Originally posted by Digi
You're a good dude, mon. *cue laugh track*
But I've had to disassociate what you say Mormonism is with what I see elsewhere. Not that any one account is the best or correct one, but yours is hardly the only I see.
You do have to disassociate yourself from what I say regarding Mormonism. Christianity teaches, above all, services to others and unfailing love. That doesn't stop them from hating on gays, does it?
I have a saying about Mormons: you can be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but that does not mean you are actually a saint.
The average Mormon is 50% active at church, judgmental, occasionally pays tithing, occasionally does charity work, puts on a pretty face for their peers, and is self-righteous.
That's not the type of Mormon that would actually listen to a message regarding a sexist trend: they'll continue doing what they want to do despite what the official beliefs are.
That's how it is in most religions.
I teach the official beliefs and doctrines of my church and I used to be a Sunday School teacher. You won't see me filling members' heads with folk-beliefs and pop-Mormon positions.
Originally posted by Digi
http://mrdeity.com/breakingpoint.html
It's a personal story, but there's some cogent points made in it, and it seems to paint the opposite picture of what you're saying, including quotes from several influential Mormon leaders.
The linked essay is by "Mr. Deity," a popular skeptic thinker who runs an ongoing show via his website and youtube channel. He's also very publicly against Mormonism, having come from a Mormon background. This is hardly his only attack on it, but touches on this subject better than most.
Here's the article it references:
http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V24N03_119.pdf
Regarding this link:
http://mrdeity.com/breakingpoint.html
Not only is that a sick and twisted interpretation of what that meant (that a person should lose their life before their virtue), this person is just not right. They are...off? Something is broken in their head.
Those quotes clearly refer to standing up for righteousness even if it meant the loss of your life. It has nothing to do with suicide after you've broken the law of chastity. That's just his sick way of making himself feel better about not wanting to be a Mormon.
Also, his quote about the "brother" (that's what we call each other at church: brother and sister) saying he would not think his wife lost any virtue if she were raped but his wife would think so, is pretty normal. Have you known a woman that has been raped? I have. They feel awful, dirty, disgusting, etc. Depression is common and if they do not get proper support and help, a survivor of a bad rape can turn to suicide as a solution. But that author twisted that man's words into something to fit his agenda.
I'm all for healthy criticism of my beliefs. But not what he's doing. I'll be the first to state problems with Mormonism in an "outside of church" setting. But I'll also be the first to call bullsh*t, bullsh*t.
For me, calling out Mormons for being self-righteous and gay-bashers is an accurate statement. Saying that they generally believe a person should commit suicide if they break the law of chastity is a very inaccurate statement; I don't really think anyone believes that that is an active Mormon. No Mormon believes a woman loses virtue for being raped. That's a niche Muslim thing. If we truly believed that, then why do we think it is okay to get an abortion for rape?