Jesus Wants Us To Be Rich

[_marg]

I've long wondered if Smith was a closet atheist. Has that thought occurred to anyone else?

You know what, I think you are right. His parents weren't religious, his grandparents weren't. I know one brother wasn't, don't know about other siblings, but it stands to reason if one is a con artist making up a religion the chances are that they appreciate it's all a con.

[_The Nehor]

I've long wondered if Smith was a closet atheist. Has that thought occurred to anyone else?

You know what, I think you are right. His parents weren't religious, his grandparents weren't. I know one brother wasn't, don't know about other siblings, but it stands to reason if one is a con artist making up a religion the chances are that they appreciate it's all a con.

Atheist conmen generally don't suffer imprisonment and martyrdom over their con.

[_marg]

Atheist conmen generally don't suffer imprisonment and martyrdom over their con.

I think you are wrong there Nehor, I bet you lots of atheist con men end up in prison. As far as martyrdom, you are probably right, not many atheists die as martyrs to some religious cause.

[_The Nehor]

Atheist conmen generally don't suffer imprisonment and martyrdom over their con.

I think you are wrong there Nehor, I bet you lots of atheist con men end up in prison. As far as martyrdom, you are probably right, not many atheists die as martyrs to some religious cause.

Yeah, they end up in prison but they don't voluntarily stay there if there is another way. If Joseph had renounced Mormonism while in Liberty Jail the Church would have collapsed within weeks and they would have let him go.

I also don't think ANYONE could pull off such an extended fraud without slipping. No one is that good. I think the argument that he was insane or a pious fraud are the only explanations.

[_marg]

Yeah, they end up in prison but they don't voluntarily stay there if there is another way.

Well perhaps some people would prefer prison than an alternate of having others after them.

If Joseph had renounced Mormonism while in Liberty Jail the Church would have collapsed within weeks and they would have let him go.

You are right I don't know the history here. Shame on me. Ray is right I must start studying this. How long was he in prison? Why would the prison let him go as long as he renounced Mormonism? Could you elaborate more please.

I also don't think ANYONE could pull off such an extended fraud without slipping. No one is that good.

Well how long did he pull off the fraud before getting shot? You know I don't think there is a rule for how long frauds can go on before being exposed.

I think the argument that he was insane or a pious fraud are the only explanations.

No he was not insane. And no he was not a pious fraud. And no he was not all that brilliant. Perhaps imaginative, persuasive, a quick learner, intelligent, an egotist, a sexy guy, who quickly latched on to a scheme that afforded him a career, at least something to make a living to support a family when little else was available to him. Good for him. Too bad for the smucks you can't figure it out.

[_bcspace]

Jesus wants us to be rich. He wants men to become Gods. Messages that pander to our baser desires always seem to really be aimed at filling the basest desires of the messenger.

Weary of religious con-artists,

You can't accept the Bible without accepting those doctrines:

1. Jesus wants us to be rich Luke 16:9-11
2. Jesus wants us to become Gods Philippians 2:5-6

The 'Become Gods" bit is Old Testament within this thread,

It's Old Testament as it was mentioned in the OP which I quoted directly as you can plainly see..