beastie wrote:Joseph Smith was a sociopath for the same reason. Sure, he also did good things, and the church he founded does some good things as well, but that doesn't change his nature as a sociopath. For example, he tried to destroy the reputation of William Law, who simply told the truth about polygamy. He did the same to Martha Brotherton.
In the years since leaving the church, my opinion has been uncertain as to Joseph's motives and nature. I do believe that there may have been other possible issues involved as well. I have longed believed he was narcissistic, but this recent Lance Armstrong episode has sealed the deal for me. Lance is a live example of a sociopath, and I think Joseph fits the bill well.
It is an accident of life that the church he founded has the capacity to do some good in people's lives, along with the real harm it sometimes does as well.
so, looking at current events, i note that the mopologists seek to destroy the reputations of those who question, who ask, "why stay"...
are they sociopaths?
there is nothing we can do about lance or joseph. how do we address those who choose to destroy the lives of those who question, who struggle with faith?
...there is nothing we can do about lance or joseph. how do we address those who choose to destroy the lives of those who question, who struggle with faith?
You are fighting a losing battle.
Christ...And I thought I was an idealist.
"Jesus gave us the gospel, but Satan invented church. It takes serious evil to formalize faith into something tedious and then pile guilt on anyone who doesn’t participate enthusiastically." - Robert Kirby
Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer. -- Henry Lawson
...there is nothing we can do about lance or joseph. how do we address those who choose to destroy the lives of those who question, who struggle with faith?
You are fighting a losing battle.
completely and totally. i had no idea.
cwald wrote:Christ...And I thought I was an idealist.
"Jesus gave us the gospel, but Satan invented church. It takes serious evil to formalize faith into something tedious and then pile guilt on anyone who doesn’t participate enthusiastically." - Robert Kirby
Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer. -- Henry Lawson
beastie wrote: I believe he is a sociopath because he deliberately tried to ruin the lives and reputations of people who simply told the truth about him.
That is a harsh assessment Beastie. Couldn't that behavior simply be attributed to apologetic tendencies?
