If we start talking about character and actually living a Christan lifestyle....proportionally....the Mormons whoop the Baptists....hands down. Having grown up in a dry county...in the midst of Baptists....I found over half of them who professed “faith”...were actually without character and very unchristian-like. I’m almost 50 now...my old hometown church and its deacons? At least three of the deacons are KKK members and two are absolute heavy drinkers, with one guy who has arrested once for violence against his wife.
My political correctness is basically turned off, and I’m on true-observation mode. Being in or associated with the military for 30 years....I’ve known over twenty Mormons. None of them were drinkers...none were ever arrested for bringing harm to a family member...and none were of a behavior that I thought questionable. I have yet to meet a “bad” Mormon.
I can’t do a blessed thing in my old home town to improve the image of Mormons because the Baptist confirm it there...as a “cult”. Even my brother sits there and laughs about the labels that the minister has placed on the group...and sitting in the back of the church...are at least eight teenage guys who have red-eye balls from heavy drinking and partying the night before. The minister doesn’t say much to correct their action.
In my book....actions speak louder than words. This isn’t about tolerance or intolerance. Its about respecting folks who have real Christian behavior, and display it on a daily basis. I’m purely sick and tired of commercialized religion...who just sign up for something to be in the “in-crowd” and don’t want to live the lifestyle. That never was the reason behind Christianity.
The “fruits” of Mormonism:
1. Salt Lake City is America’s Leader in Plastic Surgery:
As the number of cosmetic procedures nationwide continues to surge, we looked at which cities have most embraced market demand for taut faces, lush lips and flat abs. Most shocking of all was the town that ranked first: Salt Lake City.
http://www.forbes.com/health/2007/11/29/plastic-health-surgery-forbeslife-cx_rr_1129health.html
2. Utah is America’s Most Depressed State:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7580838
3. Utah has the most bankruptcy filings in America:
Despite Utah’s falling bankruptcy numbers, the state ranked first nationally in households per filing, with one of every 36.5 households in the state filing for bankruptcy for the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, according to the ABI.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600103927,00.html
4. Utah has the most anti-depressant use, especially in women: Study Finds Utah Leads Nation in Antidepressant Use. Some point to the pressures of Mormonism, especially for women, to explain the surprising findings.
http://www.usu.edu/psycho101/lectures/chp2methods/study.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/03/eveningnews/main510918.shtml
5. Utah leads the nation in suicides among men aged 15 to 24:
Could it be that they can’t admit they don’t want to go on missions, or assume other church “leadership” positions?
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635201873,00.html
6. Utah has the most per-capita fraud in America:
Salt Lake City, with a mere 170,000 residents, is by far the country’s smallest city where the scam-fighting U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has an office. It has been there since the early 1950s. Why? “There is a lot of fraud here per capita,” says local SEC boss Kenneth Israel. “There doesn’t seem to be any shortage of work for us.”
http://www.lds-mormon.com/6303056a.shtml
7. Utah is #1 in mortgage fraud in America:
In 2001, the FBI listed Utah as No. 1 in the country for the amount of mortgage fraud cases reported.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600151169,00.html
8. Since 1991, Utah’s rape rate has consistently inched higher than the national rate. By 2002, Utah ranked 14th in the nation for rapes.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600125585,00.html