Simon, a new perspective

[_Darth J]

I guess my argument would be that I don't necessarily find the use of cosplay in a religion as negative. Why do you?

Oh, I don't know......

.....is it because the religion in question is telling you that dressing up in funny outfits while learning Masonic handshakes and gestures and passwords is required for you to become a god?

[Guest]

I guess my argument would be that I don't necessarily find the use of cosplay in a religion as negative. Why do you?

Lol...something tells me you are not that familiar with cosplay...but, just in case you are...

...because they don't even bother to tell you that you will be participating in "cosplay" before you get there?

[_Yoda]

I guess my argument would be that I don't necessarily find the use of cosplay in a religion as negative. Why do you?

Oh, I don't know......

.....is it because the religion in question is telling you that dressing up in funny outfits while learning Masonic handshakes and gestures and passwords is required for you to become a god?

Is that, in fact, what it is saying? Or, are the "funny outfits, handshakes, gestures, and passwords" symbolic of steps to Godhood?

And, even if the religion DOES state that these things are required to become a god, how is that, in itself, harmful? It is merely the belief purported by that religion. How does that differ from symbolism perpetuated in the Judaism, Catholicism, etc.?

[_Yoda]

..because they don't even bother to tell you that you will be participating in "cosplay" before you get there?

Actually, they do. Before you go to the temple for the first time, you are required to take a temple preparation class. Although the class does not go into specifics about the actual ceremony, you do have to purchase the temple clothing before attending. You see the robe, the apron, the veil, sash, etc. Before my daughter went through, I explained to her how to put everything on, and what all of it meant.

[_schreech]

Actually, they do. Before you go to the temple for the first time, you are required to take a temple preparation class. Although the class does not go into specifics about the actual ceremony, you do have to purchase the temple clothing before attending. You see the robe, the apron, the veil, sash, etc. Before my daughter went through, I explained to her how to put everything on, and what all of it meant.

So you also told her that she would need to put those clothes on and pretend to be someone else in a room full of other people pretending to be different people? Its nice that you did that for your daughter but I didn't buy mine until the day I went the the temple and the preparation course I took didn't go into any of the cosplay aspects of the ceremony....

[_Some Schmo]

And, even if the religion DOES state that these things are required to become a god, how is that, in itself, harmful?

Is lying harmful?

[_Yoda]

And, even if the religion DOES state that these things are required to become a god, how is that, in itself, harmful?

Is lying harmful?

I love you, Schmo, so I'm not going to have this argument with you. LOL

If the LDS actually believe that these are the steps required to become a God, are they intentionally lying?

I know that your stance is that ALL religions are harmful, so I suppose your answer to the question would be that, yes, ANY religious "lying" is harmful.

So, Schmo, let me pose this question to you, in light of your beliefs. How is the LDS form of temple worship utilizing cosplay any more harmful than other types of religious worship which incorporate cosplay(i.e. Catholicism, Judaism, etc.)?

[_Some Schmo]

If the LDS actually believe that these are the steps required to become a God, are they intentionally lying?

Well, only to themselves.

But does intention validate a proposition?

So, Schmo, let me pose this question to you, in light of your beliefs. How is the LDS form of temple worship utilizing cosplay any more harmful than other types of religious worship which incorporate cosplay(i.e. Catholicism, Judaism, etc.)?

Well, I wouldn't make the argument that's it's more harmful. Saying it's just as harmful is adequate.

There's nothing wrong with dressing up like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia and pretending to save the galaxy from the evil empire. It's something else to actually believe you are. And it's especially harmful if you're putting that act on display around your children, and making them feel guilt or inadequacy for having a hard time believing you.

[_Yoda]

...and making them feel guilt or inadequacy for having a hard time believing you.

Agreed. That's something I've never done.

[_Darth J]

Is that, in fact, what it is saying? Or, are the "funny outfits, handshakes, gestures, and passwords" symbolic of steps to Godhood?

No, Liz, the ritual is not "symbolic" of the steps to godhood, it IS a step to godhood. I'm sorry that you didn't spend enough time in Sunday school to know what your church teaches.

“Lesson 32: Preparing for the Temple Endowment,” Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3

Bear testimony that the temple endowment is essential to each person’s exaltation. It is a necessary step in order to gain exaltation in the celestial kingdom and attain godhood.

“Lesson 16: Temple Endowment,” Young Women Manual 3

President Brigham Young gave this definition of the endowment: “Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941], p. 416).

.......

Explain that the temple endowment is essential to each young woman’s exaltation. It is a step she must take in order to return to the presence of her Father in Heaven.

And, even if the religion DOES state that these things are required to become a god, how is that, in itself, harmful? It is merely the belief purported by that religion. How does that differ from symbolism perpetuated in the Judaism, Catholicism, etc.?

I'm pretty sure that very few Jews or Catholics, respectively, believe that lighting a menora or wearing a crucifix is a condition precedent to becoming an omnipotent creator of worlds.