Every religion has lots of skeletons in the closet. Even yours if it’s old enough to be a religion. This kind of attack is despicable and without merit.
As for the issue here being eternal, I don’t see how that is justification for a mean spirited attack on a religion that has become more mainstream than many of the left leaning “Christian” churches.
I used the words veiled attack in deference to the author. Many of the comments that followed appear to be a blatant smear attack on behalf of some narrow minded hope for Ron Paul or Barack Obama.
This is exposure of mormonism pure and simple.
Exposure is not mean it is just exposure.
These exposures are not skeletons they are foundational to mormonism.
What exactly qualifies Mormonism as "mainstream?"
* It's practically non-existent in Asia.
* It's not there in most of Africa -- and barely discernible in other parts of Africa.
* In Brazil, the Mormons are literally asking the question of where are the almost 1 million missing members?
* In Sweden, the Mormon hierarchy has come up with a "Rescue Sweden" plan because many there -- including leaders -- are in apostasy.
* In America, Mormonism's "home-grown 'hot spot'" -- is still @ only 1.7% -- and only about 0.3% of Americans are temple Mormons. Many, many ex-Mormons and more on their way out...many others are "jack" (inactive) Lds. [See below asterisk line for links proving this]
So you're defending becoming a god--which is what Mormonism purports-- as "mainstream" "religion?" The New Age movement, which has been embraced by one of the Dem 2008 POTUS candidates Kucinich is much more "mainstream" than Mormonism...why don't you go to bat for the New Age cultists as well?
Wow! Just wow!
********************
Documentation of American Mormon exodus in process:
*Notes: Mormonism and the Internet [Duplicity/mixed messages cited; baptism-of-dead issue lingers]
* Survey on Mormon Disbelievers to be Released at UVU Forum [74% point to theological concerns]
* Why Mormons flee their church
* Number of faithful Mormons rapidly declining
* Mormons opening up in an Internet world [& Losing members accordingly]
* Special report -Mormonism besieged by the modern age [Lds church is hemorrhaging in member losses]
* See also 2010 posting: Why Mormons Leave Per study linked below -- a survey of over 3,000 Mormons -- the greatest reason Lds say they question their faith is theology (a full 74%).
(So much for those who portend that "theology" doesn't matter)
Per the survey results from over 3,000 Mormons seriously reviewing their faith --
--see released a survey for 26-page results!
-- Here are the top five "General Factors Contributing to Disbelief"...[this is found on page 8 chart of results]:
1. I ceased to believe in the church's doctrine/theology (74%)
2. I studied church history and lost my belief (70%)
3. I lost faith in Joseph Smith (70%) [my note: A very bad place to place & transfer faith toward to begin with!]
4. I lost faith in the Book of Mormon (65%)
5. I lost confidence in the general authorities (50%)
Two other factors within the Top 10 included:
* "I did not feel spiritually edified at church" (47%)
* and "Church's stance on race issues (blacks, native Americans, etc.)" (43%).
In contrast to the reasons Mormons & Mormon leaders often pin upon such disbelievers, only 4% said it was because they were offended by someone in the church and 4% also pinpointed "I wanted to engage in behaviors viewed as sinful by the church" [the very bottom reasons listed on the chart].
12% said they "received a spiritual witness to leave the church and go elsewhere"...Over 1/4 said they lost their faith in God/Jesus.