dollface
Junior Member
Never dig a hole deeper than you can crawl out of
Posts: 141
|
Post by dollface on Dec 3, 2008 11:09:38 GMT -5
I predict that in 20 years, the religious Christian group known as The Truth will no longer be in existence.
20 years from now, we "old timers" who were the "young'uns", born and raised by the generation most in touch with the original founders, will have died off. All hard line, older workers will have died off also.
The history of the church is being documented these last 10 years. But people who were, or actually knew the original members of the group will have entirely passed on.
The younger generation coming up now, once they reach full adulthood, will most likely choose out OR change the church to resemble something entirely different than how it looked at the time of it's origin in the early 1900's.
Becoming a preacher/worker for this group will no longer make sense. The generations coming up now don't do anything that doesn't make sense to them. So why would being a homeless preacher for a nebulous group of people, unsure about their beliefs be appealing as a life's work?
So then, it won't be The Truth any longer, but something else.
Year of Our Lord 2028: The Truth, poof, goneThanks for doing the math.
|
|
|
Post by lin on Dec 3, 2008 11:24:04 GMT -5
2008 to 2218 isn't 20 years. Maybe in 20years we won't be here either.
|
|
|
Post by pablo on Dec 3, 2008 14:24:17 GMT -5
2008 to 2218 isn't 20 years. Maybe in 20years we won't be here either. So true, only God knows.
|
|
|
Post by bandtroll on Dec 3, 2008 21:52:55 GMT -5
I doubt your prediction. 100 years ago most everyone knew the origins and continued on so why would it die out now if everyone knew the origins? Religion has it's ups and downs, I don't have numbers but I would guess that most organized religions are down now. People are either opt'ing out of religion or joining more of a 'community' type church. Young ones are still offering for the work and professing so even no one else professes the young ones could still be around another 60-80 years.
Will there be changes? Most likely, but I would expect it to still be unique.
|
|
|
Post by rational on Dec 3, 2008 22:28:56 GMT -5
I doubt your prediction. 100 years ago most everyone knew the origins and continued on so why would it die out now if everyone knew the origins? Religion has it's ups and downs, I don't have numbers but I would guess that most organized religions are down now. People are either opt'ing out of religion or joining more of a 'community' type church. Young ones are still offering for the work and professing so even no one else professes the young ones could still be around another 60-80 years. Will there be changes? Most likely, but I would expect it to still be unique. Maybe there will be even bigger changes: Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... Imagine - John Lenon
|
|
|
Post by glory2god on Dec 4, 2008 6:17:28 GMT -5
I can see the change already, as when I was growing up 2x2, the regular Sunday mtg lasted well over an hour and union Sunday lasted over 2 hours, and there were gospel mtgs 4 days a week. The past couple of years, you would have to drive some distance to even find a gospel mtg in the area and I have not seen the workers advertise them or pass out the little cards like they used to. The last Sunday mtgs I was in lasted well under an hour and the wed night meeting sometime lasted 40 minutes due to dwindling numbers. Workers list now include 2 states instead of one. A sign of things to come?
|
|
|
Post by pianoman on Dec 4, 2008 8:57:54 GMT -5
Quote from dollface: Becoming a preacher/worker for this group will no longer make sense. The generations coming up now don't do anything that doesn't make sense to them. So why would being a homeless preacher for a nebulous group of people, unsure about their beliefs be appealing as a life's work? Dollface, please do not take offense.
The thing that caught my eye was your statement, " The generations coming up now don't do anything that doesn't make sense to them." The generation coming up but not doing thing that doesn't make sense. Why are drugs at an all time high, teen pregnancies, a greater amount of people on welfare with children, most living so far in debt they will never be out of it?
I love all and my beloved children and grandchildren are part of the generation, so I don't hate it. I don't see the respect that I was taught to wards others any more but I will have to say that the 2x2's kids for the most part, are respectful, at least to our faces!
If this is from God it will remain. If not it may remain anyway as many churches have remained.
|
|
dollface
Junior Member
Never dig a hole deeper than you can crawl out of
Posts: 141
|
Post by dollface on Dec 4, 2008 10:25:35 GMT -5
NONE taken, pianoman, as you stated directly what I was referring to.
Kids nowadays, do drugs, have trash mouths, have indiscriminant sex producing children they take no responsibility in raising, even if they live with the children, create debts they feel no obligation to repay BECAUSE our lives and way of living DO NOT make sense to them. And because they can.
Yes, I have met a few professing kids lately. They carry some of the old "innocence" that prevailed in America of the 1900's. However, with very little understanding of what that means besides just "keep going to meetings", how does that stick when presented with the complicated lives we are required to lead nowadays?
Instant gratification vs self denial for long term stability.
The Truth requires a person to die IN THE CHURCH, preferably during an ongoing meeting in order to meet the criteria for heaven. ("To be Saved."
That long term situation for reward is missing from a large portion of current young person population. This may be a sweeping generalization, nevertheless, the point is valid. In order for this church to survive longer than my prediction, the current children will need to either recruit fresh numbers or birth large numbers.
Please understand this is just my opinion.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2008 10:56:25 GMT -5
2x2ism is constantly changing (as it always has) and slowly attempting to find a way to evade the enormous pressures for open truth and exposure in this 'the information age'. 2x2ers of 50 years ago would hardly recognize the cult as it is today. 50 years down the road will undoubtedly rewrite most of the 2x2 organizational construction model from what it is today as well.
However mankind's inner temptation to lift themselves to a superior level than everyone else (and the unique capacity for this in 2x2ism) will likely see to it that the group cornerstone of exclusivity doesn't vanish any time soon.
|
|
|
Post by Redwing on Dec 10, 2008 14:55:21 GMT -5
I agree Edgar. The Superior saints will raise their kids as superior saints over the down-trodden in the church, and they will keep it going because it's their form of power in society.
|
|
|
Post by C.I.T. on Dec 10, 2008 20:23:11 GMT -5
Quote from dollface: Becoming a preacher/worker for this group will no longer make sense. The generations coming up now don't do anything that doesn't make sense to them. So why would being a homeless preacher for a nebulous group of people, unsure about their beliefs be appealing as a life's work?Dollface, please do not take offense. The thing that caught my eye was your statement, " The generations coming up now don't do anything that doesn't make sense to them."The generation coming up but not doing thing that doesn't make sense. Why are drugs at an all time high, teen pregnancies, a greater amount of people on welfare with children, most living so far in debt they will never be out of it? IF, as we are taught by evolution etc., that there is no god... THEN there can be no higher law or purpose. If that is the case then why should I respect any thing or any one as authority? We then are the result of chance and it is the survival of the fittest. There is then no right or wrong, and why should I listen to you unless you can make me? This life is all there is, there is no real glory in the 9 to 5, get married, have kids, retire and die. This gives rise to... eat drink for tomorrow we die, and Take all you can, Give nothing back... also if we are not made in the image of or by the power of a god, my value drops to that of random chance. And so does yours. There is no longer a reason why I should not kill my child or yours, or you for that matter. There is no sin. Evil, right and wrong, etc. have all been made up by ignorant people who do not know as much as we do. Based on this 'logic' this generation has simply figured out 'reality' faster then some other generations. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge...
|
|
|
Post by glory2god on Dec 30, 2008 7:10:29 GMT -5
minnmn wrote: I agree Edgar. The Superior saints will raise their kids as superior saints over the down-trodden in the church, and they will keep it going because it's their form of power in society.
I see change already. this year I drove by some of the "superior saints" children's homes and they had all kinds of Christmas lights on their houses. Interesting........ change is taking place already. I wonder if that is why the workers cancelled the "winter mtgs" in our area because they were embarrassed by all the Christmas lights on the "hallowed homes"?!
|
|
|
Post by What Hat on Jan 22, 2009 11:00:05 GMT -5
It's not news to anyone that each new generation - whether we are referencing this movement or not - seeks to avoid the mistakes of the one before. And they will make their own mistakes and the cycle will repeat once more. In fact, some historians have remarked that there is often empathy between the current generation and that of the grandparents. So who knows, maybe this movement will swing back to a new conservatism. Or maybe not. In any case, I see this tendency of the new generation to take a fresh outlook as being a very positive force. As long as they keep centred on Christ, that's all that matters. So bring on the Christmas lights. P.S. How do you tell when you're middle aged? You stop complaining about the generation older than you and start complaining about the younger one.
|
|
|
Post by ronhall on Jan 26, 2009 9:49:58 GMT -5
It's not news to anyone that each new generation - whether we are referencing this movement or not - seeks to avoid the mistakes of the one before. And they will make their own mistakes and the cycle will repeat once more. In fact, some historians have remarked that there is often empathy between the current generation and that of the grandparents. So who knows, maybe this movement will swing back to a new conservatism. Or maybe not. In any case, I see this tendency of the new generation to take a fresh outlook as being a very positive force. As long as they keep centred on Christ, that's all that matters. So bring on the Christmas lights. P.S. How do you tell when you're middle aged? You stop complaining about the generation older than you and start complaining about the younger one. I believe that the displaying of Christmas lights has more to do with enlarging the economy than centering one's relationship on Christ. What I see within the younger to mid-aged set of the fellowship is that those who have been astute in the financial part of their lives will ride through the imminent economic downturn relatively unscathed. This group will then become the new elite because of their relative wealth and will provide the conservative base in the future of the fellowship. Most who have followed the popular life-style of living above their means on credit will find themselves in servitude of some kind attempting to pull themselves out of the morass of debt. They well become the new poor class. One basic teaching of Jesus is to live a little lower than your means. This applies to one's apparent religio-social position -- taking the lower place, going the second mile, living a life of service, etc. -- as well as one's apparent social-financial position. So I see this as being more of a sorting out than a dying out. In fact, I believe there have always been individuals and groups with the desire to live in accordance with God's pleasure. That's one of the least of my worries -- William Irvine and company or no, apostolic succession or no! What I'm concerned with is to be one of them!
|
|
|
Post by degem on Jan 26, 2009 15:11:22 GMT -5
quote " P.S. How do you tell when you're middle aged? You stop complaining about the generation older than you and start complaining about the younger one. " quote from what-
This is so true what!
|
|
|
Post by rational on Jan 26, 2009 16:57:41 GMT -5
IF, as we are taught by evolution etc., that there is no god... THEN there can be no higher law or purpose. I have yet to hear an evolutionist teach that there is no god. What makes you think that, even without a god, life has no purpose? The species has a better chance of survival if they all work towards the common good. Not a lot of ants believe in god (so I am told!) but they all work together. Why is there no right or wrong? Because it is not written in some book that you consider magical and without error? Do you really believe that the native americans did not know right from wrong? Or the billions who have lived and died without even having knowledge of your sacred text? The knowledge of right and wrong and a moral code does not depend on the belief in a paranormal being.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 3:51:32 GMT -5
I agree with rational-- I see no conflict between evolution and God -- and no conflict between science and God. Truth is science -- and God is truth. What's the fuss?
|
|
|
Post by lin on Feb 4, 2009 11:26:10 GMT -5
In BBC History this month is an interesting article on Darwin. It states as Edgar there was no conflict with evolution and even the churches. This was no new thought when Darwin advanced it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2009 1:26:57 GMT -5
I agree with rational-- I see no conflict between evolution and God -- and no conflict between science and God. Truth is science -- and God is truth. What's the fuss? I agree with this. "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." Albert Einstein "When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator. " Mahatma Gandhi
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2009 5:33:47 GMT -5
Or,
"Dig this !"
An unknown Aussie.
|
|
|
Post by Sharon on Feb 14, 2009 20:27:49 GMT -5
I doubt your prediction. 100 years ago most everyone knew the origins and continued on so why would it die out now if everyone knew the origins? Religion has it's ups and downs, I don't have numbers but I would guess that most organized religions are down now. People are either opt'ing out of religion or joining more of a 'community' type church. Young ones are still offering for the work and professing so even no one else professes the young ones could still be around another 60-80 years. Will there be changes? Most likely, but I would expect it to still be unique. What you say about the other churches is true....one has to only look at the number of books that are for sale and/or reading where ministers from different denominations are addressing the issues of people exiting the churches and how to stop it...apparently the realization of all that advice is not in yet for more books are coming into the religious bookstores all the time! It's been going on now for long enough for books to have been written, edited and some rewritten! As some said on this topic, the younger generation are not into "faith" they look for things that are tangible....whether that is good or bad, is yet to be known!
|
|
|
Post by eyedeetentee on Feb 17, 2009 14:18:17 GMT -5
The species has a better chance of survival if they all work towards the common good. Not a lot of ants believe in god (so I am told!) but they all work together. Your source is questionable. The Glaagenthielsiks told me (by way of an akrinhlatometer using ultrasonic wavelengths) that ants do believe in a higher power. They did not tell me exactly what that higher power might be. The Glaagenthielsiks were studying ants near a nuclear power station, so their studies may be fallible. It is possible, though, that they created ants. They did not clarify.
|
|
|
Post by rational on Feb 17, 2009 14:57:33 GMT -5
The species has a better chance of survival if they all work towards the common good. Not a lot of ants believe in god (so I am told!) but they all work together. Your source is questionable. The Glaagenthielsiks told me (by way of an akrinhlatometer using ultrasonic wavelengths) that ants do believe in a higher power. They did not tell me exactly what that higher power might be. The Glaagenthielsiks were studying ants near a nuclear power station, so their studies may be fallible. It is possible, though, that they created ants. They did not clarify. You are right. I completely forgot about the Glaagenthielsiks.
|
|
ann
Senior Member
Jesus did NOT say follow people .. He said follow ME!
Posts: 267
|
Post by ann on Mar 8, 2009 2:24:43 GMT -5
"I predict that in 20 years, the religious Christian group known as The Truth will no longer be in existence."
We can pray this is so ... and, if anyone is wondering, yes I do.
ann
|
|