[Questioninginla]

I'm interested to understand and know more about this group.  From what I do know, "God Bless You" takes the place of "hello" and "goodbye".  Why does this or any other word change matter?  Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't.

IF, there comes a day when someone questions "is there something suspect going on here?  how could there be?  these people are so nice.  we greet each other with 'God Bless You'".  While not indicative (of bigger problems) in and of itself, it certainly could be said at such a point in time that the meaning has now changed to become greater than just hello and goodbye, correct?  In other words, what was once a simple salutation now has more than one meaning – how does this affect my thinking?

I have also heard "soft food/hard food".  To the converted member, it makes so much sense for the end to justify the means.  Surely we want to lead someone to eternal salvation!  Who wants to err in this process?  No one!  Therefore, give the prospect only what they can handle, correct?  Or, is it just an excuse to manipulate?  If not the latter, then why not just say that God allows us to manipulate….just a little bit?

What are more words that have multiple meanings, ex-members?  Does changing words matter?  (provide examples if you can please)

[Love'n Honey]

[Love'n Honey]

Questioninginla wrote:

I read in another thread…am I to understand that "water" is "people"?

 

Here is something interesting – not at all related to religion, by the way – relative to language use:

"Furthermore, all correspondence referring to the matter was subject to rigid "language rules", and, except in the reports the Einsatzgruppen, it is rare to find documents in which such bald words as "extermination, " "liquidation," or "killing" occur.  The prescribed code names for killing were "final solution," "evacuation", and "special treatment" [footnote 1]

"Moreover, the very term "language rule" was itself a code name; it meant what in ordinary language would be called a lie." [footnote 1]

"The net effect of this language system was not to keep these people ignorant of what they were doing, but to prevent them from equating it with their old, "normal" knowledge of murder and lies." [footnote 2]

 

That makes more sense though. Using a different word to describe the same thing but to make it seem less bad. It's like telling someone something hurtful or negative but with tact. Though "It's looks like you didn't even try in this class. You failed and must retake it." and "The effort you put in shows up in your grade. Perhaps next time you will do better." mean the same thing, the latter uses less harsh word usage. I think this is different from water::people, fragrance::testimony, etc. I think preaching::recruiting better fits your example. Recruiting members sounds negative but preaching sounds positive. Though they are the same task with the WMSCOG, you never here the members say they're going out recruiting because recruiting sounds bad.

[Questioninginla]

Sometimes we need to view things in the extreme in order to view that there is indeed a change in psychology and physiology that occurs when language is altered.

Once this is recognized, it is up to each individual to view for oneself if a group's specific language is healthy or not.

[Simon]

water as people is from Revelation where he writes about the whore sitting on the waters

[Questioninginla]

Where does "vessel" come from?

[Love'n Honey]

From the sermon "Salvation of the World Depends on God"

The great task of saving the world is carried out by God Himself. So, it is our duty to be thankful to God for giving us the opportunity to participate in His work and prepare ourselves to be worthy of being used by God as clean vessels (2 Ti 2:21).

Mother's teachings #11 Sacrifice is needed to become a greater vessel.