Dispelling the Anti-Mormon Myth

The Fledgling's Tale ^ | 7/31/13 | Jen

[colorcountry]

This goes out to all who have born the label “anti-Mormon.”

[daniel boob]

Sorry. I will continue to be “anti-Mormon”.

[daniel boob]

Sorry. I will continue to be “anti-Mormon”.

[colorcountry]

Good. Me too. I’ll wear the badge they put on me, until they finally see.

[SkyDancer]

I am not anti-Mormon. I an anti-Mormon theology.

[elcid1970]

Real question: The Mormons I have met are decent, well educated, intelligent, and neighbor-friendly, so how can such people believe in all the fantastical poppycock that the Book of Mormon is full of? Why are they so deceived?

[SZonian]

Instead of using more accurate terms or words like “church critic”, the word “anti-” is used as it relates to the mormons as a people, “anti-mormon”. That it is a personal prejudice. To draw parallels to many “anti-” [such as anti-semitism] pogroms from the past and currently.

It’s an incendiary word that is already loaded with negative connotations that arouses in people a reflexive response that is neither necessary or relevant, almost feral in nature.

To elicit a sympathy response from an outsider who may or may not understand what has actually been said in previous discussions, only reflexive outrage. “Propaganda”, “attacker”, “misrepresent”, “twist”, etc. all fall into the same category.

The obstinate and childish nature becomes evident when the poster is confronted. The projection begins, the revision of comments and quotes, the “lols”, etc. All in an attempt to present himself as above the “fray”, better than the opposition because he’s attempting to claim the moral high ground. That he’s just a “poor widdle mormon being persecuted by all those evil evangelicals”.

Attempts to ridicule, deride or malign are the typical response. The choice of words, sentence and comment construction are such that it projects to the reader that only he is noble, that all those who reject his premises are ignoble, are untrustworthy, not sincere. That is a tool of deceit. Deceit is the devil’s playground. Dancing right up to the edge of truth, yet never entering.

All one has to do is follow the trail of comments to see how the poster “responds” to the criticism of his beloved church. Doesn’t matter if the criticism is true or not. The only thing that matters is the source of said criticism. Mormons are NOT permitted by their authorities to question their church.

They have been warned and admonished. IF they choose to do so, they will find themselves before their bishop or a “court of love” to determine whether or not they are disfellowshipped or excommunicated.

So for any who think a TBM will constructively criticize the mormon church, think again. It ain’t gonna happen. But we need to pray for them. If this behavior is the last bastion a mormon has to fall back on, then it should be quite evident to any that they are most certainly led astray.

Here's a "comment" from a FReeper from some time back that I believe accurately reflects that attitude of most who insist on mischaracterizing those of us who are ex-mo's and challenge LDS doctrine..."The anti Mormons here have blood on their hands....... they are the scum left from the Mormon killers of old."

[Vigilanteman]

"Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt."

Do tell?

Some Catholics search the web and find doubt. So do some Protestants. Some married men search the web and find pornography. Some liberals search Free Republic and find doubt.

Others liberals find mindless attacks on one of a dwindling number of religious denominations who don't buy into the liberal agenda and find hope that the conservative movement is hopelessly divided quarreling over how many angels to stand on a pin and other theological minutia and press on with their godless agenda.

Sorry to interrupt. Now, go back to preaching to your worthless little faction.

[colorcountry]

Please refer to post #8.

Have a GREAT day!

:-D

[colorcountry]

Meant to ping you to this post #10.

[jimt]

Now, now. Don't detract from the ravings of the new THREE MINUTES' HATE poster. When they really get wound up in their bigotry you can tell because they foam at the mouth.

Another clue is when they make multipage posts in seconds, from pre-prepared rants.

[ejonesie22]

I am fine with Anti Mormon because the rational know two things, it is against the tenants and doctrine not the people and “Anti-Mormon” = “Pro-Truth”.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Anti-cult-of-every-kind-placemarker

[and greetings to SZ!]

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Ahhhh... another post that needs the WAAAAMBulance EMT

"Now, now. Don't detract from the ravings of the new THREE MINUTES' HATE poster. When they really get wound up in their bigotry you can tell because they foam at the mouth. Another clue is when they make multipage posts in seconds, from pre-prepared rants."

FIX:

"Now, now. Don't detract from the TRUTH posted about the cult of mormonism. When they really feel compassion toward those caught in mormonism, they spend time showing TRUTH. Another clue is when they save time by reposting answers to repeated mormon questions, or misunderstandings of God's Holy Scriptures."

[SZonian]

I note you only rush in to “defend” mormonism by using perjoratives and mischaracterizations of FReepers as your defense mechanism.

Is there any instance of “defending” Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Pagans, etc. in your record?

Doubtful, which goes to show your bigotry and hypocrisy is obviously focused only on those who challenge the doctrine and theology of mormonism, using a variation of the tactics described in the article.

Thanks for providing an example of what the author is talking about.

[colorcountry]

You are very angry at me then. Why? Is it perhaps fright?

[Colofornian]

Thanx for posting...

ALL: FYI: Also posted on FR this a.m.: Mormon apologetics group brings conference to Provo [Mormonism being 'disenchanted' on the 'net]

LOTS of school districts get started around the country in August...Time to get "educated" on the REAL MormonISM!

[Colofornian]

Real question: The Mormons I have met are decent, well educated, intelligent, and neighbor-friendly, so how can such people believe in all the fantastical poppycock that the Book of Mormon is full of? Why are they so deceived?

(a) Mom & Dad & other relatives trained them;
(b) Mormon leadership ingrains them thru cultic "blame games" aimed at apostates;
(c) overwhelming emphasis on "feelings" as determiner of truth...

Examples on (C):

From the Doctrine & Covenants "Student Manual" published by the Mormon church in 2000:

"Elder Boyd K. Packer described how the Spirit communicates: 'I have come to know that inspiration comes more as a FEELING than as a sound...'" (p. 378) [Packer's an "apostle"]

Reuben Clark was one of the top three hierarchical Mormons:

"...after praying to the Lord and FEELING inspired..." (p. 362)

p. 21 of the manual uses the word "feeling" or "felt" three times on p. 21...uses the word "burn" or "burning" three times (in relation to a "burning of the bosom")...

Altho Mormons place a high emphasis on education, much of Mormonism's "discernment" boils down to such sentimentalism...which leads to...

"'We can tell when the speakers are 'moved upon by the Holy Ghost' only when we, ourselves, are 'moved upon by the Holy Ghost.'" (Address delivered to seminary & institute of religion personnel July 7, 1954, as cited in the student manual, p. 144)

So there ya go. A kind of circular reasoning...well, "reasoning" isn't the right word here...circular "bosoming" perhaps...where just about anything can be constantly reinforced as "so"...

[elcid1970]

When the mishies were cruising me for conversion as I was on my way to Vietnam, one frequent expression was

“We know these things to be true.”

This was used to quell investigators’ doubts about

Nephites
Lamanites
Gold plates inscribed in `reformed Egyptian’
Book of Abraham
Umim & Thummim
Terrestrial/Celestial/Telestial Kingdoms
BoM books with names like Jarom, Omni, Mosiah, Ether, Alma, etc.