#1...the MAIN thrust of this thread was not addressing your anecdotal experiences with "all Mormons." 'Twas focusing on Lds missionaries -- and those who lead them...including the Lds branch president in Alaska I highlighted in post #185.
You responded to post #185 in post #198 -- but how interesting of a weaselly evasive response in not addressing the primary evidence on this entire thread that the Lds missionary enterprise is tattered with misleading lies conveyed to the public.
Here, we had an Alaska Lds branch president talking about Lds missionaries in their area -- and he claimed their missionaries went against their entire training & orientation and supposedly had "NO INTEREST" in proselytizing religious people in his town.
Religious people are proselytized by Mormon missionaries the world over. In Central and South America, where nominal RC catholic membership can still be as high as in the 90+% percentile in many cities...they are indeed "religious" -- if not zealous in that religiosity...yet it's never stopped Lds missionaries from proselytizing them.
The Alaska branch prez also apparently didn't clarify -- as he was explaining supposedly why they weren't interested in proseltyzing -- that the "major component" of why those missionaries were there was per Lds missionary rules limited to four hours per week! Even if his interview w/the journalist was "technically" correct (by mentioning elderly Lds missionaries), you can be "technically" correct and still purposely mislead.
- I have never caught a Mormon in a lie. Ever. - No Mormon has ever cheated or stolen from me...I have never regretted doing business with a Mormon. [sitetest]
Wow! You know. Lds members have fleeced over $1.4 billion from fellow Mormons the past few years alone! Guess what? They initially didn't regret "doing business" with them, either!!!
Source: Mormons Now Losing Billions to Affinity Fraud
Now I'm not a Calvinist that you lambasted based upon a few encounters with them...but tell us...do you think Calvinists have launched at least $1.4 billion worth of fraud schemes vs. fellow Calvinists & other Christians the past two years?
Somehow I sense you live a sheltered MSM reading life when it comes to religious-based affinity fraud. (I just hope there's not a malfunction over'site' test @ ground zero goin' on)
Here below are just a baker's dozen articles in a 16 1/2-month span on the "problem" of Lds affinity scams upon fellow Lds victims (March 2009-->early May, 2010)...then the media. If you only have time to click on one article...read the first...be sure to read the comments of FBI special agent Cameron Saxey (who is Lds)...the article mentions how the Utah jurisdictional Securities Fraud Task Force was working on 100+ cases...meaning that $1.4 billion total doesn't tell it all!
BTW...I went to absolutely no major effort or had to do any "days of pouring over" the internet to strain these to the surface. Just about all of them were delivered right into my e-mail lap...meaning I wonder what more I'd find if I really dug deeper!
JOHN L. SMITH: Thieves in the temple: How 'affinity fraud' hurts LDS church members
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sept. 12, 2010
Local political gadfly arrested for exploiting elderly woman
Source: Provo Daily Herald, May 4, 2010
Preying on the faithful: Though Mormons often victims, LDS church skips fraud-prevention event
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, May 2, 2010
Kaneohe swindler is sentenced
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 6, 2010
Investors with troubled firm have Mormon ties
Source: Austin American Statesman, Jan. 16, 2010
Man Who Defrauded Fellow Church Goer Pleads Guilty
Source: www.connect2utah.com (KUTV) Jan. 7, 2010
Lindon Man Accused of Trying to Kill Witnesses to Alleged Scam
Source: MidUtahRadio.com, Nov. 19, 2009
KSL 5 News investigates affinity fraud
Source: KSL.com Nov. 9, 2009
Mormon victims are caught up in $50M scam to sell gold bullion
Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 18, 2009
LDS Church returned $200K in Southwick Tithing
Source: AP, Sept. 14, 2009
Merriman's church donations may be tained [Momon Ponzi schemer's tithe monies ill-gotten?]
Source: Denver Post, April 24, 2009
Man Who Defrauded Fellow Church Goer Pleads Guilty
Source: Fox News, April 8, 2009
Calif. Man Charged with $40 million Ponzi scheme
Source: AP, March 20, 2009
When you think of of 13 M millions plus members that there are no bad apples is being unrealistic yet that does not stop Colofornian from being unreasonable.
Jesus said he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Affinity Fraud (prey upon members of identifiable groups such as LDS)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2626006/posts