@congruent said
Could Netanyahu have averted this?

Body of Israeli hostage recovered from Gaza after 'months of torture'

Elad Katzir was taken from his kibbutz on 7 October and was twice seen in hostage videos. After his body was found, his sister said he had been abandoned and called the Israeli government "cowardly".

Yes, he could have wiped out Gaza sometime prior to Oct 7th.

@divegeester said
I worked with a Mormon many years ago; she believed she was going to eventually get her own planet and that her God lived on a planet called Kobo, or something like that.

Sounds similar to stuff I have read about peoples experiences with Mormons. Also it is in line with PettyTalk's idea of him having authority over people in hell, and his ability to torment others in hell. They are big on this hell business. When he said King David was in hell for his sins, that was the trigger in my mind that this was a Mormon.

Got this comment off Quora ... again people who have been Mormons:

Mormons do not believe they get their own planet. That’s small potatoes. Mormons believe they become Gods and create galaxies and universes as a God. They populate these galaxies with the spirit children they created with the massive amounts of celestial sex the worthy males have with their polygamous harem of wives. Anyone who says this isn’t true – never studied church history or is in denial.

Mormons lean heavily on plastic surgery because their teachings are all surface level about outside appearances, and prosperity = worthiness. There is pressure to look ideal because if your appearance is ideal – you must be pretty special and worthy. Always put your best foot forward. Never complain and make it appear that you are favored by God. We also have a lot of suicides in UT because of this attitude.

@mchill said
My Lutheran bible study classes seem pretty orthodox and boring compared to these two.

What do you find interesting? Personally their view of paradise is different, and the part about men having many wives in heaven / paradise seems weird and contrary to the bible.

@suzianne said
So what exactly is your purpose with this 'exposé'?

I thought is was obvious that we get to discuss another sect, and expand our knowledge. PettyTalk is here to assist.

We have a Mormon among us, probably for the first time. He is Mr. Petty Talk, very vocal around here, so this should be an interesting discussion, comparing JWs and Mormons. This was extracted off Quora.

https://qr.ae/psFpO9

*****************************************
Q : What are the differences between what Mormons & Jehovah's Witnesses believe?

A: I was once a baptized Mormon and active. I am now one of Jehovah's Witnesses and have been for many years . On a positive note, I want to share the commonalities of both teachings. Both faiths are very family focused. A strong clean, moral family is the emphasis of both faiths. Also both faiths encourage weekly worship and study. There is also the reaching out and helping fellow members and neighbors when there is a physical need. A strong bond is built among fellow believers. Both faiths are organized and have several levels of oversight.

Now I will share the differences:

The LDS church believe that the gift of prophecy is still being used through their earthly leader. Whereas, the Jehovah's witnesses do not believe they are prophets or can prophecy.

There is one main unresolved difference between Mormons and the other Bible based religions. And that is the LDS church base their religion on their prophet Joseph Smith’s inspired revelation from a angel, which is a book of new scriptures. Which is known today, as the Book of Mormon, also of great importance is another book called the Pearl of Great Price. Their religion revolves around these and other books. They use the Bible, but believe it is inferior because it is improperly translated and less trustworthy than The Book of Mormon. Often many Mormons are not as skilled in the use of the Bible as they are in the Book of Mormon.

Jehovah's Witnesses base all their major teachings on the Bible. None of them claim to be prophets or can prophecy. However, most are well trained in the scriptures and are very skilled and capable of using all translations of the Bible. So Witnesses do not base their reliance on only one translation. Jehovah's Witnesses use their translation because it puts back Jehovah's name in the Bible. Much effort has gone into making sure this is done correctly.

Another main difference is their view of paradise. Or in the Mormon's case? They believe in more than one paradise. Three worlds or heavens. The first world/ heaven is the greatest reward after death because God and Jesus dwells there. The second world/ heaven is not so great but there is a bridge between world/heaven one and two and Jesus visits. So if you are not a great dead Mormon you can become a greater one and at some point be allowed to pass over into the greater world/heaven. Then there is the last world/heaven where the Holy Spirit visits. No bridge there. And then there is a another place that is darkness. That is basically where really bad people go and they never can get off this world/heaven or the other dark place. All this was confusing to me because it was a heaven, but people had physical bodies.

There also a private sealing ceremony done in their Salt Lake temple of faithful Mormons. Once sealed. They then are to wear a white undergarment which must be worn at all times. Other than bathing or changing. This marks a Mormon as a special chosen one for special rewards after death. There is also other secret ceremonies that take place in their local places of worship.

The Witnesses teach of only one Paradise ruled by a heavenly organization in which Jesus is king and at his side are a 144,000 resurrected faithful loyal ones. They rule over perfect humans on the earth for a 1,000 years while all humans work to restore the earth to perfection. During this time all those asleep in death will be resurrected. At the end of the 1,000 years the earth will be restored to a paradise and all faithful perfect humans will be granted everlasting life Jehovah's Witnesses don't have secret ceremonies.

Mormon’s also teach that males can eventually become Gods ruling over their own universe with many wives or brides..(I corrected this from 144,000 to many wives)

Not a Jehovah's witnesses teaching

Mormon’s DO accept the trinity teaching however it varies from other teachings on the Trinity, but NOTE this fact; it still is the Trinity doctrine.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not. They teach that; God is almighty and called Jehovah, and his son is called Jesus, and they are separate spiritual beings. But unified in purpose. The holy Spirit is Gods active force. This is what they understand through deep research to be the truth. Witness are well researched on this subject.

*****************************************

@divegeester said
I think you’re a full of s*** lightweight waffling nobody with no core, no spiritual principles, no beliefs.

Copy paste away.

The man is a Mormon, that is why he does not want to disclose whether or not he is a Christian. These weirdos are worse than the Jehovah Witnesses. They have all kinds of strange beliefs and even stranger lifestyles. Its a cult started by Joseph Smith.

@pettytalk said
Both David and Solomon will spend time in hell, as they are not above the law. And it won't be just for calling others as fools.

Jesus will have to go to hell anyhow, since he's the warden of that maximum security prison. Besides, Jesus has to spend more time in LIMBO, where his Master, Socrates, was said to be temporarily residing, as told by one of the more reliable me ...[text shortened]... re, but I'll see you in hell, where you will profit from all my nonsense; you'll be "squeaky" clean.

You are a deluded piece of garbage. Enjoy your delusion.

@athousandyoung said
Palestinians aren't allowed to move out.

Now, maybe. Back in the 1980s prior to Hamas they could have moved. They want Hamas to kill Jews and they stayed to enjoy the show. They are getting a front row view of the movie "The End of Gaza".

@sleepyguy said
Well I understand your point of view. I used to share it, but no longer. The attitude that we should meddle in other countries affairs for our own advantage because hey it's cheap and works great is an arrogant one, and it breeds contempt for us. Without that approach, would there even have been a 9/11?

If you had the misfortune to be born in Gaza, and had a child blown ...[text shortened]... age to furthering American interests in the region, who do you think the "bad guys" would be to you?

Me, born in Gaza? I would have moved out as soon as I read Hamas manifesto in 1988 to kill all Jews. It is a stupid Palestinian, seeing what the Jews are capable of in terms of war, and stands up to fight them. I would have left with my family.

There is good case for USA providing aid, grants to poor countries, and military aid to allies at war. Its not meddling. It is assisting. I live in one of these poor countries that have already gotten into trouble and needed help. Guyana right now is glad that the US is sitting nearby watching Venezuela. This is the case all over the world

You living in a rich country wont understand this. You are probably like a rich mans son who does not understand why his dad is helpful to those in need, when he needs the latest sports car instead.

@spruce112358 said
I'm not sure any American support/intervention in the Middle East has been to our advantage.

In particular, support for Israel countervails any other positives and leaves us always - at best - somewhat neutral and at worst - 9/11.

After this latest atrocity in Gaza, we should politely say goodbye to Israel and leave them to their own devices.

The middle east is a powerful group of Islamic states. If they had been a cohesive group they could easily run amok all over the world. Thankfully they cannot get along among themselves, due to religious differences, and the presence of Israel smack in the middle of them, causes further destabliistion. It is worth it for the western countries to support Israel.

@pettytalk said
Therefore, what is your take on calling others fools? Is it hellfire, as Christ stated, or not?

Like I said, you and Galveston are both afflicted with the same disease. In Galvestons case he pulled out the "private interpretation" phrase from Peter and applied it to the whole bible. So he said nobody must read the bible and use their own interpretation. Peter was specifically referring to the interpretation of PROPHECIES alone. This Peter said must be accompanied with guidance from the Holy Spirit.

In your case Jesus referred specifically to being angry WITHOUT CAUSE. This means that if there is a just cause then there is nothing wrong with calling people fools.

Some examples:
- David called those who do not believe in God, fools
- Solomon called people who do wrong things like go after whores and being disobedient to parents, fools
- Jesus call the the Scribes and Pharisees fools.

These are just reasons to call people fools. Likewise, Galveston is a fool. He thinks I should not read and interpret the bible but instead listen to the Watchtower's interpretation of bible doctrine. He is a fool. So are you if you fail to understand this.

@sleepyguy said
I'm not making a fuss. I'm asking a question that you keep ducking. "Buying control" (or controlling by other means, like bombing the crap out of them, or providing the bombs for others to do so) of other countries is not what our govt is for. Those actions make us less safe by fomenting hatred for America around the world. So again, how does it make American citizens safer ...[text shortened]... well off for our govt to give our money away, and embroil ourselves in the wars of other countries?

Actually that is exactly what governments are for. Govt to govt assistance is required to deal with the bad guys. There are many in the world. Islamic terrorists are the bad guys and need to be destroyed. Those fighting Islamic terrorism need assistance.

The USA is not a hated country. If that were the case millions of people all over the world would not be trying to get in to live there. The US is hated only by certain types and I have already said who it is.

Personally I agree with the US govt policy of getting involved with the affairs of other countries.

@sleepyguy said
I say stop giving money away period, but you missed my edit.

How is the American citizen's safety enhanced by aiding what many see (rightly or wrongly) as genocide?

Stop giving aid cold turkey? Impossible. Aid, grants and other assistance is a form of buying control over much of the world. America is not going to give up that. when it works so well and only cost the US taxpayers less than 1% of the national budget. Its small potatoes. Why are you making a fuss about it.

@sleepyguy said
Maybe we should consider aiding our own homeless citizens first, and sealing the border perhaps? Surely that's what our tax dollars are for, instead of giving the money to Israel, whose citizens enjoy a higher standard of living than ours, have better healthcare etc. Our our wretched homeless supposed to be comforted that our deep staters are getting some sweet Intel from the Israelis?

Sealing your border has nothing to do with money. That is a failed policy of the Biden administration. Kamala Harris said prior to her election that that is what she would do and she still got voted in. That is the fault of the US electorate. Dont cry now.

Money does not help the homeless. Work is the solution to poverty and homelessness. This is done by stimulating the economy.

Excessive welfare is the road to poverty beause it encourages people to produce nothing and to live off the state. I dont even live there but I know people who told me they do that. Imagine if I lived in the US the amount of people who I know are living free off the state.

Much of the problems of the US have nothing to do with money.

By the way what do you have to say about the billions of $US given to countries that hate the US. Let me know if you want a list and the amount.

@congruent said
Israel receives more than $3Billion of aid from the US, a $14.1 billion package was signed off by the Senate. 14.1 is 15% of the 95 overall package.

In Feb NYtimes
A $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate on Tuesday morning includes $14.1 billion for Israel’s war against Hamas, though the bill still faces uncertainty in the House.

The $95 billion legis ...[text shortened]... r humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world, including Palestinians in Gaza.

Nice ... great news. Thats even better. So when the terrorist-lovers around here forecasting that the US will abandon / turn against Israel, those jokers dont have a clue what is going on. Thanks for that info.

$14 Billion US.... watch out Hezbollah and Houthi. .. Lol 😀

PS that green face suits you.