Quote
Philips
Thanks Hopeful. Your post resonated for myself and most likely all LDS people who come here. As ExImpact had already said several times here, about 50% of the Impact trainees are LDS, and it is a big problem with LDS people [i:07aac46407][b:07aac46407](has that actually been studied or is that a guess?)[/b:07aac46407][/i:07aac46407] so your post will reach out to many people. Better to reach 50% than not to reach any at all.
Which part are you asking about what has been studied? The number of LDS trainees or that it is a big problem?
Of course, the number of LDS people who are involved in the trainings fluctuates from training to training. I was referring to the TIT 3 group when I was involved. I am not sure what it is now, but I would guess they still have significant numbers in that group.
As for the LDS problem, I have studied theology and religious philosophy enough to know that much of what TIT teaches is logically contradictory to LDS doctrine. So, I suppose that could count as study. As far as it can be done I think. Please do not construe my post to hopeful soul as unwillingness to look at this problem from the LDS perspective. I was born and raised active LDS for the first half of my life, and I have close friends who are active in the LDS community, specifically they are experts in LDS philosophical and comparative theological thought. I consult with them often concerning the content of this forum. Although I may not be Mormon any longer, I am sympathetic to the plight of those in the TIT cult, as has hopefully been apparent in my previous posts.
What the main conflict of interest is between TIT and LDS doctrine, is that TIT's universalist logic renders the need for appointed and anointed modern prophets and even the very priesthood itself as impotent and wholly unnecessary. By cutting out the middle men (bishops, stake presidents, the brethren, the apostles and the presidency) they also nullify the need for the principle of repentance.
So, my questions are: If you believe you have the authority of Jesus Christ yourself, what need do you have to appeal to ANY authority in ANY organized religion? How can you not see that your continued relationship with the church is just lip service and a stubbornness to leave an organization you know in your heart is true? I say, become an honest person and follow that stubbornness and return to the church, wholly. Or leave it and join TIT, BUT before you do that, look at which organization mentally conditioned you to join, which organization lies about its status as a religion, which organization believes you have to work [i:07aac46407]HARD [/i:07aac46407]and have discipline to go from being a child of God, to being a God in fact. Impact and The Secret may say the latter is a reason to stay away, I say it is the reason to stay.
If God bestowed upon us our Godhood already as TIT says, why are we all still bumbling buttholes to each other? If God did that already, it really is a difference that doesn't mean anything. Evil gods and evil people are essentially identical. And if you [i:07aac46407]are [/i:07aac46407]a TIT God, try to make a life or create a world. WAIT, before you do, you can't use anything God made to do it with. He created everything, so you must too. Scientists can't play God and neither can you. We are merely kids playing with the legos God made for us. Also, those staffs that TIT members have. If they are to use Christ’s teachings as a basis for making and using them, they should also follow the instruction Jesus gave to the Apostles as his justification for making them, so they should quit their jobs and give away all of their possessions, for the staff should be all that you require to sustain yourself. There is nothing analogous between the TIT and Apostolic staves.
Hopeful Soul, I apologize if any of my reply was offensive to you, I merely wished to talk to you directly to ascertain where you were coming from.
Looking at one's results as a basis for judging character can be deceptive, because people and their results can lie. Simply because there are always hidden results and motives we are not necessarily aware of, and without the whole picture, how can one judge another? It also relies on ones ability to observe, and God definitely did not equally distribute aptitude for that gift. Besides, most of us color [i:07aac46407]what[/i:07aac46407] we see by what we [i:07aac46407]want[/i:07aac46407] to see. It is why people stay in these LGAT's. They are unaware of all of what is going on. Those who are don't go.
So, now I’m off my soapbox.