In defense of the LDS Church

[_EAllusion]

One of the things that makes the LDS Church antiquated and bizarre to some outsiders is its tendency to be preoccupied with moral panics broader society has moved well past. The Church's hand wringing over R-rated films, for instance, seems weird, but there was a time when its attitude towards the content of those films was normative. LDS themselves are capable of having the same attitude towards other Churches who are preoccupied with things like the corrupting influence of women wearing pants. If you see the Music Man now, a moral panic created over pool seems odd, but at the time it was written, it made sense. And like in the Music Man, we can easily recognize after the fact that such panics are oft led by people selling you something - a cure - be it a religion, a political party, or band instruments. We know that is worth an eyeroll.

But you know, as silly, as worthy of opposition and derision the LDS Church can be on this front, I'm also feel some sympathy here. After all, there are current, trendy panics that are just as ridiculous, just as harmful, just as ulterior motive laden as what the Church is doing, but they instead of being viewed with the same eyerolls and suspicion, they are taken quite seriously. People are being no less silly here. The unique sin of the Church is more in failing to figure out what the rest of us already have, not its hand wringing per se. That's just human nature.

[_Scottie]

The strict moral code is something that keeps Mormons unique.

I'm not really sure how teaching someone to be more moral than everyone else is viewed as a bad thing. Can you really teach someone to be TOO moral??

Obviously, if someone tries to apply those morals to everyone else, or judges others for not being as moral as he/she is, then it's not good. But trying to become more moral yourself... I don't see the problem.

[_Chap]

The strict moral code is something that keeps Mormons unique.

Do you really mean this in the literal and grammatical sense?

That would imply that you think that the CoJCoLDS is the only group in the world that has a strict moral code, in the sense of a tight set of rules governing ethical aspects of behaviour.

Have you ever met any Jain sadhus? Any Wahhabi Muslims? Any Plymouth Brethren? All these groups have very strict rules governing their ethical behaviour, and there are many other examples. I don't mean to imply that their sets of rules are to my taste - but they certainly have them. In that sense 'Mormons' are far from unique.

Or perhaps you just mean that they are unique in the USA? Or in Utah? But try as I might I can't really find a way to get your statement above to make sense in the world with which I am familiar.

I hope this does not sound rude, but I am genuinely puzzled. Your statement sounds like a bit of left-over LDS-speak to me, and I wonder if, on consideration, you really want to stick to it.

[_Dr. Shades]

EAllusion:

The title of your post is "In defense of the LDS Church." What, exactly, about the LDS church are you defending?

I must've missed it.

[_cinepro]

Pool isn't the only danger to society once singled out by LDS Leaders:

Skating rinks are a menace, and at the present time the desire to frequent them is a craze. They are being introduced in certain Stakes of Zion, and the young people are going wild over this pastime, which they carry to excess. As a result of enthusiasm in relation to this so-called pleasure we mark the downfall of far too many young men and young women. I disapprove of these and other places of amusement where young people are thrown promiscuously into the society of the wicked, who care neither for God nor man, for virtue nor decency.

Elder Hyrum M. Smith
Conference Report, April 1907, p.24

[_Moniker]

The strict moral code is something that keeps Mormons unique.

I'm not really sure how teaching someone to be more moral than everyone else is viewed as a bad thing. Can you really teach someone to be TOO moral??

Obviously, if someone tries to apply those morals to everyone else, or judges others for not being as moral as he/she is, then it's not good. But trying to become more moral yourself... I don't see the problem.

I was in the straightedge movement which kept me away from drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. Also the music was better than what is found in the Church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTWSSCYUD4E

Me - a patient girl. :)

[_bcspace]

I was in the straightedge movement which kept me away from drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. Also the music was better than what is found in the Church.

In light of this, what are we to make of your avatar?

[_Moniker]

I was in the straightedge movement which kept me away from drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. Also the music was better than what is found in the Church.

In light of this, what are we to make of your avatar?

She's the Coop devil girl. Why would you make anything of my avatar? You think an avatar means sex, drugs and alcohol? Huh. Explains a lot I guess....

Do you want me to tell you what I thnk of your avatar and what it says about you? I think not. :)

[_The Nehor]

She's the Coop devil girl. Why would you make anything of my avatar? You think an avatar means sex, drugs and alcohol? Huh. Explains a lot I guess....

Do you want me to tell you what I thnk of your avatar and what it says about you? I think not. :)

Thinking that a nude woman in a provocative pose with big breasts have something to do with sex explains a lot? Yes, it denotes basic comprehension skills.

[Guest]

She's the Coop devil girl. Why would you make anything of my avatar? You think an avatar means sex, drugs and alcohol? Huh. Explains a lot I guess....

Do you want me to tell you what I thnk of your avatar and what it says about you? I think not. :)

Thinking that a nude woman in a provocative pose with big breasts have something to do with sex explains a lot? Yes, it denotes basic comprehension skills.

No, I mean why would an avatar say anything about being promiscuous , essentially.

I just put it up here to offend some people. So, you want to know why I did it? There. I want to offend people. :)