Dazzler and his powerful god reminded me of a similar experience I had:
A few years ago a very devout and faithful Mormon who had found my website angrily wrote to me and used his supposed authority as a holder of the Melchizedek priesthood to pronounce a curse on me, to smite me, yea, to smite me dumb, verily, the self-same curse wherewith Alma cursed Korihor in the 30th chapter of the Book of Alma, namely, that I be struck dumb and have no more utterance.
And this was to be a sure sign of the power of his God and his priesthood. I immediately wrote him back and used my authority to prophesy that his curse wouldn't work, and that he would soon be giving me excuses why it didn't. I was not struck dumb. I didn't even get a sore throat.
When I wrote him this, his first excuse was that it would take effect sometime later. I responded that Alma's curse took effect immediately.
His next excuse was that he had not used the words "in the name of Jesus Christ." I suggested that he try it again and use the right words. (Alma hadn't used those words, either, actually.)
His next excuse was that he had cursed me in anger, implying, I suppose, that one can curse effectively only with love and kindness.
His final excuse was that only one priesthood holder at a time has the keys to do such smiting, and he wasn't the one (implying, I guess, that I would have to be taken before the president of the church, as Korihor was taken before Alma).
But here I am. As the false priests of Baal could not call down fire from heaven in chapter 18 of I Kings, so the false priests of Mormonism apparently cannot strike anybody dumb.
I can still talk. I have never been unable to speak.
Following the lead of the original posting in the other thread...it was just a coincidence that this "curse" didn't take hold on you. However, if something HAD happened to you, that WOULDN'T have been a coincidence -- it would have been a clear demonstration of the power of god and the mormon priesthood.
Can you say "confirmation bias?" I'll be you can...:)
Oh, and Richard -- I for one am awfully glad you weren't struck dumb. Your writing is an inspiration.
Within two hours of taking the Dazzler challenge, I went to Trader Joe's. They discontinued their merengues six months ago that I desperately needed for a desert I want to make from when I was in Argentina four decades ago as a missionary. I couldn't find the right merengue anywhere. I was distraught.
Postre Balcarce. Like nothing you have ever had.
Well, within the two hour limit I looked on the shelf and there they were. Plastic containers piled high with those exquisite crunchy clouds.
I guess I do have a personal Savior after all. Trader Joe's.
My challenge to Dazzler is no wimpy 2-hour challenge. My challenge is a 24-HOUR challenge:
Dazzler, within the next 24 hours, something either good or bad will happen to you. And it will happen because I have been told by my spirit advisers that it will happen.
I challenge you to believe it. Do you accept my challenge?
A shop in East LA will beat the quote you got by at least $800. At least that's been my experience. I've had big chain estimates (Pep Boys & Big O Tires) cut in half by an Hispanic shop.
This site was founded 20+ years ago to give people leaving Mormonism a place safe from proselytizing. I am the founder. There are enough issues in extricating oneself from a cult that we do not need someone preaching to us. My recommendation has always been to take 1-2 years off religion completely, if family circumstances allow, after leaving Mormonism. Take time for family, community, hobbies, good books etc. After the 1-2 year hiatus from religion, if one still feels a need for organized religion or spirituality, the mind is freed from cult mentality and one will have a more rational approach to faith.
Our rules are quite simple here - no preaching. In other words dazzler, it is time for you to go. You might want to try the 2 year challenge.
Firstly, most of what I read on this site has nothing to do with recovery. It seem from my experience that people here are bitter, angry atheists & exmos who gripe & complain about everything and have no compassion. I thought this was a place for those who found out Mormonism was false and could find solace in others & thier stories while adjusting from lds teachings & culture.
dazzler Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn > the world; but that the world through him might be > saved. > -John 3:17
And your evidence that any of that is the case would be...?
Right. You have none.
So, if believing if somehow gives you something (comfort, happiness, whatever) -- great. Preaching it here -- not great. Issuing "challenges" (like the mormons do with their BOM), even worse.
That claimed to be special enough to warrant a lightening strike on a church (because he's just that super-powerful and connected to the gods or whatever) turned out to be a megalomaniacal, delusional, wife-abusing nutjob.
Same story, different delusion.
I pay deep attention to nearly every aspect of my day with the exception when I watch TV. Magical, beautiful, extraordinary things happen every day because life encompasses those qualities, even the mundane parts of it. I don't need any god in it to make it that way and life became much more magical after I realized there were no gods.
It's all about perspective. You can have peace and happiness without any god involved.