Text 1652, 74 rader
Skriven 2009-01-25 16:28:59 av Ross Sauer (1:123/789.0)
   Kommentar till text 1650 av Ed Hulett (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: Muslim lawyer brands Chri
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"Ed Hulett -> Ross Sauer" <1:123/789.0> wrote in
news:5705$HOLYSMOKE@JamNNTPd:

 RS>> Once again, a few minutes in Google:

 RS>> http://www.xenu.net/archive/COS_members.html

 RS>> Less than a million, by conservative figuring.

 EH> You just supported my point.

 RS>> Like so many other religions, wildly inflated numbers.

 EH> What other religions have "wildly inflated numbers?"

Mostly, cults like Scientology, or the Moonies, etc.

 GD>>>>> As it's from them, it can't be any less accurate than the
 EH>>>   membership GD>> in your cult.

 EH>>>>> The LDS Church uses an independent organization for counting
 EH>>>   members.

 GD>>>> And that's supposed to impress me?

 EH>>> It's supposed to show you that the numbers aren't made up.

 RS>> So who is this independent organization?

 RS>> But once more, a few minutes in Google:

 RS>> [T]he number of Latter-day Saints who are considered active
 EH>   churchgoers RS> is only about a third of the total, or 4 million in
 EH>   the pews every RS> Sunday, researchers say. For a church with such a
 EH>   large, dedicated RS> missionary corps constantly seeking to spread
 EH>   its word, conversion RS> numbers in recent years tell an unexpected
 EH>   story. According to LDS- RS> published statistics, the annual number
 EH>   of LDS converts declined from a RS> high of 321,385 in 1996 to
 EH>   241,239 in 2004. In the 1990s, the church's RS> growth rate went
 EH>   from 5 percent a year to 3 percent.

 EH> Inactive members are still members.

I know.

 RS>> http://sltrib.com/utah/ci_2890645

 RS>> This still does not address the main point.

 RS>> Numbers mean squat.
 RS>> What makes the LDS teachings valid, while other faiths are
 EH>   invalid?

 EH> Article of Faith #11:

 EH> "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the
 EH> dictates of our own
 EH> conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship
 EH> how, where, or what they may."

And if they are worshiping something that does not exist?
Or if they are worshipping the "wrong God?"

So far, you have given me the numbers game, and the above saying.

Still means diddly squat.
What gives your statements about your faith validity?

You say he is "almighty."
Fine. Let him stop at my place and say hello.
He did it many times in the Old Testament.

--- Xnews/5.04.25
 * Origin: Fidonet Via Newsreader - http://www.easternstar.info (1:123/789.0)