A case for the traditional view of religion

[_Bob Loblaw]

You mean je ne sais quoi qua je ne sais quoi.

Just spit out my coffee.

[_Darth J]

Thanks for your kind words, Dean Robbers. I hope that we are also making progress in our lobbying efforts to "teach the controversy," so that chemistry and alchemy will be given equal consideration in public schools.

[_dblagent007]

Professor J, this is a magnificent piece of scholarship. Well done, well done.

[_dblagent007]

Well, I'm looking for a "case" here, but all I see is that you don't like the LDS church and don't consider it a religion. Sure, you get your opinion. But to somehow define "legitimate religion" and discriminate against Mormonism (and who knows what other religions/groups you don't like), sorry, no. Violation of First Amendment. Unconstitutional. UnAmerican. Unjust. And stupid.

Maksutov, read this piece by Daniel C. Peterson: http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865580 ... riage.html

Now reread Professor J's magnificent piece.

[_MrStakhanovite]

So many good things are happening in this thread.

[_Kishkumen]

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This thread is true.

[_ludwigm]

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Saleratus.

[_Some Schmo]

I think part of the problem is a lot of these guys were normal until they went to jail. Then the pressures of not having members of their own religion around, they decide to worship with those available. Next thing you know, they've turned into full-blown lds.

I don't think we should honor and legitimize the behaviors that happen in prison. It's a sad fact that so many people to go to jail normal only to become a member. Sad indeed.

[_Darth J]

As the culture war continues to be waged, I feel this is an opportune moment for us to renew our commitment to the traditional definition of religion. Mormons only represent a tiny fraction of the U.S. population, yet continue to use their disproportionate influence to impose on the rest of us an obligation to recognize their lifestyle as a "religion." Mark my words, this is the camel attempting to get its nose in the tent. There is no logical or principled reason why, if the Mormon lifestyle is acknowledged as a legitimate "religion" the way religion has been celebrated for the last 2,000 years of Western civilization, that the activities of children or even farm animals could not also be re-defined as "religion" as well.