Posted on 01/31/2009 9:48:29 AM PST by Zakeet
Edited on 01/31/2009 11:43:32 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Speaking at its annual conference held in Detroit in July 2007, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond called on the American public and the entertainment industry to stop using the “N-Word.” Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick added, “Today we’re not just burying the N-word, we’re taking it out of our spirit.” I applaud this effort, and with it I offer my own challenge to Mormons everywhere to bury their own infamous “N-word,” that being the word “anti-Mormon.”
As with the word “[snip],” the word “anti-Mormon” is meant to be nothing more than an ugly pejorative. It is usually slapped on anyone who questions or disagrees with the teachings of the LDS faith and implies that the perceived critic is somehow “against” (anti) Mormons (as individuals). I’m certainly not against Mormons; in fact, I personally feel I have something better to offer them than what they already claim to have. Technically, that makes me “pro-Mormon,” though I admit I am against Mormonism.
Far too many Mormons automatically assume that Christians who wish to challenge LDS presuppositions are somehow motivated by hate. Such an assumption seems to be borne more out of laziness on the part of the accuser rather than the result of critical thinking skills. It is easy to accuse someone of hatred; after all, that word gets a lot of mileage in our dumbed-down culture. The intellectually indolent person somehow feels no need to evaluate what has been said once he has successfully assassinated a person’s character. However, when Mormons flippantly throw down the hate card, they certainly run the risk of bearing false witness.
I would be the first to admit that this disparaging label had some real meaning during the early and mid-1800’s, but it certainly does not fit the great majority of people Mormon apologists have attached it to in modern days. Articles from LDS apologetic groups such as FAIR and FARMS (now the Neal Maxwell Institute) are peppered with this word, sometimes to the point of monotony. The irony is that while such organizations desperately want to be recognized for their “scholarship,” they fail to realize that true scholarly material tends to refrain from such ad hominem. This behavior has not gone unnoticed by those known for their thoughtful contributions to this subject. In their book Mormon America, Richard and Joan Ostling note, “The FARMS team is particularly shrill in its rhetoric, an odd pose for an organization that seeks to win intellectual respectability for the church. All too often Saints use the label ‘anti-Mormon’ as a tactic to forestall serious discussion” (p. 376).
Modern Mormons who equate questions and disagreement with persecution need to do some serious rethinking. In my opinion, Mormons who lump those who challenge the truth claims of Mormonism with the persecutions of the past actually bring dishonor to the Mormon pioneers who truly suffered. Considering what some of the early Mormons went through, I am sure they would view with contempt a modern Mormon who whines about being “persecuted” simply because someone challenged their faith.
Thankfully, some Mormon thinkers disagree with fellow members and have chosen to refrain from using this unnecessary language. They recognize that even though some folks have sharp theological disagreements with Mormonism, their purpose is not at all to bring harm to the LDS people. “Anti-Mormon” is an overused moniker that needed to be jettisoned long ago, and I call on every Mormon to bury their own “N-word,” once and for all.
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In post 75 you used two articles, separated by a line in your reference authors article.
You omitted the separation and the only reference stated in both articles was from the Comprehensive History of the Church, making it look like both parts of what you were talking about came from the ‘Comprehensive History of the Church’.
Even though you did provide the link to your reference author, this was Misleading on your part.
In your reference author's article, I find no reference to where the part that starts with “DR. SAMSON AVARD ,DANITE LEADER TESTIMONY” comes from. It was not from the reference used above it, the reference to the partial article from the ‘Comprehensive History of the Church’. The next page starts a new article.
On top of that, your reference author was very careful to give the references from all the different Church sources in all the other articles on the same page. With that kind of attention to detail, he must have not wanted the reader to know that the final article on the page was not from a Church publication.
Either your reference author is very sloppy and should not be counted on to find you the truth, or he has decided to misguide you by leaving out important information and references that you need and should have (he may not even know he is doing it).
By finding a reference that his unreferenced article could have come from, you show that you can find the rest of the truth, and since you have said, “What...you expect a pro-mormon post from me? Get real!”, indicates to me that you have decided that you have no openness to the idea that there might be truths out there that will cause you to change you conclusions.
So providing a full account is a ‘whitewash’. Thanks for admiting his innocence in your own back-handed way.
Hardly!
Definitions of whitewash on the Web:
Of course, you mormons are going to present "fair and impartial facts about Joseph Smith....sure....!
You could start by presenting facts from sources other than the ones sponsored and approved by the mormon church...like court records, etc....but, I'm sure you don't care to be bothered, as you say.
If you find what I posted misleading..then POST THE CORRECT (according to you) version.
If you want folks to "change their conclusions", give them something to appreciate..not accusations and complaints about what YOU think the motivations of an author may be...that's gotta be mind-reading to the extreme!
Try putting some facts out there in rebuttal for a change!
Ohhh...the IRONY! LOL.
Again you prove how apt your screen name is.
And that is not just me...
And I see the fact that “the church” has so called “prospered so well” is because millions in mandatory “tithes” etc go into the morg coffers every year and little comes out...
1. Churches dont sell tickets to attend religious events in their buildings...but the mormon general authorities in SLC do...
2. Churches dont demand that their members pay 10% of their (gross) income before they get any kind of psuedo “help” or “minitsry” ...but the mormon general authorities in SLC do...
3. Churches dont call press conferences if they do some little “thing” in an area that has already been overworked with the “silent help” of Christians...but the mormon general authorities in SLC do...
4. Christians dont empty out their stocks of food that have gone past their shelve life and give it to people who dont believe as they do and then claim a big tax deduction, and broadcast how “benevolent” they are...but the mormons do and the mormon general authorities in SLC do...
5. Christians dont misuse the tithes and offerings oof the people in business ventures and $2 million malls which are not intended to benefit the members who gave the money...but the mormon general authorities in SLC do...
6. Christians dont go into third world countries and con the poor people into giving to build monstrosities, claiming that they will go to a “celestial kingdom” if they do and then ignore the same people and refuse to help them...but the mormon general authoritieses in SLC do...
Oh, yes it’s quite easy to see the facts as to why “the church” has so called “prospered so well”
When are you going to quit following Joseph Smith and try to find the REAL Jesus, not the made-up one that exists only in mormon doctrine, so that you can follow Him?
I’m not going to take the time to try and make sense out of your complaint.
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normal, you might have to learn something you do not want to know.
So mormonism’s “hounds for hire” are now screaming that Joe Smith is “innocent” ????
Well, gollies...
*YAWN*
Normal..your complaints are nonsensical.
your complaints are nonsensical.
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Only if you do not want to learn that you might need to form some new conclusions.
President Faust turned the ceremonial first shovelful of earth during the groundbreaking ceremony. After, he invited a young girl and boy to come help him with the digging. They not only came forward and assisted him, but the little girl also waited for him the next day at the Campinas regional conference to give him a hug of appreciation.
He emphasized the need to sacrifice for temple building and shared how members in Argentina found ways to donate during the construction of the São Paulo Brazil Temple. They gave the gold from their dental work to help pay for the temple. He said that he had purchased some of the gold fillings for more than the market price to share with congregations the nature of the sacrifice made by these members (Church News, 9 May 1998).
I guess we are supposed to be impressed at the sacrifice by the peasants. And the mall is costing 2 BILLION, not million.
Well if you want to be a god, you gotta pay to play.
Are you again teaching that you have no responsibility to return to God’s presence?
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You first Resty...
Which is your choice ????
Huh?
Gee just because II chooses to see things different than you that is a reason to go after him?
When are you going to quit following Joseph Smith and try to find the REAL Jesus, not the made-up one that exists only in mormon doctrine, so that you can follow Him?
So I take it that you are committed to opposing the teachings of Jesus Sermon on the Mount.
Contention is not of the Lord greyfoxx39
1 Cor 2
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
James 3
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace
Well news break greyfoxx39 striving to follow the Lord's Sermon on the Mount is the real Jesus!
For a fact, speaking out against the Mormon doctrines is hardly attacking a Mormon. There are some of us that find that such things as Smith’s Biblical revision AND the LDS justification, perpetuation of it offensive.
If Mormons be thin skinned about Joseph Smith that’s their problem, The LDS church has elevated him to god-like status, let them defend him and his teachings.
What you posted is not accurate Tennessee Nana, but that should not matter to those whos only purpose is to drops stink bombs even if it is disinformation.
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