h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

TAB-This is in response to your postings about the first schism being the Protestant Reformation of the 1500's. What about Orthodoxy? I'm not sure about the date, but the break between Catholicism and Orthodoxy was around 1000, and I have seen earlier dates mentioned as the "real" time of the schism, the late date being "official." If I'm remembering correctly (I'm at work and so can't look it up) one of the groups attacked during the crusades were orthodox, so it wasn't seen as the same as Christendom. I would mention the Coptics, also, but I don't know much about them...

I'm one the ACES here on H2G2 - we are a voluntary group of researchers who held out the bods in charge by welcoming new arrivals and being all nice and stuff.

I nor anyone else can leave a message on your page until you right an introduction using the edit page button. Anything will do, even "Hi!" would be fine.

See you around.

Clive

Actually, the book of revelations is the source of the number '144,000.' I think it said something like 12,000 members of each tribe of Israel would be admitted into heaven. And there were 12 tribes of Israel.

oops...wrong thread

Like nearly all of us - your actual religion is most probably an inheritance from your parents. Hating other people, or assuming that they are wrong (evil?) because their parents were taught something different is something else. A very wise man once said that if two people argue about religion they are both wrong.

The most important things about religion are the things they have in common. The real differences between religions are mostly either utterly inconsequential, or else honest mistakes (for which our Heavenly Father is, I suspect, quite prepared to forgive us).

There is only one GOD. Different faiths may have all kinds of name for HIM, and believe all kinds of things about HIM. Some, perhaps all, of these different beliefs may have some kind or degree of truth in them, but they are all short of the absolute truth about GOD because that is beyond our comprehension. If HE were not HE would hardly be worth worth our worship.

GOD wants us to try to be better people - and to treat other people as we would like them to treat us. All religions teach something like this. It is absolutely true, and terribly important.

If you believe these two things then GOD will forgive you for being a Mormon, in fact I doubt if he seriously cares one way or the other.

It has been objectively been proven many times that Joseph Smith and Bringham Young were basically lying rogues, and the Book of Mormon is a meaningless mixture of quotes from the Bible, Shakepeare etc. combined with a synopsis of a novel published in the 1820s.

But so what? There are lots of murky reaches in the history of all the other religions, too. The main thing is that in sincerely believing that we know it all (very human, if a bit silly) and trying to make everyone else believe the same things (a bit arrogant, but nothing wrong with it in itself) we don't end up preaching bigotry instead of toleration, and hate instead of love. That would be the real "false religion".

Interesting thought about inheriting your religion. This is not the case with 90% of Mormons that I know in the UK who are converts, including me and my wife who were both in our mid twenties when we each were baptized. (We had not yet met)

The wise man was right about two people arguing about religion both being wrong. That is why that while there is so much anti-stuff going around about Mormonism, we tend to smile and bear our testimony. We try to explain to people who will listen, but not contend.

"Why do the Elders of the Church hold their peace, instead of contradicting the various falsehoods, which are published concerning them and their principles? The answer is, it would require a standing army of writers and printers in constant employ; for no sooner are our enemies detected in one falsehood, than a thousand more are put in circulation by them: and there are many who love a lie so much more than the truth, that we are quite willing they should enjoy their strong delusion." (Parley P. Pratt, Mormonism Unveiled, 1838)

There has been no objective proof about what you said about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. What is fact is that Joesph Smith was murdered by an armed mob having been incarcerated on false charges.

What is frightening is how people have sympathy with the murderers and the lynch mob.

Eh? When i was a Christian I used to pray and never once received an answer. I always find it strange when it is said to ask God and he will tell you. No he won't! Unless you hear some voice ringing in your ears (and the vast majority of us haven't) then all you have heard is silence, I'm afraid.

What about all the evidence that Smith and family were interested in the occult, that he was pulled up on various charges of fraud etc?

I understand the reluctance to continually fight those who doubt, but apologetics is an important part of Christian theology. refusing to defend your beliefs can come across as "head in the sand" thinking, maybe.

What evidence that Joseph Smith was involved in the occult?

So what about fraud charges?

Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob of of over 100 while incarcerated in jail. He did not receive a trial and was not convicted of anything.

Thoise who were willing and able to murder are also more likely than most to commit a lesser sin like lying!

Now will all Catholics out there please apologise for burning all those people at the stake.

I suppose that's the point isn't it, do you believe Smith, or Smith's son, or the mob etc etc.

As I said, those who are ready willing and able to murder in cold blood will probably not care much for the Truth either.

Regarding your earlier question about prayers being answered - it is not always how, where or when you expect the answer that it comes. The answer could even come from a source you wouldn't expect, like an internet forum!