Friendly with apostates--maybe it's bad after all

[_Boaz & Lidia]

Oh how cute! Two Mormons calling each other to repentance! One is an asshole Mormon(bc) and one is a wet exmo :)

[_The Nehor]

Oh how cute! Two Mormons calling each other to repentance! One is an asshole Mormon(bc) and one is a wet exmo :)

If you're feeling left out I think you need to repent.

[cacheman]

They just want their ears scratched as evidenced by how uptight they are when you point out the inconsistencies in their testimonies. It's a case of not being able to take their own medicine. Their blogs pretend to be poignant yet are intentionally interspersed with the "exit story" a strawman version of the LDS Church. They will be your "bestest" friend until you unmask them.

It is not difficult to illustrate this with just a few posts.

What has happened in your life that you view things in such stark terms? There is a broad spectrum of life, a vast tapestry of experience and belief and thought, and yet you see things in terms of black/white, good/evil, pro-Mormon/anti-Mormon, nothing more.

Blogs are fascinating, no matter the source. I like reading testimonies and conversion stories of active LDS, and I like reading exit stories. Why? Because I get a little more connected to my fellow beings by understanding where they are coming from. People don't need "unmasking." They need comprehension and empathy. That's as true of Pahoran and Will Schryver as it is of B&L and Mercury.

I'm sorry that your life has been so severely limited that you can't see beyond a bipolar universe.

[_Dr. Shades]

Jesus certainly dished out a lot of tough love. Is he not our Exemplar?

If the parents are allowed to spank, are the children allowed to spank also?

[_Runtu]

Some still consider me arrogant although it's hard to be arrogant when you finally realize you aren't all that great (at least not past the high school level). Either way, it is not my intention to adopt a combative, agressive stance as that seems to be contrary to Elder Ballard's words.

You're not arrogant. I've very much appreciated your kind tone and evenhandedness. These are virtues, not characteristics to be avoided in the name of "righteousness," in my opinion.

My priority is (or should be) to obey the Truth. It is not blindly following. It is following the best course--the one which has been proven through my experience, and the experiences of many others including my family and experiences recorded in scripture. It is faith obedience. It is similar to following the doctor's orders. I do so because I know he knows better than I do. I don't just blindly follow the doctor because I was told to.

That's as it should be. You will never go wrong following truth.

Flattery might have worked, but I'm afraid I really am getting to know myself better over the years. It has become clear that I embarass myself when I attempt to correct experts. It is also clear to me that my judgment is not superior to that of my family and friends who I know. I think it therefore likely that my judgment is not superior to that of the prophet--especially when time and again it is shown that following them brings happiness.

We all do what we can, abman. You seem to be doing just fine.

[_guy sajer]

This is a commandment we've both been ignoring:

John 13:34

So with that scripture, I'll repent for losing my cool, and hope that you might at least ponder the reference and apply it, if at all possible.

Good night, all.

Jesus certainly dished out a lot of tough love. Is he not our Exemplar? Nite Liz ;)

No he didn't, or at least we don't know that he did. There's no way to confirm many of the stories in the New Testament, which were all written decades after the fact, and which, apparently, a number of tall tales with events that may or may not have happened and may or may not have happened the way they're described.

Why is Jesus our exemplar? Aside from circular appeals to authority, why should we accept Jesus as our exemplar?

Plus, if he is our exemplar, and he preached 'love others as thyself," and "thou shalt not judge," why are you, a devout follower of Jesus, such a judgmental, uncharitable a**hole?

[_harmony]

It has become clear that I embarass myself when I attempt to correct experts.

This is incorrect thinking. If no one ever corrected the experts, then wrongheaded thinking will continue unabated.

I was in a history class once, long ago, when the professor stated that Joseph Smith was hung for treason. I stood up and corrected him. He didn't like it. I guess he'd never had a Mormon in one of his classes before.

Just because the expert doesn't like being corrected doesn't mean the corrector is wrong to point out the error. Even experts make mistakes; even the prophet makes mistakes. Were that not so, we'd have a completely different church (one actually led by Christ) than we have now.

[_Mad Viking]

It has become clear that I embarass myself when I attempt to correct experts.

This is incorrect thinking. If no one ever corrected the experts, then wrongheaded thinking will continue unabated.

I was in a history class once, long ago, when the professor stated that Joseph Smith was hung for treason. I stood up and corrected him. He didn't like it. I guess he'd never had a Mormon in one of his classes before.

Just because the expert doesn't like being corrected doesn't mean the corrector is wrong to point out the error. Even experts make mistakes; even the prophet makes mistakes. Were that not so, we'd have a completely different church (one actually led by Christ) than we have now.

Maybe he meant that Joseph SHOULD have been hung for treason.

[_asbestosman]

This is incorrect thinking. If no one ever corrected the experts, then wrongheaded thinking will continue unabated.

I was in a history class once, long ago, when the professor stated that Joseph Smith was hung for treason. I stood up and corrected him. He didn't like it. I guess he'd never had a Mormon in one of his classes before.

Just because the expert doesn't like being corrected doesn't mean the corrector is wrong to point out the error. Even experts make mistakes; even the prophet makes mistakes. Were that not so, we'd have a completely different church (one actually led by Christ) than we have now.

Experts are qualified to correct experts. Sometimes experts make mistakes as in the case of professors teaching a class. I find it works better to tell the teacher you are confused and have him provide sources or further explanation. If it turns out I'm right, the teacher usually realizes it and all is well. If, as is more likely, I'm mistaken, I finally learn something.

Even when one does know better than the teacher, most of the time one does not and in either case going to the teacher in humility is more effective than arrogantly imagining you are most likely right.

[_asbestosman]

Jesus certainly dished out a lot of tough love. Is he not our Exemplar?

If the parents are allowed to spank, are the children allowed to spank also?

No. Jesus was the perfect Exemplar. My parents were good, but they were imperfect just like everyone else.