Why I Will No Longer Pay Tithing

[_sock puppet]

Cicero, I think you make some excellent points, and express some of those points very eloquently.

it makes sense for the Church to own "newspapers, broadcasters, and publishing companies" in order to spread its message to the world. It makes sense for the Church to own post-secondary educational enterprises so that its youth can "go to college away from the drinking, sex, and atheism stereotypical of today’s higher education." It makes sense for the Church to own "farms and food processing plants to help feed" the needy.

If there were no newspapers, schools, or farms--or that the LDS Church was such a much more efficient producer of such--then it could be justified. There would be a need. But that's not what is going on with LDS Inc having those interests. Ironically, the LDS Church has divested itself of hospitals for providing care for the poor and afflicted, opting instead for grandiose malls and private hunting preserves. Jesus has certainly grown a lot since his days emerging from the tomb.

I see no legitimate spiritual justification for [the Jesus Mall]. Again, I do not have an issue with the church investing in businesses, but for me the mall simply represents a bridge too far. There were several choices made along the way that are unjustifiable. Did the Church really have to invest billions of dollars into this project?

Since the advent of Hinckley in Charge, yes, LDS Inc really did have to invest billions of dollars in a Jesus Mall. A for-profit corporation is compelled to do just as LDS Inc is doing--making a profit without regard for the people that get run over in the process.

The church cuts corners to save money in building cookie-cutter temples and chapels so why did they go all out here?

Priorities. Fancy malls draw more patrons; endowment temples are becoming passe.

Why a high-end luxury mall with stores like Tiffanys? What does that say about the type of people you want to attract to downtown SLC?

Tithe payers. Big tithe payers to be exact.

And for the love of Pete, why on earth would you have the prophet stand there with the First Presidency to cut the ribbon and say "let's go shopping!!"

LDS is now the life insurance sales version of religions. It's packaged. It plays off of fear. It's slick. And it requires a promoter.

I can think of only one reason: to generate publicity and encourage Mormons to come out and shop at the mall. What a great message to send during a recession. What happened to "avoid debt and unnecessary expenditures"? Why not have Mcmurrin cut the ribbon? It would still be offensive, but much less so. As I said above, the juxtaposition of God and mammon has always been uneasy, but the Church just put them right together in a very striking "in-your-face" manner by having the prophet cut the ribbon and utter those now infamous words. Is the President of the church really supposed to be prophet, seer and . . . salesman? I see nothing spiritual in that and I will no longer pay any tithing to support it.

Actually, the ribbon-cutting may have been cheeky, but it was one of the most genuine moments for a Mormon prophet in the last 35 years.

[_Bob Loblaw]

Actually, the ribbon-cutting may have been cheeky, but it was one of the most genuine moments for a Mormon prophet in the last 35 years.

Amen.

[_Drifting]

Actually, the ribbon-cutting may have been cheeky, but it was one of the most genuine moments for a Mormon prophet in the last 35 years.

Amen.

And it put paid to the rumour that Church officials can't count...

[_LDSToronto]

The Mall is providing many jobs for people who need jobs. If you were working at the mall, you would be grateful for the mall.

Well I'm not, so I'm not. I'm actually a poor African Mormon who has sent his sons away to earn a few thousand dollars so our family can travel to the temple and be exalted in the highest degree of glory. My boys will return in a few years from the diamond mines with a meagre amount. Unfortunately, I also have an E.coli infection due to the water quality in my village. The missionaries were by to assure me God gives me this blessing to make me stronger. I sure wish God had blessed me with a mall or a water filtration system instead.

H.

[_Shixon1]

Oh I don't know, His ways are not our ways and all that. In addition to hotels, God also does seem to take a peculiar interest in ship building. He even designed a functional wooden submarine. Amazing!

How many jobs are created by church investments and holdings? Many. I see no problem with job creation.

I worked as an interen on a ranch the church owned in Nebraska. I was surprised at how the church did not pay the full time employees very good.

[_maklelan]

bcspace seems to be about scoring cheap points, not about understanding.

I'm not defending bcspace's dogmatism, but you say this like it's unusual when it is true of the vast majority of the posts from the vast majority of posters on this board. You certainly aren't here promoting any understanding other than one that will score you cheap rhetorical points.

[_sock puppet]

bcspace seems to be about scoring cheap points, not about understanding.

I'm not defending bcspace's dogmatism, but you say this like it's unusual when it is true of the vast majority of the posts from the vast majority of posters on this board. You certainly aren't here promoting any understanding other than one that will score you cheap rhetorical points.

mak, have you taken the prophet's clarion call and gone shopping at the City Creek Mall yet?

[_Bob Loblaw]

I'm not defending bcspace's dogmatism, but you say this like it's unusual when it is true of the vast majority of the posts from the vast majority of posters on this board. You certainly aren't here promoting any understanding other than one that will score you cheap rhetorical points.

Who says it's unusual? I said it because Cicero seemed to be under the mistaken belief that bcspace's comment was anything other than a cheap shot. That's not unique to the spaceman, but it's best to realize before you attempt a serious discussion that you realize what the other person is doing.

[_maklelan]

mak, have you taken the prophet's clarion call and gone shopping at the City Creek Mall yet?

Now this is seeking understanding instead of just cheap points, isn't it?

[_maklelan]

Who says it's unusual? I said it because Cicero seemed to be under the mistaken belief that bcspace's comment was anything other than a cheap shot. That's not unique to the spaceman, but it's best to realize before you attempt a serious discussion that you realize what the other person is doing.

So you acknowledge that pretty much everyone here is just crafting more and less elaborate cheap shots.