Scott Gordon: Mormons Can Believe Whatever They Want

[_DrW]

What a statement. So let me see it I got this straight. If we want to pool our money for a shared health care system, that's socialism because it's envy of those who can have doctors on retainer?

However, if we want to pool our money for a shared system of fighting fire and crime for everyone, that's not socialism because it's somehow not envy of those who can keep their own bodyguards and firefighters on retainer?

Mormon tithing is one of the best examples of forced redistribution of wealth that I can think of. It takes from everyone, regardless of income, and gives to a large real estate holding corporation.

Individuals who pay into Social Security, or pay local, state and federal taxes and fees at least receive goods and/or services in return for their money.

What does the tithe payer receive in return? Well, let's see. They receive the right to attend crushingly boring meetings once a week, dress up in funny clothes and participate in repetitive Masonic rituals monthly, and provide free janitorial service on a periodic basis.

Sounds like socialism on steroids to me.

[_DrW]

well-scott gordon or not my anecdotal evidence of faking being a Mormon goes to my sister in law who fell for a guy from sf while students at utah state. this guy was actually a rc but pretended for a year to be LDS up to the point of asking my sister-in law to get married- she made all the plans for a temple wedding but this guy hedged on his interview with the bishop and as we gathered for the wedding in logan a week before the big day, this guy skipped out to california or elsewhere leaving my sister in law with a reception rental place, house full of wedding presents, wedding dress,bridesmaid dresses, a a huge depression that soaked in to their tbm family- as a nevermo i watched in amazement how this guy pulled this off until the gig was up and he needed a temple recommend and endowments and all the other sh**.

so its possible to just wander through moism as a pretender at just abt any level you want- keep ur mouth shut and smile. and i know on this board many suffer from having to do that for family or other reasons.
and my heart goes out to them.

my sis inlaw did get married later to an ex marine vietnam vet, tbm in the line of john d lee-but that's a whole other story. after all these years my sis in law should probbly have married the rc guy, like her sister did(me) :-)

k

Great story.

And I certainly believe it to be true (because you just can't make this stuff up).

[_Buffalo]

Not necessarily. The Democrats to whom you would refer typically were Democrats when it was possible to be a Democrat and a good Mormon.

You mean the sort of Democrats who supported segregation and opposed the Civil Rights Movement?

Agreed.

[_Joe Geisner]

Over on MD&D, there is a thread with the following title:

You Can Believe Whatever You Want, You Just Can't Teach It

This may be one of the most important discussions that can take place with in Mormonism. Linda Sillitoe talked about the subject in a very personal way in 1990. It is still one of my favorite talks and an important work that should be required reading for every Mormon.

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/080-12-26.pdf

When I read kairos of his S-I-L and he wedding, all I could think of was Linda's prophetic words.

[Guest]

Quite the Telestial comment don't you think?

Free Market Capitalism is the Lord's way. It's the only economic system under which the LoC can operate and it's completely neutral which preserves man's agency as well as opposition in all things.

In no scripture in the LDS canon is capitalism advocated. Socialism is advocated in every work but the POGP.

More's the pity, as capitalism and especially free trade have had a great deal to do with declining rates of war deaths. It's too bad the secularists thought of it before God.

[Guest]

Right on schedule, DCP shows up on the MD&DB to try to explain that what is being said on this thread is only an attempt to put "negative spin" on a perfectly benign LDS misunderstanding.

He, of course, takes the opportunity assure everyone that he strongly believes in the historicity of the Book of Mormon (it is really important for everyone understand that he believes strongly that the Book of Mormon is historical).

I would love to see DCP demonstrate his strong belief in a public debate. Imagine DCP and the best archeologist the Church has debating the historicity of the Book of Mormon with, well, pretty much any qualified non-mormon academic (perhaps a good geneticist) and a knowledgeable non-Mormon archeologist.

So strong is DCP's belief in Book of Mormon historicity that he is even reticent to discuss this topic with the amateurs (sorry guys) on this board.

[_bcspace]

Imagine DCP and the best archeologist the Church

Can you verify that he is an archeologist?

[_bcspace]

In no scripture in the LDS canon is capitalism advocated. Socialism is advocated in every work but the POGP.

In no scripture is socialism advocated according to LDS doctrine explaining the scriptures you might ostensibly refer to. LDS doctrine is clear on free market capitalism in saying what the LoC is not and what it's fundamental principles are.

[_DrW]

Imagine DCP and the best archeologist the Church

Can you verify that he is an archeologist?

I think you misunderstood. I am suggesting that DCP recruit the best true believing archeologist he can find and that the two of them, as a team, engage in a public debate regarding Book of Mormon historicity with any two person team of qualified secular scientists comprised of an archeologist and another qualified academician (perhaps a geneticist).

Actually, many on this Board have seen enough of DCP's nonsense on this and related issues, and know enough about archeology and genetics, that they could pretty much write the script for both sides.

[_Buffalo]

In no scripture in the LDS canon is capitalism advocated. Socialism is advocated in every work but the POGP.

In no scripture is socialism advocated according to LDS doctrine explaining the scriptures you might ostensibly refer to. LDS doctrine is clear on free market capitalism in saying what the LoC is not and what it's fundamental principles are.

Ex post facto manipulation of the scriptures is further proof that while collectivism was invented by "God," it took secularism to come up with capitalism, and "God" is lagging behind as usual.