Bigotry against Mormons apparently acceptable in Utah LDS (OPEN)

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | March 20, 2009

[greyfoxx39]

Here is the response of a Utahn commenting on a Salt Lake Tribune online blog concerning HBO's attempt in its series "Big Love" to increase its revenues by publicly insulting the religious sensitivity of a minority religion: "Anything that gets the LDS "church's magical Mormon underwear in a twist is all right with me!!"

I write for a regional newspaper in Iowa. During the last election campaign, I suggested that Mitt Romney lost the Iowa caucus to Mike Huckabee primarily due to anti-Mormon bigotry. A reader argued that my opinion had no credence because I was a lay leader in the LDS Church.

The writer was either suggesting that I knew exactly what I was talking about and was therefore credible, or that I shouldn't be believed because I was a Mormon, which implies that the writer was a bigot.

-SNIP-

It is obvious to an outsider that Utah, or at least Salt Lake City, has within itself a deeply held culture of bigotry. A bigotry so ingrained in the cultural norm that the readers posting comments to the newspaper's blogs, apparently believing they are freethinking and ironic, are saying things online that would never be allowed into print if written about other groups.

[dangus]

>> Many of us see the cross as celebrating the pain that Jesus suffered instead of celebrating the Atonement He achieved. <<

Yes, actually, the reason Catholics (for example) put crosses above the altar is that the atonement of Christ was not achieved by his resurrection, but by his suffering and death.

[reaganaut]

>> Many of us see the cross as celebrating the pain that Jesus suffered instead of celebrating the Atonement He achieved. <<

Yes, actually, the reason Catholics (for example) put crosses above the altar is that the atonement of Christ was not achieved by his resurrection, but by his suffering and death.

---

I agree that the atonement was achieved by Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. That is why I wear a cross.

The LDS do not believe that. They dismiss the cross as only a necessary thing, something that is/was distasteful. That is why they do not use crosses/crucifixes.

As a Catholic, you certainly do not find the Cross of Christ to be distasteful.

[fproy2222]

Fred, I want to say this gently. Your idea isn’t found in the passage I quoted.

++++++++++

What you quoted is posted, with the contextual verses, on my post to you.

We disagree, now it is time to let others see for themselves.

[fproy2222]

Yes, actually, the reason Catholics (for example) put crosses above the altar is that the atonement of Christ was not achieved by his resurrection, but by his suffering and death.

++

We are all celebrating the Atonement, we just use different symbles to help us remember what Christ did for us.

We are raised from the dead because of His Atoning work.

[fproy2222]

Its ironic really until just recently every ldser I meet bristled at being called a Christian. Yet, now they clamor for the title.

++++++++

I can remember preferring not to be called by the name of a different branch of Christianity, but I do not remember opposing the idea of be called a Christian.

We are Christian, even though we are not Catholic or Prodisdent.

[greyfoxx39]

The LDS do not believe that. They dismiss the cross as only a necessary thing, something that is/was distasteful. That is why they do not use crosses/crucifixes.

"They dismiss the cross as only a necessary thing, something that is/was distasteful.....AND a "Christian" symbol.

It is interesting that the split personality of mormon belief is illustrated this way: For over 100 years, mormons have been prideful that they were a "peculiar people", definitely "set apart" because THEY and they alone had the "restored gospel", and those "Christians" belonged to sects that all derived from the "abominable" Catholic church.

I heard the "exclusivity" theme "we aren't like THEM" over and over again in "talks" (even the reference to sermons had to be different from that used by Christian churches) in mormon chapels and conferences.

So, fast forward. NOW, that attitude of removing itself from the general Christian community has gone by the wayside...BUT...the mormon church still clings to vestiges of the original teachings that keep them far outside the Christian beliefs, disdain for the Cross, for one, claiming the only "authority" valid for performing baptisms and marriages, claiming "the Great Apostasy", etc.

The mormon church demands to be included in the general Christian community while holding itself above and superior to, all other Christian sects.

I posted an earlier article regarding an interesting development, CHRISTIANITY DEFINED - (LDS Site Defining Christianity) in which not only the mormon church does not adjust to Christian mores, but some of its adherents are trying to shape Christian belief to suit the mormon agenda.

The choice of the mormon church to see the Atonement in Gethsemane rather than on Calgary is just another wedge in the width of the chasm between mormonism and Christianity.

As for me, I choose the Cross.

[Zakeet]

Have you ever seen the way so many LDS actually CRINGE at the sight of a cross?

Q. Do you know why Mormon Temples don't have crosses?

A. For the same reason Buddhist Temples don't have crosses.

Simple.

[Colofornian]

The choice of the mormon church to see the Atonement in Gethsemane rather than on Calgary is just another wedge in the width of the chasm between mormonism and Christianity.

As I said on another thread last week, Jesus didn't say "Pick up your garden and follow me."

Maybe 'twas appropo that Marie Osmond's early hit as a teen was "Paper Roses." The Mormons have a "Paper cross" in their symbol of atonement -- a "Rose Garden" they think provides their pathway to godhood. Sweat hard enough and you'll become another pull-yourself-up bootstraps god. But, "I beg your pardon...I [God] never promised you a rose garden."

He promised us a cross. An instrument of death.

[reaganaut]

Here is the ‘Money quote; — We are raised from the dead because of His Atoning work.

---

That is a good statement of the LDS view of the atonement.

HOWEVER it is wrong.

We are not raised from the dead because of the atonement. We are SAVED FROM HELL WHICH WE DESERVE DUE TO OUR SINS because of the Atonement of Christ Jesus.

[narses]

+

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[Old Mountain man]

Don’t cringe at the sight of a cross. Don’t particularly want one hanging on my wall. Don’t particularly want a noose, a chopping block, an executioner’s sword, a guillotine or any other execution device hanging on my wall. I don’t worship the cross, I worship God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The cross is a burden and not a thing of beauty.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Zakeet,
you have pointed out the elephant in the Temple - mormons and new agers and scientologists and Hindus, etc. don’t wear crosses for the same bottom line reason.

It is simple.

ampu

[fproy2222]

We are not raised from the dead because of the atonement. We are SAVED FROM HELL WHICH WE DESERVE DUE TO OUR SINS because of the Atonement of Christ Jesus.

+++

So, by your thoughts, how are we raised from the dead?

[fproy2222]

Have you ever seen the way so many LDS actually CRINGE at the sight of a cross?

++++

No

[svcw]

I might as well be wearing garlic around my neck, considering the reaction.

[Old Mountain man]

Perhaps you should shower more often?

[svcw]

Clever.

[Old Mountain man]

We must not take ourselves too seriously. God loves a joyous people.

[colorcountry]

A bit of light-mindedness OMM.

The Saints are not to have idle thoughts, nor an excess of laughter, D&C 88: 69.

Cease from all your pride and light-mindedness, D&C 88: 121.

[Old Mountain man]

Go and sin no more.