Mormons

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

Jesus wasn't white...

Seriously, how many white people with long, stringy hair and blue eyes do you see wandering the Middle East?

Yea and I'm quite sure he wasn't Asian either...

"Our Lady of China with Child Jesus"

Well Jesus is buried in Japan. Yes, it's true.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Yea and I'm quite sure he wasn't Asian either...

"Our Lady of China with Child Jesus"

Maybe he's Korean?

[Platapus]

I thought the story was that god made man in his own image? GEN 1:27

Then should we not all look alike?

[Stealth Hunter]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I thought the story was that god made man in his own image? GEN 1:27

Then should we not all look alike?

This.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I thought the story was that god made man in his own image? GEN 1:27

Then should we not all look alike?

God works in mysterious ways, or some such ****.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

God works in mysterious ways, or some such ****.

I try to tell that to my boss -- that I work in mysterious ways. He does not buy it either.

[Feuer Frei!]

Obviously we need to keep in mind, as i'm sure most of you do, that unfortunately (depending on which side you base your beliefs on) it is human nature that when we believe in something that we assign pictures to it.
Of course Religion is one such belief, where the stereotypical picture of a bearded white man dressed in white robes and holding a thunderbolt or the like is the picture that most of us have in mind.
Now of course for us Christians, me included, is that one of the first things that comes to mind is that we do not question the word of the Lord, for that is not our purpose.
Also, in regards to the pictures made up in magazines, editorials, subscriptions and the like by everyone, including the other denominations, that is of course normal, once again, human nature tells us that is easier to believe in something if you have an idea of what that belief looks like.
Me personally, i do not need to have an image, ridiculous and stereotypical in most cases, to believe in the Lord.
What i'm writing here is not intended to be a religious lesson, nor is it the intent to criticise other people's beliefs, however i do take the firm stance that it is so ignorant and plain stupid when the ignoramouses of this world make the assumption that it is the religion that is at fault, not the people that actually perpetrated the offenses or causes of alarm.
That is a big gripe of mine.
The word of the Lord does not condone the actions of the unsavoury behaviour of its perpetrators, i'm not sure where people get that idea from.
Once again, people were given the choice to chose right from wrong, it is up to the individual to take it from there.
Religion teaches us to love one another, to stand by each other and respect and cherish what we hold dear in our lives.
To turn the other cheek, etc etc.
Not to kill, to maim, to steal, to rob, to hurt one another.
The people that are in positions of trust within the church that disobey the Lord's teachings are the ones that have chosen the wrong path, not religion.
Quiet clear to see.
Ignorance will tell us of course that the Church is failing, that religion is dead, that the teachings and scriptures are wrong.
I totally agree that there has to be accountability by the church and that those sinners need to be held accountable to the full extent of the law, no doubt.
My $10 worth.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Not to kill, to maim, to steal, to rob, to hurt one another.

... unless your a follower of the Sith sect of Jediism...



... yes Jediism is a religion...

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

What i'm writing here is not intended to be a religious lesson, nor is it the intent to criticise other people's beliefs, however i do take the firm stance that it is so ignorant and plain stupid when the ignoramouses of this world make the assumption that it is the religion that is at fault, not the people that actually perpetrated the offenses or causes of alarm.
That is a big gripe of mine.
The word of the Lord does not condone the actions of the unsavoury behaviour of its perpetrators, i'm not sure where people get that idea from.

I don't agree and could really rip into that claim if I wanted to, but I'll be nice and only give it a glancing blow.

Frankly I think this sort of behavior goes part in parcel with the basics of most religions. Your typical religion sets up the statement that they are the only true religion and that all others are false (or often much worse). Even if they do not explicitly say that, the premise is generally still there (if our religion is different then others, then there must one that is right, therefore the others are wrong and these people are ignorant and must see the light). This is basic human nature to, hate and fear that which is different and unalike.

Second, this lack of questioning found in many faiths is what makes members so vulnerable to people who exploit and use them. It is part of what makes suicide bombers, and other religious terrorists possible. They must believe without question. It is also what permits all the other stuff that happens in religion, which most would find highly questionable otherwise.

These 2 things combined together (I am right + lack of questioning) are what create 'holy' wars, forced conversions, the inquisition, the holocaust (Nazism was effectively a religion as practiced by the SS, and the effect of the Christian hatred of Jews), persecution of other groups, justification for racism and slavery, etc etc etc ad nauseum.

So ya I would say the institution is inherently responsible. Now if you want to get to something that really pisses me off... people who put words into "God's" mouth. Who the hell do they think they are, that they think they can claim to know what "God" wants. If there is such an entity, it would have to be completely beyond our comprehension, and understanding, thus rendering us incapable of knowing what it desires (or if it even desires, as that is a mortal trait).


Now as a more general comment, anyone ever noticed, how very quickly people of faith get angry if you even begin to question their beliefs. They can go from happy and pleasant, to angry and rude in the blink of an eye. I find that very odd and attribute it to doubt and anxiety. If a person is secure in their beliefs then logically they should be able to take any amount of questioning or worse. You see a lot of insecurity in the full video OTH started the thread with.

Frankly I think the reason people get so hostile is because they are afraid of being shown their beliefs are not real, or worse of looking stupid for believing something that would otherwise be considered absurd if it wasn't cloaked in religion. Most people are very insecure in their faiths, which makes them quick to take action to reinforce that faith.


Anyhow, ultimately I don't care what other people believe, as long as it does not directly affect me or how I choose to lead my life. But I do not like organized religion, due to it being a power entity and due to what it does in the world, which is mostly harm in my eyes. All of that in exchange for a bit of comfort in a world that is totally mad, and a bit of hope towards that which is forever void of knowledge, death.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I thought the story was that god made man in his own image? GEN 1:27

Then should we not all look alike?

We do. Two eyes above, nose in the middle, mouth under. At least that's what Humpty Dumpty said to Alice.

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Mormonism is BIG in utah. Well, the state was practically founded on it.

Practically? After Joseph Smith was martyred, Brigham Young started looking for a place they could go and not be bothered. After talking to John C. Fremont, who had explored the Great Salt Lake in 1840, Young broght the first Mormons here in 1847. No 'practically' about it - Brigham Young founded Utah and only tolerted non-Mormons when he realized there was not much he could do about it.

And there's alot of weird laws and prohibitions (social or legal) because of it. THey're not allowed to drink coffee for instance, its considered a "hot drink",[/quote]
I don't know where the "hot drink" thing comes from. The injunction is against caffeine. Tea is also verboten, hot or cold, as are most soft drinks.

and you can't go into a supermarket and buy beer either. Have to go to some special state run store.

Sure you can buy beer in grocery stores, convenience stores, in fact just about anywhere. But the alcohol content is 3.2%. You have to go the the State-owned liquor stores to by full strength beer or any hard liquor, including wine.

It used to be (right up until last year) that to sell anything stronger than 3.2 beer you had to get a state liquor license, and only private clubs could do that. This meant that:

1. Bars could only sell 3.2 beer, nothing else.

2. Restaurants that wanted to serve wine with dinner had to get a private club license and then a special liquor license. The liquor cabinet was in the back and had a sign on it: State Liquor Store #238. They could bring the bottle (or usually minibottles) to your table, but they couldn't serve it. They would bring the 'setups' - glasses etc - but you had to pour it yourself.

3. Since hard alcohol was only served at private clubs, every ad for a band was accompanied with "A private club for members". But they were very non-exclusive. When I wanted to see a certain band and called to ask about membership, I was told the only requirement was a yearly $25 fee. At the ski resorts they were very careful to ask if visitors were members, and if they weren't to quickly explain that: A. They could get a week-long membership for $5, and they could bring in five guests, or B. "Joe over there is a member. If anybody asks, tell them your his guest."

People used to blame the private clubs for keeping this wacky system going, but the fact is that it was only ten years or so ago that we first got a member on the state liquor commission who actually drank. That, and the minute the law was changed and anybody could get a liquor license, the former private clubs suddenly became regular bars.

But it gets weirder.