tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post7757284108037710471..comments2023-10-18T02:03:42.145-07:00Comments on LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: Laestadians OnlineUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-37624843359924374782008-02-18T21:46:00.000-08:002008-02-18T21:46:00.000-08:00I read the article, and when they are discussing t...I read the article, and when they are discussing the fact that people air their business and their opinions online, <i>[one pastor named Aimo] Hautamäki nevertheless admits that not all of those who hash out problems on the Internet are outsiders; there are some Laestadians who air their views.<br><br>"If someone feels anguish, I would prefer that they would engage in personal discussions, or at the very least, write under their own names." </i><br><br>I honestly think they are not so much concerned about the issues being raised as they are who is raising them. Do they just want to be able to quash the dissension by bringing the focus to the person who feels that way? That's what it sounds like to me. <br><br>I saw that happen numerous times in the LLC. They descended in droves on anyone who expressed an unpopular opinion and by sheer numbers and peer pressure would "convince" the one erring to mend his or her ways. Has that changed in five years? I don't know. Do I want to find out? Not particularly.<br><br>btdtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-30647313426822704372008-02-18T22:23:00.000-08:002008-02-18T22:23:00.000-08:00I agree with the person above. If you can't ha...I agree with the person above. <br>If you can't have compassion for the distressed without knowing their names, then I don't know where to go with that.<br>Many of us have attempted personal discussions, to no avail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-41818603023865266492008-02-19T00:10:00.000-08:002008-02-19T00:10:00.000-08:00I am pretty sure that the SRK in Finland is the eq...I am pretty sure that the SRK in Finland is the equivalent of the LLC here in the States.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-56963665413365804582008-02-19T06:17:00.000-08:002008-02-19T06:17:00.000-08:00That is true, the SRK is the same as the LLC in th...That is true, the SRK is the same as the LLC in the states.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-47553124498239925432008-02-19T20:58:00.000-08:002008-02-19T20:58:00.000-08:00It is true, as the article says, that there "...It is true, as the article says, that there "is a resistance to expressing public criticism." At least it is that way in the LLC. In the LLC, exactly as the article says, if you have a differing opinion than what is taught there, your faith is immdiately called into question. It is very intimidating. You are told you are not believing right. I can see them wanting to know who people are rather than them being anonymous for one of two reasons. 1) So they can come talk to you about your matters, or 2) so they can talk about you with other people (humiliate you) so you change your mind.<br> Many in the LLC are not open to even hearing what you have to say or why, if it is not in agreement with what they have already been taught. They see no point in going over things that have already been decided as wrong in the past. They say that faith is unchanging, even if the world changes. Even if you point out that many of the things that they figure are doctrinal (jazzy music, movies, school sports, etc) are actually cultural, it doesn't matter. I think alot of the decisions made are because of resistance to change. TV comes along and it is a new thing, so since they never watched TV before, why start now. Or makeup at one time not being accepted by society as a whole, then when it starts being accepted by everyone, the LLC resists change, saying it is because of faith, when most likely is is just cultural.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-85878519105890913532008-02-21T15:01:00.000-08:002008-02-21T15:01:00.000-08:00There is a HUGE focus on external rules, it is the...There is a HUGE focus on external rules, it is the primary focus. Looking a certain way and behaving a certain way, along with showing up at most of the church and meetings is what is important. Discussions about faith, both in small groups and in church, revolve around what is or is not accepted. And if you disagree, well.....just don't disagree. Because their way is the only way to think. If you think at all different, then you are wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com