Why do you think that secular Americans dislike Mormons more than other groups? Not that I have experienced that in any way here.
Regards,
MG
I don't know. Many apologists have said polygamy is at the heart of the issue. There is also confusion over the Amish and Mormons as well as many other splinter groups. Others claim the missionary program is intrusive. People who look at the issues are increasingly angry with the untapped wealth specifically during a world wide pandemic. The blatant building of temples despite humanitarian efforts being more of an immediate emergency need. Then their is the superiority stereotype. Then there is the dishonesty of the leaders. Then there is the doctrine that supports maniacs that kill their kids that never gets addressed but people who touch the third rail of historical issues get the hatchet. This up, down, sideways tactics of leadership leaves people wondering what the hell is this weird group doing? And the history of Mormonism is replete with this pattern making it hard to dismiss as doctrinal cancer.
Trust issues. For me, I've looked at everything from a bird's eye view and I've not come to, or see, the same view that you have come to see. And that's OK. I think I understand where you're coming from. And it is a lack of trust/confidence that you have lost in those things that are required in order to maintain faith.
...replacing one supernatural belief with another supernatural belief won't change the reality of what does--or doesn't--happen to our consciousnesses after we die.
We are in agreement on this point. Whatever is, is.
People who need to believe in a supernatural thing to whom they are accountable, seem to lack the adult skill of taking responsibility for their own actions, and acting accordingly within the realm of being a good, considerate, moral person.
Interestingly, through “knowing” a Mormon on this board (MG 2.0) has anyone’s opinion of Mormons improved directly because of how MG 2.0 behaves and interacts?
I don't think it will. The church, even though criticized for its mistakes recently, has a barrel of cash and will continue to invest wisely into the future. If I was a bettin' man I'd give the church at least a 90%+ chance of managing and growing their funds into the future.
And saving for a rainy day ain't such a bad idea.
But the more relevant question is that if an individual rejects what Jesus said about such things and personally believes that extreme saving “for a rainy day” is really a virtue, they should save that money for themselves rather than giving it to the Church. Because unless you are already independently wealthy and your income only comes from investment sources, you are going to need money when you can no longer work. In contrast, the Church will always receive enough donations to do its work. People need savings for when they retire. The Church will never retire and doesn’t need to save very much for the future.
It is a matter of what one believes what "Jesus said about such things". On that point I think we can agree.
I don't know. Many apologists have said polygamy is at the heart of the issue. There is also confusion over the Amish and Mormons as well as many other splinter groups. Others claim the missionary program is intrusive. People who look at the issues are increasingly angry with the untapped wealth specifically during a world wide pandemic. The blatant building of temples despite humanitarian efforts being more of an immediate emergency need. Then their is the superiority stereotype. Then there is the dishonesty of the leaders. Then there is the doctrine that supports maniacs that kill their kids that never gets addressed but people who touch the third rail of historical issues get the hatchet. This up, down, sideways tactics of leadership leaves people wondering what the hell is this weird group doing? And the history of Mormonism is replete with this pattern making it hard to dismiss as doctrinal cancer.
Trust issues. For me, I've looked at everything from a bird's eye view and I've not come to, or see, the same view that you have come to see. And that's OK. I think I understand where you're coming from. And it is a lack of trust/confidence that you have lost in those things that are required in order to maintain faith.
Regards,
MG
The fact you don't see things that way is obviously disputed by the study. It seems apparent that there is no shred of evidence that can be presented to you to change your mind. The Ken Ham retort to Bill Nye regarding information that would change his mind lies in this same territory. That must be suffocating.
Trust issues. For me, I've looked at everything from a bird's eye view and I've not come to, or see, the same view that you have come to see. And that's OK. I think I understand where you're coming from. And it is a lack of trust/confidence that you have lost in those things that are required in order to maintain faith.
Regards,
MG
The fact you don't see things that way is obviously disputed by the study. It seems apparent that there is no shred of evidence that can be presented to you to change your mind. The Ken Ham retort to Bill Nye regarding information that would change his mind lies in this same territory. That must be suffocating.
Those "shreds" have come frequently over the years. As far as "changing mind", sure, there were times when I could have done so. But as I said, as I've looked at everything from the 50,000 foot level many of the "shreds" have come together to make what seems to be closer to whole cloth. Granted, it has been and continues to be a process. The determining point, a number of years ago now, was when I saw that there was good reason to have faith and hope in a personal God. Other things flowed from that.
She's such a lovely person, and someone who apologists like DCP simply cannot label away as a "rabid, mouth foaming, angry atheist."
I think it's clear the LDS church is losing their best people, and (on the whole) those with low IQ or low moral character are quickly becoming the majority left behind.
Wow. This may say more about you than it does those "low IQ" folks. In regards to "low moral character" that hasn't been my observation at all. Some of the most moral people on the planet are those that attend the LDS Church on Sunday.
Would Alyssa Grenfell be "such a lovely person" if she was still a member of the church? What's changed??
Interesting clip of the impact just one YouTuber can make...I know of at least two very high income posters here that left the Church as a direct result of this board, Wonhyo and Sanctorium. I'm sure there have been MANY more.
I’m guessing at least 50,000 people have left the church due to John Dehlin’s Mormon Stories.
No worries, right? The church has a rainy day fund just for this. In fact, one might wonder if the Brethren might know something that you don't know in regards to the "wheat and the tares" and the price tag associated with that. I mean, it's a possibility, right?
