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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Meditation can help....
Meditation Can Wish You Well, Study SaysTHURSDAY, March 27 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that qualities the world desperately needs more of -- love, kindness and compassion -- are indeed teachable.Imaging technology shows that people who practice meditation that focuses on kindness and compassion actually undergo changes in areas of the brain that make them more in tune to what others are feeling."Potentially one can train oneself to behave in a way which is more benevolent and altruistic," said study co-author Antoine Lutz, an associate scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.How far this idea can be extrapolated remains in question, though."I think there's no question that people can benefit from these practices," said Dr. Louis Teichholz, medical director of complementary medicine and chief of cardiology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. "I think the question is how easy is it to get trained enough so that it will make a clinical difference, and I don't think this study answers that."The findings were published in the March 26 issue of the Public Library of Science One.Recent brain-imaging studies have suggested that the insula and the anterior cingulate cortices regions are involved in the empathic response to other people's pain. But not much is known about how cultivating compassion might affect brain circuitry.And previous research has indicated that meditation may reduce the brain's reaction to pain, and that it may actually improve cardiovascular health by decreasing the risk of metabolic syndrome."The main research question was to see whether some positive qualities such as loving-kindness and compassion or, in general, pro-social altruistic behavior, can be understood as skills and can be trained," Lutz explained.In the same way that training in sports or chess or music produces functional and structural changes in the brain, the Wisconsin researchers wanted to see if cultivating compassion through the practice of meditation also produced brain changes -- suggesting that compassion could be viewed as a learned skill.The study involved 32 people: 16 Tibetan monks and lay practitioners, who had meditated for a minimum of 10,000 hours throughout their lifetime (the "experts"); and 16 control subjects, who had only recently been taught the basics of compassion meditation (the "novices").The senior author of the paper, Richard Davidson, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on imaging the effects of meditation, has been collaborating with the Dalai Lama since 1992, studying the brains of Tibetan monks.For the study, individuals in the control group were instructed first to wish loved ones well-being and freedom from pain, then to wish such benefits to humankind as a whole."We looked at whether there were any differences between experts and novices in generating compassion with the idea that a central practice in this tradition [of meditation] is to cultivate these positive emotions," Lutz said. "We wanted to see if there were any differences in the way the brain was reacting."Each participant was hooked up to a functional MRI both while meditating and not meditating. During each state, the participants heard sounds designed to produce responses: the negative sound of a distressed woman, the positive sound of a baby laughing, and the neutral sound of background noise from a restaurant."We showed altered activation in brain circuitry that was previously linked to empathy and perspective-taking or the capacity to understand other's intentions and mental states and, more precisely, the insula was more activated, particularly in response to negative emotional sounds," Lutz said.In the monks, especially, these areas of the brain were activated even more when they hard the cries of the distressed woman, she said.The study authors hope the findings might one day help with a range of problems, including reducing the incidence of bullying in schools or helping people with depression."The next step is to see if this works," Lutz said. "If it works, then it can be applied to selective populations -- for instance, depressed people or, more broadly, in education."More informationThe U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has more about meditation and health.SOURCES: Antoine Lutz, Ph.D., associate scientist, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Louis E. Teichholz, M.D., medical director, complementary medicine, and chief, cardiology, Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey; March 26, 2008, Public Library of Science One
Posted by -ARC- at 10:46 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Austin Miller's latest article before it really happened
'Please do not run me over' by Austin Miller11:08 AM PST on Tuesday, February 26, 2008The following is a column that Austin Miller wrote for his school newspaper, The Savant, a year before he was run over and killed while riding his bike home from school:Austin's column was titled: "Please do not run me over" and he used the pen name, Charlie ElsewhereIt is well known that these days, the roads and parking lots of our public places are growing with numbers of bikers. With wild peddling racers zipping down the road and through intersections, it is apparent that drivers would need to have an increasing awareness for how they turn the wheel.Long ago, I lived in a place called Vortex Sorrows. In this town, leagues of bikers ruled the streets-hardly a car was there to be found. When the ever growing and popular motorcar came to town, there was an outrage. “Too fast!” said Vortex residents. “And loud and polluting!” it seemed for the drivers of the town there would be no sympathy. And yet, more and more people found an easy escape to the time consuming, expensive and difficult task of biking, which was to buy cars which pollute their environment, loose the aspect of exercise all together and spend over four times as much on gas. I remained constant. I did not succumb to the new, hip trend of car buying. I eyed no sedan dealership, no gas station-only bike galleries and shops. It never occurred to me that I might get more pleasure out of having less money and more weight for the simple exerting exercise of peddling five miles to school and back.Within a time span of about two weeks, what was once a league of bikers which would join me on my morning route became nothing but me, that strange kid Logan who no one liked to talk to, and a road packed full of red brake lights. Every day, I would hop aboard my bicycle, clip on the helmet and take off toward home, and on my way I would often see red, frustrated faces of the motorcar drivers as they slammed on their brakes and honked their horns. Me? I was smooth sailing, begin the juices flowing and the chemical reactions reacting to push a cloud of good feelings into my mind and body.And yet soon, even Logan took to the big yellow school bus, and I was left alone. I later petitioned to bring back the art of cycling to Vortex Sorrows-in full. I put up posters, ran for town jr. mayor, and petitioned for new laws restricting the amount of driving that could be engaged in during weekdays. Just when the future of Vortex’s residence began to seem brighter, a revolution happened against me and I was run from the town.A lot of drivers seem to get frustrated by myself, and other bike loving pedalists. Usually I wouldn’t think so, but attempted hit and runs and getting chased through Mrs. Higden’s Hydrangea garden by an SUV crazed Blackberry loving business man was a slight indication that there may be ridged feelings over the way we ride. Now, to set the record straight, I give no excuses for bikers-or drivers-who brake laws and endanger their and other people’s lives. Anyone who shares the road with me and the rest of us needs to be aware that they are not the only ones, and their lives depend on everybody working together. Unfortunately, in this day and age, I see more drivers whining and complaining about biking behavior than actually trying to do something about it. If I spent all my waking hours crying over every time a driver cut me off, nearly hit me, did hit me, or any other offense, would anything be done about it? No. Talking about how much you hate bikers is not going to solve the fact that they are here-they are here to bike, to bike safely, and they are not going anywhere.How would we solve this biking problem? Well for starters, why don’t all major roads have bike paths? With an increasing number of adults who choose the healthier way to get there and back again, they too travel on the same roads as any driver would on his or her way to work. Instead of complaining about having to share a road with a biker, why not ban together to get bike paths made standard, so that they can stay out of your way. There are so many things that can be done, and are so obvious it just makes one want to scream. And yet there are some things that have no solution.Bikers will always be here; as long as it costs less than driving, helps us stay fit and pumps those feel-good chemicals throughout our body, we will remain on the early morning pavement, and that will not change. There is no excuse for a driver who does not pay attention and mind not only other cars but bikes. You cannot control other people’s actions, but you can control your own. Why anyone would rather sit inside a massive metal death trap for their commute is beyond me, but there are those with family, disabilities and other impairing things keeping them from biking. There will never again be a society 100% dedicated to driving or biking. It is like all other integration that had to happen in history-it takes time, patience, and a great deal of compromise.There will always be hard feelings about this subject-we can only hope that no one will get hurt or loose a loved one due to a lack of responsibility and respect for the road. These are dangerous times, and especially for bikers, our fate lies not only in our hands, but in the hands of the drivers of which we share the road. I am glad for every day I reach the X point unscathed, but besides doing everything I can for myself, I cannot control you, I can only mutter these few words in a hope that it might do good: please do not run me over.(This article will be re-published in The Savant's next issue, which will also be dedicated to bike safety with articles on how to get involved in bike advocacy, tips for motorists, a diagram of turn signals for cyclists, and a spread of Miller’s artwork and poetry. The issue will be distributed throughout the Art and Communication Magnet Academy next week.)
Posted by -ARC- at 2:57 PM 0 comments
Sunday, February 24, 2008

First Commercial Flight powered by BIOFUEL
World's First Commercial Flight Powered by BiofuelSunday, February 24, 2008LONDON — Virgin Atlantic carried out the world's first flight of a commercial aircraft powered with biofuel on Sunday in an effort to show it can produce less carbon dioxide than normal jet fuels.• Click here for video.Some analysts praised the jumbo jet test flight from London to Amsterdam as a potentially useful experiment. But others criticized it as a publicity stunt and noted scientists are questioning the environmental benefits of biofuels."This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected," Sir Richard Branson, the airline's president, said before the Boeing 747 flew from London's Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.He said the flight would provide "crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint," he said.Sunday's flight was partially fueled with a biofuel mixture of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks. The jet carried pilots and several technicians, but no passengers./**/Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles predicted this biofuel would produce much less CO2 than regular jet fuel, but said it will take weeks to analyze the data from Sunday's flight."It's great that somebody like Richard is willing to put some of his billions into an experiment aimed at reducing the climate change impact of aviation," said James Halstead, an airline analyst at the London stockbroker Dawnay Day Lochart."But there are a lot of unanswered questions about the usefulness of biofuels in the battle against global warming," he said.The flight is the latest example of how the world's airlines are jumping on the environmental bandwagon by trying to find ways of reducing aviation's carbon footprint.These efforts have included finding alternative jet fuels, developing engines that burn existing fuels more slowly, and changing the way planes land.The experiment by Virgin Atlantic and its partners -- Boeing, General Electric and Imperium Renewables -- also comes at a time when high oil prices and the U.S. economic slowdown are promoting consolidation in the airline industry.Aircraft engines cause noise pollution and emit gases and particulates that reduce air quality and contribute to global warming and global dimming, where dust and ash from natural and industrial sources block the sun to create a cooling effect.About a year ago, the European Commission, the executive of the European Union, said greenhouse gas emissions from aviation account for about 3 percent of the total in the EU and have increased by 87 percent since 1990 as air travel cheapened.Charles said Virgin's Boeing 747-400 jet and its engines did not have to be redesigned to use biofuel on the test flight.He said CO2 emissions on a normal flight are generally three times the fuel burned, and that technical engineers on the test flight would take readings and analyze data to estimate its greenhouse gas emissions.
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Saturday, February 23, 2008

'Negative Energy Attacks'

My Negative Energegy Attacks paper was published last month on NEWAGEARTICLES.COm and has been read by over 1000 people!
The story is about my research into Energy, Electrical, RF and AF waves that can adversly affect humans, especially women and children.
It's only a few pages long, so take a momemnt to read it by clicking or going here:
http://www.newagearticles.com/Article/The-Negative-Energy-Attacks/400
Posted by -ARC- at 10:25 AM 0 comments
Thursday, January 31, 2008

फॉक्स न्यूज़ इस एंटी-GAY
From MSNBC's Live with Dan Abram.The church Abr... (more)Added: January 28, 2008From MSNBC's Live with Dan Abram.The church Abrams refuse to name is the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, a bunch of lunatics that consist mostly of the Phelps family. They are not recognized by any other denomination, including Baptists. In fact, some of their biggest critics are conservatives and hosts on the Fox network. I love the church because they're a major embarrassment to the Religious Right. They're so over-the-top homophobic that even homophobes are forced to condemn them. Among their most hateful acts is picketing the funerals of [hetero] soldiers killed in Iraq. The church believes that the deaths (as well as 9/11) are God's punishment for our acceptance of gays. They're also antisemitic, anti-Catholic, anti-Muslim, among other things. Picketing the Holocaust Memorial, they said that the Jewish victims' cause "has been drowned in sodomite semen."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PyoU...You can read more about their lunacy here. Included are photos and their many slogans.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro...There are also plenty of videos on YouTube, including the one of Australian comic, Charles Firth, flirting with male church members.A great humorous summary of the Westboro Church and a funny gay stunt against them by Char;es Firth:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cN2p...I'm no fan of Fox "News," but here's the famous confrontation againsr Phelpshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PyoU...Keith Allen exposes that Shirley Phelps-Roper, Westboro spokeswoman, has a son out of wedlockhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWAawK...=============From GLAAD:Jan. 24, 2008In the wake of Heath Ledger's death, people around the world are mourning the gifted actor's passing and are expressing their appreciation for how he changed hearts and minds with his Oscar-nominated role as a gay cowboy in 2005's Brokeback Mountain.In a stark and disturbing contrast, Fox News Radio host John Gibson cruelly mocked Ledger's death and his role in Brokeback Mountain during his Jan. 22 John Gibson Show radio broadcast. During the show, Gibson played an audio clip from the film of Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, telling Ennis (played by Ledger), "I wish I knew how to quit you." Gibson then coldly quipped, "Well, he found out how to quit you." Then, after playing another audio clip from the movie of Ledger's character saying, "We're dead," Gibson mockingly said, "We're dead" and played the clip again."Gibson's remarks are vulgar and disgusting," said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD's Senior Director of Media Programs. "It's sickening that Gibson would exploit Heath Ledger's tragic death to promote such hurtful intolerance. And to do so at a time when family and friends are grieving shows a level of insensitivity that is beyond the pale."Beyond his mockery of Ledger's role in Brokeback Mountain, Gibson called the actor a "weirdo" with "a serious drug problem," and callously speculated on the reasons Ledger might have committed suicide. Gibson had previously mocked Brokeback Mountain--calling it a "gay agenda movie" on his Fox News TV program in 2006.Gibson's Past Comments on Brokeback Mountain:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180499,00.htmlTAKE ACTION NOW!GLAAD strongly urges you to contact Fox News and ask its representatives why they continue to provide a platform for John Gibson's cruel and tasteless comments.Please contact:Mr. Mitch DavisVice PresidentFox News Radio Network1211 Avenue Of The Americas18th FloorNew York, NY 10036-8701Direct Phone: *212-301-5800Outlet Fax: *212-301-5455Outlet Phone: 212-301-3000Email: mitch.davis@foxnews.comMr. Robert FinnertySenior Vice PresidentFox News Radio Network1211 Avenue Of The Americas18th FloorNew York, NY 10036-8701Direct Phone: *212-301-5800Outlet Fax: *212-301-5455Outlet Phone: 212-301-3000Email: robert.finnerty@foxnews.comMs. Irena BrigantiVice President of Public RelationsFOX News Channel1211 Avenue Of The AmericasNew York, NY 10036Direct Phone : *212-301-3608Outlet Fax : *212-382-1411Outlet Phone : 212-301-3000Email: irena.briganti@foxnews.comContact by: E-mailMs. Suzanne ScottVice President, ProgrammingFOX News Channel1211 Avenue Of The AmericasNew York, NY 10036Direct Phone : *212-301-8558Outlet Fax : *212-382-1411Outlet Phone : 212-301-3000Email: suzanne.scott@foxnews.comfoxnewsradio@foxnews.comgibsonradio@foxnews.comJOHN GIBSONjohn.gibson@foxnews.com212-301-3000 (less)
Posted by -ARC- at 1:21 PM 0 comments

Our Troops are killing themselves.... Suicide is Rampant
WASHINGTON — As many as 121 Army soldiers committed suicide in 2007, a jump of some 20 percent over the year before, officials said Thursday.The rise comes despite numerous efforts to improve the mental health of a force stressed by a longer-than-expected war in Iraq and the most deadly year yet in the now six-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.Internal briefing papers prepared by the Army's psychiatry consultant early this month show there were 89 confirmed suicides last year and 32 deaths that are suspected suicides and still under investigation.More than a quarter of those — about 34 — happened during deployments in Iraq, an increase from 27 in Iraq the previous year, according to the preliminary figures.The report also shows an increase in the number of attempted suicides and self-injuries — some 2,100 in 2007 compared to less than 1,500 the previous year and less than 500 in 2002.The total of 121 suicides last year, if all are confirmed, would be more than double the 52 reported in 2001, before the Sept. 11 attacks prompted the Bush administration to launch its counter-terror war. The toll was 87 by 2005 and 102 in 2006./**/Officials said the rate of suicides per 100,000 active duty soldiers has not yet been calculated for 2007. But in a half million-person active duty Army, the 2006 toll of 102 translated to a rate of 17.5 per 100,000, the highest since the Army started counting in 1980, officials said. The rate has fluctuated over those years, with the low being 9.1 per 100,000 in 2001.That toll and rate for 2006 is a revision from figures released in August because a number of pending cases have since been concluded. Officials earlier had reported 99 soldiers killed themselves in 2006 and two cases were pending — as opposed to the 102 now confirmed. It's common for investigations to take some time and for officials to study results at length before releasing them publicly.Col. Elspeth Ritchie, the psychiatry consultant to the Army surgeon general, has said that officials found failed personal relationships, legal and financial problems and the stress of their jobs have been main factors in soldiers' suicides. Officials also have found that the number of days troops are deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries contributes to that stress.With the Army stretched thin by years of fighting the two wars, the Pentagon last year extended normal tours of duty to 15 months from 12 and has sent some troops back to the wars several times. The Army has been hoping to reduce tour lengths this summer. But the prospect could depend heavily on what Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, recommends when he gives his assessment of security in Iraq and troop needs to Congress in April.A succession of studies on mental health in the military have found a system that might have been adequate for peacetime has been overwhelmed by troops coming home from war. Some troop surveys in Iraq have shown that 20 percent of Army soldiers have signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, which can cause flashbacks of traumatic combat experiences and other severe reactions. About 35 percent of soldiers are seeking some kind of mental health treatment a year after returning home under a program that screens returning troops for physical and mental health problems, officials have said.Officials have worked to set up a number of new programs and strengthen old ones for providing mental health care to the force. The Army also has been working to stem the stigma associated with getting therapy for mental problems, after officials found that troops are avoiding counseling out of fear it could harm their careers.
Posted by -ARC- at 8:23 AM 0 comments
Friday, January 25, 2008

PRIDELABS.US Slashed it's whole price during this reccession
LATEST PRICE DROPNEWS01/23/08 A Letter from ourOwnerOnline businesses like ours have seen sales decrease by about 80% already over the last year, it's not because people don't love our products, but preventative supplemental health care and emergency preparedness all take a back seat to keeping your job so you can simply provide food and heat in your home and gas to your car. The US and many Countries around the world are in severe economic crisis and the forecast is looking worse. I fully understand the personal difficulties each of my customers & friends are going through, and yet I still see your continued support for our products. My family and I appreciate your continued patronage and because of this fact, I went through and LOWERED PRICES to assist burdened families, all across the board. MY PROMISE TO HELPIf you have a life threatening disease or disorder and you can't continue your colloidal therapy because of limited funds, please contact me for DEEP DISCOUNTED (sometimes even free) bulk refills of our therapeutic colloidal minerals. Don't be shy, just write and tell me your story and I'll do my best to assist you. No other Colloidal Company offers such help.M Peterson, Ownerwww.pridelabs.us
Posted by -ARC- at 10:55 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 16, 2008

2007 WAS HOTTEST YEAR ON THE PLANET!
By Doyle Rice, USA TODAY2007 was another sizzling year for the planet — the warmest year ever recorded for the Earth's land areas, federal scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center reported Tuesday, with an average temperature about 1.84 degrees above the long-term average. Global weather records began in 1880.For the entire Earth's surface, including the oceans, scientists report that the global temperature was the 5th-warmest on record.
Posted by -ARC- at 8:19 AM 0 comments

Silly Mit Romney and his Cult
Added December 12, 2007:
Question: Is Mitt RomneySatan?
Answer: No, but he ishis brother!
Unfortunately, Mitt shows his truecolors everyday. He is admittently a bigoted, very anti-gay Mormon who cut healthcare toexisting HIV/AIDSpatients over 38% as Governor of his state. (See CNN November 23 article)
While other politicians have seen thelight & truth about the lies and deception of the Bushadministration, Mitt actually supports Bush and his current agendaof warat this time.
PoorMisguided Mitt!
Ipersonally know many Mormons who are not anti-gay and who believein tolerance, kindness and equality, unlike Misguided Mitt.
Are Mormons a Cult? Decide foryourself! by Beckie WeinheimerDisclaimer: I looked up several websites thatdefined Cults. The one I have quotes from in my article is calledIdentifying a Cult, Copyright 1985, 1991 Jan Groenveld. I have cuta sentence here and there from Jan Groenveld’s original text forlength reasons only, not for content. Everything listed under cultis taken from this article. Everything listed under Mormons waswritten by me, a fifth generation Mormon who ironically as stillnot been excommunicated!I am not an expert on cults. I don’t even know if Jan Goenveld is,but of the sites I visited this one seemed the most informative.However, since I have had so many emails over the past day sinceMitt Romney’s speech, December 5, 2007, asking me what I thoughtabout whether Mormons are a cult or not, I felt I should answerright away.Why? So I would sell more books? No.Because I am passionate about educating people to the darker sideor Mormonism--what lies behind the friendly smile that greets aneighbor on the street. I do think Mormonism is cult like. And Iam bold enough to say that I do think religious background shouldbe a deciding factor in who I vote for. Obviously someone whobelongs to an institution that supports anti gay legislation hassome big questions to answer. Someone who belongs to a church withan all Male hierarchy also has something to answer. Someone whobelongs to a church that professes it is the only true church onthe face of the earth really has some big questions to answer.As this is a first draft, please excuse typos, grammar (those arenot my best talents) and hopefully you can still come away withsome answers to Mormonism and Cults.I am glad to hear from anyone who would like to discuss this more.
Thank you. Beckie WeinheimerBeckieweinheimer58@yahoo.com
CULT - Any group which has a pyramid type authoritarianleadership structure with all teaching and guidance coming fromthe person/persons at the top. The group will claim to be the onlyway to God;
Mormons – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ledby a prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley and his twelve apostles. Thehierarchy is all male. In the past when the prophet has died, thesenior member of the 12 apostles has always been elected by thetwelve as the new prophet. This began with Joseph Smith who wasthe first prophet and founder of the church.Cults- Their leader/s may claim a special, exclusive ministry,revelation or position of authority given by God. They believethey are the only true church and take a critical stance regardingthe Christian church while at the same time praising and exaltingtheir own group, leader/s and work..
The Mormons- They believe Joseph Smith restored the true church ofJesus Christ. All other religions are deluded. Only through beinga member of the Mormon faith can you obtain a place in Heaven.Cults- They will promote their cause actively, and in doing so,abuse God-given personal rights and freedoms. This abuse can beTHEOLOGICAL, SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL.
The Mormons- Each 19 year old male is commanded and expected toserve a two year mission for the church, where they put off theworld, no dating, no media of any kind, and are to proselytizefull time going door to door to bring people of the world (lostsheep) to the true fold of Christ.Cults- They use intimidation or psychological manipulation tokeep members loyal to their ranks. This could be in the form ofthreats of dire calamity sent by God if they leave; certain deathat Armageddon; being shunned by their family and friends etc. Thisis a vital part of the mind control process.
The Mormons- Members who speak out against any church doctrine, oractively disobey any church principle or affiliate withanti-Mormon groups are eventually excommunicated. (My time I’msure will come). One female professor was excommunicated just forbeginning her prayers to Dear Heavenly Mother instead of DearHeavenly Father.Cults- Members will be expected to give substantial financialsupport to the group. This could be compulsory tithing (which ischecked); signing over all their property on entering the group;coercive methods of instilling guilt on those who have notcontributed; selling magazines, flowers or other goods for thegroup as part of their "ministry".
The Mormons- Members are commanded to tithe ten percent of their annualgross income to the church. Every December an assessment is madeof a member’s tithing worthiness. You are called in to settle upwith your local bishop. Anyone who has any type of leadership rolemust pay a full tithing, and anyone who is to enter a MormonTemple must pass several codes of obedience including paying afull tithing.
Cults- There will be great emphasis on loyalty to the group andits teachings. The lives of members will be totally absorbed intothe group's activities. They will have little or no time to thinkfor themselves because of physical and emotional exhaustion. Thisis also a vital part of the mind control process.There will be total control over almost all aspects of the privatelives of members. This control can be direct through communalliving, or constant and repetitious teaching on "how to be a trueChristian" or "being obedient to leadership". Members will look totheir leaders for guidance in everything they do.
The Mormons- Unlike JFK’s Catholic religion, where at most there isprobably a daily mass service, and most faithful people attend aone hour mass on the weekend, Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion is allinclusive.Mormons are taught to read scriptures as a family in the morningand to kneel in family prayer. Every Monday evening is set aside as Family Night where eachfamily uses the same Family Home Evening Manual to provide lessonsand learning for the family.Teens are sent off to early morning seminary classes beforeschool, for their four years of high school.Mormons are commanded only to date among their own faith.To be married in the Mormon Temple you must marry another Mormonwho pays a full tithing, agrees to wear the temple garments(underwear) both day and night and to be a faithful member of thechurch.Women visit each other two by two every month.Women have their own group where they learn homemaking skills.Men visit assigned families every month, to bring them a spiritualmessage and report any problems back to their male leaders.Male, female, and teens are encouraged to join church sport teams.The church encourages members to join in dance festivals, plays,musical presentations and choirs.Church service on Sunday is at least three hours with several morehours for those in leadership. The church no matte if you are inHong Kong or Little Rock, Arkansas uses the same Sunday School,Relief Society, Priesthood and Primary teaching manuals whetherthe words are printed in Chinese or English.Teens have fireside lectures, dances, and youth conferences, togive them a social life without having to reach out into theworld.Mormons are commanded to have a year’s supply food on hand, andhave many workshops on emergency preparedness.Mormons believe that someday Christ will come and they will allmarch to Missouri where the Garden of Eden was and where Christwill come to reign again.I could go on, and on, and on….
Cults- Bible-based cults may proclaim they have no clergy/laitydistinction and no paid ministry class - that they are all equal.
The Mormons- Although the Prophet and the Twelve apostles do receive aliving allowance, all other members of the male hierarchy, StakePresidents, Bishops, Mission Presidents, Temple Presidents, andmissionaries, receive no salary. Most keep their day job, exceptfor Mission Presidents, who are usually independently wealthy andmissionaries who are most often supported financially by theirimmediate family.
Cults- Any dissent or questioning of the group's teachings isdiscouraged. Criticism in any form is seen as rebellion. Therewill be an emphasis on authority, unquestioning obedience andsubmission. This is vigilantly maintained.
The Mormons- see above. I could be excommunicated just for writing thisarticle. Decent is punished. Verbal decent is grounds forexcommunication. Excommunication means one must take off the HolyGarments, cannot speak, pray or take the sacrament in a worshipservice. And basically on a more social level, everyone knows youhave done something “really bad,” and are watching you and talkingabout you and it is a miserable position to be in, and still tryto actively pursue the faith. I have known many people whodisagree with church policies but only whisper about it to trustedfriends. To go public like I am, well you are going to end up inOuter Darkness, which is worse than Hell in Mormon theology; it’sthe bottom of the bottom.
Cults- Members are required to demonstrate their loyalty to thegroup in some way. This could be in the form of "dobbing" onfellow members (including family) under the guise of looking outfor "spiritual welfare".
The Mormons- Mormons are taught to pray for those lost sheep. I am oneof them. I am sure family members and friends put my name on the“temple roll,” which is prayed over at each temple service.Mormons are taught to reach out to lost sheep and their neighborsin kindness and fellowship. Have you ever been invited over todinner or to do something with a Mormon family? Most likely thereis a second agenda going on. Not only did they hand pick you to befriends with, but they have hand picked you to fellowship andbring to Christ’s true faith.
Cults- Attempts to leave or reveal embarrassing facts about thegroup may be met with threats. Some may have taken oaths ofloyalty that involve their lives or have signed a "covenant" andfeel threatened by this.
The Mormons- Members are taught that what happens in the temple issacred and is never to be revealed outside the temple.What happens in the temple?
The first thing is you take off all your clothes in the dressingroom and put on a white cover shield much like what you would wearfor a doctor’s exam. Females go to a part of the female dressingroom where Temple workers (usually elderly women) all dressed inwhite bless the attendee’s body parts with oil. They put theirhands under the shield and rub oil over your breast and loins andamong other things bless you to be fruitful and multiply.Then you dress all in white and take a packet with other clothingitems to be put on during different parts of the temple service.Men sit on one side of this ceremony room while women sit on theother. Many oaths and covenants are taken and the one that was thehardest for me was when all the women stood, bowed their head andrepeated after the Male leader of the service that they wouldagree to follow their husbands in righteousness, as he followedChrist. Bow your head and say yes. Women all do say yes, evensingle women who have no husband to follow in righteousness. Thereare observers at the edge of the rows to make sure you raise yourhand properly, have your sacred apron tied on the correct way, andto make sure you bow your head and say yes. There are several moreoaths and covenants that I will not get into. The ceremony takesabout two hours.
Another part I really hated is at the end. At the end you go tothe veil. On the other side of the veil is an elderly man, atemple worker who you must reach out and touch, shake hands withput your arm on his shoulder, all through holes in the veil andrepeat certain oaths, the guy is basically hugging you andtouching you in a way that wouldn’t be appropriate at a regularchurch meeting. It’s very scary. But called sacred and never to berevealed. He is the one who symbolically brings you into heaven,or in the temple, the Celestial Room. This room is so beautiful,filled with expensive chandeliers, draperies and furniture itcould feed a third world country. In this room you are allowed towhisper and sit next to your spouse.
It is in the temple that a member first receives their templegarments, which ironically have identical symbols to those on thetemple veil sewn into the breast and belly and knee, to remind youalways of your covenants. These garments are like white long johnswith half sleeves and legs to the knee, and of course are to neverbe revealed or spoken about.Cults- ABUSE OF INDIVIDUALITY They adopt a "groupness" mentality.They are not permitted to think for themselves apart from thegroup and only accept what they are told.
The Mormons- Since I was a child I was taught to follow the prophet,“Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, in this there is safetyin this there is peace.” (These are words from a well known songsung by Mormon children). I was always taught that the Prophetwould never lead us astray. When I was a young mother there was apopular saying among Mormons “When the Prophet speaks the debateis over.”
Cults- ABUSE OF INTIMACY Relationships with friends, relatives,spouses, children, parents etc are broken or seriously hampered.
The Mormons- As long as your family are all believers, there is noabuse of intimacy unless you define the yearly one on oneinterview with your Bishop where he asks you intimate questionsabout your sexual life with your partner as abuse. Otherwise it isonly when you have relatives like me, someone who has decided tospeak out against the church. It puts relatives in a hardposition; they cannot support the church, their life and me. Sothey support the church.Cults- ABUSE OF FINANCES Pressure to give all you can to thegroup. In non-communal groups, members usually live at the lowersocio-economic strata, not because of a lower income level, butbecause they are always giving money to the group for some reason.
The Mormons- In general Mormons are well educated, have good payingjobs and live a middle to upper middle class life. Beyond the tenpercent tithing, there is a strong push to donate for the pooronce a month in a fast offering. The worst abuse I witnessed wasin California when Prop 22 was up on the ballet a few years back.The Mormons in the area set a goal to raise 40 million dollars tosupport this bill that would have stopped gay couples fromreceiving medical benefits. Each family was called in by theirlocal bishop and assessed a certain dollar amount. The propositiondid pass.Cults- "US VERSUS THEM" MENTALITY Isolation from the community ingeneral. Anyone and everything outside the group is seen as "ofthe devil" or "unenlightened" etc.
The Mormons- Because Mormons are commanded to date and marry within thechurch and because of the hours of activity (I used to spend 20-30hours a week in church related activities) while trying to raisethree young girls, the eldest with multiple medical problems, theyare exclusive. And although they do see “others,” asunenlightened, they are encouraged and commanded to bring theenlightened to the fold. That is probably why Mormons are thoughtof as “such nice people,” they see everyone, black, white, Muslim,or Jew as a potential Mormon, who just needs to see their love andfeel the spirit they carry to bring them to the only true churchon the face of the earth.CONVERTING KATE Viking Bookswww.beckieweinheimer.org
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