Why are people so discriminative against mormons?

Question

I am Mormon. I've gotten discriminated against because of this. All people focus on is the things that we did in the past or the things that we used to practice. I don't see anything wrong with us or the choices we make or the way we live. Any opinions from either side?

The LDS church is not a cult.
We do not practice polygamy in this day and age.

Answer 1

Thank you for your sincere question, sir.

I have found that many Mormons have not fully studied what they believe by examining all the doctrinal literature that the Mormon leadership had produced. I challenge you to dig deeper looking beyond what you have been told to read by the local stake leadership.

Once a person carefully studies the doctrines and theologies of the Mormon beliefs (see sources below), they can then form their own conclusions.

Mormonism Summary:
http://www.carm.org/lds/nutshell.htm

Is Mormonism Christian?: http://www.carm.org/lds/lds_christian.htm

Doctrinal Writings of Mormon Leaders:
http://www.carm.org/lds/lds_doctrines.htm

More details for those wanting to go deeper:
http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm

Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vAxFukTcrI&mode=related&search=

Sadly, there are many members of religious groups that have staked their eternal souls on nothing more than superficial beliefs without searching the scriptures, studying hermeneutics, philosophy, logic, and theology to satisfy themselves that what they have been told is sufficiently rational and worth believing.

Answer 2

Well you answered your own question. People focus on what you did in the past. Most people hate what they don't understand and sometimes for it as well. I doubt too many people fear you though. I also think that South Park kind of made things worse. They ran an episode about the Mormon faith and how it got started. The way it was presented was loosely based on actual Mormon belief, but the way it was presented wasn't at all flattering. It actually makes your faith seem ludicrous. I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying that's the way it made it look. Another cause of problems for you seems to have been those polygamy cults that have been cropping up. Theoretically those cults are an offshoot of Mormonism. Gives your faith a lot of bad press.

Answer 3

There are some good points and some obviously misinformed people here, but what it comes down to is that it is religion. People feel very strongly about religion, and would typically not be a member of their faith unless they believed it to be true. If they believe their faith to be true then yours cannot be. But, religion is faith based, meaning there are little in the way of physical or objective evidence to prove the truthfulness or authenticity of a religion. You can only get a personal witness of it's truthfulness. Because of the personal nature of religion it is inappropriate for anyone to disrespect or tear down someone because of what they believe, whether you are a Mormon doing it or some other faith tearing down Mormons. That is clearly not Christian.

The past is important, and there is nothing in the past of the Mormon church that anyone should be ashamed of. Of course, there have been members of the church that have not been good people and have shed a negative light on the church, but that is not the church. What is important is that each person find out for themselves what they believe. As someone else stated, they should educate themselves in all areas (which I find Mormons do very well) and find out what is correct for them. I know the Mormons don't put the Book of Mormon above the Bible, but value them equally. I know Mormons believe in Christ and recognize He is the central figure in their Faith, that only through Him can they receive salvation. People will always be criticized for what they believe, especially if it isn't in line with the majority. It isn't personal to you, but to them. As long as you are secure in what you believe that is all that matters. Good luck.

Answer 4

People discriminate against that which they do not understand. Most people who say they dislike Mormons have probably never took it upon themselves to actually look into their beliefs. They believe what any Tom, Dick and Harry tells them and then spread the lies and rumors furthur.

Unfortuantely for Mormons, the beginnings of the church and the past deeds of members of the church do make people wary. I personally do not agree with the Mormon religion and the way it began. But not agreeing with it and talking badly about it are two different things.

Do not let other people get to you. They will pick apart and discriminate against anything different than their own cookie-cutter belief system. God gave us free will. Do with it as you wish. :-)

Answer 5

I am a nonpracticising catholic. I face the same from just being catholic whether I practice my faith or not, so I can empathize with you.
Personally, I never heard of a mormon till I moved down to florida as a little girl. One of my first friends was a mormon, very welcoming to a northerner therefore I look at mormons in a postive way based on my first experience with them. I have no prejudices against mormons. Its a shame in this day we still have so many intolerant and ignroant people. All religions have skeletons in their closet. I see those who are first to point the finger at others have 2 pointing back at them.

Answer 6

That's just some people. One man's church is another man's cult.
Also, religion or better yet religious institutions and their correspondng cultures are political. One may seem more powerful and larger than the other. This power relationship or power tug-of-war results to perceptions and actions that may be discriminatory.

I am a Catholic but I respect you. As long as you or others are not doing anything against the Love of God or the well-being of others, we are basically on the same side.

And to those who discriminate you, just let God be the judge.

Answer 7

Maybe because they that Discriminate dont know anything About them? Fear and ignorance Breeds Hate--- Many things in the World are viewed the Same Way--afterall, Im 45 and Born in Kansas in the USA and I know very little about the Mormon Religion,...but , I dont Hate them. I am Sorry for you and Anyone thats discriminated against,...I am Discriminated against all the Time- I guess all you can Do is Pray for those that Discriminate (tresspass) against you

Answer 8

You ask why so many " discriminate" against mormons... the following are some reasons... I fully expect some one to report this... even though this is exactly what the asker asked for... and YA will go along with the reporter because they are almost as afraid of the mormons as they are of the islamies...... but here is the responce to what was asked for....The deceptions of the mormon cult are keeping good people from knowing The Truth of The Salvation Message... for generations mormons taught that the christians were the enemy...I know this because I was activly recruted on may occasions by "good" mormons... now for PC and PR reasons they have deceptivly changed their tactics and now claim to be "christian"...I know this because of more recent attempts to recrut me which gave compleatly different positions that the recruters from a few years ago... deliberatly, in my opinion, to decieve and keep people from The Truth of God... it is so sad that so many otherwise good people are so decieved.... and there is another truth... That I have personaly witnessed and experienced over the years...a great many so-called mormons are only in it for what is in it for them... they use the cult to further their own advancment... it is very much a part of the mormon way to not associate with non mormons and to give all concideration in emplyment and advancement only to other mormons...I have personaly witnessed this as well... in many areas they dominate the economy and jobs and the law... several very good reasons to be in oposition to that cult.... that is part... of why they are discriminated against...... valid reasons in my opinion and experience.

Answer 9

Why do Mormons feel the need to convert the whole world and tell everyone their church is corrupt and of the devil? Your church is NOT the only true church on the earth. I don't care what Joseph Smith said. Who are you going to believe Jesus or Joseph? They both can't be right.

Answer 10

i am mormon as well.. but i can tell you why we are discriminated against.. let me give you a few reasons

1. some of our members get carried away with shunning everyone elses beliefs and end up looking like stuck up goody goodies who are hypocrites because they hate on everyon

2. some of our members are too pushy. great.. try to share the gospel.. but don't shove it down people's throats.

3. alot of people are misinformed about exactly what we believe and don't take the time to learn about it

4. for some reason, other "christians" tend to focus on bringing our church down more than learning about their own faith. you don't see mormons protesting outside of baptist conventions handing out pamphlets about becoming mormon, do you? we believe our church is the true church.. and if it is, satan's going to do eveything he can to try to take us down right? so think about that.

5. the first few problems are more prominent in utah.. however, the misinformation tends to occur outside of utah, wehre its not as common.. though more common than most people realize

by the way.. i was raised baptist and converted to the church.... so i've seen both sides... and thats why i think i have these opinions, plus my husband and i have discussed it a lot

and i think the biggest problem on OUR part... is we need to be more tolerant. everyone is entitled to their own believes.. and god loves us all the same. ultimately, he is the judge of who goes where... and i know its frustrating.. but every belief is discriminated by someone... so just try to ignore it and worry about strengthening your faith!

hope that helps!!!