Yes, there are great many references to the Christian religion, specifically the right-wing Protestant evangelistic sort of Christianity in the AMO businesses, at least the Yager-Harteis and Britt Worldwide lines I'm familiar with.
Even in the UK, where it was toned down as ours is not an overtly religious culture, it crept in. Some ex-Emeralds in the UK told me their upline said 'the devil would get them' if they quit or informed their downline what was going on!
On one tape a Diamond even says 'there was this guy and he got twelve (disciples) and they went out and got more'. You know, like building an Amway network. And the tapes generally are full of references to 'going the extra mile' and the parable of the sower going out to sow - you know, some fell on stony ground, as if it's okay for the business to be like this. Don't think you'll find references to Jesus overturning the moneychangers' tables in the Temple though.
I think it's because 'faith' is a virtue in Christianity and in an AMO you have to have 'faith' in your business and your upline. Faith is believing in what you can't see or have tangible evidence for, which is certainly the case for financial success for the vast majority of people in AMOs. The kingpins are very clever and will use anything which resonates with their audience. For people raised in a religious culture these Biblical references are familiar and comfortable.
As you're Catholic probably some of the 'proclaiming your faith' ad altar calls stuff is a bit alien. It's more an evangelistic church thing. It's unfair of your friends to use your religion to attack your for your non-participation. Just put it down to the brainwashing and try to forgive them. They really don't know what they're doing.
Their upline has convinced them that the business is a good thing and a way of helping people to improve their financial situation. If you believe that I suppose it is 'sinful' to oppose it. However, as the reality is that almost everyone loses money in MLMs (Amway's own figures, and one of the reasons the DTI has taken them to court here) MLMs are obviously not Jesus' or anyone else's answer to financial problems. Just remember 'beware of false prophets' (or profits, for that matter.)
By the way, the only Biblical reference which made me laugh was when, discussing how men and women were different, one of the women Diamonds said that men won't ask for directions 'I guess that's why Moses wandered around the desert for forty years.'
Best wishes,
Helen
Krissy <surreal_44@yahoo.
I don't think I mentioned this in my original post, but the more I
think on it, the more irritated I'm getting.
Apparently, Jesus "wants" me to do LTD. This is the latest info I've
gotten. LTD is apparently a "Christian" based organization. This is
the latest argument that has been used to er...tempt me to join.
My friends know that I have a strong faith, and they've sunk to new
lows by telling me that Jesus has led me to this opportunity -- I'm
struggling very hard by the way, to not put everything in "" because
of how stupid it all sounds -- and how He would never want me to be
a failure in life.
*Deep breath...count to ten...temper still boiling....*
Also, during meetings, LTD has what are apparently called "ALTER
CALLS"...I'm Catholic so I have no clue what those are, but
apparently this is where you are invited to come up on stage and
accept Jesus Christ as your savior.
During a "business meeting". Procaiming you are saved by the big J.C.
...
WHAT?!?!?!?!
Is this typical of an MLM, or is this LTD just it's own special
brand of crazy?
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