It ain't easy being a Mormon

[_Morley]

Go and criticize any person's religion. religion is personal and hard to defend. It comes off as silly to others. Its a natural thing to want to defend that which you hold dear. That people hold religion so dear explains why any might perceive certain criticisms as personal attacks. Its not that giant of a leap.

Agree.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

Defending one's self/thoughts/actions is a pretty natural thing. I suppose that pretty much sums up why I think LDS folks will defend.

Do you think Heavenly Father wants you to be easily offended? Do you see any value in recognizing your personal investment which causes you to feel personally attacked? Do you see any potential for improvement in your spiritual life by consciously working to eliminate perception of attack, or is it okay to defend because that's what comes naturally? Do Mormons have any scriptures about transcending the natural man?

It seems to me that there is a large segment of Mormons who invest in their religion for the wrong reason--its more of a pride thing. Sadly that is a problem I think it not easily addressed. In my eyes the purpose of the religion is to teach us to learn the concept of love int eh fullest sense. Too often LDS folks don't get that.

This would make a great talk in church. It's not easily addressed in Mormonism because it is a new concept for them, but really, what is more important?

Go and criticize any person's religion. religion is personal and hard to defend. It comes off as silly to others. Its a natural thing to want to defend that which you hold dear. That people hold religion so dear explains why any might perceive certain criticisms as personal attacks. Its not that giant of a leap.

Yes, humans are historically touchy about their religions. It goes back to that personal investment beforementioned. You are not your religion, and your religion isn't you. Perception of attack is absolutely antithetical to learning the concept of love in its fullest sense (which you identified above as the greatest purpose of religion). Perception of attack cannot co-exist with love. So what are you going to do? Shrug it off and say, oh well, everyone else does it and it's natural so what?

[_stemelbow]

Do you think Heavenly Father wants you to be easily offended?

Hecks no. We all have our struggles though.

Do you see any value in recognizing your personal investment which causes you to feel personally attacked?

To be clear, I don't generally feel personally attacked when people criticize my religious beliefs. I'm not saying I don't get offended sometimes, but I do try to separate myself from the criticisms.

Do you see any potential for improvement in your spiritual life by consciously working to eliminate perception of attack, or is it okay to defend because that's what comes naturally?

Sure I see improvement possible. Indeed I feel I've improved spiritually by learning to separate myself from perceived criticisms of my religion. Thansk for the question.

Do Mormons have any scriptures about transcending the natural man?

yeah, but I'm too lazy to look them up.

This would make a great talk in church. It's not easily addressed in Mormonism because it is a new concept for them, but really, what is more important?

I agree with you.

Yes, humans are historically touchy about their religions. It goes back to that personal investment beforementioned. You are not your religion, and your religion isn't you. Perception of attack is absolutely antithetical to learning the concept of love in its fullest sense (which you identified above as the greatest purpose of religion). Perception of attack cannot co-exist with love. So what are you going to do? Shrug it off and say, oh well, everyone else does it and it's natural so what?

my best advice is to try and see where the person who is criticizing is coming from.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

my best advice is to try and see where the person who is criticizing is coming from.

Good! We can learn so much from criticism, whether it's about ourselves, our beliefs, or the source of the criticism. Ultimately, though, it's not the intent of the criticism or the substance of the criticism that's most important, but our reaction to the criticism. A negative reaction is negative to spirituality, every time, no matter what the occasion.

[_stemelbow]

A negative reaction is negative to spirituality, every time, no matter what the occasion.

I pretty much had bought what you said until this last line. I don't know if this is true or not. negative reaction can't always be bad, it seems.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

A negative reaction is negative to spirituality, every time, no matter what the occasion.

I pretty much had bought what you said until this last line. I don't know if this is true or not. negative reaction can't always be bad, it seems.

Let me try to clarify what I mean.

1) Oh, this critic is making an error so I will try to explain the facts of the matter to him if he is interested; or

2) This critic is using terms like "tubbytommy." He's apparently not interested in discussion, so I will put him on ignore; etc. ...

Those are positive reactions.

Here is a negative reaction: I can't have peace as long as these apostates are slamming the church and everything I know is true. I can't feel good about myself until I get them straightened out.

It can take a little introspection to recognize what we are truly feeling in these situations.