None Have Impressed me as Sincere
Feb 19, 2023 14:18:01 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Feb 19, 2023 14:18:01 GMT -5
None Have Impressed me as Sincere
In my quest to find God's people on Earth, no single religious group has impressed me as qualifying for the prestigious title. First there were the Pentecostals to whom I was introduced as a child and was even baptized by them into their version of what they choose to refer to as Christianity. Well, early on, I noticed that my mother was complaining about never being provided with the gift of tongues despite her total dedication in doing God's will and attending their meetings. She observed that women who were habitual gossipers were going about behaving as if they had been blessed. She inquired of the pastor, and the pastor blamed my mom. Told her to pray, but it did no good and she left the religion.
Then years later, when we visited my Aunt Felicita in Puerto Rico, she suddenly seemed to become possessed by some entity she claimed was Jesus but which was behaving as a demon. From that point onward, I vowed never to attend a Pentecostal church again.
Then I was gradually introduced to Jehovah's Waitresses by my cousin George whom I considered a very intelligent fellow. They seemed very knowledgeable, always responding to questions by using the Bible. So when I had need of help from almighty God, I decided to seek that help via their organization.
All went smoothly until the person giving me the Bible studies suddenly became my enemy. Probably jealousy because of his soon-to-be wife? Whatever! I was on my own and was forced to study the baptismal prep information alone, and because of it, I wound up being baptized in ignorance of how the organization really worked. Which of course, meant that my baptism was not with informed consent.
Three weeks after my baptism, the person, or brother, as they refer to one another, who had abandoned me, casually revealed that if I took a wrong step I would be disfellowshipped and shunned. He did so in a gloating malicious way, as if relishing the situation that he had placed me in. Then I was suddenly assigned the responsibility of giving weekly bible studies to sisters who had been there for many years. All hell broke lose and I began to be persecuted. One of them simply changed locations in order to avoid being under my supervision.
This was based on their anger because I was new and they knew far more about the scriptures than I did. Very resentful. Caused me very severe anguish. Finally, I noticed several more things that just didn't click. There was a brother holding me back based on racism he had suffered at the hands of Anglo Americans. I am not Anglo American, but he needed to vent steam, so I was close enough. I also noticed the changes in doctrines and learned about their previous failed prophecies. So I gradually began to realize that I very possibly had been wrong.
Then I attempted to attend a Catholic Church recently. Set aside all the doctrinal matters as irrelevant trusting that God appreciated the sincerity. During a special meeting in the church basement, a meeting to which I had been invited by a Catholic elderly lady, I went to the men's room to urinate. When I took my seat at the table again, they were all suspiciously silent as if someone had said something. Then the Catholic man in charge of the study at my table, suddenly accused me publicly of going to the men's room to do lewd things. Nobody said anything. All remained silent. His wife said "That's what you get for being a know it all!" referring to my previous contribution to the biblical discussion. They all just stared away from me in silence as I got up and left. Had I made any effort to argue, he had a huge dog available by his side that he could have set on me. So I decided that such a place was not good for my spiritual health. In hindsight, I should have called the police and have him accuse me formally so I could take that matter to court. I told the priest, and he kept the fellow in good standing after behaving in that demonic way. So I don't regret leaving.
Then I tried to attend a Jewish synagogue just a few blocks from the Catholic Church. Asked if I could attend and listen, and as I was just about to step inside I was intercepted at the entrance by this Nordic Nazi looking Jew who told me that they did not want my kind of people, meaning Latinos, in their synagogue. Called security and looked as if he was ready to attack me. So I left before getting seriously hurt by having my skull caved in on the synagogue entrance steps by his hob nailed boots.
Then I tried the Quakers. They were located right across from where I live. Found that they remain seated in silence for most of the meeting until one of them feels that God has inspired him to say something special. Well, this Anglo American fellow got up and began attacking me verbally because of my ethnicity. Claimed that I had ignorantly wandered into their meeting place without knowing what it was for. Described my ethnicity as being socially marginalized. Needless to say, I got up and left and never went back.
The the last group that I tried were the Amish. But just like before, I ran up against a brick wall. They assumed that I was showing interest in their religion because I was after their women. Refused my request that they go to the hospital and pray for my mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Refused to accept my ten dollar contribution to their church, because I was not of their church. Then, to add the icing to their cake, one Amish guy began vociferating that I was not of their race.
I figured that such people could not be God's chosen, and so decided to worship God from the privacy of my own home.
Then years later, when we visited my Aunt Felicita in Puerto Rico, she suddenly seemed to become possessed by some entity she claimed was Jesus but which was behaving as a demon. From that point onward, I vowed never to attend a Pentecostal church again.
Then I was gradually introduced to Jehovah's Waitresses by my cousin George whom I considered a very intelligent fellow. They seemed very knowledgeable, always responding to questions by using the Bible. So when I had need of help from almighty God, I decided to seek that help via their organization.
All went smoothly until the person giving me the Bible studies suddenly became my enemy. Probably jealousy because of his soon-to-be wife? Whatever! I was on my own and was forced to study the baptismal prep information alone, and because of it, I wound up being baptized in ignorance of how the organization really worked. Which of course, meant that my baptism was not with informed consent.
Three weeks after my baptism, the person, or brother, as they refer to one another, who had abandoned me, casually revealed that if I took a wrong step I would be disfellowshipped and shunned. He did so in a gloating malicious way, as if relishing the situation that he had placed me in. Then I was suddenly assigned the responsibility of giving weekly bible studies to sisters who had been there for many years. All hell broke lose and I began to be persecuted. One of them simply changed locations in order to avoid being under my supervision.
This was based on their anger because I was new and they knew far more about the scriptures than I did. Very resentful. Caused me very severe anguish. Finally, I noticed several more things that just didn't click. There was a brother holding me back based on racism he had suffered at the hands of Anglo Americans. I am not Anglo American, but he needed to vent steam, so I was close enough. I also noticed the changes in doctrines and learned about their previous failed prophecies. So I gradually began to realize that I very possibly had been wrong.
Then I attempted to attend a Catholic Church recently. Set aside all the doctrinal matters as irrelevant trusting that God appreciated the sincerity. During a special meeting in the church basement, a meeting to which I had been invited by a Catholic elderly lady, I went to the men's room to urinate. When I took my seat at the table again, they were all suspiciously silent as if someone had said something. Then the Catholic man in charge of the study at my table, suddenly accused me publicly of going to the men's room to do lewd things. Nobody said anything. All remained silent. His wife said "That's what you get for being a know it all!" referring to my previous contribution to the biblical discussion. They all just stared away from me in silence as I got up and left. Had I made any effort to argue, he had a huge dog available by his side that he could have set on me. So I decided that such a place was not good for my spiritual health. In hindsight, I should have called the police and have him accuse me formally so I could take that matter to court. I told the priest, and he kept the fellow in good standing after behaving in that demonic way. So I don't regret leaving.
Then I tried to attend a Jewish synagogue just a few blocks from the Catholic Church. Asked if I could attend and listen, and as I was just about to step inside I was intercepted at the entrance by this Nordic Nazi looking Jew who told me that they did not want my kind of people, meaning Latinos, in their synagogue. Called security and looked as if he was ready to attack me. So I left before getting seriously hurt by having my skull caved in on the synagogue entrance steps by his hob nailed boots.
Then I tried the Quakers. They were located right across from where I live. Found that they remain seated in silence for most of the meeting until one of them feels that God has inspired him to say something special. Well, this Anglo American fellow got up and began attacking me verbally because of my ethnicity. Claimed that I had ignorantly wandered into their meeting place without knowing what it was for. Described my ethnicity as being socially marginalized. Needless to say, I got up and left and never went back.
The the last group that I tried were the Amish. But just like before, I ran up against a brick wall. They assumed that I was showing interest in their religion because I was after their women. Refused my request that they go to the hospital and pray for my mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Refused to accept my ten dollar contribution to their church, because I was not of their church. Then, to add the icing to their cake, one Amish guy began vociferating that I was not of their race.
I figured that such people could not be God's chosen, and so decided to worship God from the privacy of my own home.