CSA wrote: I now have commitments from the Stake Presidency, and three members of the High Council, and I am sure I will have quite a few for my sample group by October. The Stake President of my stake will be issuing a letter to be read in the wards of the stake with some preparatory guidelines which members of the Stake should follow prior to our Stake temple day in October. The goal is to get people in the stake to give up caffeinated sodas and other things that have caffeine in them.
The four major highlights of preparing for this Stake Temple day is fasting, prayer, scripture reading and a new commitment to following the Word of Wisdom. He agrees with me that the intake of caffeine is a problem. A guy on the High Council is making some kind of web based survey in which stake members are to record level of commitment and spirituality throughout the two weeks before Stake Temple day and a week after. I will be coming up with relevant questions for the survey.
Yes I am biased in my view on this matter and I hope to soon have some good evidence to support my position.
CSA wrote:I for one, think the LDS church is not doing enough in defining and interpreting the Word of Wisdom in terms that could be used in this day and age.
He agrees with me that the intake of caffeine is a problem.
Sounds like you all are overstepping your bounds, why do you feel the need to steadying the ark here? It is the Prophet who has authority to receive guidance for the whole church right? And since God is a God of order he would address the Prophet about caffeine since it would be of importance to all members of the church who have a frontal lobe and not just for your little corner of the world. Or maybe for some unknown reason (probably has to do with you being an extraSFS) the HG told you about it and is using you instead of the Prophet to bring this important spiritual information to the Church. I'm curious though, after you have "good evidence to support my position" from your pretend experiment how do you plan on getting this information to the Prophet? You will have to let him know how he failed to properly care for those in his charge by not "doing enough in defining and interpreting the Word of Wisdom".
What will be the make up of the sample group and the control group of your experiment?
I now have commitments from the Stake Presidency, and three members of the High Council, and I am sure I will have quite a few for my sample group by October. The Stake President of my stake will be issuing a letter to be read in the wards of the stake with some preparatory guidelines which members of the Stake should follow prior to our Stake temple day in October. The goal is to get people in the stake to give up caffeinated sodas and other things that have caffeine in them.
The four major highlights of preparing for this Stake Temple day is fasting, prayer, scripture reading and a new commitment to following the Word of Wisdom. He agrees with me that the intake of caffeine is a problem. A guy on the High Council is making some kind of web based survey in which stake members are to record level of commitment and spirituality throughout the two weeks before Stake Temple day and a week after. I will be coming up with relevant questions for the survey.
Yes I am biased in my view on this matter and I hope to soon have some good evidence to support my position.
Has the control group been relieved of their temple recommends? It stands to reason that if they aren't living it fully then they aren't entitled to a recommend. If they are living it fully then you have no experiment.
'Church pictures are not always accurate' (The Nehor May 4th 2011)
Morality is doing what is right, regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, regardless of what is right.
This can be characterized as blind/mindless adherence to religious mythology. All facts, science, objective research becomes irrelevant. The facts must fit the faith or the facts are disregarded. Fortunately for many, information and reliable data in medicine and other advances Trump blind, mindless beliefs.
Looking for “evidence” that will support a preconceived position yields unreliable/false results. That is, one does not begin with a religious dogma, then go looking for any bit or piece of material that supports it. Rather, all available evidence is collected upon which tentative conclusion may be articulate – and then further tested.
Oh my, this imposes a belief that those who don't eat or drink a certain way are more spiritual, or, as you say, having the holy ghost. And that is so far off base it's pathetic.
I am still confused?? Is this a joke or not? I can't tell! Its too funny either way I guess. Thanks CSA for the laughs.
The caffeine thing is a hoot though. I guess everybody needs a sin they can find in others to justify their favorite. Reminds me of a couple of friends of mine one's hill to die on was Caffeine the other's was wearing shorts with garments. They were both trying to convince the other they were on the pathway to hell. LOL! I'd just sit there in my shorts drinking a Diet Coke (thank goodness for the lime dispensation!) and laugh till my sides hurt.
Is this religion or superstition? Has anyone tested the strength of the spirit while wearing rally caps? What is the difference between religion and superstition anyway?
I guess everybody needs a sin they can find in others to justify their favorite.
Everyone here is an arrogant jerk. So I am to. Delicious fun!!
the other's was wearing shorts with garments. They were both trying to convince the other they were on the pathway to hell. LOL!
Depends on if they're male or female and how they "fit" into the shorts. If female, and I see her, and they fit into them the right way, I may be the one on the road to hell.
I'd just sit there in my shorts drinking a Diet Coke (thank goodness for the lime dispensation!) and laugh till my sides hurt.
Recently tried Sprits Zero. more caffeine and more lime for the dispensation.
After screwing up so many times in my own life, I can attest to the fact that my most spiritual times were when I was in the midst of some kind of crisis I created myself. So my opinion is God takes care of all spiritually regardless of superstition, especially the superstitious word of wisdom. Many addicts who cannot break free still find peace in their religious beliefs, and that's why I've wondered why so many people crap on themselves if they cannot be perfect little Mormons.
Yes it is my belief that caffeine is the critical component within the Word of Wisdom that can cause a decline is spirituality. I have seen others who have given up caffeine and have expressed to me a greater spirituality.
I can not determine how much spirituality a person has. A person has to self-determine what their spirituality is. A caffeine drinker can come up with a baseline spirituality and give up caffeine and determine on their own if their spirituality has increased.
café Crema,
I can not tell the Prophet what to do. I believe that the Prophet has to approach God for answers and often God will give those answers to a Prophet who searches and concerns himself with the issues he seeks after. The Prophet can not tell us what the stock market will do because that is not what he is approaching God about at this time. I don't think, he is approaching God about what possible changes could be made to the Word of Wisdom. That shouldn't keep us from finding out ourselves on how best to live. What part of being self directed in these things and still following the prophet is difficult to understand?
My intent is not to judge those who drink caffeinated beverages, but to find out and to help others to discover and find greater spirituality.