Mormonism

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Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I care if they were to do that for me either. It just seems a tad creepy, because if you believe what they believe, then what they are effectively doing is they are committing someones soul into being a mormon without their consent.
Well I also don't believe in any kind of mystical "soul" either, so that's not much of a concern either. :D
 

DestinyKnight

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
269
0
0
Why do people join the Mormon church? Simple:

They read the Book of Mormon, pray about it, and receive positive affirmation regarding it.

Everything else, (funny underwear, seer stones, kolob, polygamy, etc.,) is irrelevant.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
The Egyptian papyri do not exist. From what I understand, they were destroyed in the Chicago Fire.

Feel free to go to WWW.LDS.ORG and look around.
 

jihe

Senior member
Nov 6, 2009
747
97
91
The Egyptian papyri do not exist. From what I understand, they were destroyed in the Chicago Fire.

Feel free to go to WWW.LDS.ORG and look around.

Straight from the website:

What Happened to the Mummies and the Papyri?

After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the four mummies and the papyri became the property of Joseph’s widowed mother, Lucy Mack Smith. At Lucy’s death in 1856, Emma Smith, the Prophet’s wife, sold the collection to Mr. A. Combs. Several theories have been offered regarding what happened subsequently to the mummies and the papyri. It appears that at least two of the mummies were burned in the great Chicago fire of 1871 (see B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. [1909–11], 2:380–382).


In the early spring of 1966, Dr. Aziz S. Atiya, a University of Utah professor, discovered several fragments of the book of Abraham papyri while doing research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These fragments were presented to the Church by the director of the museum on 27 November 1967. The current whereabouts of the other mummies and the other portions of the papyri are unknown (see H. Donl Peterson, “Some Joseph Smith Papyri Rediscovered (1967)” in Studies in Scripture, Volume Two, 183–85).
 

jihe

Senior member
Nov 6, 2009
747
97
91
I do get a kick out of all the athiest constantly bashing on anyone that has a religion. It is pretty funny. It seems like the athiests on this board go out of their way to put down religious people, and usually the religious people are just trying to stick up for themselves. Athiests are so hip!

Probably to over compensate for the fact that in real life atheists cop the worst hate, worse than blacks, gays, illegal immigrants, you name it.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,279
14,699
146
Straight from the website:

What Happened to the Mummies and the Papyri?

After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the four mummies and the papyri became the property of Joseph’s widowed mother, Lucy Mack Smith. At Lucy’s death in 1856, Emma Smith, the Prophet’s wife, sold the collection to Mr. A. Combs. Several theories have been offered regarding what happened subsequently to the mummies and the papyri. It appears that at least two of the mummies were burned in the great Chicago fire of 1871 (see B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. [1909–11], 2:380–382).


In the early spring of 1966, Dr. Aziz S. Atiya, a University of Utah professor, discovered several fragments of the book of Abraham papyri while doing research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These fragments were presented to the Church by the director of the museum on 27 November 1967. The current whereabouts of the other mummies and the other portions of the papyri are unknown (see H. Donl Peterson, “Some Joseph Smith Papyri Rediscovered (1967)” in Studies in Scripture, Volume Two, 183–85).

Amazing how all the "proof" seems to have disappeared...either taken by an angel to heaven...or burned in a fire. :rolleyes:
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
106
You should change your name to Capt Fucktard cuz you have no clue what your talking about.

UH OH

You're not supposed to swear.

You clearly do not live a life of morality. I'll bet you even wear underwear with colors! Shame!
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
I'm always surprised how much some people care about what other people believe. It doesn't offend me that they believe something different. Hell, it doesn't offend me that they offer to share what they believe (I actually think that's admirable of them).

It's their business what they do. If they've found something that makes them happy, more power to them.
 

Sixguns

Platinum Member
May 22, 2011
2,258
2
81
I'm always surprised how much some people care about what other people believe. It doesn't offend me that they believe something different. Hell, it doesn't offend me that they offer to share what they believe (I actually think that's admirable of them).

It's their business what they do. If they've found something that makes them happy, more power to them.


This is how I feel. I dont care what you believe and I dont care if you care about what I believe. You wont be changing my mind anytime soon and I know I wont be changing yours. That is why I dont get involved in these types of threads.
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
24
76
Never met a Mormon with more than one wife.

Nor will you ever.

I had once heard the Mormon church banned polygamy before the US did. I just looked it up, and not quite, but close. Mormons banned it in 1896, while the US in 1882.

I am not Mormon (but know a few) and those who do practice polygamy are NOT Mormons. They are separate organizations who named themselves something like "fundamentalist Mormons" or whatever, and are not welcome and are shunned by the real Mormons.

Just my understanding, but hate on people. We all know the next terrorist attack will be done by them evil Mormons in the name of Joseph Smith, and they make terrible neighbors and have ugly children. :rolleyes:

If you have ever been to Salt Lake, they are responsible for the stupidly easy and sensible address system too, anyone can find where they need to go.
 

Jadow

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2003
5,962
2
0
I think the Mormon religion is ridiculous, at the same time though, I work with several guys who are Mormon (software developers), and they are all really smart, hard working, and all in all great guys.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
I think there are some other similar papyrii (Wierd Spelling) that have showed up from different sources. One thing about this ancient text is that it was buried in a tomb and was wrapped in cloth and placed in the hands of the mummy. It is like the person that died sealed his testimony with his death.

The mummies have an intersting history. I think the original owner was french and some other person inhertited them. He was taking them around kind of like a side-show for money. He had heard that Joseph Smith Jr was able to translate ancient text and somehow the came together to translate the text. It is like the Hand of God, or maybe destiny caused them to come together, like it was their pre-determined destiny. It is very interesting.

It is like the famous "Tear down this Wall" speech. Was it just because of Reagan, or was it his destiny for all the right things to happen at once, or was it the hand of God?
 
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piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
The USA did not ban polygamy. You may have a lack of knowledge about Marriage and some of the trials. Every time a Marriage issue has come before the Supreme Court they always rule that Marriage is a specific right that is based on State Law. The federal government for over 100 years has maintained the stance that the Federal Government will not rule on Marriage law. Marriage is up to the individual state to determine what it is and if they are going to put into their laws about it.

The Federal government in its own way interferes with State Law. For instance tax law is often Federal law. At the federal level you can only claim to be married and filing a joint return if one person is Male and the other person is Female. Maybe this will change in the future. For now the federal government is using tax laws and even Medical laws to try to force people to live a certain way. It is the Tyrany of the federal government.

Feel free to go look at some legal briefs and court documents.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Mormons are no different than someone who follows any other religion. Just slightly different beliefs.
 

brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
9,376
454
126
The mormon's I've gotten to know were through school. They've all been intelligent people and have a cool, witty sense of humor. Also nicest people you'll ever meet
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
I've only ever heard of one mormon who converted, that being one of the members here. But I guess there must be more otherwise they wouldn't put so much emphasis on missionary work.

Bottom line is, to an adult who's belief system is well developed other belief systems appear irrational. To an immature person who's belief systems are flawed or incomplete, mormonism may offer an answer. As could any religion. Or even atheism.

Personally I made the conscious decision to eschew religious belief and come up with my own conclusions, which eventually led me to Deism; but I can understand the draw of religion. If I just sacrificed a considerable portion of my logic, I could have had all the answers I wish all justified by divine authority. Would have simplified my life greatly, and provided a comforting emotional fallback and a large social group to immerse myself in. I even tried a few times, in my own way. What always brought me back to Agnosticism and later Deism was my morals, I couldn't be part of a religion and look myself in the eye. I'd always feel like a liar, lying to myself for the sake of comfort. That was and is unacceptable to me, but some people are willing to take a little ignorance with their bliss.

Note that "bliss" is more complicated than you might think. I've heard many religious people describe their conversion as painful as they atoned for their sins or whatever, but that's nonsense IMO. They aren't in real "pain", they're just feeling pain because it's the cost of validation, which they enjoy.


But regardless, there's no reason to disrespect someone for any of the above. Calling them stupid (as Neckbeard does) merely displays ones own ignorance and insecurity. They are people like any other, there is no "master race" of atheists out there. In fact I've known many atheists who are more insecure and incapable then their religious counterparts. Sure maybe the atheists are more intellectually honest, but who's the better person? The religious conservative with a strong family and career, or the insecure atheist who lives in his mom's basement? Or vice-versa? You have to take people individually to render an accurate judgment, and Neckbeard/HAL's eschewing of this basic logic actually shows his true colors. He says his belief system is based on logic, but makes the most illogical and overgeneralized assertions, that even the basic, raw science of psychology and statistics says is wrong. If he published a logical, scientific paper on that premise it would be laughed at by some of the most logical people in the world. This reveals a flaw in his belief system, but instead of turning to religion for validation he seeks it by putting down others.

A mature adult of any belief system is already validated by whatever beliefs they hold; and while they may debate religion, even passionately, they never stoop to the sheer immature irrationality by calling an entire group of people "stupid" with no logical support.
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
0
I never understand people who knock mormons and scientologists - sure their beliefs are unbelievably, mind-blowingly retarded, but no more so than any other religion. Christianity is equally idiotic - virgin births, walking on water, putting every fucking animal on a boat.