I am embarrassed for the church

[_Darth J]

I don't dispute that many religious beliefs are analogous to a handicap.

Out of the mouth of bums --- so the saying goes.

See, now you're making fun of me because of my race. Just because God turns people who reject the gospel into American Indians doesn't mean you have to mock my loathsome skin of blackness.

[_DarkHelmet]

Exactly how is ridiculing another's religious beliefs different than ridiculing another's race, gender, sexual preference, or handicap?

Have you ever been to Mormon meetings? Other religious beliefs are ridiculed fairly regularly.

[_Buffalo]

And he, and you, do so anonymously. I mean, you all ridicule the young elders who make fun of Catholicism, Buddha and the like and are disrespectful.

Exactly how is ridiculing another's religious beliefs different than ridiculing another's race, gender, sexual preference, or handicap?

Maybe because all those things are inborn, and belief is learned? Do you think political beliefs are deserving of the same deferential treatment you advocate for religious beliefs? Why or why not?

[_Buffalo]

Exactly how is ridiculing another's religious beliefs different than ridiculing another's race, gender, sexual preference, or handicap?

Have you ever been to Mormon meetings? Other religious beliefs are ridiculed fairly regularly.

Oh yes. Just last week there was some serious anti-Catholic rhetoric going on in sunday school in my ward.

[_DarkHelmet]

Oh yes. Just last week there was some serious anti-Catholic rhetoric going on in sunday school in my ward.

They're studying the Book of Mormon this year. Were they studying the part about the great and abominable church?

[_consiglieri]

Exactly how is ridiculing another's religious beliefs different than ridiculing another's race, gender, sexual preference, or handicap?

A remarkable question from one whose religion emphasizes freedom of choice.

[_Buffalo]

Oh yes. Just last week there was some serious anti-Catholic rhetoric going on in sunday school in my ward.

They're studying the Book of Mormon this year. Were they studying the part about the great and abominable church?

No, we were going over the Isaiah parts. I forget what the impetus was for bringing up Catholicism.

[_Abaddon]

Once upon a time a respected academic and professor of the liberal arts realized that he had been wasting his life by playing World of Warcraft for most of his adult and teen life. So, he swore it off. And then, instead of immersing himself in the literature of his profession and the beautiful things of life, he registered anonymously on a World of Warcraft board to hurl insults at the way the game uses shotguns when it should haven been offering machine guns. Finally, his university demanded to know what he was spending his time on instead of publishing, and he was exposed for the silly fool that he was. A bitter, frivolous man.

"...it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor."

I appreciate the efforts of most of the critics that have warned me of the silliness of using using shotguns as opposed to machine guns.

[_brade]

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/racial-remarks-in-washington-post-article

This is the Church's response to Dr Bott's justification for the policy about blacks and the priesthood:

The positions attributed to BYU professor Randy Bott in a recent Washington Post article absolutely do not represent the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU faculty members do not speak for the Church. It is unfortunate that the Church was not given a chance to respond to what others said.

The Church’s position is clear—we believe all people are God’s children and are equal in His eyes and in the Church. We do not tolerate racism in any form.

For a time in the Church there was a restriction on the priesthood for male members of African descent. It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago. Some have attempted to explain the reason for this restriction but these attempts should be viewed as speculation and opinion, not doctrine. The Church is not bound by speculation or opinions given with limited understanding.

We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church.

So the Church is officially saying they don't know anything about the restriction except that it is over? Well guess what, as long as the Church doesn't step up with a good explanation, people like Dr. Bott are going to try and come up with an explanation. Some will do it in good faith, and some in bad faith, but it's going to be one long drawn-out PR mess as long as the Mormon leaders shrug their shoulders and play dumb. The world will not forget.

For crying shame. Is there not a prophet in the house?

The Church's statement is nice and all but it demonstrates an utter lack of understanding of how things work nowadays. A lot of non members of my generation, if they care about this at all, are just going to google the issue and read all the statements by past leaders given with the pretense of certainty, officiality, and even revelation. That there was a change of mind isn't going to suggest to them that God stepped in and sorted things out. It's just going to suggest to them something along the lines of that at one time people believed God told them one thing and when society changed they came to believe God told them something else.

[_Equality]

AoF 2: We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

Exactly what I was going to quote in response to BC's insipid post.

Maybe it is inevitable that a TBM will ultimately reduce every issue to obedience.

It is the first law of heaven, after all . . .

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

That was merely speculation offered as personal opinion.