Double Standard--Question for Will, et. al. from MAD

[_beastie]

The church is more like a hospital to help people get better than a sanctuary for the holy. Just because hospitals have lots of sick people doesn't mean they're ineffective.

Here's an analogy to demonstrate why it does mean it's ineffective.

There are two hospitals in a particular city, hospital X and hospital Y. Both hospitals pull from the same population, and have the same number of patients, and similar ailments. The only difference between hospital X and hospital Y is that hospital X claims to have concocted a treatment that will cure these ailments and produce overall good health, as well as heightened intelligence. Let's call it "treatment Holy Ghost". Hospital Y makes no such claim, and just uses normal medical care.

So if the patients in hospital X actually do not demonstrate a superior cure rate, better overall health, and heightened intelligence as compared to the patients in hospital Y, is it not fair to say that the "treatment Holy Ghost" is ineffective?

Mormons can't have this both ways, although they consistently try to. Either the constant companionship of the HG makes a difference or it does not. If it doesn't make a difference, then, no, we can't judge the church by the members, and it's a hospital like any other. If the constant companionship of the HG makes a difference, then we can judge the church by its members, and its members ought to demonstrate superior moral and even intellectual behavior.

Conclusion: the constant companionship of the HG makes no difference. Any benefits of belief in Mormonism can also be obtained from membership with any other social organization.

[_antishock8]

Nehor -

The point isn't that exmormons are better than Mormons. The point is that the "gift of the Holy Ghost" and the "power of the gospel" are generally ineffective. People are people. Even those who think they're really gods in embryo.

It's just stunning, I tells ya, that Mormons somehow are unable to admit that they themselves have created a higher standard, claim to be striving for it, and then whine when they're held to the standard they think everyone should live. They want to claim a higher way, then don't live up to it, and then bash people for daring to suggest they have a higher standard that they themselves have set. Hypocrites, anyone?

My kind of ex-Mormon:

1) Rejects your notions of etiquette. They're ridiculous.

2) Doesn't care for your false pleasantries, two-faced dealings, and pathological lying.

3) Recognizes the need for direct, simple, and honest exchange.

4) Understands no one is perfect, and doesn't care if anyone isn't as long as they're not #2.

[_The Nehor]

Nehor -

The point isn't that exmormons are better than Mormons. The point is that the "gift of the Holy Ghost" and the "power of the gospel" are generally ineffective. People are people. Even those who think they're really gods in embryo.

I disrespectfully disagree.

[_beastie]

I disrespectfully disagree.

Of course you do. In fact, your own behavior on this board is a testament to the truth of my words.

[_Chap]

Nehor -

The point isn't that exmormons are better than Mormons. The point is that the "gift of the Holy Ghost" and the "power of the gospel" are generally ineffective. People are people. Even those who think they're really gods in embryo.

I disrespectfully disagree.

Sceptics will of course watch the TBM posters on this board carefully for any consistent evidence of the Holy Ghost making them better people than non-TBMs.

Nothing very impressive has been evident so far, I must say.

[_The Nehor]

I disrespectfully disagree.

Of course you do. In fact, your own behavior on this board is a testament to the truth of my words.

I disrespectfully disagree.

[_beastie]

I disrespectfully disagree.

Somebody wake me up when it's over.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Other than your predictable unctuousness, I appreciate the response.

I don't appreciate the unexpected and undeserved insulting smugness of your response.

I'm not sure why you feel such an urge to make this personal. I expect such things from certain others here, of course, but, until relatively recently, didn't expect it from you.

[_William Schryver]

DCP:

I don't know anybody else associated with FARMS who pays any attention to this board. Very few even know it exists.

And who could blame them? This board, notwithstanding my sick attraction to come here, is insignificant.

Nevertheless, I do know a couple people associated with FARMS who occasionally pay attention to what goes on here – for the entertainment value alone. And … well … let’s just say that they are amused by some of the things they read.

… potty humor and crude sexual references aren't my style. (In case anybody has managed not to notice that.)

Nor mine. I prefer much more sophisticated fare.

I'm not a fan of crude sexual jokes and bathroom humor and I don't typically follow exchanges where I can see that that's the direction they're taking.

I, as a general practice, do the same. Although I have been known, on occasion, to reflect some low-brow stuff back to its original source.

Of course, we’re dealing here with a mentality that sees in John Tvedtnes’ comments (cited elsewhere), an example of an outrageous profanity-laced outburst! At least that is what we are led to believe.

You have probably noticed that, when the denizens of the GSTP™ wax indignant about things said by their targeted TBM, they are very careful to rarely, if ever, quote the alleged offender’s actual words. They provide their interpretation, such that John Tvedtnes telling someone to “stop your bitching” then becomes a “profanity-laced tirade,” or something of the sort.

As for myself, I stand by my poetic characterization of Mr. Scratch’s wild distortions and attention whoring:

Like a skanky whore with festering sores and lice crawling through her hair, Scratchy shows wherever she goes, the stench of disease precedes her.

Alas, these past two weeks have once again reinforced my sense of the futility of dealing with the nasty folks who form the majority of the trailer park. Perhaps it is time to take a sabbatical. For, as the proverb notes well:

… a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

[_Chap]

Schryver sniffing around again, I see.

Proverbs 26:11. (Don't read that if you are eating. No, heck, if you have just read a Schryver post, you've already pushed your plate away).