It ain't easy being a Mormon

[_why me]

I'm having a moment of sympathy for my dear family and friends. They have so much to defend! Not just church policy and doctrine and history, which could keep them busy all day, they also must defend Fox News, Sarah Palin, Dr. Laura, George W., Glen Beck ... it never ends.

Aside from "follow the prophet" type of brainwashing, I believe that members do most of the brainwashing on themselves. I can kind of remember doing it myself. Something about the church encourages people to tie up their entire identies in Mormonism, to where the least criticism of the religion feels like a personal attack, and by extension a criticism of Fox News feels like a personal attack ...

On this Holy Day of the Lord, let us take a moment to reflect on our dear brothers and sisters and the grim realities they face in defending the indefensible.

Well, this would be great if Mormonism was just centered in the USA. But Mormonism is throughout the world and very few of those Mormons are watching fox news. Nor do they care much about Palin, Beck, Dr. Laura etc. Believe it or not, there are socialist Mormons in france, germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway etc. And so, what brainwashing are you talking about?

[_Hoops]

If you can imagine Glenn Beck questioning a teenage boy or girl about their life including if they were sexually active you can empathize what Mormon teenagers go through.

That was funny!!

[_Some Schmo]

It's hard to imagine more people missing the point of an OP than what has happened in this thread.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

It's hard to imagine more people missing the point of an OP than what has happened in this thread.

Thanks, Schmo! I'm glad my point wasn't too obscured by my awkward writing. It sure brought out some defense tactics, though. Sigh.

[_stemelbow]

I'm having a moment of sympathy for my dear family and friends. They have so much to defend!

Ahh...finally some much earned recognition for stem.

[/quote] Not just church policy and doctrine and history, which could keep them busy all day, they also must defend Fox News, Sarah Palin, Dr. Laura, George W., Glen Beck ... it never ends.

wait what? This has nothin gto do with stem does it? Oh man, sympathy is only felt for the extreme conservative LDS? Those jerks get all the benefits.

Aside from "follow the prophet" type of brainwashing, I believe that members do most of the brainwashing on themselves.

That's better. No need to blame the Church for teaching what it thinks is true, huh? Blame goes on thsoe followers who are too stupid to realize what you realize?

I can kind of remember doing it myself. Something about the church encourages people to tie up their entire identies in Mormonism, to where the least criticism of the religion feels like a personal attack, and by extension a criticism of Fox News feels like a personal attack ...

That's what you ddi huh? How long has this purported Fox news been in bus.?

On this Holy Day of the Lord, let us take a moment to reflect on our dear brothers and sisters and the grim realities they face in defending the indefensible.

Why can't we all just take moments each and every day reflecting on where those who we disagree with are coming from? Considering you tried to do this once in who knows how long, it makes me wonder how infrequently you do this sort of thing?

[_Themis]

I'm having a moment of sympathy for my dear family and friends. They have so much to defend! Not just church policy and doctrine and history, which could keep them busy all day, they also must defend Fox News, Sarah Palin, Dr. Laura, George W., Glen Beck ... it never ends.

Most members do not defend these people. In fact most do not even know who many of them are. Don't fall for bcspaces mistaken idea that all member are very right wing. As for doctrine and truth claims, most members are not aware of the evidences and as such being LDS is easy. It's only after you learn them does defending them become hard.

[Guest]

Most members do not defend these people. In fact most do not even know who many of them are. Don't fall for bcspaces mistaken idea that all member are very right wing. As for doctrine and truth claims, most members are not aware of the evidences and as such being LDS is easy. It's only after you learn them does defending them become hard.

Believe me, I don't take cues from bcspace. All of my Mormon family friends are rightwingers and tea-partiers. They defend the above listed people as if they were prophets themselves.

I am well aware that not all Mormons are far to the right politically. I would dispute that most Mormons don't defend the right (political, that is). Do you have a reference?

Your second point, though, I agree with.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

I'm having a moment of sympathy for my dear family and friends. They have so much to defend! Not just church policy and doctrine and history, which could keep them busy all day, they also must defend Fox News, Sarah Palin, Dr. Laura, George W., Glen Beck ... it never ends.

Aside from "follow the prophet" type of brainwashing, I believe that members do most of the brainwashing on themselves. I can kind of remember doing it myself. Something about the church encourages people to tie up their entire identies in Mormonism, to where the least criticism of the religion feels like a personal attack, and by extension a criticism of Fox News feels like a personal attack ...

On this Holy Day of the Lord, let us take a moment to reflect on our dear brothers and sisters and the grim realities they face in defending the indefensible.

Well, this would be great if Mormonism was just centered in the USA. But Mormonism is throughout the world and very few of those Mormons are watching fox news. Nor do they care much about Palin, Beck, Dr. Laura etc. Believe it or not, there are socialist Mormons in france, germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway etc. And so, what brainwashing are you talking about?

Okay. So did you have any response to my post?

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Ahh...finally some much earned recognition for stem.

Thanks for weighing in Stem, and defending yourself from the perceived accusation that Mormons are 100% rightwingers.

Do you have anything to contribute as to why Mormons feel such a need to defend as you and your cohorts above have done? Any thoughts on the personal investment Mormons have in their religion, and by extension the politics which which many of them hold in common? Any thoughts on why Mormons are prone to take criticism and disagreement as personal attack?

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

If you can imagine Glenn Beck questioning a teenage boy or girl about their life including if they were sexually active you can empathize what Mormon teenagers go through.

That was funny!!

Is it funny because it teases Mormons and doesn't attack your political views?

I agree, it was funny, but for different reasons.