Bill Marriott and Porn: It's all about the money ....

[_Sethbag]

Of course there's another angle here, which is that the church willingly accepts the tithing he pays on the money he makes from the porn.

[_Jason Bourne]

Uhhhh while I do not agree with him selling the porn your leap from tithing to porn is illogical and irrational. I am quite sure that if he did not sell porn he could still make his tithing bill.

Of course he could... that is not what I am saying.

He obviously believes the additional funds from porn are important right? (One could argue it is more important than his sense of morality but this is beside the point).

So if he didn't pay tithing the additional funds from porn wouldn't be necessary.. he would still make about the same amount of money.

They sort of cancel each other out.

In other words, if he didn't sell porn and didn't pay tithing he would probably make about the same amount of money if he did sell porn and did pay tithing.

Does that explain what I mean?

~dancer~

I understand what you are saying and it makes no sense.

[_truth dancer]

I understand what you are saying and it makes no sense.

Well, if Marriott is saying he needs the extra funds from porn, maybe he wouldn't need them if he weren't paying tithing.

~dancer~

[_Ray A]

At first I agreed with Jason, but on later reflection, someone theoretically earning $1million a year would be paying $100,000 a year in tithing, assuming Marriott is a tithe-payer. No small bickies.

While comparisons have been made to the missionary calendar subject, what came to my mind was the excommunication of David Wright, who later wrote to his bishop:

First of all, scholarship is not some sort of sin, a "failing of the flesh," which an individual recognizes to be an error and which that individual considers to be a blemish to his or her personal integrity. Scholarship, rather, is a constructive activity and is one of the purest expressions of a person's character. Scholarship involves a failing of the flesh, paradoxically, only when one is not forthright with his or her conclusions, when one holds back evidence, when one dissembles about his or her views in the face of social--or ecclesiastical--pressure. To express one's views, especially when they fly in the face of tradition, in other words, is hardly a sin but rather a virtue. Because Church disciplinary proceedings treat scholarship as if it were sinful, and even employ along the way the polemical myth that sin is what is responsible for a scholar's unorthodox views, the proceedings are an attack on the individual's integrity.

http://www.lds-mormon.com/dpw.shtml

Apparently Wright was in the wrong business.

[_Gadianton]

At this point the church is pretty amoral. It just wants to grow and gain influence however it needs to do it. I think the brethren believe there is something "true" about it whether or not they actually believe in the Celestial Kingdom and the whole line. They certainly I think, believe it would be best if the Church ruled the planet.

The sins that really can't be tolerated are those that stand in the way of this goal in their perception. So it's easy to see why they have a problem with Wright. And it's easy to see why they are willing to not only overlook Marriott, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've told him to continue his business as he is.

I don't believe for a second that the church leaders are all that concerned about gay marriage. Sure, I think they all have the typical prejudice and are very anti-homosexual. But given the severe opposition they have from the ever-growing EVs, I think they see this as a chance to pull the AVP "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" logic and change public perception.

If homosexual marriage became a non-issue for conservative christianity then the brethren would keep quiet about it. At minimum.

[_Jason Bourne]

At this point the church is pretty amoral. It just wants to grow and gain influence however it needs to do it. I think the brethren believe there is something "true" about it whether or not they actually believe in the Celestial Kingdom and the whole line. They certainly I think, believe it would be best if the Church ruled the planet.

The sins that really can't be tolerated are those that stand in the way of this goal in their perception. So it's easy to see why they have a problem with Wright. And it's easy to see why they are willing to not only overlook Marriott, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've told him to continue his business as he is.

I don't believe for a second that the church leaders are all that concerned about gay marriage. Sure, I think they all have the typical prejudice and are very anti-homosexual. But given the severe opposition they have from the ever-growing EVs, I think they see this as a chance to pull the AVP "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" logic and change public perception.

If homosexual marriage became a non-issue for conservative christianity then the brethren would keep quiet about it. At minimum.

I think if you really believe what you wrote above you are sol full of it that your eyes are brown.

I am still waiting for explanation of your Howard W. Hunter conspiracy theory. This is my third request.

[_TAK]

Gad:

I don't believe for a second that the church leaders are all that concerned about gay marriage.

I agree with you but not for the reasons you cite.

I suspect they are fearful polygamy will follow. If that happens it will open up the already badly dented can of worms.

[_Enuma Elish]

You know what frightens me?

I actually thought about this very issue when I heard about the disciplinary action brought against Chad Hardy. I personally find the fact that members of the Marriot family hold significant positions of leadership very disturbing. I know several smaller hotel chains that for morality sake opted not to receive the free cable hookup that the Marriot's enjoy by offering porn.

Notwithstanding the fact that they are GA's, Mission Presidents, Stake Presidents, Bishops, and even Mormon Tabernacle Choir singers, outside of the internet, the Marriot family remains one of the largest facilitators of the pornographic industry.

I'm going to be honest here. I find this issue very, very disturbing.

[_Trevor]

I'm going to be honest here. I find this issue very, very disturbing.

You're a decent fellow.