Has it ever occured to you that America has given rise to some of the more

[Princess Turandot]

unusual religions in modern times?

1)The LDS. Having spoken to a few Mormons on line for some time, they seem like very nice people whose religion is solely based on control. Do this or don't do that, and you go to heaven. All men become priests at age 13 or 13. Personally, I wouldn't know that they believed in Jesus if it wasnt in their official name. The ones whom I've spoken to seem to never mention him or his teachings. And the Book of Mormon..well, at least the Bible tells a bit more coherent a story.Then we have the lost tribes of Israel settling in America, something which I imagine perplexes both the American Indian s and most Jews.

2)Christian Scientists: no human discovered medicine. End of that religion.

3)The Amish et al, who while European in nature only live in the US now. No phones. Shunning of sinners. Etc.

4)The Fundamentalists who give the current movement its name, but who sprung up and died out in the 19th Century. I think it's hard to keep later generations on the same wavelength.

5)Last but not least, Scientology, founded by a hack science fiction writer, and remarkably appealing to a number of wealthy people especially movie stars. They believe we all come from a group of souls banished to earth millions of years ago by an evil intergalactic despot, because his other planets were getting over-crowded.These souls re-incarnate, and when they do so, they bring with them negative baggage from all of their past lives. The Scientology Churches provide 'auditors' whose use machinary to ferret out and dispose of the baggage, to help the individual achieve a god-like state. It tkes a lot of sessions, and costs a lot of money. I do admire them for achieving tax exempt status from the IRS, although a course of psychoanalysis might get rid of the baggage more quickly and more cheaply!

And the Bible Belt complains about Charles Darwin!

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Ah, you forgot the Jehovah's Witnesses,

a strange sect to which my own parents belonged in their later years. I thank God they did not choose to do this before I was married; I think I might have had to run away from home if they had tried to raise me in the Witnesses.

I'm about to sign off for tonight so this will be brief, but they are an interesting American phenomenon, focused on the end of the world, when they will fight for Jehovah at Armageddon, a battle that they alone will survive. 144,000 of them will then live in Heaven, while the rest will live on Earth, now "a paradise anew."

I support their right to their beliefs and admire their successes but dislike the control, the brainwashing nature of all the Bible studies they hold, and the lack of beauty and mystery in their faith. Not much joy there, either. I found it very painful to have my parents stop celebrating Christmas and birthdays Even worse was knowing that they believed as an article of faith that their children and grandchildren (and their own parents and siblings, everyone they ever knew and cared about before they became JWs) were all doomed to horrendous eternal torment.

[Stunster]

2. Some cousins of mine are JWs

They live in Paris, France.

They converted from nominal Catholicism over 30 years ago, after which they let their father die in a hospital because they refused to allow a blood transfusion. Later they became very active in promoting the JW religion in Italy, where they lived for some years. After a while, they became somewhat disillusioned with full-time work for the JW organization.

They were brainwashed by a door-to-door proselyte. I think it kinda ruined their lives.

[Princess Turandot]

3. Do they not believe that the 'Messiah' ever arrived?..

years ago while working on a client's premises, I wished one of the women there a happy easter and she started barking at me!

They are on their way to that Paradise on earth. I think they own 20% of Brooklyn by now!

[demosincebirth]

4. Many Cults, including LDS were started by men who seem to have gotten

a revelation from God that polygamy is what thay should do. Hmmm.