So I see the last page or so has evolved into a bit of a discussion about Mormons and the Mormon faith.
I'm a Mormon, have been my entire life. I served a 2-year proselyting mission in the US, married a Mormon girl in the Temple, and have served as a Bishop of a congregation here in Alberta for the last 6 years (and counting, but that's another story!).
Mormons have a somewhat unique distinction in that they tend to be questioned not only by the Atheist crowd, but also by the larger Christian community as a whole. Sometimes it feels as though we are getting it from all sides! This is due to some unique doctrines and teachings, like the Book of Mormon, the Temple, and many others. We are a relatively small group though, about 15 million world-wide, and so when you compare that to the 1 billion Catholics that there are around the world, it may stand to reason that Catholics, or even Christianity in general, would receive proportionately more attention (good and bad) in comparison.
In terms of the comments about Mormons living (or not) the standards subscribed to by their faith, I don't think it would or should surpise anyone to know that not all Mormons actively practice their faith, and yet they may still identify themselves as being "Mormon" (and indeed they are!). Nor should it surprise anyone that there may be some who claim to practice their faith, but do not (unfortunately!). Some are even Edmonton Oiler fans!! In reality, I don't think I've ever met a single Mormon that lives their faith perfectly (myself at the top of that list). Religion by its very nature is highly aspirational.
Having said that, it has certainly been my experience, and I have known many hundreds of Mormons, many of them quite well, that they are a sincere and striving people that genuinely care about their families and neighbors. And in my experience all of that has been quite authentic - it extends well beyond any kind of clever PR campaign. They are by and large a good and moral people.
I'm personally not upset by the criticism that my faith is subject to. The vast majority of it is simply based on misunderstandings about our doctrines and practices, some of which admittedly seem quite peculiar. I've seen examples of that even in this thread.
But that's okay though. Everyone is aboslutely entitled to their opinions. In fact, the Mormon faith has what it calls "The Thirteen Articles of Faith". These "statements of belief" were written by Jospeh Smith in 1842 when asked by a Chicago newspaper what Mormons beleived. The 11th of those 13 Articles states the following: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." My sense is that would also extend to those who do not worship at all.
My hope though, particularly for a thread like this one, is that the dialogue can continue to be respectful and thoughtful and civil. That the dialogue around Religion hasn't always taken that path is one of the very reasons this thread was started!
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