How Do Mopologists Explain the Holocaust?
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 4:00 am
There have been some very interesting discussions underway lately. For example, Dr. Stakhanovite has persuasively argued that Mormonism lacks intellect “richness” and depth— a point that, ironically, echoes a complaint that Dr. Hamblin made about the “new” Maxwell Institute.
And over at “Sic et Non,” Dr. Peterson is exploding with indignation—even going so far as to break from his Newport Beach vacation in order to respond—claiming that Mormonism is “breathtaking.” What is his argument, you might ask? He doesn’t have one. Instead, he quotes from Terryl and Fiona Givens. Quite lame.
Elsewhere, though, he has seemingly exposed the moral paucity of the “Restoration” via this shockingly crass remark about the Holocaust:
The basic problem for the Mopologists is that their theology removes all seriousness from tragedy. It doesn’t matter if people suffer or die horribly because they’ll be reborn as perfected beings on the other side of the veil.
I think this also helps to explain the Mopologists’ vindictiveness and cruelty: it might sting now, but we’re all going to be resurrected, right? So it’s all in good fun for them. Or so it would seem.
It’s worth noting Midgley’s peculiar fixation on Holocaust victims, and his repeated recommendations that people go and “have a look” at the various death camps—and his rueful comments about failing to “complete the tour,” as it were. Again: why? Does he want to immerse himself in the worst kind of human evil? Does he want to “school” himself somehow? Or, instead, does he view these camps as massive “resurrection staging grounds,” and thus “marvels” to be gazed upon with wonder?
There is a lot more that one could say about this. I think of Dr. Hamblin’s K-word-laced rant on RfM, and of DCP heading over to a Jewish blog to tell the proprietor that Jews should “get over it” when it comes to the issue of doing proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims. Because that fixes it, right? Suddenly, the Holocaust isn’t so bad because Joseph Smith and the Plan of Salvation have rescued everyone from the abyss.
This is massively disrespectful to the pain, grieving processes, and traditions of others, but it’s also par for the course when it comes to the Mopologists. At the end of the day, it’s impossible to overlook the fact that the movement is headed up by a guy who openly ridiculed the Jewish wedding ceremony while on a youth trip to Israel.
And over at “Sic et Non,” Dr. Peterson is exploding with indignation—even going so far as to break from his Newport Beach vacation in order to respond—claiming that Mormonism is “breathtaking.” What is his argument, you might ask? He doesn’t have one. Instead, he quotes from Terryl and Fiona Givens. Quite lame.
Elsewhere, though, he has seemingly exposed the moral paucity of the “Restoration” via this shockingly crass remark about the Holocaust:
I *bet* very much that the Mopologist in Chief can “imagine” this, since it’s pretty much the epitome of demented sadism. But this poses enormous problems for him. Remember: he has said repeatedly that his father’s visit to the death camps was *very* important. Well, why? If the claims of the Restoration are true, then all the people who “went up the stack”—to use Midgley’s terminology—are living it up in Heaven at this point. Viewed from the standpoint of Mopologist belief, why is the Holocaust so terrible? Because it represents a violation of agency? It can’t be bad because lives were cut short, because per LDS belief, life is infinite.Billy Shears: "Life being finite makes every moment precious."
I can imagine the camp commandant at Dachau explaining that joyous truth to new arrivals. I visualize them going off to their assigned barracks with a newfound spring in their steps and a song on their lips. Life in Warsaw and Amsterdam had been so dull, seeming to go on forever. Now, though, it was fresh and charged with meaning.
The basic problem for the Mopologists is that their theology removes all seriousness from tragedy. It doesn’t matter if people suffer or die horribly because they’ll be reborn as perfected beings on the other side of the veil.
I think this also helps to explain the Mopologists’ vindictiveness and cruelty: it might sting now, but we’re all going to be resurrected, right? So it’s all in good fun for them. Or so it would seem.
It’s worth noting Midgley’s peculiar fixation on Holocaust victims, and his repeated recommendations that people go and “have a look” at the various death camps—and his rueful comments about failing to “complete the tour,” as it were. Again: why? Does he want to immerse himself in the worst kind of human evil? Does he want to “school” himself somehow? Or, instead, does he view these camps as massive “resurrection staging grounds,” and thus “marvels” to be gazed upon with wonder?
There is a lot more that one could say about this. I think of Dr. Hamblin’s K-word-laced rant on RfM, and of DCP heading over to a Jewish blog to tell the proprietor that Jews should “get over it” when it comes to the issue of doing proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims. Because that fixes it, right? Suddenly, the Holocaust isn’t so bad because Joseph Smith and the Plan of Salvation have rescued everyone from the abyss.
This is massively disrespectful to the pain, grieving processes, and traditions of others, but it’s also par for the course when it comes to the Mopologists. At the end of the day, it’s impossible to overlook the fact that the movement is headed up by a guy who openly ridiculed the Jewish wedding ceremony while on a youth trip to Israel.