Posted on 01/06/2012 8:46:23 AM PST by colorcountry
A crusade (of sorts) is moving across Facebook. It is targeting pages that are critical of Mormonism. Who the crusaders are is unknown, but it seems reasonable to suggest that they may be Latter-day Saints.
The crusade is aimed at silencing those who disagree with Mormonism. In a broad sense (and from the perspective of many Mormons), this has some biblical support:
“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15)
The Facebook crusader’s strategy, however, does not involve “doing good,” nor does it seek to expose what some Mormons would call “the ignorance of foolish people.” The Facebook crusade instead is employing oppressive tactics in order to have critical discussion shut down and/or removed from public view.
Though a bit more complicated than I’ll describe here, the program goes something like this: A site critical of Mormonism is identified by the crusaders; this group of people begin a flurry of reporting, flagging the page’s status updates, videos and comments as “hate speech”; Facebook’s automated response sends warnings to the page owners and Admins, removes flagged “offensive” content, and eventually disables (temporarily) the personal accounts of those who receive sufficient warnings.
Trying to look at things from a Mormon perspective, I can acknowledge how some things posted may be reasonably understood as offensive to a Mormon (e.g., a discussion about sex; namely, the physically sexual relationship between Heavenly Father and Mary. In fact, this Mormon teaching is offensive to me, too!). Due to “one or more reports,” Aaron received a Facebook warning at Christmastime related to his audio series on the Virgin Birth:
But most of the things that have been flagged in this crusade (that I am aware of) reflect mere disagreements between Christians and Mormons regarding spiritual issues. For example, this (subsequently flagged) Facebook comment was posted on December 9, 2011 as part of an ongoing conversation:
“God has provided these tools to validate His truth. While there is an element of faith, I’d say that faith is based on things that are unseen, BUT NOT PROVEN false. Science and history have definitively proved the Book of Mormon not to be [of] God. The Bible holds its own.”
Two more examples, these removed by Facebook:
“Which Jesus, Elizabeth? The created brother of satan or the Un-Creator of all things? God?”
“oh! but one last thing Bobbi…how did you check to make sure that the answer to your prayer was truth?”
According to Facebook policy, the use of a person’s name in comments, even in a response to a comment that person may have previously posted, can be construed as “harassment.” That explains Facebook deleting some of the comments, but it does not explain the initial reporting of these conversational comments. Only a crusade designed to itself harass and silence Mormonism’s critics makes sense.
On December 26th a Christian friend received a warning from Facebook for posting a link to Aaron’s video project, God Never Sinned – Do Mormons Agree? Facebook removed the entire post and threatened the owner of the page with possible loss of his Facebook account. Facebook stated that the video link had been reported, and anything that is “hateful, threatening, or obscene” is not allowed. Yet the God Never Sinned video consists entirely of Mormons responding to a question that clarifies their own individual beliefs. Why flag that as hateful?
All of this sounds a bit un-American, or at least unlike the America envisioned by her Founding Fathers, who placed a premium on freedom of speech and the lively, open exchange of ideas. In fact, as others have noted elsewhere, these crusaders on Facebook seem to be following in the footsteps of Mormonism’s founder. When Joseph Smith was confronted with dissident voices in Nauvoo, Illinois, rather than answer them, he did his best to silence them by destroying the newspaper and press that gave the critics a platform.
Yet another aspect of this crusade is equally troubling. Assuming that the crusaders are Mormons, it must be noted that Mormons expend a lot of energy trying to convince the world that they are Christians (that is, followers of Jesus Christ). But their disregard for biblical teaching regarding how to deal with critics demonstrates a different spirit.
The Bible, recognized by Christians to be the very Word of God, does not tell followers of Christ to silence critics by taking away their voices.
The Bible tells us of the benefits of a “soft answer.” It proclaims, “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” It teaches that the righteous think about how to answer, as opposed to the evil responses of the wicked (Proverbs 15:1, 23, 28)
The apostle Paul talks about “persuading” people of the truth while being “able to answer those” who are mistaken in their spiritual focus. He says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-12; Colossians 4:6)
And, of course, there are the familiar instructions for God’s people to “contend” for the faith, be ready to “give a defense” of that faith, while “patiently enduring evil, correcting [spiritual] opponents.” (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26)
Christians are not supposed to bully those who disagree with them by forcing them into silence. Christians are supposed to answer the objections and persuade opponents by speaking the truth, hoping that the lost and deceived will “come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.”
This is what the Christians on Facebook (and here on Mormon Coffee) are endeavoring to do. What, then, is the aim of the crusaders?
Exactly.
BTTT
Well done.
Can you show us what hate?
Can you provide a source outside SLC lds that says they are the fastest growing religious group in America?
Can you provide a souse that mormons are as conservative as you appear to beleive?
Sometimes people state what you have stated based on what the SLC lds PR machine put out rather than what is actually going on. Just saying.
Who is your candidate?
Well said.
Santorum, Perry and Newt, in that order. Originally I was for Sarah...then Cain. But those three are splitting our conservative vote and until that gets rectified and one or two of them drop out, they are enabling Romney.
If it comes down to it, I will vote for Romney over Obama...if he is the nominee. Romney is a consumate politiician, He will do well on economic issues...but otherwise he says whatever he thinks needs to be said for the particular office he is running for. He is saying a lot of good things now, but if elected we would have to have a strong, Tea Party House and Senate to hold him in line IMHO.
Having said that, he would be better than the out and out marxist Obama IMHO. But Romney is only a vote of last resort for me. Some will not vote for him under any circumstances and I can understand that...we did the same with McCain and it did not help. I simply cannot either by not voting, or going third party, do anything to help elect this avid marxist enemy to remain in power.
What we really need is a strong conservative and in order for that to happen one of those three has to get one on one with Romney so the vote is not split. The sooner the better. Any one of those three is far preferable to me that Mitt.
Ah, joining right in with the danites today eh. Wanna knock over a few Nauvoo Expositors while you are at it.
Jeff, I think you are a very sincere person based on your post, actually one of the few lds that try and defend their belief.
However, having said that, mormonSIM is not based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is solely based on Joesph Smith.
The Biblical Christ is eternal.
The lds chirst is a progressed created being.
The Biblical God is eternal.
The lds gods are progressed beings, one rising to the top.
The Biblical Christ paid the entire price on the Cross, it is Salvation giving by Grace.
The Biblical Christ is sufficient.
The lds christ paid a partial price in the garden and it is up to lds to finish the work.
The lds christ is not sufficient, IE after all I can do.
I am sure you have seen the Biblical differences between the Biblical Christ and the lds christ.
Sorry, Jeff, mormonISM is not Christianity.
When you say you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, what I wonder which Christ.
When you state that lds have free agency, I wonder what you mean by that.
When my SIlaw preached for the first time I asked my lds uncle and aunt (he was a former bishop) to join us for this event. He said he would call back and let me know. When he called he said, “our bishop said we would not be able to attend.” That Jeff is hardly free.
The agency may not be as free as you think.
As to the Christ I worship, you can read my witness for Christ,HERE, on my site
Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Ghost. Taken to Egypt as a babe when Joseph was warned to escape Herrod's murderous rampage. Returned to Judea and taught as a young child in the Temple to the astonishment of the Priests there. Grew up in Nazareth with Joseeph the carpenter and Mary. Performed his first miracle (at least as recorded) by turning water to wine at the wedding. Performed his ministry, healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, casting out evil spirits, raising the dead...and preaching the Gospel, that He was the Son of God and the Redeemer. Unjustly tried and sentenced to death. Suffered in the Garden and died on the Cross whose blood has atoned for all of our sins...if we will but accept Him as our perosnal Savior. Rose from the dead the third dead in a glorious resurrection which broke the bonds of physical death for us all. Ascended to sit on the right hand of God, as the martyr Stephen testified and who will return to this eartyh to rule as Savior and King for the Millennium.
That is the Christ I worship and who has saved me and atoned for my sins. There is only one historic or doctrinal individual that that applies to and He is my Savior.
We have difference...very clear ones on interpretations on what Heaven is going to be like, and the nature of the Godhead (or trinity), etc....but the key and kernal issue is that Jesus Christ saves and that is what I believe, teach, and have been convicted in my heart despite whatever other differences.
I am glad you have faith in and believe in Jesus Christ and God bless you and yours for it. It is the coming together of all of us who believe these things and the moral underpinnings for them which He taught which keeps America free.
My point was simple...do not paint with a broad brush and depict me or mine as anything like Islam and the tyranny and deniers of Christ that that religion represents at its core because it is simoply not true.
Sorry for the length and the rant.
God's speed.
I find it extremely difficult to believe that Mormons would be stifling examination of their claims that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. In Doctrine and Covenants 71.7, Smith wrote:
“Wherefore, confound your enemies: call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.”
If Mormons, instead of stifling critical discussion of Smith’s claims, obeyed Smith’s teaching here, they would be doing something honorable, like Luke and Apollos in Ac. 18.28, “powerfully confuting the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
Of course, if Mormons aren’t willing to obey Smith by meeting their critics publicly, why should we believe in him either?
/sarc
Did you read the article? It provides citations from mormons who are involved. I've researched back through facebook and saw them. They are also bragging offsite on other blogs. Believe.
One must wonder just what will happen if mormon becomes president - just embolden them more to silence critics.
No, I don’t have an argument with in regards to finding another church, etc.
What I do have a problem with is the “conservatives” you are defending(?) who are actively engaged in silencing and censoring critics of mormon doctrine and theology solely because they don’t like it.
That’s not conservatism in anyway shape or form. It defies the argument you presented about how they live their lives and vote.
I just HATE when that happens; and is EXPOSED for all to see!
The
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 71
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. HC 1: 238–239. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.
1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, Enemies of the saints shall be confounded.
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.
2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.
3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.
4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.
5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;
6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.
7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.
8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.
11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.
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