Thoughts on "anti-Mormons"
The following is a comment I left on the One Living Truth message board under the "Response to new anti-Mormon DVD" thread.
I'm tired of the "anti-mormon" label as well. It's overused, and yes, the very term acts as an "off switch" to an otherwise candid and honest (and civil) discussion of the differences between Mormonism and other faiths.
Someone or something that questions, challenges, or disagrees with Mormonism is usually aimed at the doctrine and/or teachings of the church, NOT the people themselves (well, maybe with a few obvious exceptions, such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.)
The problem is that faithful TBMs are so CONVINCED that they have the absolute truth, there's just no changing their minds.
I can only speak from my personal experience as a member for 30 years, but it took me an entire year of inactivity to even accept the mere POSSIBILITY that it was all a farce and based only on lies and deception.
Then it took me another year of research and study before I concluded that the church simply wasn't what it claimed to be...what I'd been taught to believe it to be.
The undeniable fact is that Joseph Smith was a con man...pure and simple. Once an honest seeker of truth comes to that realization, it becomes so easy to recognize the rest of the fallacies of the church and its teachings.
When the tendrils of church doctrine have so completely invaded every aspect of one's life, it's so difficult to even imagine any alternatives. The LDS church is all about rules and control and work (oh, the never ending WORK for salvation and eventual "exaltation") and once you get on that little hamster wheel to heaven, it's almost impossible to get off.
Once a TBM has surrendered his or her rational thought processes and replaced them with church doctrine, a near-impenetrable mental barrier is erected between them and everyone else. Herein lies the "us versus them" mentality. Herein lies the origin of the "anti-Mormon" belief system.
I no longer subscribe to the idea of the LDS church as being "the one and only true church on the face of the planet", nor do I support any "prophet" or other church leader as being an inspired mouthpiece of God here on earth.
So what does this make me?
An "apostate?" Sure.
An "anti-Mormon?" In the eyes of TBM's, probably.
But if I'm an anti-Mormon, then True Believing Mormons like Ron and Bob are anti-everyone else.
I'm tired of the "anti-mormon" label as well. It's overused, and yes, the very term acts as an "off switch" to an otherwise candid and honest (and civil) discussion of the differences between Mormonism and other faiths.
Someone or something that questions, challenges, or disagrees with Mormonism is usually aimed at the doctrine and/or teachings of the church, NOT the people themselves (well, maybe with a few obvious exceptions, such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.)
The problem is that faithful TBMs are so CONVINCED that they have the absolute truth, there's just no changing their minds.
I can only speak from my personal experience as a member for 30 years, but it took me an entire year of inactivity to even accept the mere POSSIBILITY that it was all a farce and based only on lies and deception.
Then it took me another year of research and study before I concluded that the church simply wasn't what it claimed to be...what I'd been taught to believe it to be.
The undeniable fact is that Joseph Smith was a con man...pure and simple. Once an honest seeker of truth comes to that realization, it becomes so easy to recognize the rest of the fallacies of the church and its teachings.
When the tendrils of church doctrine have so completely invaded every aspect of one's life, it's so difficult to even imagine any alternatives. The LDS church is all about rules and control and work (oh, the never ending WORK for salvation and eventual "exaltation") and once you get on that little hamster wheel to heaven, it's almost impossible to get off.
Once a TBM has surrendered his or her rational thought processes and replaced them with church doctrine, a near-impenetrable mental barrier is erected between them and everyone else. Herein lies the "us versus them" mentality. Herein lies the origin of the "anti-Mormon" belief system.
I no longer subscribe to the idea of the LDS church as being "the one and only true church on the face of the planet", nor do I support any "prophet" or other church leader as being an inspired mouthpiece of God here on earth.
So what does this make me?
An "apostate?" Sure.
An "anti-Mormon?" In the eyes of TBM's, probably.
But if I'm an anti-Mormon, then True Believing Mormons like Ron and Bob are anti-everyone else.
posted by Al Jordan | 10:17 AM
5 Comments:
It's actually quite simple. An anti-mormon is someone who prefers to spend their time tearing down the mormon religion rather than studying and building up their own.
Okay, so by your logic STL, Mormons are in fact anti-every other religion, right?
I mean, you can only come to that logical conclusion since they have an entire army of missionaries whose sole purpose is to convince others that they are in the wrong church, or at the very least, that they don't have "the fulness of the gospel."
Am I in the ballpark here?
And how do you define "tearing down" with regards to discussing a particular set of religious beliefs? Am I guilty of this behavior simply because of this blog? This is merely part of the recovery process. It's actually quite helpful (and I daresay healthy) to work through these issues with like-minded people. Unfortunately, there aren't any AA-type meetings for recovering Mormons here in the Salt Lake valley that I'm aware of.
I'm really not as angry at the church as I once was...I think I'm finally about over that phase of the recovery process.
So where do you stand on the issue STL? And what exactly are you "starting to learn?"
I'm just curious.
An "anti-Mormon" is anyone who doesn't agree with the Mormon church. I too am an "apostate" and since I have educated myself about real church history, that automatically makes me anti.
But the word anti is so harsh. Just like you said, most of the discussion is about doctrine, or events, and the only people under the microscope are the leaders who continue to promote the lie.
Mormons are so quick to point out the faults in every one else, but they can't take an ounce of criticism in return, and those who do criticise are labeled "anti". If anyone voices an opposing opinion, they immediately get defensive and start asking, "why are you persecuting me?" They then take that "persecution" as proof that the church is true and satan is fighting it. Religion is nothing more than organized superstition!
By their logic, terrorism must be true, since there are very large groups that are opposed to it... In fact, don't all those suicide bombers believe they will go to heaven for all the non-believers they have blown away? Religion is sick and all it does is mess with people's minds. I can't believe I didn't see it before, but at least I do now.
Great blog, Al. I read all the posts. Wow! I would feel totally threatened/uncomfortable too if my mother-in-law suddenly felt the need to help us get ready for church. Some people are just plain clueless about common decency and ethics... And when you are offended by it, they take it as nothing but your apostate anger and bitterness. Cult!
Ha! I think you and I would get along great Ray. Do you live in Salt Lake?
You're right, TBMs love to play the "martyr" card. They think it somehow justifies their religious beliefs.
For the record, my mother-in-law backed off on coming over to help get the kids ready for church, but she calls on occasion to invite my wife to church with her.
Fortunately, my wife and I still maintain a great relationship, despite our religious differences. It's a subject of conversation we usually just avoid altogether and so far, that approach hasn't had any adverse effects.
I do live in SLC. That's good that your mother in law has backed off. Did you have to say something or did she just figure it out? As I see it, there's nothing wrong with wife going to church with her mother. I've never stopped my wife or son from going although I have to put my foot down when he turns 8. He won't be baptized. 8 years old is not old enough to understand all the commitments you are making to a religion, especially one as demanding as this one! If he wants to join when he's older, then fine, but I am going to make sure he knows both sides of the story.
Yea, same here with the wife relationship thingy. She still believes and for the most part has been very accepting of me. I don't know what will happen long term though. She wants a celestial relationship and that is something I can no longer offer to her.
Go ahead and email me if you want to exchange contact info.
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