The top ten most evil acts perpetrated by the LDS Church

[_Simon Belmont]

I'll comment on a couple of yours.

A few of mine...

1. Emphasis on fear, motivation through fear, and basic fear mongering.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've felt no such fear, I've seen leaders exhibit no such "fear mongering."

4. Degradation of women.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

6. Focus on power, prestige, privilege, and wealth.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't know where you're getting this stuff from. The vast majority of Latter-day saints are not "Power[ful], prestig[ious], privileg[ed] or wealth[y]."

7. Teaching dependence on LDS leaders rather than listening to one's inner truth, internal guidance, and personal inspiration.

We emphasize personal revelation. To which church are you referring, here?

9. Requiring one give their gifts, talents, time, and money to the LDS church rather than giving to those in need.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Tithing, etc. is optional. The Church's welfare program is one of the best in the world -- and it's funded by members.

11. Emphasis on appearance.

I've seen no such emphasis.

12. Non-acceptance of individual differences, (single, gay, etc).

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[_sock puppet]

I'll comment on a couple of yours.

A few of mine...

1. Emphasis on fear, motivation through fear, and basic fear mongering.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've felt no such fear, I've seen leaders exhibit no such "fear mongering."

4. Degradation of women.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

6. Focus on power, prestige, privilege, and wealth.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't know where you're getting this stuff from. The vast majority of Latter-day saints are not "Power[ful], prestig[ious], privileg[ed] or wealth[y]."

7. Teaching dependence on LDS leaders rather than listening to one's inner truth, internal guidance, and personal inspiration.

We emphasize personal revelation. To which church are you referring, here?

9. Requiring one give their gifts, talents, time, and money to the LDS church rather than giving to those in need.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Tithing, etc. is optional. The Church's welfare program is one of the best in the world -- and it's funded by members.

11. Emphasis on appearance.

I've seen no such emphasis.

12. Non-acceptance of individual differences, (single, gay, etc).

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Simon, just a suggestion. Stop the mopologist-speak (i.e., "most assuredly"), and your post would read much better.

[_hugh jass]

n. Simon Belmont

[_harmony]

I'll comment on a couple of yours.

A few of mine...

1. Emphasis on fear, motivation through fear, and basic fear mongering.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've felt no such fear, I've seen leaders exhibit no such "fear mongering."

Sit through Relief Society for a change.

4. Degradation of women.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Relief Society, POTF, YW... try again.

6. Focus on power, prestige, privilege, and wealth.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't know where you're getting this stuff from. The vast majority of Latter-day saints are not "Power[ful], prestig[ious], privileg[ed] or wealth[y]."

Virtually all the leaders are, though. Even Packer, who was a lowly teacher until he became a GA.

7. Teaching dependence on LDS leaders rather than listening to one's inner truth, internal guidance, and personal inspiration.

We emphasize personal revelation. To which church are you referring, here?

And when personal revelation disagrees with the prophets... yeah, that's right. Personal revelation is worth diddly, unless the member is willing to ignore the prophet.

9. Requiring one give their gifts, talents, time, and money to the LDS church rather than giving to those in need.

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Try giving your tithes to a different charity, see how far that gets you in the TRI.

Tithing, etc. is optional. The Church's welfare program is one of the best in the world -- and it's funded by members.

Tithing is no more optional than taxes. Pay up or you're scum.

11. Emphasis on appearance.

I've seen no such emphasis.

White shirts, ties, suits or sport jacket, dresses, nylons, 1 earring, no tattoos or piercings, short hair on males... the list is endless.

12. Non-acceptance of individual differences, (single, gay, etc).

This, most assuredly, is not a teaching or practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Tell that to my gay neighbor. He was ex'ed, his sealing to his wife and 9 children cancelled. Freakin' try again, Simon!

[_Jonah]

2. teaching its members that they can resolve serious life issues through prayer and revelation

3. creating a system wherein even the poorest members who struggle to feed their families have to pay ten percent of their income to enter the most sacred LDS place

These are the two things that I was thinking of before I clicked on this thread. Telling people that emotion driven feelings are some sort of sign from god, or "feeling" the spirit of god. How many TBM's have lost all or a huge chunk of their nest egg after praying and receiving a "spiritual confirmation" that they should toss their cash into what turned out to be a scheme? I know I have several friends and relatives who have.

I have always told my kids to RUN from any organization that requires cash (tithing) in return for blessings (temple).

Another I would add, from seeing first-hand, is how the church leaders seemed to be more attentive to, and concerned for, a priesthood-holding-tithe-paying-bishopric-member-child-molesting-bastard than they were his victims. Amazing.

[_asbestosman]

Try giving your tithes to a different charity, see how far that gets you in the TRI.

1) A certain someone has a Temple Recommend.
2) Only people who pay tithes to the church get a Temple Recommend.
3) That someone pays tithing (1 and 2)

4) That someone criticizes tithing.
5) That someone pays money into something she criticizes (3 and 4)

What's going on here?

[_Morley]

Try giving your tithes to a different charity, see how far that gets you in the TRI.

1) A certain someone has a Temple Recommend.
2) Only people who pay tithes to the church get a Temple Recommend.
3) That someone pays tithing (1 and 2)

4) That someone criticizes tithing.
5) That someone pays money into something she criticizes (3 and 4)

What's going on here?

Um. You mean kinda like taxes. Right?

[_asbestosman]

Ok, I agree with this, the LDS church is no more evil than JP Morgan or Haliburton or Enron. Sometimes it commits acts that are problematic to its quarterly targets, or downright self-destructive, but it's goals are not evil in and of themselves.

I suppose that's true. I don't think their goals are evil. The problem with Enron, Haliburton, etc. is that their actions aren't simply self-destructive but cause pain to third parties who otherwise don't wish to be involved. Importantly, those third parties got share in the risks or problems, but they never got to share in the benefits. I'd say it crosses into evil when those risks to third parties are known but ignored because the personal benefits are far greater.

[_harmony]

Try giving your tithes to a different charity, see how far that gets you in the TRI.

1) A certain someone has a Temple Recommend.
2) Only people who pay tithes to the church get a Temple Recommend.
3) That someone pays tithing (1 and 2)

4) That someone criticizes tithing.
5) That someone pays money into something she criticizes (3 and 4)

What's going on here?

I criticize the government too, absman. Loudly. Vehemently. Relentlessly. They've never offered to ex me, though.

[_harmony]

Ok, I agree with this, the LDS church is no more evil than JP Morgan or Haliburton or Enron. Sometimes it commits acts that are problematic to its quarterly targets, or downright self-destructive, but it's goals are not evil in and of themselves.

I suppose that's true. I don't think their goals are evil. The problem with Enron, Haliburton, etc. is that their actions aren't simply self-destructive but cause pain to third parties who otherwise don't wish to be involved. Importantly, those third parties got share in the risks or problems, but they never got to share in the benefits. I'd say it crosses into evil when those risks to third parties are known but ignored because the personal benefits are far greater.

Greed, no matter where you find it, coupled with secrecy has the same result, no matter what the context.