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Recruiting Christians

I have heard a lot of Christian here talk about their church's missionary work in South America and I wonder how Colombian feel about these non-denominational Christian coming to convert people to their religion.
In Europe only the major religion are really respected, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslim. All the non-denominational are not considered churches but more seen as sects such as scientology.
How do Colombians see those "non-denominational"?

By JChrisusa on Aug 22, 2007, 08:41 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:05:

To my knowledge, many of the churches that are making inroads in Latin America are Protestant, but are non-denominational within Protestantism, or perhaps very loosely affiliated with a Protestant denomination. The latter groups often have a strong Evangelical bent.

A couple of obvious exceptions to the above are Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. I think they stick fairly close to the "party line" of the parent church.

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vicshere says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:15:

the funny thing tinto it appears in the area where I live anyone can just start up a Evangelical church and rank the money in from very gullible poor people the ones who can least afford to give 20% of their salary/money....I had one such employee...it was just heart breaking to see her skinny 6 year old daughter when I gave her food...like she hadn't eaten in days....and the mother and father both worked and never had 2 pesos to rub together

listo

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jaramillo says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:20:

"only the major religion are really respected, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslim." Protestants covers a huge range, from Anglicans to baptists. These "Christians" that come to Colombia to evangelize are protestants. They think us Catholics need to be converted? Lol!!

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:22:

When I lived in Nicaragua some 10 years ago; sometimes members of the different non-denominational religions would stop by my house for a chat. At that time there were almost no Gringos in Nicaragua, and they would ask me what they could do to improve the lives of the Nicaraguan people? As I looked around at the extreme poverty and the untold numbers of unwed single mothers....my answer was always the same: "for the love of God save them from the Catholics" !!!! Which is the curse of the Third World

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:33:

That's pretty sad, Vic, about fleecing the flock. And 20%? What happened to tithing?

I think MiamiMike posted a story about a televangelist scammer in Miami with Colombian roots. They also make the news in Brazil now and then -- same old, same old. Mega churches run like a corporation, houses for family members bought with church treasury money, mistresses, prostitutes, etc.

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 09:40:

Gee, sounds just like the Catholics.......

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 10:28:

"for the love of God save them from the Catholics" !!!! Which is the curse of the Third World"

Oh really? Then how come predominantly Catholic France and Italy are G-8 nations? And Spain and Brasil are also Top ten GDP countries!

Take your Anti-Catholic BS somewhere else!!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 10:34:

And back on topic, I think we should kick all those pseudo-Christian sects out of Colombia! They're what we call 'religones de garage', because their gullible members meet in garages or in other makeshft places to give most of their earnings away to those phony pastors.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 10:40:

Well, they must be offering something the people want, because the percentage of people identifying as Catholics has dropped from nearly 100% to about 85%.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 10:50:

Re Jehovah's Witnesses, I wonder if the Colombian government has a conscientious objector clause in their military service laws?

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 10:52:

Any educated person that has read any of the bloodthirsty history of the Catholic church cannot be truly be swayed by all of that absurd pomp and circumstance. The fact is that most of the people from all over Europe went to America to escape the slavery of the church. What did the Spaniards ever bring to the indians of South America but slavery, robbery, a few churches and a religion that still enslaves the poor and ignorant.... It is all well documented for the uninformed I strongly suggest that you read: A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Howard Zinn......if you dare!!!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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vicshere says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:04:

my father use to say...it doesn't matter what religion you believe as long as that religion doesn't teach/follow/encourage it followers to cheat/ steal/ kill or do harm to others.....so according to my father no religion can actually fall under those criterias...so when is comes to religion...my god is my house and my family....I do good to those that I can when I can...I am not a saint by I can sleep very well at night

listo

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:07:

"What did the Spaniards ever bring to the indians of South America but slavery, robbery, a few churches and a religion that still enslaves the poor and ignorant.... It is all well documented for the uninformed I strongly suggest that you read: A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Howard Zinn......if you dare!!!"



Actually I'm reading that book right now and I recall reading how the Protestant English settlers didn't exactly treat the Indians very well either!! From Page 13:

"Since the Indians were better woodsmen than the English and virtually impossible to track down, the method was to feign peaceful intentions, let them settle down, and plant their corn wherever they chose, and then, just before harvest, fall upon them, killing as many as possible and burning the corn..."

Then on Page 14, Zinn talks about how the Puritans even used the people to justify killing Indians! Look it up!


So CheleSuperCono, don't throw stones where you live in a glass house!!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:13:

All true....but at the end of the day.....in 2007, only 15% of all Americans are Catholics!!! and have of that number do not practice that bullshit unless of course....they like little boys.....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:15:

Let's keep this civil. We all live in glass houses; there are plenty of examples of religious and non-religious people and governments doing terrible things.

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:16:

I meant to say the "Puritans used the Bible"...where's the damn edit button?

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:18:

Yes lets do.....politics, religion and gf/wives are verboten....sorry all

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:24:

I found out fairly recently that my father in law and his sister, are now both non-denominational Christians. Of course both were raised Catholic. They live in Bogota.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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JChrisusa says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:32:

Well I asked a simple question because I wanted to know how Colombian felt about the rapid religious change in their country and while a few answered the question, One person started personal attacks.
I don't think asking people to respect other people's religion is too much to ask.

Chelesupercono: I am not impressed at all by your personal attack on the Catholic religion, take your trash somewhere else
.
"for the love of God save them from the Catholics" !!!! Which is the curse of the Third World"
"Any educated person that has read any of the bloodthirsty history of the Catholic church cannot be truly be swayed by all of that absurd pomp and circumstance"
"only 15% of all Americans are Catholics!!! and have of that number do not practice that bullshit"

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 11:57:

I did not start a "personal attack" on anyone and also apologized if I did so.......and you do not need to or do I want you to be impressed by my comments on the Catholic Church......it is all the truth and more....enough said....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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capitan_centella says on Aug 22, 2007, 12:22:

In here. . . have one of the most funniest religion of all times. . . "iglesia cuadrangular cristiana" . . . I saw it in the road to Cartagena. LOL . . .I don´t know how to translated. . .

And back in the colombian eighties I remenber a "sect". . so called "Jesucristinos", just a bunch of high class kids, thinking that "jesus crist" would be back in 2000, as a woman. . . a hard rock woman lady. . . and they made themselves called as prepositions. I met "it". . .

atte. capitan centella

"When you open your eyes, you turn around with the world, But it can change, if you only close it, and see a dream to yourself." Me.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 12:35:

I think the first one is the Four Square Church.

http://www.foursquare.org/

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 12:42:

I think the first one is the Four Square Church.

http://www.foursquare.org/

I was sitting on a park bench one day in Bogota, and one of their members came up to me and asked if I would take a survey. I agreed since I don't live there and wasn't worried about phone calls and visitors. Surprisingly enough, he was a translator so I answered his questions in English.

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 12:45:

Now the craziest sect of all of the one by that Miami-based Puerto Rican lunatic who claimed to be Jesus and now says he's the Anti-Christ! The people who follow that guy definitely need a psychiatric evaluation!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Lowell says on Aug 22, 2007, 12:58:

I'd rather take the chance of believing that there is a God/Creator/? and be proven right. Seems there may be less to lose. For me most Churches are a crock. A way to make money. I do my studies in the open and conversations with my boss in private.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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CristalM says on Aug 22, 2007, 14:28:

I have been here for about 5 weeks so far (here for a year) teaching in a christian school. The first week I went downtown with a missionary friend who visits some very poor indigenous people, especially a small blind woman, who apprently lives in the streets. She had been visiting this particular woman for a few weeks and this day was the first day the woman would speak to her. She brings her food and simply asks how she is doing. What I was really curious about were the looks on the faces of the colombians as they walked by, glancing over to see this american (I am assuming they could tell) in jeans sitting on the sidewalk talking with this poor, blind woman. I didn't see either disgust or approval, but surprise. I am still not sure what they were really thinking. My friend said she believes they just dont ever think about stopping, this woman is just one of thousands. I also would like to know what they really think.

Hope you get some more informed opinions instead of the opinionated rants. I am looking forward to reading them!

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scotty says on Aug 22, 2007, 14:55:

Simon is right throw the money hungry Christains out and bring in the Muslims so all the Colombianas can cover their faces and bodies and people can run around stoning each other.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 22, 2007, 15:29:

I think we should kick all those pseudo-Christian sects out of Colombia! They're what we call 'religones de garage', because their gullible members meet in garages or in other makeshft places to give most of their earnings away to those phony pastors.

Well If this is not a rant then what is? Chrisusa

It is the same M.O. as the Catholics but done in a: heaven forbid? A MAKESHIFT PLACE !!! Oh God not enough gold!!!! and fancy robes......well what the hell is the difference? Gullible? Jesus Christ on a Bicycle!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 17:42:

Ha ha Scotty...funny!

Bring on the Muslims? HELLO NO!!!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Simon says on Aug 22, 2007, 17:48:

Chelesupercono,

Dude, we are the ORIGINAL and therefore TRUE Christian denomination! The Catholic Church was founded by an apostle of Christ himself, St. Peter, for Pete's sake!! You guys broke away from us!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 22, 2007, 18:48:

Original, Schmoriginal...

It's like Swiss and their army knives - Victorinox and Wenger - one is the original and one is the genuine, but now they're all part of the same company.

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scotty says on Aug 23, 2007, 03:06:

Simon i saw that guy on TV what a fokin weirdo! him and his stupido followers. they are even tatooing 666 on their arms and legs and neck. what a bunch of wack jobs.
you are right first he was telling everyone he is jesus now he says he is the anti christ, i think he is the KING OF SCREWBALLS

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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webmanco says on Aug 23, 2007, 04:20:

I don´t partake on any religion but I prefer people enrolling in any kind of group that will give them the impression that they are being help, and instill good behavior.

Since I am not much a believer, I am surprise about the number of people getting together to pray or whatever under x, y denomination.



One afternoon, by La Floresta, (Bogotá)I saw a warehouse full of people and a bracelet was needed in order to enter. Security was tight for a religious meeting. This group had all the technology at their hands. They got people from other countries and translators.

Here is the link to their website.


http://www.fuegotv.eu/

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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JChrisusa says on Aug 23, 2007, 06:18:

FRANCE the laughing stock of Europe??? GDP in the world according to the world bank: 6th.
Have you heard of the Napoleonic Code??? The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen ??? The French Doctors???
Poetry and Culture ??? Who is France... are you serious?
Airbus, TGV, Renault-Nissan, Arianne, Dassault, Nuclear Aircraft carrier ! ! ! anybody say technology?
Eiffel Tower; Cathedrales; Versaille; Arc de Triomphe; Le Louvre, palais des papes, Mont St Michel ... I guess we could work on our architecture...


"Speaking as somebody with Italian ancestry and who knows the language" Oh my bad then... you must know better, I guess you must be right, France must be the laughing stock of Europe.

You might want to tell everyone though:
MOST VISITED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD: FRANCE (75,000,000 visitors per year) laughing stock of europe ! ! !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France (educate yourself)

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Simon says on Aug 23, 2007, 11:49:

Edith Piaf was pretty good.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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JChrisusa says on Aug 24, 2007, 05:43:

"Every man has two countries, and one of them is France" (Benjamin Franklin)

"I knew one person that had to wait 8 YEARS to get a phone installed in Provence!"
Everyone uses cell phone in France... the cell phone network is much more advanced in France (And in Europe overall) than it is in the US. There is no such thing as years wait for an old phoneline !!!

Insulting France, Italy and Spain like that is the reason most European hate Americans. Instead of accepting the culture difference and the economical difference you automatically assume that your system is better and right. I don't have to talk about Virginia Tech to tell you that the American system is not perfect either, but I won't tell you that the US is a third world country because 17% of its population lives below the poverty line, even though for European it is shameful (France 6.2%). 50% voting population in a presidential election??? is that civic duty? (France 75%)
Learn to respect other nations.

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jaramillo says on Aug 24, 2007, 18:31:

When I was a lot stupider I used to subscribe to clichés like carl's. But then I bothered to investigate the real record of the church. I'm a Catholic.

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jaramillo says on Aug 25, 2007, 06:36:

Hey carl, I did my homework, arrived at my conclusions and I stand by them. By the way, the Vatican is not the church.

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robi666 says on Aug 26, 2007, 22:23:

23% unemployment... where?
I knew one person that had to wait 8 YEARS to get a phone installed in Provence!... when? In 1850 or...
shitty water supply... what? where?
And Spain is even worse!!... in what? shitty water supply?
who knows the language.. sicuro di saper parlare italiano? good for you, but that doesn't make you an expert.

Rubito, why don't you count to 1000 before posting and try to elaborate better a concept... just an advice.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 27, 2007, 11:41:

France's unemployment rate is 8%, which is pretty good. For a long time it hovered a little above 10%.

http://www.economist.com/markets/indicators/displaystory.cfm?story_id=...

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