statement recently and got to thinking about it.
the way i see it a comparison could be made between fiction and non-fiction & art and photography.. both have their places, but art changes the original to match what the artist sees.
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detective
There is always a degree of fiction in non-fiction and vice-versa.
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Qestions too US peopel
by happy man inwhen we in sweden read about so much terribel things happend in us, for exampel all this killing and massakers,.
and scandals, as now in enron bussiness, i read that one boss killd himself, it is perhaps a new wartegate scandal.. then when i see all this movies widh a lot of killing and other terribel things, as been send all overer the word from hollywood,.
can you not understand that some peopel see this as a poison , , if i then look what us military done, inn irak, and other places, killing innocent peopel, i think you goverment show one face at home , and other face inn for exampel the 3 word.. if i say if your presidint shows upp to bee involvd inn this mess inn enron , what do you say, as talk so much of jw as bad peopel, .
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detective
Wonderful points, HS.