The Internet is the root of all evil

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:28 am

Originally posted by Darkpoet:

Wow, that is different than here in the states. My parents are JWs, they don't give their money away. They do everything a normal person would do. That's pretty harsh treatment over there.

It's the same here as in the US, JWs aren't seen as a cult (I have known one or two).

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:30 am

Originally posted by fable:
Are we sure we're discussing JW's, here? Or is the sect being referred to in Sweden actually the Scientologists?

That's what I was thinking.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:36 am

Originally posted by Darkpoet:

Wow, that is different than here in the states. My parents are JWs, they don't give their money away. They do everything a normal person would do. That's pretty harsh treatment over there.

Remember though, different countries do things different ways. I have nothing against 'JWs' and I haven't seen any in my area giving money away, but in different places things will be did different.

As for my religion, I have my own, with no one admitted. I don't have someone telling me what is right and what is wrong. I have myself to tell me " Would you do this to yourself or your child?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:40 am

Originally posted by fable:
Are we sure we're discussing JW's, here? Or is the sect being referred to in Sweden actually the Scientologists?

No, the Scientologists are very small in Sweden, but they do exist and they are also classified as a destructive cult. Obviously, we are dealing with national differences here. I don't have enough insight in the history of the Swedish Jehova's witnesses to understand why the cult is so different here than from the US.

leedogg · Post by **leedogg** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:42 am

how did this topic get to this? the article had nothing to do with religion IMO.

i don't think the internet controls my life at all. i spam here all day cause I have nothing better to do

. i try not to get involved with any of the "crap" that is on the net. the internet is like the TV to me. it is just something to take up time when you are bored. as most of you know, I work offshore for 7 days then i am home for 7 days. While i am at home, during the weekdays and my son is at daycare while my wife is at work, so i just sit at home and sleep or watch the tube and seach the net or do yardwork(which takes 1 day to do). this is also why i am hardly ever on between5 and 11pm, i spend this time with my family. if anyone turns their family away to be online, then they probably don't want to be there anyway.

so is the internet evil...only as evil as you make it.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:43 am

Originally posted by Weasel:
<snip>As for my religion, I have my own, with no one admitted. I don't have someone telling me what is right and what is wrong. I have myself to tell me " Would you do this to yourself or your child?

Sounds a lot like with me.

I think it is time that all people started to take responsibility for their own lifes and not let some kind of deity-figure run it.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:46 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
They act the same way in Denmark - but IIRC they are still a legal group here.

Interesting, so maybe the Scandinavian factions have something in common that differs from the US faction?

Here, about 10 or so different cults are classified as destructive. This does not mean they are illegal, but it means they are not allowed to preach their ideas in public and it also means you can get help from public resources if you want to get out of such a sect.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:58 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
Of coruse I'll read it, especially when it is interesting (and right IMO )

If one sticks to this method then one will not learn anything new, if one does not subject themselves to different ideas and thoughts then what might be correct would pass you by. IMO

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 12:01 pm

Originally posted by C Elegans:
I might be national differences, I don't know. The Swedish faction use standard mind control techniques like isolation, scare tactics and dependency. They start off with being friendly and open to new members, then step by step manipulate this person to give up contact with family and friends, renounce all of their former life, only taking in information from people within the group, giving away all his money to the group etc. A sort of pseudo-identity, totally dependent on the group, is thus created.

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: C Elegans ]

Sounds trememdously like GB

I always make it a point to talk to JW's they amuse me, i ask them simple questions about ethics and reasoning and they sometimes come up short.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 1:05 pm

@Mr Sleep - is there not one of these strange cults set up in Wales somewhere? It operates a little like a Mormon society but without the polygamy.

Re JW - I remember once they called around with the holy book in their hand (I will never forget their names David and his son Solomon!) asking me what I believed in respect of the armageddon. My sister appeared behind me, took one look, and said if you are selling bibles I have read it!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 1:51 pm

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
If one sticks to this method then one will not learn anything new, if one does not subject themselves to different ideas and thoughts then what might be correct would pass you by. IMO

Hey - I said "especially when it is interesting"
The right part was in ( ) ( <- see ) and with that part I state I agreed with fable in his POV.

So don't even try to make me into a singel minded something, 'kay??

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 4:24 pm

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Mr Sleep - is there not one of these strange cults set up in Wales somewhere? It operates a little like a Mormon society but without the polygamy.

Not sure aobut this

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 4:24 pm

Originally posted by Xandax:
Hey - I said "especially when it is interesting"
The right part was in ( ) ( <- see ) and with that part I state I agreed with fable in his POV.

So don't even try to make me into a singel minded something, 'kay??

I apologise i just mis interpreted your statement

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 12:10 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
I apologise i just mis interpreted your statement

No problem - just wanted to explain it/myself

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 7:57 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
IMO this is the blame of the Catholic Church which provides redemption on demand, all you have to do is tell some man in a booth about your sins and you are absolved, excuse me if i think this is crap. You could quite easily tell the Drive thru guy all your sins it would still amount to the same thing

That is really not the idea. Trust me. Of course people abuse the sacrament in this way; but that's not what it's for. You could say the same about any other faith, there are always abuses and misinterpretations. As well as extreme misunderstandings.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 5:19 pm

Not knowing all that much about the Catholic faith and only going on assumption and my interpritations, these are the conclusions i come to. i apologise if they offend anyone.

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 5:38 pm

Chana is a massive country with over a billion people but communism has made sure that everybodies getting food. Sure they aren't any human rights, which is a bad thing, but at least they aren't starving.

I'm leaving this topics. Its got too big, and I don't plan in participating in a massive flame war.
About Jehovah's Witness, in the winter of 1999 a week or so before the New Years i was strolling through New York where i came across some cultist that was handing out forms on how to join their cult and go to heaven on judgement day.

Just one thing, M&M will you please stop starting these religious discussions. Don't try to get everybody to follow your faith.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 7:05 pm

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
Not knowing all that much about the Catholic faith and only going on assumption and my interpritations, these are the conclusions i come to. i apologise if they offend anyone.

I don't find it offensive; it's just grossly inaccurate.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 8:45 pm

Originally posted by ThorinOakensfield:
Chana is a massive country with over a billion people but communism has made sure that everybodies getting food. Sure they aren't any human rights, which is a bad thing, but at least they aren't starving.

Orphanages: At present, the Chinese government reports that there are 40,000 welfare institutions, including orphanages, in China's rural areas, and 100 orphanages in urban areas. While the Chinese government presents these statistics in the hopes of relaying to the international community its willingness to improve the conditions for children. However, recent investigations by others have pieced together at least a fragmentary picture of the lives of abandoned children throughout China. These findings indicate horrifying conditions, including staggering mortality rates for infants in state institutions and the persistant failure of official statistics to track the vast majority of orphans, whose whereabouts and status are unknown. Since the publication of these allegations, there has been virtually no effort to place these charges in context through systematic research on the country's institutional welfare system, due mainly to reluctance on the part of the Chinese government to cooperate with such an investigation. However, the Chinese government's own statistics reveal that the majority of abandoned children admitted to China's orphanages in 1989, the most recent year for which nationwide figures are available, were dying in institutional care. In any case, the majority of abandoned children in China never reach the dubious security of a state-run orphanage. Many are sent instead to general-purpose state institutions, where they are confined wtih retarded, disabled, elderly, and mentally disturbed adults. While change will not come quickly to this system, Human Rights Watch/Asia, in its discussion entitled "Death by Default," believes that relatively minor legislative changes would greatly improve the current conditions of many abandoned Chinese children.
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This is the true vision of communism, isn't it a happy sight?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 9:16 pm

It's not necessarily a true vision of Communism; the specific does not automatically imply the general. But it is a true vision of Chinese cultural life, which for all its extraordinary achievements (and I mean that) has simply never placed a high value on human life or dignity.