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Polygyny friendly neighborhood

I agree that it will not work to try to blend with any FLDS groops. There are many differences not withstanding the doctrinal problems, such as property ownership, what determines who is in a home, authority, etc. I have visited Colorado City, AZ and I did not find the people as unfriendly as purported, but we did have to establish the fact that we did not have any motives problematic to the residents. They did not indicate any desire to have Christian neighbors that I could tell.

Also, most people that are open to plural truth from God are fairly independant thinkers. Strong personalities need room to breath. I think a community that is within driving distance each other is a great goal but those that can live closer than that would also be those that can accept diversity in Christian doctrine and manner of living. And also when to not be involved and when to be involved.
 
Isabella said:
Well I think that is grand....but surely you are a Christian wherever you live aren't you?

Or is the situation so precarious that you are less of a Christian if you live around non-Christians?
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The Bible expressly states we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers......there are many people, including myself, who believe this applies to more than just marriage. It's one thing to live in a secular society where we often are surrounded by those who believe differently than us....It's quite another thing to deliberately link up with these people in a close-knit, shared living community, where the only thing we might have in common is polygyny.
Blessings,
Fairlight
 
Ok, so according to Fairlight the problem lies mostly in the fact that you are supposed to try to convert people to your beliefs and as people in general don’t like that, you can’t live amongst others.

Ok, that makes sense. Thank you for explaining that.

Bels
 
Isabella said:
Ok, so according to Fairlight the problem lies mostly in the fact that you are supposed to try to convert people to your beliefs and as people in general don’t like that, you can’t live amongst others.

Ok, that makes sense. Thank you for explaining that.
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It's only one of several factors.
FTR, I live amongst unbelievers everyday but I see an "Intentional Community" as being quite different. I don't believe that a "multi-faith Intentional Community" will work for anyone who is dedicated to their own belief system. Mixing the FLDS with Christians that closely on a daily basis is just asking for problems. It goes right back to the Biblical admonition to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
Blessings,
Fairlight
 
There is something about living in a community of like minded people. I really miss living in a Jewish community.
I would gladly move back to a Jewish community. I personally have found it hard to live in 'Christian' community. What I mean is that I was so doctrinally different then the other 2000 people in the town I was living in. Oh yeah for fun, I taught Bible at the Christian school in town.

I personally prefer living in a highly secular society over a rather tight knit Christian town. I even had problems in Knoxville, TN (Large city)

I would like to live in a community that had something in common. Even if the group was different on some of the basic doctrinal points, there is still an underlying attachment and points of contact.

Even within a large Jewish community there are differing synagogues and they do not always get along. Yet they do get along. When you have like minded people together great things can be done.
 
Fairlight said:
I don't believe that a "multi-faith Intentional Community" will work for anyone who is dedicated to their own belief system....
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Actually this is not true, most faith systems don't have a problem living with people who don't believe as them. So the
unequally yoked thing and the preaching to others thing is particularly Christian.

Again thanks for the answer though because now I understand your pov.

kind regards,
Bels
 
Isabella said:
Actually this is not true, most faith systems don't have a problem living with people who don't believe as them.
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I believe it is true....but I was referring specifically to the suggestion made earlier by "Enchantedlife" regarding the merging of Christian polygynists with the FLDS in a poly community. Most FLDS would not be agreeable to that anymore than many Christian polygynists. That was my point.
Blessings,
Fairlight
 
Fairlight said:
Isabella said:
Actually this is not true, most faith systems don't have a problem living with people who don't believe as them.
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I believe it is true....but I was referring specifically to the suggestion made earlier by "Enchantedlife" regarding the merging of Christian polygynists with the FLDS in a poly community. Most FLDS would not be agreeable to that anymore than many Christian polygynists. That was my point.
Blessings,
Fairlight
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I am sorry but I am not certain what you believe is true? Are you saying that no religious person can live happily in a community with non believers? Because I know many people, christians amongst them who would disagree....however I can't speak for the FLDS and how happy they are to mix.

B
 
Hello Isabella,
Since I agreed with Fairlight's statement, perhaps I may comment here.
Isabella said,
Actually this is not true, most faith systems don't have a problem living with people who don't believe as them. So the
unequally yoked thing and the preaching to others thing is particularly Christian.
I am sorry but I am not certain what you believe is true? Are you saying that no religious person can live happily in a community with non believers?
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I have never been to India or to a Muslim nation, but I have heard first hand reports that it is illegal to evangelize in both cultures. In some it is a crime punishable by death to convert. I would say that is mighty unfriendly. Among some Amish and Mennonite communities in this country, outsiders are barely tolerated and not welcomed as part of the community.

For those who profess to be Christians, one of the basic tenets of our faith is to carry out the Great Commision. That is, not to convert people (God's job), but to evangelize those around us. It is the loving, godly thing to do. It is a command of Christ that we do this. The Gospel message of the Christian faith is exclusive of all other faiths and that certainly rubs other people the wrong way. Even among those who claim to be Christian, but are really apostate there is real friction with the biblical method of salvation by faith. Evangelical missionaries have been severely persecuted by the Catholic church of Latin America, often to death.

I would suggest you look a little closer to how other faiths tolerate or not tolerate Bible believing Christians. Fairlight is correct.

May I ask, what is your belief system now and did you convert from another? This often colors how we look at the issue.

John Whitten
 
John Whitten said:
I would suggest you look a little closer to how other faiths tolerate or not tolerate Bible believing Christians. Fairlight is correct.

May I ask, what is your belief system now and did you convert from another? This often colors how we look at the issue.

John Whitten
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Actually John I was referring to this specific comment from Fairlight:

Fairlight said:
I don't believe that a "multi-faith Intentional Community" will work for anyone who is dedicated to their own belief system.
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This is a gross generalisation, there are many people dedicated to their own belief system who do not have a problem living closely with others from other faiths, especially in the kind of community I was referring to where community worship is not an aspect of it, rather just practical support of proximity to those who you don't have to hide from. Fairlight elaborated as to why she thought it would be a problem for Bible believing Christians specifically and that was something I understood. Although i don't know much about the FLDS, the Browns from TLC do NOT live on a compound and from what I have read, many AUB Fundamentalist Mormons don't live on compounds. So although I can't speak from any authority about the FLDS, I couldn't tar them all with the same isolationist brush either. The Amish are isolationst for good reason, they don't want their way of life to change, they have never lived amongst the general public so it is hardly comparable, it is the total Strawman of the arguement John.

So, what you have here is a statement that is actually coloured by your own belief system (and this has nothing to do with my beliefs and I would appreciate you not trying to make it so) and generalising it onto all other faiths. You(and possibly Fairlight) are saying it won't work for anyone dedicated to their faith because 'we' (the Christians) can't do what we are commanded to do, i.e. evanglise. That is a false argument because since it is only Christianity that is commanded to evangalise, than it is, in effect the only faith system that would not be able to live amongst others comfortably.
So a more correct statement above would have been 'I don't believe a multi-faith community would work for most Christians'.

That makes factual sense and is less of (though I accept that most will still consider it to be) a gross generalisation.

Good day,

Bels
 
Bels,
Sorry, I am not skilled sufficiently in the fine art of argumentation to understand what a "straw man" is. As to the proper form of argument, I do not know that either. Some how though, your position just seems to lack clarity to me. Christians aren't the only ones that have a directive to evangelize or spread their faith system. Islam is agressively doing the same and there must surely be others. I would think humanism and secularism are the most effective at it, though these three gladly co-exist with the intent of conquest.

John
 
John Whitten said:
Christians aren't the only ones that have a directive to evangelize or spread their faith system. Islam is agressively doing the same and there must surely be others
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Exactly !
Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses (both non-Christian groups) come to my door evangelizing quite often. In Los Angeles (where I'm from) there was the "Hare Krishna" and other groups that engage in overt evangelism.

My earlier "multi-faith" comment was mostly directed towards the mix of Christians and the FLDS....although, someone mentioned Jewish polygynists as well. I know many Jews and they "tend" to be rather careful about how and when they mix with Christians.
Blessings,
Fairlight
 
Fairlight said:
Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses (both non-Christian groups)
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I think they would disagree with you there Fairlight, but that is by the by, they evangalise because it says to do so in the Bible, however, I have never known a JW or a Mormon to say they can't live amongst others, in fact, they would probably just see it as a challenge. :D
The difference is, they don't take it personally if you are not interested and they don't get inappropriate, I worked with a JW for years before I actually knew.

there was the "Hare Krishna" and other groups that engage in overt evangelism.
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I know of the HK, I didn't even think they were around anymore. They don't feel they can't live amongst others, they are also welcoming and accepting. Are we including cults or modern movements now because I think considering the numbers, most people from more modern beliefs systems have little choice but to engage with people from other faiths..

My earlier "multi-faith" comment was mostly directed towards the mix of Christians and the FLDS....although, someone mentioned Jewish polygynists as well. I know many Jews and they "tend" to be rather careful about how and when they mix with Christians.
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They are careful about mixing, that means marrying, even socialising with in some cases, not living next door to....if the Jews had the same sort of attitude you are expressing they never would have left the Sheitel. As I said, if you were referring specifically to the FLDS and Christians you should not have used the word 'anyone' that is what I had a problem with.

Does that make any sense at all?

Bels
 
I had origionally posted this after reading about the biblical brotherhood. They lived together in a community not so much to force religion on each other, but more so to make sure their brothers and sisters in Christ wanting and needed for nothing. They all took care of each other, they were close and the brothern had good solid people to talk too who were interested in helping them being great men of Christ, great fathers and great husbands. Maybe too some that kind of sounds unrealistic, but too me it could work. The only reason I put polygyny friendly is because it is what I believe in. I believe in families being formed rather then torn apart. See too many people hear about a community or neighborhood of people who have the same beliefs and automaticly think "cult or occult". I am not even close to wanting an occult or cult atmosphere, I am more so wanting to be around others who have the same beliefs even if they vary in ways, cause regardless of how close we are with God if we do not have others who are like we are then to me we do not have a face to face relationship. When you live the way we live it is often a hard and lonely road. I think the internet is good and it does help imensly as far as support, but it is lacking the physical nature of it all. Maybe I am the only who desires that, but at the same time it would be nice to have cook outs, meetings, and or just hanging out with people who have some of the same common interest more then just a few times a year. I know some of you already have a group of people you can do this with and some don't. Most people I meet say they are cool with the fact that I believe in polygyny, but when it comes to talking about the bible or focus as to where our lives are going in God people tend not to want to talk about. Many of the churches won't ever fully except us. There for leaving us out numbered and alone so we need to figure some type of support system so pople do not feel so alone physically. Just like out here while searching for a church I have asked every one who has invited to name at least 10 people who goes to church with them most can't name more then one or two beyond the pastorial staff. I mean that doesn't really make me want to go cause a church to me is supposed to be a family of believers not just a sunday hang out. Same thing with this neighborhood deal. It would be a place where you would have a support system. The biggest problem with online communities is that if you don't have money for the internet, a comp or a way online or a phone too call folks you really have no outlet to talk to a group of believers who believe what you believe. In some points as well it is really helpful to have people around who believe in polygyny cause you can get advice from others who have been through things and have good advice. Well I am almost out of comp time here at my library so I am gonna close this out for now by saying untill polygyny is legalised the only ligitamate way of having a family of belivers would be too have an accual community. It really does make since even if it is only in my head lol.
 
That was really lovely RevGill, I understand. What SO many people are lacking in our society is a real strong sense of community. I am pretty envious when I hear of others having that, it isn't to be laughed at or dismissed because it isn't 'perfect'. We are a very small community as it is, I don't see the point in making it smaller.
The internet has indeed been great in bringing people together but what a lot of people are lacking is real solid human connections, no amount of words on screen can replace that.

take care RevGill,

Bels
x
 
Isabella said:
I think they would disagree with you there Fairlight, but that is by the by, they evangalise because it says to do so in the Bible, however, I have never known a JW or a Mormon to say they can't live amongst others, in fact, they would probably just see it as a challenge. :D
The difference is, they don't take it personally if you are not interested and they don't get inappropriate, I worked with a JW for years before I actually knew.
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Hmmm....well, since half my family are Jehovah Witnesses, I can tell you that they do not consider themselves "Christians". Being dragged to their "Kingdom Halls" as a kid, I am very familiar with their doctrine, terminologies & practices. :)
As for Mormons, their doctrine is not in keeping with Orthodox Christianity. Even they would agree with that. In fact many people who were baptized as a baby, attended sunday school and an occasional church service during adulthood define themselves as "Christians". A true Christian is someone who recognizes their need for forgiveness, realizing that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin, asking God to forgive them, fully repenting and forsaking of sin and daily following the Word Of God. Anything less is not authentic Christianity.

P.S. when a J.W. evangelizes...they expect to do all the talking. If a Christian tries to evangelize them, they get up and leave ! Having attended their "training" sessions at the K.H., I know this to be true. I don't see them as being "Intentional Community" material. :)
Blessings,
Fairlight
 
I am not certain I understand your point Fairlight, the JA I have met consider themselves Christians…perhaps this is something they keep quiet amongst themselves?
Anyhoo…I have never met an impolite Mormon or a JA. They have never berated me in public or called me names….I can’t say the same for people of other churches though so. Still, I can't see them wanting to live in any sort of community but then again, they don't tend to be polygamists either do they?
I am sorry I really fail to see your point with this post, can you enlighten me?
 
Fairlight said:
Isabella said:
can you enlighten me?
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I will leave your enlightenment to God :D
Blessings,
Fairlight
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I guess I am in for a wait then...

thank you for your help :twisted:

Bels
 
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