Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Silencing Christian Critics of Mormonism
Mormon Research Ministry ^ | Jan 5, 2012 | Sharon Lindbloom

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?


TOPICS: Other Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: cutandpastehate; lds; mormon; mormonlds; wehatemormons
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 341-344 next last
To: FNU LNU
Of course, if Mormons aren’t willing to obey Smith by meeting their critics publicly, why should we believe in him either?

Hey!

They threw their GOD under the bus over polygamy!


Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriage...
I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws..."

~ Wilford Woodruff, 4th LDS President


41 posted on 01/06/2012 1:29:29 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla

I DID read the article. Did you not read the /sarc?


42 posted on 01/06/2012 1:45:15 PM PST by FNU LNU (Nothing runs like a Deere, nothing smells like a john)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head

Some of us have your back, my friend.


43 posted on 01/06/2012 1:51:37 PM PST by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head

Jeff, were you Born in the Covenant?


44 posted on 01/06/2012 2:24:00 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head; svcw

Jeff there is no denying the similarities betweein Islam and Mormonism, LDS leaders speak of it and glowingly.

There is also no denying the LDS history of changing, whitewashing and hiding their history and doctrines. Everyone who has left the Church admits it as do several current and active LDS members. The whole Mark Hoffman thing is great evidence of it and I have seen it first hand.

There is also no denying that LDS have tried to shut up the ‘antis’ for decades upon decades, lawsuits, death threats, censorship, etc. I can document that as well.

No one here have ever indicated that we want to (in your words) have the LDS listed as enemy combatants? Taken into government custody without trial? Perhaps sent to concentration camps and gassed? “ But there is indication that some of the LDS would want the same for us. LDS apologist and blogger Greg West, Mr “the Truth is not a Tactic” is one of them.

The TRUTH is a tactic. And we want the LDS to ‘come clean’ about things, admit their faults and stop the censorship - for starters.

It sounds well and good for you to say Jesus is your Savior, but we both know that the LDS mean something completely different than mainstream Christians. As far as free agency - that only goes so far. Many of us, many many of us, have experiences where we were coerced, even if we thought we were exercising our ‘agency’, by the LDS into doing things or behaving certain ways. The LDS, in practice, is guilty of following Lucifer’s “plan of Salvation” that the LDS propose - make everyone fall in line or else (shunning, death threats, loss of families/children, encouraging divorce, loss of Temple recommend, etc).

Regarding your statement “We should be coming together with like minded people who believe in the fundamental values that established this country...which are based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” again it SOUNDS good, but cannot be possible since according to Mormonism, the founding Fathers were apostates and the ‘gospel’ has yet to be restored.

I often wonder why you are still LDS. You are much smarter than that.


45 posted on 01/06/2012 2:41:58 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut; Jeff Head

Even J Smith trumpeted the similarities “I will be the next mohammad”.


46 posted on 01/06/2012 2:47:00 PM PST by svcw (For the new year: you better toughen up, if you are going to continue to be stupid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

Oh boo hoo! Those scawy, scawy Mormons.


47 posted on 01/06/2012 3:19:48 PM PST by Paxtothemaximum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragonblustar

Never heard that one before. Good comment...not.


48 posted on 01/06/2012 3:19:56 PM PST by Paxtothemaximum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dragonblustar

Ridiculous post and mean.


49 posted on 01/06/2012 3:20:05 PM PST by Paxtothemaximum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut

Ridiculous opinion posing as fact..


50 posted on 01/06/2012 3:20:44 PM PST by Paxtothemaximum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Paxtothemaximum; colorcountry; svcw; dragonblustar; Religion Moderator

Oh lookie here, we have a troll who signed up today just to NOT debate.

How about trying something new for the Mormons and actually DEFENDING their beliefs. Hmmm?


51 posted on 01/06/2012 3:26:56 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Paxtothemaximum

I can source my statements. Can you, troll?


52 posted on 01/06/2012 3:27:42 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla; Colofornian; Elsie; ejonesie22; Zakeet; pennyfarmer; annieokie; humblegunner; Vendome; ...

Hey guys, we got kitty chow over here!


53 posted on 01/06/2012 3:31:26 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Paxtothemaximum
Paxtothemaximum

Since Jan 6, 2012

Photobucket


54 posted on 01/06/2012 3:33:33 PM PST by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut; Paxtothemaximum

Oh, but Mormons are such nice, nice people, good neighbors, why would one of them troll this site?

< /sarcasm>

They really can’t stand us can they?


55 posted on 01/06/2012 3:33:58 PM PST by colorcountry (Comforting lies are not your friends. Painful truths are not your enemies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Paxtothemaximum
Ridiculous opinion posing as fact..

Saundra, is that you?

Photobucket

Photobucket

56 posted on 01/06/2012 3:37:04 PM PST by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

They can’t stand the truth. When I was LDS I would have sworn that Jerald and Sanrdra Tanner had horns and were agents of Satan, LOL.


57 posted on 01/06/2012 3:40:15 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: dragonblustar

I love the Kolob Zone graphic!


58 posted on 01/06/2012 3:41:47 PM PST by reaganaut (If Romney is a conservative then I'm the frickin Angel Moroni.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut; Paxtothemaximum; All

I for one would really like to thank you, P, for joining us here today on the Religion Forum on FreeRepublic. It has truly been enlightening to read your commentary on the virtuous aspects of mormonISM and the attempted silencing of Christians who expose mormonISM.
For addition insight into mormonISM I refer you to Battlestar Galactica (later version is better than the first)as it delves into the inner most workings of the ancient culture of mormonISM and its gods.
Thanks again for joining us.


59 posted on 01/06/2012 3:47:26 PM PST by svcw (For the new year: you better toughen up, if you are going to continue to be stupid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut

Thanks!


60 posted on 01/06/2012 3:50:10 PM PST by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 341-344 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson