Todd Compton's Credo

[_truth dancer]

On MMS thread about an unhappy experience with believers, MG referenced an article by Todd Compton.

I thought it deserved its own thread.

Compton writes,

I believe that all truth is faith-promoting, if we're talking about authentic faith. No authentic truth damages authentic faith. Truth, even difficult truths, will only deepen and give breadth of vision to authentic faith. Only brittle, oversimplified faith will break easily when confronted with difficult truths. When we face difficult truths, we should not sensationalize them, but we should deal with them straightforwardly and honestly, using historical context and sympathetic insight to put them into perspective. Sometimes, when we have had oversimplified faith, we will need to deepen and broaden our faith to include tragedy and contradiction and human limitation, but that is not a matter of giving up our faith -- it is a matter of developing our faith. I realize that this can be a painful process at times, but it is a process that gives our faith more solidity and more breadth. The eye of faith sees greater depth, perspectives, and gradations of color; the heart of faith responds more to the tragedies of our bygone brothers and sisters, who become more real and more sympathetic to us.

I believe that the gospel includes all truth, and all truth is part of the gospel.

I believe that the gospel is afraid of no truth. All truths, both the brightness of love and the shadows of tragedy, contribute to the infinite beauty of the gospel.

The gospel includes heights and depths. It includes shining, dazzling light, and darkest shadow -- and everything in between, all shades of gray. It includes knowledge of God, but it also includes knowledge of Satan. It includes knowledge of great and good men and women, and of deeply flawed men and women. It also includes men and women who have great goodness and serious flaws at the same time -- sometimes, seemingly, on alternate days. It includes aspects of reality that are supposedly "secular" -- science, economics, music, history. (See D&C 93:53.)

Bold mine.

Does the gospel include lies? Does it include untruths? Does it include cruelty? Does it include harming others? Does it include prophets thinking they are inspired when they are not? Does it include putting another's "truth" over one's own?

What is "difficult truth"? Is it admitting that Joseph Smith did horrible things? Or does it mean ultimate truth can be horrible (CKHL is really hell)?

I would LOVE for someone to explain to me why it is good to have faith in something that seems horrible, cruel, wrong, unholy, and totally unbelievable and at odds with reality.

Why is it a good idea to try to believe something, or have faith in a belief system, that is filled with untruths? Whose leaders apparently have no idea what is truth? Or a belief that requires faith in something that goes completely contrary to what seems good and holy.

The whole, "shift your paradigm so you can believe" idea does not seems a good way to live whether we are discussing the LDS church, Scientology, FLDS, Islam, or anything other belief system.

Maybe it is better, when one's reality doesn't match a particular faith tradtion, to listen to one's heart, life authentically, and go with what seems right, makes sense, and feels right/holy/good.

~dancer~

[_harmony]

Does the gospel include lies? Does it include untruths? Does it include cruelty? Does it include harming others? Does it include prophets thinking they are inspired when they are not? Does it include putting another's "truth" over one's own?

What is "difficult truth"? Is it admitting that Joseph Smith did horrible things? Or does it mean ultimate truth can be horrible (CKHL is really hell)?

I would LOVE for someone to explain to me why it is good to have faith in something that seems horrible, cruel, wrong, unholy, and totally unbelievable and at odds with reality.

Why is it a good idea to try to believe something, or have faith in a belief system, that is filled with untruths? Whose leaders apparently have no idea what is truth? Or a belief that requires faith in something that goes completely contrary to what seems good and holy.

The whole, "shift your paradigm so you can believe" idea does not seems a good way to live whether we are discussing the LDS church, Scientology, FLDS, Islam, or anything other belief system.

Maybe it is better, when one's reality doesn't match a particular faith tradtion, to listen to one's heart, life authentically, and go with what seems right, makes sense, and feels right/holy/good.

~dancer~

Remember, TD: the LDS church does not equal the gospel of Jesus Christ. We claim that we teach the gospel, but we don't. We teach the gospel, mingled with the teachings of men. Until we cleanse ourselves of the teachings of men, we will continue to perpetuate a discriminatory, sometimes cruel, mere shadow of what the gospel really is. We claim to be led by Christ; we lie. We are led by men, and that fact is sorely manifest in what passes for wisdom and leadership.

[_The Nehor]

I'll take a stab at this.

*stabs Truth Dancer with a knife*

Oh wait.....I feel a thought out response might serve better in this instance.

I would LOVE for someone to explain to me why it is good to have faith in something that seems horrible, cruel, wrong, unholy, and totally unbelievable and at odds with reality.

This is why I have no faith in the AARP. If you feel that way about something abandon it. If you're talking about the LDS church I would add the following advice: Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

The goal of the Church is to administer the ordinances of salvation and help save those of humanity who want what it offers. If you don't believe in what it offers or don't want what it offers, then we have nothing to offer you.

[_harmony]

The goal of the Church is to administer the ordinances of salvation and help save those of humanity who want what it offers. If you don't believe in what it offers or don't want what it offers, then we have nothing to offer you.

Nonsense. The church is required to administer to all mankind whether all mankind accepts it or not. The problem is that the claim to authority is tainted at the start, and the leadership is misguided at best. Nonetheless, imperfect men notwithstanding, there are flashes of brilliance occasionally, and that's the reason we should never show anyone the door. Christ went and found the lost lamb; we are required to do the same, repeatedly.

[_karl61]

I'll take a stab at this. (Mormon violence begins again)

*stabs Truth Dancer with a knife*

Oh wait.....I feel a thought out response might serve better in this instance.

I would LOVE for someone to explain to me why it is good to have faith in something that seems horrible, cruel, wrong, unholy, and totally unbelievable and at odds with reality.

This is why I have no faith in the AARP. If you feel that way about something abandon it. If you're talking about the LDS church I would add the following advice: Don't let the door hit you on the way out. (truthful Mormon thoughts)

The goal of the Church is to administer the ordinances of salvation and help save those of humanity who want what it offers. (myth - temple marriage is not in the Book of Mormon; not even polygamy)If you don't believe in what it offers or don't want what it offers, then we have nothing to offer you.

[_The Nehor]

The goal of the Church is to administer the ordinances of salvation and help save those of humanity who want what it offers. If you don't believe in what it offers or don't want what it offers, then we have nothing to offer you.

Nonsense. The church is required to administer to all mankind whether all mankind accepts it or not. The problem is that the claim to authority is tainted at the start, and the leadership is misguided at best. Nonetheless, imperfect men notwithstanding, there are flashes of brilliance occasionally, and that's the reason we should never show anyone the door. Christ went and found the lost lamb; we are required to do the same, repeatedly.

We're required to teach the Gospel to all who desire to hear. What do we offer to those who choose not to accept it? Nothing.

[_The Nehor]

I'll take a stab at this. (Mormon violence begins again)

*stabs Truth Dancer with a knife*

Oh wait.....I feel a thought out response might serve better in this instance.

I would LOVE for someone to explain to me why it is good to have faith in something that seems horrible, cruel, wrong, unholy, and totally unbelievable and at odds with reality.

This is why I have no faith in the AARP. If you feel that way about something abandon it. If you're talking about the LDS church I would add the following advice: Don't let the door hit you on the way out. (truthful Mormon thoughts)

The goal of the Church is to administer the ordinances of salvation and help save those of humanity who want what it offers. (myth - temple marriage is not in the Book of Mormon; not even polygamy)If you don't believe in what it offers or don't want what it offers, then we have nothing to offer you.

Yes......what's the problem?

[_truth dancer]

Nehor...

*stabs Truth Dancer with a knife*

Is this a wish, a threat, a plan?

Either way, you are out of line.

~dancer~

[_harmony]

We're required to teach the Gospel to all who desire to hear. What do we offer to those who choose not to accept it? Nothing.

We cannot know who will accept it and who won't, because we are not allowed to know the heart of another. We cannot judge what we cannot know, so we are cautioned against kicking people to the curb. Turn the other damn cheek, Nehor! Love thy enemy. We are required to live the name we carry; when we don't, we are condemned, not those who aren't ready for the gospel. The teachings of men have corrupted the plain and precious truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sex 132 is a perfect example of eternal truth mingled with the teachings of a man with a wicked agenda.

[_The Nehor]

Nehor...

*stabs Truth Dancer with a knife*

Is this a wish, a threat, a plan?

Either way, you are out of line.

~dancer~

None of the above, it is called a joke. A pun, if you will.