Living With Mormons

This is what the Church stands for?

News like this really reinforce in me the desire for my wife and my children to disassociate themselves from the LDS church.

“I have this deep sense of failure for not being at Lisa’s bedside when she died,” Ms. Langbehn said. “How I get over that I don’t know, or if I ever do.”

I live!

I’m sorry I’ve been away for a few days, but I was busy getting ready for my first Marathon this past weekend.
It was all said and done on Saturday, so now I’m back (recovering).

Not much is going on these days, so I’ll leave you with this article I’ve been following recently:
It’s the story about a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one of the most treatable forms of cancer, and whose family has denied medical care due to their religious beliefs.

It’s a sad story so far, but it promises a happy ending, since a Minnesota judge ruled the child will be evaluated for continued treatment (if it’s not too late) against the parent’s (and the child’s) wishes.

Faith: Vice or Virtue

On my son’s first day in Primary, I was sitting in the back listening when the introductory subject about “faith” was quickly raised to welcome the new group.

In trying to explain to these young children, the teacher (understandably) opted for a very simplistic explanation of the word, in which she stated “Faith is believing in something you can’t see.”

That description might suffice for a 4-year-old, but rational adults ought to look at the real meaning of what the word “faith” means and its implications in our decision making.

Believers quite often state that scientists and skeptics use faith in coming to certain conclusions or better, that it takes just as much faith to believe certain scientific statements as it does religious ones.

Mitchel Kahle of Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church wrote a nice, short answer to this question.

The essence of faith is belief in a proposition without substantive evidence or logical justification. The simple statement “I believe…” encapsulates the basic meaning of faith.

If a proposition is supported by facts and logic, then it qualifies as a statement of knowledge, as opposed to a belief. Unlike faith, knowledge is considered universal. It would be silly to state, “I have faith that the ocean is salty,” when it is common knowledge that the ocean is salty. If one has proof for a proposition, faith is irrelevant.

To say “I believe in vampires” is a statement of pure faith, since there is absolutely no evidence or justification for such belief. In this case, one could hardly argue that faith qualifies as virtue. An argument from faith is an admission that the claimant lacks any form of tangible proof.

he continues:

“I believe there is life on other planets,” is a statement of faith, but one of high probability. There is currently no direct evidence that life exists apart from the Earth. But among other things, the sheer size of the universe and vast number of galaxies known to contain similar suns and planets justifies belief in extraterrestrial life.

In the absence of evidence, beliefs may be justified, if not proven, by the use of well-reasoned logic. A belief that is not logically defensible, however, should be considered false until proven otherwise.
…
Faith is a vice, if one fails to recognize that his or her beliefs could be wrong. Faith can be a virtue, however, if the believer remains open to all possibilities. In the former case, as history proves, faith is an impediment to human progress. In the latter, it may well be a catalyst to discovery or a precursor of knowledge.

Let’s talk about Jesus

jesus

President signs National Day of Doing Nothing Whatsoever Proclamation

The President of the United States has signed into law today the designation of the first Thursday of May as National Day of Prayer.

“Let us remember those who came before us, and let us each give thanks for the courage and compassion shown by so many in this country and around the world.
On this day of unity and prayer, let us also honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. We celebrate their commitment to uphold our highest ideals, and we recognize that it is because of them that we continue to live in a Nation where people of all faiths can worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience.
Let us also use this day to come together in a moment of peace and goodwill. Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times.”

Boy, it sounds like we could have instead called it many other things other than Prayer.
Maybe National Day of Gratitude? National Day of Freedom Recognition? Heck, even National Day of Reflection would have been better.

“I call upon Americans to pray in more thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection for this land that we love.”

No, thanks. I would rather choose to do something more productive on that day. Anything that might actually yield real results, like spraying my house for bugs.

LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young!

lds_baptism The LDS Baptism has to be one of the best arguments for Joseph Smith being a true prophet of God, but it seems the Church has overlooked this ever so ingenious of rituals.

Allow me to explain:
One of the biggest claims by apologists for the validity of the Book of Mormon is that one Joseph Smith could not possibly have written such a complicated and descriptive narrative, full of details and intricate language, at the young age of 25 without divine assistance.
But Mormon history (the real history… not the stuff the Church pieced together over the years) clearly shows that it was not only possible, but a person of Smith’s character was actually required to pull off such an immoral stunt.

However, when ol’ Joe claimed he received a revelation that all children “shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old,” he hit one out of the ball park, in my opinion.
According to Smith’s revelation, we are all born innocent and children younger than 8 years of age cannot be held accountable for their sins since they do not possess the ability to discern right from wrong.

Children turning 8 are then, allegedly, given the choice to be baptized into the LDS Church and continue their spiritual journey as an official member.

At this age, children are also beginning to develop an understanding of their own self, analyzing relationships in terms of acceptance and seeking to gain confidence in all areas of their lives.
Peer pressure and parental expectations play a large role in this child’s search for their place in society and their own importance.

In most cases, the LDS baptism is viewed by these youngsters (both boys and girls) in the same light little girls dream of one day getting married.
The child is primed from a young age to look forward to the day they will officially be accepted into the fold, albeit under the deception of it being a choice they must make.

The appearance of free will, in this case, could not be further from the truth: for most LDS children, their baptism day comes as a highly expected and anticipated event in their lives; it is a bragging right, so to speak. A rite of passage which comes wrapped in gifts and flattery. It will be viewed by their younger peer as an achievement for which one cannot wait their own, and by their elders as a responsible and mature decision.

On the other hand, a child who is not much older than 8 may begin to see past the glimmering lights of childhood fantasy and instead be compelled to rebel against the establishment (a.k.a. the teens).

So 8 is indeed the perfect age. Whether Smith realized this or not, he created the perfect precedence for LDS baptisms. If he really gave the matter this much thought and research, he’s not all bad in my book, but chances are he stuck his head inside his… hat… and pulled out the first number that came to his mind.
Either way, LDS baptisms are unique in their significance and the lack of recognition of other Christian faith’s baptisms. Mormons don’t believe in original sin, so LDS baptisms play a big role in giving the person a new identity in the Church… a fresh start.

Now, I’ll leave you all with a question (especially those of you who have children):

If you love your children… truly love your children… and you fully believe in the Gospel and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, then you must believe that your young, non-baptized, children are pure and innocent and free from sin.

As a loving parent myself, I know I would sacrifice anything for the sake of my own children, even my own life.
So I ask: why not kill your children before they reach the age of accountability?
Of course you would be doomed for eternity to never see them again (apparently), but would you not guarantee them their eternal glory, yea, even their exaltation?

(the above question is meant as a rhetorical question and is in no way a suggestion on how to save your children’s souls. I do not believe in souls or the afterlife, so the above has really no affect whatsoever in any eternal afterlife experience fantasy)

Gay Mormons: MUST READ!

Paul Sunstone over at Café Philos has posted a great parody on an article from the October 2007 Ensign (“Helping Those Who Struggle With Same Gender Attraction”).

I recommend you read the original article first for the full affect.

The parody is called “Helping Those With Mormon Interests” and I think it does a fine job in highlighting the Church’s condescending attitude towards homosexuals.

Speaking of LDS Scouting…

My wife and I had a quick discussion once about whether our boys should participate in the Boys Scouts of America program.
Although we didn’t quite come to any conclusions, the topic has got me thinking more and more about what it means to be a Boy Scout (especially in Utah) and how I feel about the whole thing.

My oldest boy is turning 6 at the end of the Month and all of his friends are active church-goers (notice I didn’t call them Mormons), so his social development will soon depend highly on his involvement in such enterprises.

For example, on the Sundays he doesn’t go to church, he’s basically stuck with me (which is not a bad thing for him, yet) since none of his friends aren’t available to go, say, bowling instead. I love our Sundays together (we usually go ice skating) but I know, as he grows up, he might feel more inclined to attend church in order to be more involved in his social circle.

The Cub/Boys Scouts program in Utah is generally considered an extension of the LDS child’s role in the church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a verifiable stronghold on the Boy Scouts of America through the highest numbers of membership and very aggressive fund raising.
They are the largest single sponsor of units (over 30,000) nation wide.

lds_scouts_support1

At face value, there is nothing really wrong with that; the Church obviously feels that the Scouting program is in line with good moral, psychological, and physical development goals for the youth of the Church.
It would be fine if it ended there, but there’s clear evidence over the years that the Church’s influence over the program (followed by other religions) has changed Scouting to mean something a little different.
In essence, it has prevented the Boys Scouts of America to progress its core values along with the rest of the world.

It is a known fact that the BSA does not allow gays and avowed atheists membership into its program and in many cases has called for the expulsion of leaders and revocation of membership due to this discrimination, which has led to many court cases all the way to the Supreme Court, most of which fall in favor of the scouts on the basis of freedom of association in the Constitution.
To make matters worse, the LDS Church has stated in the past that it will withdraw from the Scouting program if forced to accept openly gay Scout leaders.

Unlike its foreign counterparts, like Canada and most of Europe, the BSA has stood strongly against changing its policies against homosexuals and atheists to, I’m sure, the heartbreak and anguish of many of its prominent leaders and members.
In countries where homosexuality is legal, other scouting programs have sprung to allow homosexuals to take leadership roles and have been equally associated into the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WSOM).
However, efforts by other groups to start such organizations in the US have been consistently squashed by the BSA’s granted injunction barring the use of the terms “Boy Scout”, “Scout”, “Scouting”, etc.

According to their bylaws, “no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God.”
Since all members must recognize an obligation to God, that’s equivalent to saying that no NON-member can grow into the best kind of citizen.
That’s as ludicrous and unfounded as saying one can’t be good without religion. lds_scouts

Now, I don’t want to make this into a bigger issue than what it really is. They are a private organization to which no one is required to join, so they’re free to stipulate whatever standards they choose.
The Boy Scouts do plenty of good by their involvement in community services, fund raising, and educating our youth to be responsible and self-reliant citizens (and most importantly, keeping them busy and out of trouble).

But I hope the Boy Scouts of America can move forward and away from its religious-based dependence and adopt more universal and ethical standards of membership.
What if the BSA didn’t allow physically handicapped individuals into their program?
What about blacks or Hispanics?
The Equal Opportunity Policy of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom is an example of the direction towards which this side of the lake should be aiming:

“To enable young people to grow into independent adults the Scout Method encourages young people to question what they have been taught. Scouts and Venture Scouts who question God’s existence, their own spirituality or the structures and beliefs of any or all religions are simply searching for spiritual understanding. This notion of a search for enlightenment is compatible with belief in most of the world’s faiths. It is unacceptable to refuse Membership, or question a young person’s suitability to continue to participate fully in a Section, if they express doubts about the meaning of the Promise.”

It’s time we recognize we’re passing our prejudices and insecurities to our children and encourage our LDS Scouts to become Boy Scouts of America.

What do Mormons believe? A look at Fast and Testimony Meetings

mormon_testimony If you’ve ever been curious to find out what Mormons really believe, you should try attending (at your own peril) the first hour of an LDS service during the first Sunday of most months.

Unlike the other Sundays of the month, the first Sunday of the month is reserved for members of the Church to stand up in front of the congregation and share their testimony. Members are also encouraged to fast for the day in order to gain spiritual knowledge and insight and become more humble (whatever that’s supposed to mean), thus the name Fast and Testimony meeting.

It was during this hour of almost every month I spent going to church that I felt most uncomfortable.

A typical testimony may vary in topic, from an account of someone’s struggle with their kids, a humorous anecdote about the latest LDS Scout camp-out, a word of gratitude towards the deacons/YW’s/Elders’ Quorum/etc for helping with this year’s Youth Conference, and maybe a sob-filled, dragged out history of someone’s fight with a mysterious “trial” in their lives. But no Testimony Meeting is complete without the required mass-hypnotic mantra; one of these might suffice:

I know this Church is true.
I know the Book of Mormon is true.
I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet.
I know Heavenly Father lives.
I know Jesus lives/is my brother/died for my sins.

Or any other variation one might attempt in order to sound fresh and unique, but most importantly, sincere.

The interesting thing to me, however, is the consistent use of the words “I know” in these testimonies. When you ask a member of the church what they believe, they might tell you about eternal marriage, or how we had an existence prior to this life, or maybe even about how you can one day become a god yourself, but when they tell each other these things on that one Sunday, their belief magically turns into knowledge.

There is no doubt in their speech. There is no probability. There is only certainty.
They KNOW the Book of Mormon is the true word of God on the same level as they KNOW it is day or night at that very moment.

This absurd and disingenuous meeting is one of the greatest tools the Church uses to convert and reconvert. It is an emotionally charged experience which brings people to share the most intimate aspects of their lives in a vulnerable setting. You are being watched and judged and you want to come out of this polished and with sympathy.

It all seems very nice and tender and it’s very hard to not sympathize with the hope and comfort one might receive from such a gathering, but the true spirit of the whole thing is not defined until children as young as 3 or 4 take the walk up to the pulpit and, with the help of the leadership to push the stool and lower the microphone, repeat the same senseless babble talk they’ve been rigorously instructed to say by their parents. what_do_mormons_believe

It will bring down the house, so to speak, but behind the innocent and shaky voice of that child lies the main issue with dogma: indoctrination.

Nothing bothered me more in my stay with the Church than to watch those kids say those things for which they had not the faintest idea what it all meant.
They receive praise for their courage to walk and stand up there, and comments about their sweet spirit are almost inevitable, but the fact they are being taught to lie is nothing short of despicable.
Mormons might certainly think this is an exaggeration, but instead of the common beliefs children are taught to say, let’s do an experiment and encourage them to state their opinion on gay marriage instead, in front of the congregation.

A 5-year-old undoubtedly has no coherent opinion on such a complicated topic, but we can certainly infer the Church’s view on the matter and equally “teach” the child to agree and repeat “I know homosexual behavior is a sin and I am against gay marriage.” I would challenge anyone to do that, but I don’t support child abuse.

The leaders of the Church will tell you that no member is required to bear their testimony. In fact, if I remember correctly, one of the Ten Commandments explicit prohibits one from bearing “false witness against your neighbour.”
But I submit to you that that is exactly what they do on that Sunday of fasting.

It is understood that bearing your testimony is the duty of every member, but especially those with children, so the time always comes where you have to stand up, wash, rinse, and repeat.

When pressed for answers the faithful doesn’t KNOW anything and has to always fall back on the simple fact that they can only BELIEVE. Yet, Mormons take every opportunity to state their “knowledge”, lest it be forgotten and shaken by reason and inquiry.

Anti Mormon Book: The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare

Historian Fawn Brodie might make a good case against Joseph Smith by exposing his shady past in No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith and the Ostlings may as well describe the Church’s empire for what it truly is, while also peeking into various open sores in its history, doctrine, and governance in Mormon America – The Power and the Promise (arguably one of the best and most balanced pieces of literature on the LDS Church by non-Mormons), but neither book can summarize so precisely and in so few pages the kind of mindset required to send any Mormon running from the Temple as The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare.

If you’re not familiar with the Berenstain Bears books and you have children, you’re a bad parent. Ok, maybe not, but you could improve your approval rating (a la Calvin and Hobbes) by picking one up at your local library on your next visit. The Berenstains (the authors) have an amazing ability to communicate to children some of life’s most universal experiences and problems in a very entertaining way.

In this book, The Double Dare, Brother Bear is pressured by Too-Tall and his gang to steal a watermelon from Farmer Ben’s patch. Brother Bear is reluctant to follow their lead, but the gang is quick to apply the ultimate force and start calling him “chicken” and clucking at him. In a very McFlyish manner, Brother Bear succumbs to the gang’s pressure and proceeds to try to steal the watermelon but is then caught red-handed by Farmer Ben.

After this incident, the Berenstains beautifully write what could arguably be one of the biggest lessons in a child’s life, all in about 3 pages, which I will quote here:

“‘Well’, said Ben as they walked through his chicken yard, ‘chickens aren’t very bright. But they’re too smart to do something stupid just because somebody calls them chicken.’
‘I guess so,’ admitted Brother.

Just ahead was the meadow where Ben’s sheep were grazing. One of them – a large ram – took it into his head to start running. And run he did – straight for the highway!
‘Your sheep are headed for the highway, Ben!’ cried Brother.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Ben. ‘Shep, my old sheepdog, will take care of ‘em.’ Shep raced ahead and cut the sheep off before they got there.

‘Sheep are like that,’ said Ben. ‘Follow a leader anywhere – off a cliff, if that’s what the leader decides. And some folks are like that too. Follow a leader wherever he goes – across a highway, over a cliff… to the edge of my watermelon patch.’ He looked at Brother, and Brother knew exactly what he was talking about.”
(They go on to share the watermelon and Brother ends up facing the gang again, but you’ll have to read the book for the exciting ending).

The Mormons love the word SHEEP!!! In fact, the scriptures are filled with references to the word and Jesus himself is referred to as “the good Shepperd” and his followers as “the flock” or sheep.
The concept of following someone blindly is Christianity’s big ticket item. Understandably so, since it would be hard to control and use people who can think for themselves and who can decide what is right or wrong outside of dogma.

However, no sane parent would teach their children to follow anyone blindly outside of religion, in all aspects of their lives, be it at school, work, or any organization. The ability to think on our feet and make logical, rational decisions is one of the most important tools available to help us successfully navigate through life.

The Berenstains have written many books dealing with many common moral dilemmas in a simple, direct, and fun way. Their only book (to date) that directly deals with religion, The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question (which is argued to be faith-promoting, but I think it’s just going over most Christians’ heads), summarizes nicely this post in a short dialogue between Sister Bear and Papa Bear.

When walking home, Sister asks Papa “Did God make questions?” to which Papa answers “Yes, Sister, mostly questions.”