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Jehovah's Witnesses are fastest-growing U.S. faith; LDS are fourth-largest U.S. faith
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It doesn't matter what the "growth rate" of any of these churches are....they will not last. Intelligent thinking people won't support them and if they do, most will eventually leave (as I have.)
This is getting droll.
I also find myself baffled because of the anger it brings out in other people. If you don't agree, that is your choice, and you are free to make it. But to be so angry, that seems foolish. Have a civilized conversation, discuss different points of view, and then agree to disagree. Isn't that what a mature person does?
Another thing I have noted is the 'this is a tip of the iceberg', 'this group should have been disbanded a long time ago', and other similar comments. That makes me think of Acts 5:34-39. If you are reading this post, please take a moment and read it. Ask yourself, which group do I fall into?
I didn't think about this when I grew up a member of a church that claimed it was the only "true church." Then I learned of another that claimed the same thing, and everyone had to fulfill the same requirements to reach heaven.
The difference was, everyone would have the same fair chance - before the final judgment - to meet those requirements as stated by the Lord. And I was told I could ask the Lord if all this was true. I did and I believe He answered in the affirmative.
I don't mind when people claim their religion is the true one, but the problem is when they expect others to just believe them and take it for granted. And when an LDS person does this, it's even worse. We do that person and the Lord a disservice if we don't him or her approach God, the source of all truth.
One way or another I will be saved. I was baptized both Catholic and Mormon. I am just waiting for some divine revelation so that I know which church is the true church.
Its simple the JW's increase its membership 2.56 %. This comes to about a 23,000 member increase in the US. The LDS Church increased its membership by 1.56%. This comes to about 89,000 members in the US.
The worst thing in the world is religious fanaticism. Just look at the news, and read history, and you will see that religious fanaticism is an evil thing.
Or, just look at these comments and you will notice a trend. People who have gone inactive were tired of the judgmental, intolerant, "actives" who ostracized them, treated them as if they were sub-human, and what not. Others left the Church (or went inactive) because the "opened their eyes" and learned how fanatic, irrational, and unreasonable the doctrines were.
This shows my point: actives lack tolerance because they are fanatic. Inactives leave because of this fanaticism - the entire package of fanaticism that includes the fanatic doctrines, the intolerant people, and the unsustainable lifestyle requirements.
Inactive are more likely to be temperate and reasonable; "actives" are more likely to be fanatic and to call temperate belief "lukewarm" and "uncommitted". But that is the very fanaticism that is so dangerous.
IF SO YOU ARE OPPOSITE OF JW'S I MET.
THEY ARE HUMBLE PERSONS AND YOU ARE NOT.
KING: What can you tell us - what about 2005?
HINCKLEY: 2005, I think, is going to be a good year. I'm optimistic. I think that we can look forward with hope and faith. I hope there'll be a resolution of the Iraq situation. I earnestly hope so. I hope that the economy will be good. And I hope that there will be peace across the world.
Even prophets can hope. It is one of the hallmarks of Christianity: Faith, Hope and Charity.
And yes, whenever he or his predecessors or those that come after, speak of things pertaining to our eternal salvation they speak as prophets. Now, perhaps in the back yard having a picnic with the grandkids...
So why don't we all try a little charity in this post and see if it might cheer us up.
Also, @ a garbageman: Humans and their choices are the cause of human suffering, not any institution, religious or otherwise. Nor is it the opiate of the masses as Karl Marx put it. Television is :)
Why can't we be grateful for the good we are seeing in ANYONE that chooses to follow a religious creed? Why are we treating this information from the article as a challenge that we have to defend our own religion and its converts and our/their numbers?
I think we have already forgotten our past wonderful leader and prophet - President Gordon B. Hinckley asked us to be a little kinder, a little gentler towards our fellow beings.
READ YOUR BIBLE.
START WITH HEBREWS.
The JW Church is the best church on this planet.
Pay attention, how many people are in this country right now? Do you believe it or not? Whether you do or don't is immaterial. What you believe and what is reality will never collide.
1.If you are an active member of the LDS Church, you know the stats on inactive members. Get to work.
2. If you do not believe in the Mormon faith, why do you care what the numbers are of if the numbers are right or wrong?
3. How do you quantify "active?" If sheer attendance is the measuring stick, there are other huge churches whose numbers are far more inflated thasn the mormons (Catholics who attend only Easter and Christmas?) This is no slam, it just points out the foolishness of trying to quantify faithfulness.
4. Why do some folks alway find a way to denigrate anyone and anything with which they do not agree, especially religion?
Perhaps the most interesting question on this board was, "How many members belong to the church of Satan?"
Yes, there are that have more spiritual nature in them, just like there are spiritual people who are atheists, I know because I had a roommate that was like that, but the majority of the people who have been posting here are not.
So, just judge yourselves, whether you like the sounds of the Mormons, or the sounds of the JWs, and see whether that's how you'd like to become by joining their religion, by their fruits, as the scripture says.
As for me, I do not want to become like either of them.
To go to school and take Geologist you don't become an Accountant at graduation. When you take Dentistry, you don't graduate with a degree in Culinary.
You get what you seek after, and certainly knowing what the Mormon's have become, I certainly don't want to turn out like them, it really scares me when I think about it.
It's not just the Mormons though, it's pretty much all religion.
You are painting with quite a broad brush. It is silly to think that these posts represent a majority of Mormons or JWs. You need to learn about statistical bias before you come to simplistic conclusions and post them on a comment board. Posters on comment boards have strong opinions, usually negative, and are much more likely to post than the "average" person.
I believe that part of overcoming bigotry in society is learning to think through issues intelligently instead of resorting to knee-jerk reactions, such as you have done. The fact is that most people are good. Some are bad. The bad ones tend to make more noise.
Just some food for thought.
NOT many are being saved..
only) EIGHT souls survived the deluge..
FEW are those on the road to life..
I called Israel not because you were great..
David the most insignificant..
Many stopped following him..(after being told they must eat his body)
It's works that count not numbers
The Mormons are the most shocking. They have claimed 5.0 million for some time in the US. But the US Census states there is only half as many.
If the US Census is true, that would mean that the Mormon Church only has 10 million members at best--not including how many they overstate in other countries.
In actuality there may be less Mormons in the world than Jehovah's Witnesses or not much more.
we are actively growing and becoming stronger each year.When I became a Witness 20 years ago there were barely 3 million ,now 7 million -the facts are the facts . Please remember people the numbers are ONLY active ,preaching members not the pew sitters and people that profess a faith .The churches of Christendom count babies,people who show up once a year at Christmas and funerals NOT active ,involved members.
The reason JW's are growing is Bible truth and God's spirit .There are so many people that are misinformed spouting off on what we believe I say ask one of Jehovah's witnesses what they believe and get it right from the source .
Isn't that interesting to any of you? Or does it disturb your world view that LDS is more huge and powerful than it actually is?
Neat trick eh?
affiliats that attend their meetings nor infants.
It the did they would have double the amount of members that they now say they have.
It is sad to say, but the reason there is much anger and false statements towards us, is simple.
Satan is blinding those who want to see the truth, he doesn't want that..he rather make sure he can take as many as he can with him to DEATH.
Many will soon see the truth, but it will be too late to do anything about it then.
End of Religon is near that is the start of of all signs and pain to come.
I am happy to be a JW and I hope many of you can investigate further and not be blinded by Satans ways
That means that two-thirds of the people who told Pew they were raised Jehovah's Witnesses no longer are � yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts. Notes Lugo, "No wonder they have to keep on knocking on doors."
WOW!
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As for the true church thing, doesn't everybody believe that what they believe is the true or right thing? How can you believe one thing and do something else?