Posted by on October 05, 2008 at 20:26:47
In Reply to: Re: Respect? I don't think so. posted by Doubtful on October 05, 2008 at 20:11:32:
Your views are respected, and it is good you disagree personally, actually very good, but when your beliefs are given in a respectful manner, not in a flaming manner.
It is important to see the views of various former members, from different time periods, however, the fact is that David Berg wrote the Mo Letters quoted, and they do agree with the issues of new religious movements and Rev. Suicide in that time, including the PT situation.
We must listen to both the experts and members.
Fact is that PT discouraged suicide outwardly, but still had the idealogy of Rev. Suicide, and performed the action.
Jim Jones also had a persecution complex, he had become quite paranoid in his final days, from drug and alcohoil abuse, similar to David Berg in his time.
The term church is a sign of respect, not to play with symantics.
Revolutionary Suicide is a concept brought forward by the Black Panthers, Angela Davis, and Huey Newton, and was picked up by various religious groups in the 1970's. It was also a belief in early Christianity, going back to Massada, the Jewsish mass suicide, and thus various beliefs picked it up easily.
I encourage you to do some research into the subject.I have learned to respect the beliefs, to greatly respect those who did it for belief, and to disrespect those who persecuted them into it with religious discrimination.