Blind Faith (621 hits)
Category: SportsRating: 1.75 on 10 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by ButterSnatch <el_em_en_oh.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-11-30 16:47:16 EST
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A good friend has asked me what my beliefs and/or views are regarding the LDS faith. I felt obliged to give this question an actual answer other than my usual "Fuck off you religious zealot" canned answer. Let me say first of all that I have a few 'difficulties' with the LDS faith. Oh yeah, and there's no Religion category, so Sports will have to suffice.
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Shall we begin?
Jesus was born of an incestuous relationship between God and Mary? Yes, that is what the LDS church believes. Allow me to explain: According to the LDS faith "GOD" was once a man of flesh and bone, just like you and me. Oh yes, he worshiped his god and as a reward for his faith and righteous life he was exalted to a state of Godliness. Yes, I am afraid our God is only one in an infinite number of gods (which defies logic) everyone. After he allowed his wife (Goddess if you will) to stand at his side they began a spiritual family, hence my brothers and sisters here on Earth. Now God had a wife but came to Earth as a man to impregnate his DAUGHTER Mary. Okay but get this, Mary is still a virgin because "God" impregnated her and not a mortal. Hmmm. I don't know if my lowly semi-moral human mind can get behind that.
I want to tell you that I will be able to understand this all one day but due to the fact that I am not an active church member (I don't pay my 10%-of-annual-income tithe) I no longer do baptism for the dead, I don't have a celestial marriage, and I don't know the secret hand shake I will not be able to become a God myself. Oh yes, what others might call blasphemy is commonplace within the LDS faith. If you live righteously and by the rules set forth by "the Church" you too can become a God! An equal to your creator!
A woman cannot get into heaven unless her husband begets it? Yes, the sexist nature of religion in general is enough to make every feminist scream until her head explodes, but the LDS religion takes it to a whole new level. There have been repeated statements made by the leaders of the LDS faith as well as its founders suggesting (and in some cases saying out right) that men are superior to women. Even today they go to two different sets of classes, each teaching a different lesson. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I can't have a baby. I can't feed a baby with my breast (well maybe I could if I tried REALLY hard). My threshold for pain is lower than that of a women. My sexual urges dominate many of the choices I make in my life, and I actually feel things physically and emotionally at a lessened capacity when compared to a women. Now you tell me who is superior (and this statement WAS not made just to get into any Uberfemale panties).
The inconsistencies and contradictions between the bible and the book of Mormon are innumerable. Yes, I have taught the faith here and there, and in my time teaching I read the two books to prepare and create lessons. One thing that continually tested my moxy was the contradictions between the two books. Look, this is the word of God, right? I mean, if in fact the LDS faith is "true" as it professes then why does one of its main articles of faith state, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God"? Okay, why do we accept the Bible "as far as it is translated correctly" but there is no question that the Book of Mormon is 100%? Oh, I see God changed his mind about some things! Well he was once only human. No, I am of the opinion that certain portions of the bible would not conform to the teaching of the LDS religion so this little clause was put in place. According to the Bible, doesn't eternal damnation await the individual who changes, re-writes or alters the Bible or its teaching? Surely the LDS religion is the exception to this rule.
Racist bullshit? NO, not in the LDS religion! WRONG. This is one of the biggest black eyes for the LDS religion. Unlike the many revisions and alterations that have befallen the Book of Mormon since its inception, most people are actually aware of the sudden change in the Mormon religions standing concerning people of ethnicity. For damn near 150 years the LDS faith denied the priesthood to people of African American decent. Why you ask?? Didn't you know? They are all descendants of Cain! Yes Cain...you now...of the Cain and Able fame. Crazy? Maybe. This was put forth as an official church doctrine and policy except for a personal African American friend of Joseph Smith and his descendants...Oh and Walker Lewis who stayed behind as the Saints fled. It wasn't until June of 1978 that Spencer W. Kimball Received "a revelation" form his lord that this policy changed. Um, why would a religion sent by God himself conform to the social changes of society? I guess God just discriminated against African Americans until 1978.
Don't even get me started on the Joseph Smiths quote about men on the moon who dress like the Quakers and live to be nearly 1000 years old. Oh boy.
Look, I could go on and on but the fact remains that ALL religions of the world are flawed. They all have their dirty secrets and their contradictions. I say this because I want you to understand that I hold no ill will towards the LDS religion. I merely take it for what it is. I have said it before (maybe not Uber'd it, but I know I've said it to someone at some time): Organized religion is flawed because men are flawed, and no matter how you cut it, MEN run the religious show down here on earth.
Unfortunately, people are afraid of this crazy world. It has no promises other than death and organized religion gives some people peace. Finally, NO religion is better than another. Anything can be picked apart and made to look ugly, but there is a beauty to everything... even the LDS religion.
You want to know what I think of the LDS faith? Like every other religion that has ever been it can give hope to the hopeless, yet it can crush the human spirit. It can build monuments worthy of a God, yet it can destroy the homes and lives of the meek. It can give a light in the darkness to those who conform, yet it can smite those who turn away with the blackest of hands. It's a tale as old as time and men have always had their gods. The LDS religion is no different. As I travel in this life I will offer my hand to all, should they deny me based on my religion or lack there of... it is not the choice of a God, but the choice of a man.
User Reviews
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2005-12-01 00:30:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Almost forgot....opinions on Ubersite mean nothing, so basically I'm a shit eating fuck tit for even trying to convey an opinion.
This IS a good post though. Makes people think (maybe that's not a good thing).
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2005-12-01 00:28:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Shit happens. God does not exist and does not make us pawns. Shit happens, accept it. Make your own life and choose your own way. That's all I'm getting at.
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-12-01 00:11:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Because I'm a Communist.
While it's true that many wars have been justified in hindsight on religious or humanitarian grounds, this is rarely the reason in practice. Often, it's both political and economic, but for most of (western) history this has been obscured by the fact that
a) one or both parties was of European background, generally the victor
b) religion was far more predominant, since there was no separation of church and state
c) it was generally believed that the king was the next best thing to "God" (or didn't you learn about the Elizabethan world order in high school?).
As for wars in other areas of the world, the leaders were either considered god-like, or the reasons were actually much more clear.
Also, just because 'traditional' laboratory science doesn't explain everything, doesn't mean the same sort of reasoning and logic can't be applied to social situations.
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2005-11-30 20:08:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
chuck norris hand-fed me a soft taco.
it gave me the skids.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2005-11-30 19:56:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Things called "impossible" are often the ravings of one who
doesn't understand all possibilities and is too dogmatic
in his/her science background. Many things throughout
history are inexplicable by the use of science.
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2005-11-30 19:11:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have issues with religions that are irrational (ie every religion). For example, to believe that a man was killed, then came back to life 3 days later is not humanly possible as well as a virgin birth (prior to artificial insemenation). That's not rational, and only rational things can occur on Earth. People say he was a god and that's how he came back, bull shit, it cannot happen on Earth. People don't die then come back to life 3 days later. Impossible! Plus, religion has done nothing but cause problems throughout the world. Just about every war was started because of a religious flaw or conflict. This world would be better off forgetting about religion as it is, accept life and that SHIT HAPPENS, and accept the unknown and stop making up excuses (religion in general) for what they can't explain. Afterall, religion is just an excuse for something science has not YET explained.
+2 for the word moxy
Submitted by polymorph505 (user info) at 2005-11-30 18:59:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
dum dum dum dum dum
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2005-11-30 17:41:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
sure. i jerk off with sandpaper.
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-11-30 17:05:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well put together.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-11-30 16:51:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My favorite myth about LDS is how when Jesus visited America, and hung out with the Native Indian dudes - fat lot of good He did them, eh wot?