Replies

The Mormons who showed up on this thread have handled the poster of the article (and the article itself) with dignity and class - ergo, they won the debate by their demeanor. They also haven’t been posting abuse reports or bellyaching but rather have poked a little fun at the poster because (s)he knew so little about what they believe.

Confrontational views will not be quashed on my watch because there is no “official” belief on Free Republic. All sides may be discussed on open threads as long as the discussion doesn’t turn personal.

After all, an object of veneration to one confession may be anathema to another.

So, if a poster is uncomfortable with the open debate of a town square where others can indeed make outrageous claims, he should stay with the closed threads – the devotionals, prayer threads and caucuses - and leave the open thread debate to someone with thicker skin.

As a final point, asking for a thread, a post, a poster or moderator to be removed does not constitute a rebuttal argument.

An article entitled "You're better off not being a Religion Moderator" is a very different sort of article from one entitled "You're better off not being a Mormon". The latter is in itself abusively personal whilst global in frame. Its object is not merely ad hominem but it is ad hominibus and is a collective categorization of individuals in a way so as to demean them as individuals.

I agree that the Mormons on this thread have been very gracious.
Personally, I believe one's religion is between him/her and his/her maker.
I see no reason to bash a religion.
Well...radical Islam might be an exception. ;o)

However, my "beef", though that word is too strong, is with the poster of this thread.

He/she states in the body of his/her post...

"You can be prayed into heaven if you're not a mormon..."

Then, later in the thread states...

"Southern Baptist see the mormons as a cult. What can I say. I have to stand up for my beliefs."

It is utterly impossible for this poster to state that both of those posts are true.

Southern Baptists believe we can pray for someone's salvation.
The salvation option is open until the moment of death.
It is then taken off the table.
However, I believe that it's possible for the Lord to intervene at the time of death
to give that person one last chance to accept Him as his/her Lord and Savior.

However, we don't believe in purgatory.
Thus, we don't believe we can pray someone into heaven.

I think that southwilby isn't so concerned with salvation as he/she is with being provocative.

I, also, think that he/she is a posuer.

And, I think that the nic "southwilby" is an expendable screen name.

I just bet that being the Religion Mod is much harder than the other mod jobs. ;o)