The Top Ten Happenings in Mopologetics, 2011

[_RayAgostini]

Yeah, Ray, I got that. In other words, the pot continues to call the kettle black. "Hey, *you* should be more fair/impartial/objective." "No, *you* should."

Ad infinitum.

Nothing wrong with fair advocacy. Do you think this board is fair? Do you think most posts/threads here are "objective" and "fair"?

[Guest]

Nevermind, I just read the conversation with you and Kish. I retract my statement until next time.

[_Kishkumen]

You're not exactly sinless, either, Kish, but I understand you're giving me this advice in good faith.

Oh man, is that ever true. I have been pretty rough on some folks.

Unlike most posters here, I'll try to be more "sensitive" in future. In other words, I'll have to break with the general board trend.

Just my three (Australian) cents, now worth about US$0.2 cents, or something in that range.

I think it is difficult for each of us to remember that outside of this melee, we are all generally decent, intelligent people.

[_RayAgostini]

You're a silly bastard.

I get your mischievous humour.

Now I have to take a break.

I've kicked enough butt for one morning.

I think it is difficult for each of us to remember that outside of this melee, we are all generally decent, intelligent people.

Bingo.

[Guest]

I get your mischievous humour.

I love you too Ray.

[_Kishkumen]

Nothing wrong with fair advocacy. Do you think this board is fair? Do you think most posts/threads here are "objective" and "fair"?

Yes, I do think the board is fair inasmuch as anyone is free to come here and say almost anything. That is about as fair as a board can get.

Now, are the individuals who generally stick around here fair to Mormonism? No. We are all caught up in a larger trend of assaulting religion, it seems. We expected much from these religious institutions and investigating them has led a lot of people to get upset and disillusioned. They are taking out their disappointment on the institutions themselves.

There is plenty to be upset about. And it is not limited to religious institutions. People need to come to terms with the fact that our human limitations account for much of the trouble we see in all corners of the world. Clearly many of our ideologies are aspirational. In the good old US of A, free speech comes with the cost of a baton in the stomach and pepper spray in your eyes. Ugly stuff, but that is where we are. The LDS Church has its own versions: disfellowshipping and excommunication.

The question is what to do about it. I am not sure there is one right answer. It could be that this board, as unfair as many of its posters are, actually serves its own small purpose in all of this.

[_MrStakhanovite]

Don's last personal prophecy before he left this board was that it would fall. He was absolutely battered here, for the smallest things. Is it really any wonder why we've lost such brilliant minds?

Don is a big boy. He decided this place was no longer for him. I don't see the big deal with that. My point was that he managed to reinvigorate his faith as a participant here. After he found his path he moved on. I don't see that as a mark against MDB. It may in fact be a mark in its favor. So what if he prophesied the doom of the board. All things come to an end. It doesn't take a genius to see that.

I can't find this prophecy, I've been searching Don's posts, but no luck.

[_Kishkumen]

I can't find this prophecy, I've been searching Don's posts, but no luck.

I don't recall it, but I can't say it did not happen.

[_MrStakhanovite]

I don't recall it, but I can't say it did not happen.

Hmph.

[_sock puppet]

But, back to our regularly scheduled broadcast...where's the non-emotional evidence for Mormonism? I went to the site you linked and read it. I too think hope is an important human emotion. But sadly, no non-emotional evidence was to be had on that web page.

I'm sure you'll be able to scrounge up at least one shred of non-emotional evidence for Mormonism, right?

We have had long discussions of about this very topic wherein critics admitted that there is some evidence, just not evidence sufficient to convince them. I don't think it is fair to say that there is "no evidence." The question is not whether there is any evidence, but whether the evidence is sufficient to support the argument. I feel comfortable saying that absent faith there is rarely if ever enough evidence to support most religious claims. The question, in my mind, is whether one chooses to live a life of faith or not.

I agree some may find social benefits from religious participation, but I fit those under the umbrella of the emotional need for paternalistic protection (my #(d) above).