"Anti-Mormon": The Adventures of an Epithet

[_Gadianton]

I don't apply the term "antiMormon" to those merely opposed to our truth claims. I reserve that for those who intentionally lie or deceive or negatively sensationalize about the Church.

BCSpace, thank you. A double thank you for your refreshing honesty. What you say is true of every apologist I've ever encountered, also. In fact, it's true of everyone I think who uses the term anti-Mormon or believes there is a such thing as "anti-Mormonism".

A devestating blow.

[_Daniel Peterson]

BCSpace, thank you. A double thank you for your refreshing honesty.

Which, being interpreted, means, Thank you for agreeing with me and allowing me to further my agenda.

What you say is true of every apologist I've ever encountered, also. In fact, it's true of everyone I think who uses the term anti-Mormon or believes there is a such thing as "anti-Mormonism".

It's absolutely not true of me.

I don't use the term that way at all.

For me, who or what is "anti-Mormon" is essentially a question of semantics, a function of the terms anti- and Mormon. Whether or not a given anti-Mormon is a deliberate liar or negative sensationalizer is then a matter to be empirically determined. Some are. Some aren't.

A devestating blow.

Which, being interpreted, means, This is really helpful to my agenda, which is to devastate my chosen targets!

[_bcspace]

I don't apply the term "antiMormon" to those merely opposed to our truth claims. I reserve that for those who intentionally lie or deceive or negatively sensationalize about the Church.

BCSpace, thank you. A double thank you for your refreshing honesty. What you say is true of every apologist I've ever encountered, also.

Yep. I've yet to meet an apologist for he Church who uses it differently from how I described.

In fact, it's true of everyone I think who uses the term anti-Mormon or believes there is a such thing as "anti-Mormonism".

A devestating blow.

You might be disappointed to learn how many non or exLDS post on this board who I consider to be antiMormon. In fact, I also consider it quite possible to be an antiMormon and still be listed on the membership rolls of the Church, active in Church, and even holding a calling and a temple recommend. Now there's some real honesty for ya!

[_Gadianton]

You might be disappointed to learn how many non or exLDS post on this board who I consider to be antiMormon.

Oh, I kind of doubt I'd be disappointed. I've been around apologists for a while now and sort of know what to expect. I try to be forgiving.

[_Some Schmo]

It cracks me up every time danny boy tries to defend himself against these sorts of accusations. One might almost suspect he actually thinks people take him seriously rather than just acknowledge the obvious fact that a nerve has been struck. I mean, if the accusations are so outrageous, why even bother to defend against them?

LOL

Sure danny boy... sure. You don't use the term anti-mormon in a loaded way at all.

Too funny.

[_bcspace]

You might be disappointed to learn how many non or exLDS post on this board who I consider to be antiMormon.

Oh, I kind of doubt I'd be disappointed. I've been around apologists for a while now and sort of know what to expect. I try to be forgiving.

Why forgive truth?

[_Gadianton]

Why forgive truth?

...so the Roman soldiers asked themselves as they stood credulous at the foot of the cross.

[_beastie]

Here's a recent example from Pahoran, who is the master:

Its falsehood is immediately apparent from the fact that every anti-Mormon does in fact resort to resort to lying, twisting the truth, and making things up.

Yourself not excepted.

http://www.mormonapologetics.org/index. ... 0&start=80

He's talking to Analytics in this response - the same person he told, on ZLMB, that since he was an anti-mormon he wouldn't object to the murder of Mormons.

I think the term anti-mormon is appropriate at times. The nuts who yell at Mormons and protest, or the Ed Deckerites who say Mormonism is Satanic in origin - those people really are "anti-mormons". (of course, not even they would condone murder, I suspect) But to use the term, with all its associations, against someone like Analytics is ludicrous.

[_Pokatator]

You might be disappointed to learn how many non or exLDS post on this board who I consider to be antiMormon.

I would venture to say you feel it is the majority of posters here. Just posting here is an anti-Mormon activity.

In fact, I also consider it quite possible to be an antiMormon and still be listed on the membership rolls of the Church, active in Church, and even holding a calling and a temple recommend.

By the same standard, I believe that the majority of pro-Mormon posters here are really doing the work of an anti-Mormon per your definition. In other words, you and DCP and others really aren't helping your cause. I think you make it worse. You seasoned apologist types can handle the lying and deception you do and your hollow arguments but the Chapel/Meldrum type Mormons would view you just as much anti-Mormon as the ones you described above.

You can be thankful that not many Chapel/Meldrum type Mormons visit these message boards.

Now there's some real honesty for ya!

Now there's some real honesty for ya!

[_Gadianton]

Beastie,

Thank you so much for the quote from my friend Pahoran, who has published for FARMS, by the way.