The Fastest Growing Religion in the World is.......

[_Equality]

Pity that he cannot use faith as he fails at supernatural cures frequently. Everybody gets about 30 percent. That's enough success for every quack on the planet to do well.

Nightlion, are you saying that you think people who claim the ability to harness supernatural powers to heal others succeed 30% of the time, regardless of what they believe? Do you believe there are people who can harness supernatural powers to heal at a rate higher than 30%? If so, who are they?

[_Buffalo]

The fasted growing religion in America is actually no religion at all.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Will someone please tell me the name of the king that is written in the writing of Facsimile No. 3? I honestly don't even think God knows the name!

Help!

Paul O

He's called King Beating a Dead Horse.

[_Some Schmo]

The largest church in the world is the Church of Equality, founded by me a few years ago. All living humans on the face of the earth are automatically members of the Church of Equality, just by virtue of being born. Members can resign from the Church of Equality simply by sending me a notarized letter stating their reasons for wanting to resign, along with a small processing fee of $29.95. So far, I have never had anyone resign from my Church. As with the Monsonite branch of the LDS church headquartered in Salt Lake City, it doesn't matter whether individuals consider themselves members of my Church or not; they are members of record until they send me the letter with the processing fee. Since it is my Church, I decide who gets to be a member and who does not and the conditions upon which I will terminate their membership.

Hmph. I thought I had started the largest religion, but I can't beat this.

However, I think my members are more devoted than yours. Since my religion is based entirely on breast worship (the Breastbyterian church), I've got an extremely devoted member base (whether they acknowledge they follow my church's teachings or not).

Still, I like your church's business model. Quite clever.

[_bcspace]

According to "folk Mormonism"....success equals God-inspiration.

But "folk Mormonism" isn't what is taught in the Church (never heard that particular one by the way). The scripture examples show us various ups and downs in numbers of believers. Plus there are things like the parable of the sower and "few there be that find it" and the Saints being overcome (universal apostasy). Those scriptures are taught in the Church.

[_krose]

What was said about church growth in the US at the recent General Conference? Anything?

With all the online defenders claiming the church doesn't use growth as faith promotion, I was surprised to hear one of the GAs deliver a speech that did just that last week.

I don't remember who it was, but he was doing the standard riff about how there has to a reason for the amazing growth, going on about fulfilling prophecies of the stone rolling and filling the earth.

Edit: It was Whitney Clayton, from Saturday morning. It was called "The time shall come." He actually calls the growth "miraculous," and oddly enough (considering the comment above), uses Chile as his example.

[_daheshism]

Dear Sir,

I've read the discourses of Li Honzhi. They are online. He gives these lectures to "Assistants"; volunteers who teach others how to practice Falun Dafa (Falun Gong). In these lectures, he CONDEMNS those who say that Falun Dafa is "just an exercize". He tells them he (Li) is a Buddha, and has been sent from the Falun Paradise to "save mankind" by teaching them Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa is ABSOLUTELY a "religion" because it has a Savior (Li Hongzhi), plus a belief system (i.e. reincarnation, Buddhas, Paradises, concepts of Virtue and Karma, etc.), plus Scriptures (The Books of Li Hongzhi).

Li Hongzhi is telling Americans "it is not a Faith" because he wants to popular it, have Americans practice it without having to "convert" to his religion. After they practice it for a while, they are slowly "converted" to the religion. Scientology does the same thing, it tells people, "Oh, you can be any religion and be a Scientologist!" BULL crap!!! It is a ploy, a "bait and switch" method. That's all.

New York Times Magazine
August 08, 1999

QUESTIONS FOR LI HONGZHI

Eye of the Storm

As the Chinese Government calls for his arrest, the exiled leader of the massive Falun Gong movement talks about living in New York and watching politics and belief collide back home. By JONATHAN S. LANDRETH & J.S. GREENBERG
li hongzhi said:
It is a practice that can remove illnesses, keep people fit and make one live longer. Like tai chi, it's a morning exercise. People practicing Falun Gong are expected to follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. And they must speak truthfully, have compassion, be benevolent, be tolerant. But whether people have other faiths or not, they can all practice Falun Gong. We do not get involved in faiths. We respect all of them.

So he denies that it is a faith but a practice of physical and moral fitness. Nothing about faith.
So it is NOT a religion and can only be the fastest growing fad.

Pity that he cannot use faith as he fails at supernatural cures frequently. Everybody gets about 30 percent. That's enough success for every quack on the planet to do well.

[_daheshism]

You NEVER HEARD that material success was your "rewards" for being a faithful Mormon? You never heard of "blessings" like...

*Protection in travel
*Healthy and well-behaved children
*Beautiful woman (for men)
*Successful man (for women)
*job promotions
*success in business ventures
*success in your career
*safety from harm (garments protect you physically)

I was an active Mormon from 1979 to 1989, and I heard NOTHING BUT this in almost every meeting I attended!!!!

According to "folk Mormonism"....success equals God-inspiration.

But "folk Mormonism" isn't what is taught in the Church (never heard that particular one by the way). The scripture examples show us various ups and downs in numbers of believers. Plus there are things like the parable of the sower and "few there be that find it" and the Saints being overcome (universal apostasy). Those scriptures are taught in the Church.

[_Nightlion]

Pity that he cannot use faith as he fails at supernatural cures frequently. Everybody gets about 30 percent. That's enough success for every quack on the planet to do well.

Nightlion, are you saying that you think people who claim the ability to harness supernatural powers to heal others succeed 30% of the time, regardless of what they believe? Do you believe there are people who can harness supernatural powers to heal at a rate higher than 30%? If so, who are they?

My childhood friend ended up running a Tijuana Cancer Treatment Center and made big bucks. When they could not prove that anything they did was effective they got fined to death and had to shut down. Probably just plowing the road for the NEW Cancer Treatment Centers that cash in on the 30 percent success.

Joseph Smith healed everyone in Nauvoo one afternoon. Jesus healed 100%. But sometimes his disciples failed, like in casting out devils. Wonders though why he waited 30 years before he began to heal anyone. That's curious. I guess he well could have without making a show of it.

I would expect that when the real powers of Heaven are applied 100% success is certain. The fact that the powers of Heaven ARE present guarantees it. When someone is not hooked up and just administers hoping that he is inspired and intending to call down a blessing by an ordinance I would expect about 30% success rate or about the same as if they did not even try.

When a priesthood holder administers he expects that once he places his hands upon someone everything he says until he is done is inspired. I mean, it's not like the discipline to wait to be moved upon is competently developed in the least. I'd say if the power of the Holy Ghost ever did fall upon them they would probably be so startled that they would stop and wonder why the devil had so rudely interrupted. lol, oh my gosh! lol

[_Nightlion]

Dear Sir,

I've read the discourses of Li Honzhi. They are online. He gives these lectures to "Assistants"; volunteers who teach others how to practice Falun Dafa (Falun Gong). In these lectures, he CONDEMNS those who say that Falun Dafa is "just an exercize". He tells them he (Li) is a Buddha, and has been sent from the Falun Paradise to "save mankind" by teaching them Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa is ABSOLUTELY a "religion" because it has a Savior (Li Hongzhi), plus a belief system (i.e. reincarnation, Buddhas, Paradises, concepts of Virtue and Karma, etc.), plus Scriptures (The Books of Li Hongzhi).

Li Hongzhi is telling Americans "it is not a Faith" because he wants to popular it, have Americans practice it without having to "convert" to his religion. After they practice it for a while, they are slowly "converted" to the religion. Scientology does the same thing, it tells people, "Oh, you can be any religion and be a Scientologist!" BULL s***!!! It is a ploy, a "bait and switch" method. That's all.

Okay, but where is the line between fad and fanatic? Do they count everyone who ever even slightly attempted the exercises? Keep them on the books forever?