For Non-Mormons and Ex-Mormons .....?

Question

I am a Mormon.
My faith teaches me that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, the Savior of the World. That He died for our sins and was resurrected three days later. That He lives now, and that He loves each of us individually and personally. That through the Grace of Christ, my sins can be forgiven. I try to live my live according to the gospel that He taught, and it brings me great happiness.
My faith teaches me to work hard, love my family, support my community. To respect the rights of others to hold their own beliefs, even when they differ from mine.

Here is the question: Why do I see so much hate and personal attacks toward members of my faith on this site? If you don't agree with the doctrine, fine. But why hate me for it? Why try to tear down my faith, to mock and defame past and present leaders of my church?

Atheists -- same question can be asked of you for all Christian denominations. Why so intent on personal attacks?


Let the abuse begin! : )

Some clarification is due, I see.

The main thrust of my question is this: If my faith teaches me to be a good person, and if following my faith as best I can makes me a better person, why is there such a need to tear it down?

As for attacks on the character of past and present leaders of my church ... I see that as very personal. Again, disagreements about doctrine are valid points to raise. Believing and spreading any negative thing you read is not. I personally don't agree with some of the teachings of the Pope, or Martin Luther, or Billy Grahm ... but I don't repeat the vitriolic and nasty things that can be found on websites about them, either. True or not, isn't the actions and words of their adherents a better testimony of their worth?

I appreciate those of you who take great pains not to engage in personal attacks. I am sure that you will agree that this attitude is not necessarily representative of all who post answers ...

Avie -- I am very sorry that you were so offended by the words and actions of the two missionaries who visited you.

Though I was not there (the missionaries may have been insulting in their words or tone, etc), I do know something about the rules under which they operate.
They are not allowed to enter the house when just women are present. Not because of you, but to protect themselves from future unfounded accusations. Not that they would think that you would do such a thing, but it has happened in the past. Hence the rule, applicable to everyone. It is definately not personal, but I can see how it appeared that way to you. I am sorry that you were offended.
As for the common law marriage, they were stating the rules of our church. They may have done so offensively (if so, again I am very sorry!), but they are not authorized to make changes in church policy.

Again, I apologize for the pain and offense you felt. Whether or not they meant it, it was very real to you.

Answer 1

Actually, not all atheists are "intent on personal attacks." Some of us are really accepting. I know it's probably boring to bring up my own personal history, but I'm an atheist and my best friend is a mormon. He and I have vastly different opinions on a lot of things; it's more of a source of interesting conversations than arguments.

Many people are torn down, mocked, and defamed for reasons that I, at least, don't understand. It's not just you. Living in a country where the majority of people are Christians causes a lot of hate to be directed towards atheists too. Some of us get bitter. I'm definitely not saying it's right (it makes me really sad), but I understand it. Even in your question, I can hear a little bit of that same...not exactly defensiveness, but maybe just getting tired of having to defend your beliefs all the time. I guess the key is just to try to put out as little hate as you can and just believe what you believe without forcing it on others.

Answer 2

Believe ½ of what you see and a third of what you hear. Half a million dollars is enough that government agencies get involved on just the whisper of impropriety. Frequently I have jumped on the band wagon of some victim to later learn both parties lost close to equal amounts, and all parties new of the great risk and/or gray area (legally) of what they were doing (usually involving IRS or real estate issues). Then when things got bad they claim the other guy was the crook. I’m not saying your friend wasn't’t duped, I’m saying before you put YOUR good name defending a claim make sure the facts are what you think they are. One red flag is your friends claim that because the banker is Mormon he thinks he can be deceptive. Nothing is further than the truth.

Answer 3

I am no longer a Mormon, for reasons I do not want to discuss on a website. However I will always have a deep respect for members of the church. They have always been hardworking, generous people. My brother is a return missionary and I will tell you, when he came back from his mission he was a completely different person.(in a good way) So even though I don't fully agree with Mormon's beliefs, I will defend them.

Answer 4

I am not Mormon, and I do not tear down the faith....why? Because I have looked into it, and it is a good church, but there are many things I do not agree with in the church. Will I demean it, call it untrue, and say Mormons are polygamists??

No, because I know better than that. I don't know which church is the true church. It could be LDS, Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Jehovah Witness, etc....I don't know which religion is right.

Answer 5

I have nothing against the LDS church or their doctrine. As long as they leave me alone. Their missionaries don't leave people alone. In fact, a lot of them are arrogant little pipsqueaks who think they're better than everyone else because they get to be called "Elder" at the tender age of 18. (I think that to be qualified to have the title of "elder," a man needs to have been married, produced offspring and be at least 75 years old. For me, "elder" is synonymous with "great-grandfather." But, hey, that's just me. What do I know? I'm just a stupid woman.)

I have a lot of anger towards the LDS church right now because I just went through a pretty rough time with some Mormon missionaries. To understand my position, it's imperative to know about the mentalities I was raised with. I was raised with something called the Rule of Hospitality. If a person, anyone, knocks on my door and bears me no ill will, it is considered rude to not let that person in and offer him/her food and drink. When I have a guest in my home, I would be rude to raise my voice to them, insult them or allow another guest to insult them. I expect the same treatment, however, and that's where the problems arose.

I didn't like their implication that I am a complete whore, lacking in any self-control. The missionaries that came to my house were both male and we would have to stay outside unless my husband was home. This is very insulting to me. I am a decent woman, a hospitable hostess and fanatically faithful to my husband. I would never, ever think about seducing two children. I am also skilled in the arts of self-defense and can fight off two attackers easily, should it come to that. They have nothing to worry about. But, sorry, I have to stand out on the front porch in the July heat because the LDS church thinks I'm a loose woman who will try to compromise their pure, virgin "elders."

Second of all, my husband and I are wed by common-law marriage. This is a valid form of marriage in which people who have lived together for a certain amount of time are considered legally married for tax purposes. (Which my HUSBAND and I are--he is my HUSBAND, not my boyfriend.) When they discovered this little tidbit, they told me that even if I were to recieve the revelation of the holy ghost, I could not be baptised because I was breaking the "Law of Chastity." Who are they to sit in MY house and tell my husband and me that we are both unchaste? They had no right.

If that's how LDS missionaries act, then I personally want no part of it. Life your lives and believe the way you want; it has no effect on me. But the next time one of those little boys knocks on my door, the Rule of Hospitality is going to be ignored and this "unchaste" woman who can't control her urges is slamming the door in their arrogant faces!

So, to sum it up nicely, the attacks you speak of only happen when I feel attacked first or I'm asked to explain my anger. I do not mean to be abusive, but the judgment I face on a regular basis as well as the attitudes leaves me more than a little jaded and extremely angry.

Answer 6

When will you people get over yourselves? "Oh dear, we're been attacked because we're soooo nice...Persecution! Persecution!"

As a people, mormons make good neighbors, but poor friends, especially with the agenda of converting everyone (Remember every member a missionary?).

But let's examine the facts of your dogma: Do you know much about Joseph Smith other than the words to 'Hail to the Man"? Or that he not only practiced polygamy with teenagers, but adultery (Polyandry - married to other mens' wives).

Did you know Smith was a Methodist Exhorter in 1828, after his 'first vision' and subsequent 'other visions'? Did you hear about Kinderhook, Book of Abraham, oh yeah, the Book of Mormon's claim the the Indians are remnants of Semitic origin (mitochondrial DNA places the origin squarely in upper Mongolia).

You can 'believe in Jesus' all you want, but the church was founded on a lie (Gold Plates) and hoax (Book of Mormon). Why you insist on following a carny conman as a prophet is demeaning to the word 'christian'.

BTW, I was in the church for 50 years. Tell me something I don't already know.

Answer 7

I cannot speak for all atheists. I personally have never attacked anyone. I have questioned and challenged certain beliefs that make no sense to me. Usually to see if sense can be made from them. Or to see if others can share and/or compare my understanding of things (and I don't come to your house to do it). Some people see this as a personal attack

Answer 8

I will answer the last part of your question about atheists. Why are we so intent on personal attacks. Simply, we aren't. Atheists are underrepresented in this country. It is still OK to discriminate against atheists. Bush said atheists have no right to be citizens. I served in the Marine Corps for six years, but I do not have a right to be a citizen? Perfect.

I get frustrated at ignorance at times, but I really try not to make it personal. I know many theists were taught wrong and it is hard to undo that. It is not your fault.

Answer 9

I don't hate Mormons. When someone doesn't believe in Mormonism it doesn't mean they hate any of the members. I went to the Mormon church myself for awhile so I want Mormons to know the truth about their church.

Here is a site of testimonies from Ex-Mormons so I hope you visit and learn from those that use to be of the faith. http://www.witforjesus.org/mormon/testimonies/lds_ex-mormon.php

Diane

Answer 10

Funniest religion ever. Whats that stuff about Native Americans being Israelites? Must look it up.
Or the one about the Origins of the Book of Mormon.

I don't hate you. I just don't think any religion should be exempt from criticism. I'm sure you're a gentleman in person.