A Different God? Mitt Romney, the Religious Right, and the Mormon Question

And once again I’ll repeat, those who toss around the word “heresy” need to be watched closely.

How does ya like the words APOSTATE??

Or ABOMINABLE?

Or Whores of BABYLON?

And once again I’ll repeat, those who toss around the word “heresy” need to be watched closely.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

I’m merely standing up against you who have taken an obvious anti-Christian stand. You have made it your personal mission to critique anyone who questions the beliefs of mormonism, even though Christians are directed in the Bible to challenge contrary beliefs. You seem to have the same level of zeal in your beliefs as those who question mormonism.

Anyone who designates themself as the authority on religious debate needs to be watched closely.

With Two-60 air conditioning to boot!!! Sweet.

You don’t have to hang out around FR very long to realize that for many of the posters, it IS his being Mormon.

Since you imply that you have some unique discernment abilities, the distinction that I'm about to make should be easy for you to grasp.

My point was that many freepers REALLY despise Mormonism and Mormons.

To suggest that those who regularly post on the Mormon threads hate Mormons is a false accusation. We don't hate MormonS, we hate MormonISM. The difference is an institution as opposed to the people. Most of the regular posters in these threads are ex-Mormons and/or have many friends and family who are Mormon. Are you suggesting that they hate their own family and friends? What sense does it make to hate people who are deceived by an evil institution? Hating the victim is irrational.

Your teammate, sand lake bar, should read Proverbs 26:17. I know that he considers this nothing but the words of men but the wisdom is evident:

Whoever enters a quarrel not his own is like one who grabs a passing dog by the ears.

So extreme dislike for an institution doesn’t splash over onto those who aggressively support that organization? I don’t buy it.

That’s like saying you hate Communism, but have nothing but warm fuzzy feelings for individual Communists. At some point, doesn’t a supporter of an organization become responsible for what that organization stands for?

I have no doubt you are more than happy to accept ex-Mormons, or possibly even inactive church members, but active devout members who are trying to trick others into their false religion? You don’t despise them? Really? You have nothing against Joseph Smith or Brigham Young as persons, only against their doctrines?

Christians are called to love “our enemies”. We know that we have been greatly forgiven so we desire for all to know The Truth and be forgiven also. No Christian is excited that non-believers are on a path of destruction. Instead, we try to persuade others of their need for a true faith in Christ out of love.

Christians aren't trying to win debate points and humiliate mormons. Christians in threads like this attempt to point out that mormonism teaches doctrine that is incompatible with Christianity.

So extreme dislike for an institution doesn’t splash over onto those who aggressively support that organization? I don’t buy it.

Fortunately, your opinion doesn't establish truth.

That’s like saying you hate Communism, but have nothing but warm fuzzy feelings for individual Communists.

Not disliking someone is a long ways from "warm fuzzy feelings." I've personally known Eastern Europeans (before the fall of Iron Curtain) who were members of the Communist Party because they had been brainwashed their entire lives and membership was a cultural expectation. Why hate them because they had been deceived? Particularly, since their eyes were beginning to be opened.

At some point, doesn’t a supporter of an organization become responsible for what that organization stands for?

At some point, yes but they would be the small exception rather than the rule. However, even then, I might hate what they do but not them personally. With a few exceptions, I would still view them as victims of deception. As Ephesians 6:12 tells us the battle isn't with flesh and blood (Mormons) but with powers and principalities of darkness (Mormonism).

I have no doubt you are more than happy to accept ex-Mormons, or possibly even inactive church members, but active devout members who are trying to trick others into their false religion? You don’t despise them? Really? You have nothing against Joseph Smith or Brigham Young as persons, only against their doctrines?

Active and devout like BYU professors? I count several as personal friends and have since our days in the Ph.D program, years ago. One of my dissertation committee members was surprised to learn that I was an orthodox Christian and told me that the rest of the faculty assumed I was a Mormon because I was clean-cut and hung out with the Mormons. Because of my well-known opposition to Mormonism within this group, the Mormons thought that this story was hilarious.

With the case of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, I hate their actions and personally I believe they acted with evil intentions and were not just deceived. However, I can't say that for sure and God doesn't give us the right to hate them personally. We can hate their actions.