Tal on Youtube

[_asbestosman]

I guess I was just smart enough to understand that they never intended to follow someone who may order evil things like MASS murder.

And I guess all those heroic stories about those were killed for the gospel, and also, those who were willing to kill for the gospel, you never knew about either, right? (You can start with Abraham and go on from there...).

I guess I was just bright enough to understand the story of Abraham was unique and a type or shadow. What other stories you allude to I do not know.

You mean like the slaughter of the Amalekites?

Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

More from: theevilbible--not that I agree with the site's purpose. I'm just saying that atrocities in the Old Testament are plentiful. Now maybe there's something about context, but I'm not one to think that killing nursing infants is justifiable at least not in today's society--not ever justifiable even IF God commands it. I figure God's powerful enough to do all this divine assassin work Himself and doesn't need me to do it. He seemed perfectly capable of destroying the priests of Baal, Sodom and Gomorrah, and even the Noah thing all by Himself. Just sayin'.

[_Polygamy Porter]

I believe it does.

SInce you did not serve I will discount your opinion on this.

A very common question that I was asked by both friends as well as seminary and church teachers was "If someone put a gun to your head and asked if you were a Mormon, and told you if you said yes they would kill you, how would you answer?"

Anything short of "I would proudly tell him that I am a Mormon!!" was not acceptable.

While I never ever have a had a church teacher ask this the concept is quite different from becoming a suicide bomber.

I did serve a mission. In Boise Idaho. Pretty lame and tame.

[_Jason Bourne]

I did serve a mission. In Boise Idaho. Pretty lame and tame

My apologies PP. I though you had not served a mission.

[_Jason Bourne]

I didn't think the comment made him look stupid.

We disagree then

The comment was shocking but he made a good point. The indoctrination and extreme conditions these young boys go through on their missions (third world countries esp.) could easily create that level of devotion.

Devotion, dedication, obedience to reasonabel expectations, working hard, and so on are a far cry from suicide bombing.

I have heard that in the MTC the young men were made to feel so unworthy and guilty that they would go running to confess the silliest transgressions.

I never heard this or experienced it.

When returning from their missions, they go through more culture shock than when they entered the third world country. Haivng lived such a structured life of obedience and loyalty to the church, it is harder for them to enter the real world again than to leave it.

That may be true. I did not serve in a third world country so I cannot opine. Though those I know that did seemed to adjust quite fine.

The fanaticism that religion breeds seems to be more prevelant in faiths that claim to be "true."

I knoweof very few religions that don't claim to be true.

When I read some portions of my DH's missionary journal, I was struck at the level of devotion and his infallible beliefs in the church.
I don't know if he would have obeyed a command from the mission pres. or Prophet to blow himself up, but he certainly would have given his life for the church.

Giving ones life for a cause one believes in is quite a different concept then blowing ones self up and taking innocents with them.

Tal's example strikes a nerve because deep down I believe Mormons can see the parallels between Islamic fanatics and Mormonism.

Yes fanaticism can exist in any religion.

Mormons covenant to give their life and avenge the blood of the Prophet,

They do? Where?

penalties/signs to disembowel and slit ones throat, blood atonement doctrine,

Not anymore they don't.

MMM, polyandry/polygny, etc. are all examples of the harm having the 'true" religion can cause and the level of devotion to the church LDS are willing to accept as Godly.


Why would blowing up oneself be any different?

If you do not see te difference I cannot help you.