[Elsie]

Because the essence of faith is that is not reasoned, and cannot be proven or disproven.

But FACTS can be disproven, and it will be the FACTS of MORMONism that will finally get thru to Beck (ask ANY ex-Mo on FR).

[Tax Government]

Elsie, I'm have a little trouble reconciling two kinds of comment you made. One is rather cheerful, celebrating the idea that religion should not divide conservatives. The other is a full-on, angry attempt to throw the early Mormon writings into the mix, when discussing Beck.

I think those hostile emotions will burn out quicker, if I don't try to fan them.

But consider this. One should not judge the body of Mormons who exist today by the writings of their religion's founders. Mormonism today is as much or more a social community than it is a spiritual body.

There is not likely to be a single guiltless religion, if one begins to count scriptures that condone or recount racial preferences and bloodletting in the name of God. The Bible, the Koran, and at least the Mormon writings you quoted describe unsavory human actions and attitudes.

So who is the guiltless party? I don't know. But individual Mormons don't deserve to be singled out. Not unless you personally are prepared to be singled out for your social and religious affiliation, because of something that was done by members or founders of your own religion in the past.

What I said about faith-held ideas not being subject to confirmation by reason still stands. It is, after all, a very Christian notion.