The Berry-Picker's "Laughter"

[_Gadianton]

Ray,

I think the apologists generally prefer the "Jesus in the Temple" scripture.

[_Mister Scratch]

In other words: No. The Bagley cartoons are completely innocuous and don't come any where near the kind of real, powerful satire that could affect positive change in the Church.

You haven't seen them. You weren't even aware that they existed.

Which, the ones which prove that LDS apologists are able to laugh at themselves, and to endure pointed satiric humor directed at The Cause? Yeah, you're right---I haven't seen them. Presumably, they don't exist. Feel free to prove me wrong, though.

Do I believe that you are angry over being laughed at? Yes, actually, I do.

That's nice.

For all I know, you also believe that I'm three feet tall, with green skin.

No, I don't believe that. There's no evidence for that, so far as I know. On the other hand, there is a great deal of evidence that Mopologists--including yourself--are deeply, deeply angry that anyone would dare laugh at you and your beloved Church, or your beloved apologetics.

[_The Nehor]

Satire is unlikely to create large-scale change in the LDS Church. Living the Gospel just might.

Just curious. Do you think satire on this board will create a large-scale change in exmos?

They satirise you, so you satirise them. Biff for buff. How is this continuing contention "living the gospel"?

Matt 5:

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Nope, I don't think this board will create a large-scale change in exmos. I don't think this board is capable of creating a large-scale change regarding anything at all.

I try to avoid contention here. Hence the one-liners that tick some people off. My goal here is not to 'live the gospel' or 'evangelize'. I come here to entertain myself. Occasionally I do talk about the gospel a bit and sometimes I even live the gospel here (not often). I consider coming here to be a religously and morally neutral activity deserving neither praise nor scorn akin to liking wargames, tripe, or long walks on the beach.

[_asbestosman]

I think we can laugh at ourselves even for the "embarassing" aspects. We just try not to take sacred things lightly. Perhaps the following is taking things too lightly, but I suppose I haven't yet met a Mormon who takes offense at it if done in the right situation.

I laughed at the following joke told to my by a missionary companion:

How can you tell that someone is a devout Catholic?
When he gets up he crosses himself.

How can you tell that someone is a devout Mormon?
When he gets up, he tugs at his legs (to pull his garments back down).

[_moksha]

Nope, I don't think this board will create a large-scale change in exmos. I don't think this board is capable of creating a large-scale change regarding anything at all.

I suspect it will only come from future Apostles who hopefully have absorbed some thought from their generation. This change would probably accelerate if there was more diversity among Apostles.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Which, the ones which prove that LDS apologists are able to laugh at themselves, and to endure pointed satiric humor directed at The Cause? Yeah, you're right---I haven't seen them. Presumably, they don't exist.

Fascinating. I hadn't realized that Scratchism was solipsistic.

Feel free to prove me wrong, though.

Bagley's cartoon books were published. You're free to look at them or to deny that they exist.

I don't care.

Incidentally, some years ago, in connection with a very long exposé of FARMS written by John-Charles Duffy, there was a cartoon published in Sunstone poking fun at me. I thought it was funny, and told Dan Wotherspoon, Sunstone's editor, that I thought it was funny. He gave me the original, which I still have.

You're making a manful effort to portray me as a grimly humorless fanatic, but I can't imagine that there's a single soul who knows me who wouldn't laugh at your attempt, which could scarcely be more misplaced.

there is a great deal of evidence that Mopologists--including yourself--are deeply, deeply angry that anyone would dare laugh at you and your beloved Church, or your beloved apologetics.

I can promise the non-Scratchites here that, when Gary Novak describes himself as laughing at certain critics, he means it.

The notion that we're all a seething mass of monolithic anger is risible. I'm guessing that believing it nonetheless satisfies some deep need in the Scratchite soul -- though why it should do so eludes me just as much as does the motivation for your obsession with me in the first place.

But life is good!

[_ludwigm]

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

This could be same as satire. Or better.

[_solomarineris]

there is a great deal of evidence that Mopologists--including yourself--are deeply, deeply angry that anyone would dare laugh at you and your beloved Church, or your beloved apologetics.

DCP
I can promise the non-Scratchites here that, when Gary Novak describes himself as laughing at certain critics, he means it.

Mister Scratch
Hello there, The Nehor.
Which parts of the Church do you find "hilarious"? Do you get angry when people laugh at you for believing in the Book of Mormon?

Ya,
You can hold your breath till kingdom come.
These guys have brains more dense than a Black Hole when it comes to defending LDS Church (nonsensical) matters .
They'll acknowledge nothing when you tear down their faith.
You just cannot penetrate that area of their lobes, no matter how much logic u use.
Other than that DCP & Nehor demonstrated more often than not they are
normal, fun-loving guys.

[_Tom]

I credit DCP with directing me to Novak's "important web site" a decade ago.

[_The Nehor]

there is a great deal of evidence that Mopologists--including yourself--are deeply, deeply angry that anyone would dare laugh at you and your beloved Church, or your beloved apologetics.

DCP
I can promise the non-Scratchites here that, when Gary Novak describes himself as laughing at certain critics, he means it.

Mister Scratch
Hello there, The Nehor.
Which parts of the Church do you find "hilarious"? Do you get angry when people laugh at you for believing in the Book of Mormon?

Ya,
You can hold your breath till kingdom come.
These guys have brains more dense than a Black Hole when it comes to defending LDS Church (nonsensical) matters .
They'll acknowledge nothing when you tear down their faith.
You just cannot penetrate that area of their lobes, no matter how much logic u use.
Other than that DCP & Nehor demonstrated more often than not they are
normal, fun-loving guys.

I acknowledge that people here have tried to tear down my faith. Better?