Why I like Paul Osborne

[_Dr. Shades]

When Paul Osborne first showed up here, he started a thread titled "[Jerald] Tanner is Burning in Hell." This prompted lots of people to label him a fanatic and state that if people like him represented hardcore Mormonism, they were glad to be out of it.

I have a slightly different take on it. I like Paul Osborne quite a bit since he represents, in my opinion, true Mormonism, the kind of Chapel Mormonism I grew up with. The kind of Mormon who boldly declares what he believes to be the truth, consequences and political correctness be damned. None of this watered-down, wishy-washy reactive Internet Mormonism stuff.

Early on in his FAIRboards career, he called FARMS to repentance for rejecting the words of the prophets. This, of course, put him on the wrong side of the FAIR moderators who, as we know, love to coddle their FARMS participants. But let's face it--how can you not like a guy with the guts to call FARMS to repentance, of all things?

Often people complain that figuring out Mormon doctrine is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. Not with Paul Osborne. You always know exactly where he stands with things, none of that "it was only his opinion" crap.

What do y'all think of this and, by extension, Paul Osborne? Am I up in the night, or do I have a point?

[_truth dancer]

Hi Shades,

I am right with you on this.

I have always been a fan of Paul's... from way back when I first discovered Internet Mormonism. He seemed to be the only person who believed what I was taught all my life.

Now having said this, I'm unhappy with his treatment of Harmony! He got a little carried away! :-(

Paul... you know I like you but you have to be nicer!

~dancer~

[_Ray A]

What do y'all think of this and, by extension, Paul Osborne? Am I up in the night, or do I have a point?

I think Paul is a reality check, a reminder. I don't know any Mormons, chapel or internet, who believe that people live in the sun. Except Paul. Yet if you read the Journal of Discourses, this is precisely what Brigham Young taught, even if only once. And I know of no retracting comments from Young.

[_moksha]

I have liked Paul since FAIR. He is one of the world's foremost experts on Reformed Egyptian. I suspect that only he and maybe Dr. Daniel Peterson could carry on a conversation in Reformed Egyptian. Have any of you seen his site?

[_Pahoran]

When Paul Osborne first showed up here, he started a thread titled "[Jerald] Tanner is Burning in Hell." This prompted lots of people to label him a fanatic and state that if people like him represented hardcore Mormonism, they were glad to be out of it.

I have a slightly different take on it. I like Paul Osborne quite a bit since he represents, in my opinion, true Mormonism, the kind of Chapel Mormonism I grew up with. The kind of Mormon who boldly declares what he believes to be the truth, consequences and political correctness be damned. None of this watered-down, wishy-washy reactive Internet Mormonism stuff.

Early on in his FAIRboards career, he called FARMS to repentance for rejecting the words of the prophets. This, of course, put him on the wrong side of the FAIR moderators who, as we know, love to coddle their FARMS participants. But let's face it--how can you not like a guy with the guts to call FARMS to repentance, of all things?

Often people complain that figuring out Mormon doctrine is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. Not with Paul Osborne. You always know exactly where he stands with things, none of that "it was only his opinion" crap.

What do y'all think of this and, by extension, Paul Osborne? Am I up in the night, or do I have a point?

Yes, you are up in the night, although of course your acolytes will all fawn around you. As they do.

Paul might think that "Jerald Tanner is Burning in Hell" but real Mormonism rejects--and always has rejected--a literal burning hell. Real Mormonism also knows that it is the part of Jesus Christ to judge us. "Real Mormons," however "politically incorrect" they might be, have enough humility to know that we can't judge anyone.

No "real Mormon" knows to what extent Jerald was accountable for his actions. After all, I've heard that Sandra was really the brains of that outfit, and the muscle as well. Maybe he was just hen-pecked. :) Or maybe he had a brain tumour. I know that "correlation does not equal causation," but given the behaviour we see here, apostasy from the Church may in fact be related to abnormal psychology.

In which case, "real Mormonism" holds that the Lord will be merciful.

Paul was wrong, entirely on the basis of so-called "chapel Mormonism," to say what he said.

Regards,
Pahoran

[_Ray A]

Yes, you are up in the night, although of course your acolytes will all fawn around you. As they do.


Paul might think that "Jerald Tanner is Burning in Hell" but real Mormonism rejects--and always has rejected--a literal burning hell. Real Mormonism also knows that it is the part of Jesus Christ to judge us. "Real Mormons," however "politically incorrect" they might be, have enough humility to know that we can't judge anyone.

No "real Mormon" knows to what extent Jerald was accountable for his actions. After all, I've heard that Sandra was really the brains of that outfit, and the muscle as well. Maybe he was just hen-pecked. :) Or maybe he had a brain tumour. I know that "correlation does not equal causation," but given the behaviour we see here, apostasy from the Church may in fact be related to abnormal psychology.

In which case, "real Mormonism" holds that the Lord will be merciful.

Paul was wrong, entirely on the basis of so-called "chapel Mormonism," to say what he said.

Regards,
Pahoran

Real Mormonism, or post Book of Mormon Mormonism?:

Mosiah 2:

38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.
39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.
40 O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Mosiah 5:5

5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

Moroni 8:

13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.

[_Who Knows]

Pahoran - spoken like a true blue internet Mormon. :o

[_harmony]

Pahoran - spoken like a true blue internet Mormon. :o

Oh great. Pahoran is an internet Mormon too? There goes the neighborhood.

[_Yoda]

I love it! A personal thread! These aren't allowed on FAIR...LOL

I like Paul Osborne, too. I admire his honesty and his gospel knowledge. He is very steadfast in what he believes; he is also an excellent writer. I've been to his website, and read some of his articles and fiction work. It's great! :)

Paul reminds me of one of those junk yard dogs...he's all bark and no bite. He really is a sweetheart when you get to know him. :)

[_Mister Scratch]

"Real Mormons," however "politically incorrect" they might be, have enough humility to know that we can't judge anyone.

Regards,
Pahoran

ROTFLOL!!!!!!! I haven't laughed this hard in a long, long time. What a joke, Pah. Or are you saying that you don't practice what you preach? Lol....

by the way: I too am a Paul Osborne fan.