Disturbing Plane Crash Object Lesson..

[_Inconceivable]

When I was about 14 or so, I went to a combined mutual night (all the teenaged boys and girls together).

We were all given make believe airline tickets and told we were all going on a flight to a fun and exciting tropical paradise. Some of the adult members were dressed as stewardesses, pilot etc. We all boarded this make believe plane (between the chapel and cultural hall where there is a 12 foot wide space between the big curtain dividers). They served us snacks and tried hard to make it seem real. Most of us were cutting up, not paying much attention because the whole thing was a little pre-adolescent.

Then it happened. the pilot comes on and says we have some sort of engine trouble, they blink the lights for about a minute while engine noises, wind and stuff are piped through the sound system then some sort of plane crash noise. Some of us boys are still carrying on hamming it up screaming like the girls etc. Then all goes quiet and everything goes dark.

One of the leaders then states, "You are all dead now" Things got pretty serious at this point. We all got sober. It wasn't funny anymore.

Then a few lights went on and an adult member came in dressed in white and started saying things like, "were you ready to die tonight?", "your time is up and it's too late to repent", "where will you go?", "will you be with your family forever or somewhere else?" etc.. Some of the girls started crying and everything really hit an all time low.

Because this was so long ago, what I remember next was an endowed married couple I respected entering together all dressed in their temple whites. I just remembered their smiles and holding each other's hands as the bishop explained that they were members of the celestial kingdom and they were happy because they kept the commandments... the whole thing was very disturbing and frightening.

It had the effect of frightening us into a willingness to fall in line with whatever they told us. The event has come to mind a couple times over the years, but for the most part, I have blocked it out.

This was about 1977. Anyone else witness this psycho drama as a teen?


If any adult attempted to do this to my kids I'd press charges and still end up spending a night in jail.

[_gramps]

Yeah, I remember it happening in the early 80's (I believe) in my stake, but I may be misremembering and it was 77-78, just before I left on my mission.

Even when I was still in the church, I thought it wasw ridiculous.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure which is worse: the airplane crash or the licked cupcake. It's a toss up for me.

I'm guessing a lot of members will assure us that they never witnessed such inanity. And thus that it never happened.

But it did, and I would presume still does.

Pitiful!

[_Runtu]

Oh, yes, that was a popular thing to do. We did that when I was a deacon, If I recall correctly. They did it a couple of years ago in Texas with my kids. Really awful/creepy.

[_Bond...James Bond]

Sheesh.....don't take this the wrong way....but organized religions are f***ing sick!

Gosh...a plane crash? Why don't they have the kids being struck by lightning or hit by a car? Perhaps abducted by a rapist or a cannibal? Are there any lengths religion won't go to in an attempt to guilt people?

(yes...my hyperbole runneth over)

[_Runtu]

Sheesh.....don't take this the wrong way....but organized religions are f***ing sick!

Gosh...a plane crash? Why don't they have the kids being struck by lightning or hit by a car? Perhaps abducted by a rapist or a cannibal? Are there any lengths religion won't go to in an attempt to guilt people?

(yes...my hyperbole runneth over)

It's similar in concept if not grotesqueness to those fundie Halloween events where they take you on a tour of hell and you get to see gruesome depictions of eternal suffering.

[_Bond...James Bond]

Sheesh.....don't take this the wrong way....but organized religions are f***ing sick!

Gosh...a plane crash? Why don't they have the kids being struck by lightning or hit by a car? Perhaps abducted by a rapist or a cannibal? Are there any lengths religion won't go to in an attempt to guilt people?

(yes...my hyperbole runneth over)

It's similar in concept if not grotesqueness to those fundie Halloween events where they take you on a tour of hell and you get to see gruesome depictions of eternal suffering.

They love to do that crap in the Bible Belt, under names such as "Judgment House" (a favorite in my redneck hometown). And the best part (worst part?) is that they love to play on current events (like 9/11 and the Iraq War). Needless to say....I stayed home.

[_Runtu]

They love to do that crap in the Bible Belt, under names such as "Judgement House" (a favorite in my redneck hometown). And the best part (worst part?) is that they love to play on current events (like 9/11 and the Iraq War). Needless to say....I stayed home.

So, yeah, I agree that religions can be indeed sick. I remember one in Texas where they advertised by saying, "We'll scare the HELL out of you!"

[_Pokatator]

1977-78 would be the time frame I would guess. I wasn't 14 but about 25. They were doing this to all the non-temple married that they could get. I wasn't the most active at that time, I never realized they did this to kids but should have guessed it.

This process had a negative result with me but it was a total success in their point of view on my wife. She bought it hook, line and no parachute. She became active after that. The rest is herstory.

[_barrelomonkeys]

Wow! Uh. I have dreams all the time about dying. In my last moments I merely think of my family and hope they know I love them. That's it.

In my dreams, of course, it seems very real and I'm glad my last moments are spent thinking about love and life rather than contemplating death. Hopefully that'll be the way it ends for me when I'm not dreaming.

Glad I was never indoctrinated with this insanity to fear life because of some hell waiting for me in the afterlife.

How very, very demented.

[_beastie]

Evangelicals do a version of this, too.