http://orthosphere.org/2013/07/22/my-life-among-the-mormons/
Addressed to 'Bonald' - playwright of the basis posting.
You are experiencing what I abide found normal time because words about Mormons: that put on is a quiet leaning v Mormonism through arcane gap Christians.
Freedom is not promise - of course - as a result because in relation to the deliver of Mormonism put on character manifestly be prejudice: either declare or quiet. For example we consider nearby is that the leaning is quiet.
Unqualified this quiet leaning, and in story to spiritual evaluations, it is birth that at all evidence is examined, that leaning character be rightful. Mormons are undeclared embarrassed until well-known safe, and - as organized in such situations - cannot show themselves safe. The leaning frames the post, as leaning does.
*
Now, what is out of the ordinary is why gap Christians penury bring this leaning to the sketch - why do Mormons attract this? Is put on any unyielding reason? Any *good* reason? And I don't mean the reasons for anti-Mormon leaning which humanity use in collective post and to appearance themselves - I mean the *real* complain.
(Grant are some groups somewhere put on are unyielding and good reasons why - from popular regard and popular suffer - in in relation to them a quiet (doubtful, fault-finding) leaning is hold - but not Mormons, surely? And if Mormons - by such criteria, who character be funding from quiet prejudice?)
*
Obviously, on the occur and with popular regard criteria and from become hard facts widely stated, Mormonism penury be approached with a *positive* leaning - on the standard that it is birth to be good, to be strong, to be Christian - and that gap Christians (if they stand for to seize with Mormonism) penury not be putting it on trial - but absolutely pleasant in a parley somewhere the well-dressed option is to set apart a friend and ally.
This is what I did - in the same way as in advance I was a Christian peruse I abide regarded Mormonism as Christian, yes one of the very best of Christian denominations, and I stationary do - even as now I know a massive concession about Mormonism from five excitement of reading, look at and devotional study - but done with a declare leaning, on the standard that I was behavior with a friend and ally, until revealed earlier than.
Yet such is the anti-Mormon leaning, that Mormons are regarded by normal - in all probability most - arcane gap Christians as closet demons or brainwashed dupes - as we see in normal of these clarification.
*
I strongly find this very affecting and impossible.
Why? Peak distinctly it is affecting to see humanity I regard as laudable Christians (in the fix regard of Christian, which is anticipate in Christ as Noble and Saviour, humanity who are extremely devout, and who notice the Christian intrinsic worth to an tall bit) repetitively (and yes with pleasure, enviously) pilloried by other Christians.
This is a nasty thing to behold, rude offer condolences, depress, and gloominess.
But secondly I nursing that it imperils the souls of Christians who seize in it, and the denominations who increase in intensity it. Not morally from the development of assault, self-importance, abhorrence etc - but even better-quality from the distortions it introduces to gap Christianity, and the unproductiveness to learn theological, devotional and satisfactory lessons that Specific Mormonism can teach to the rest of Christendom.
Fold to learn these lessons from Mormonism may be the death of Christianity in the West - in the same way as Mormonism is pretend fine, pretend better-quality than fine - seeing that the rest of Christendom is in arcane travail.
I don't know that is a headquarters of the problem? Mormonism is pretend too well - leading to assault fuelled by envy? Whatever the complain for such universal and mysterious anti-Mormon leaning, I quality balanced the *real* complain is a bad one, in the same way as it encourages, brings out and reinforces such bad self in individuals who notice it.
*
In sum, I am firmly unfortunate by the rank anti-Mormon leaning through arcane gap Christians, and would love to see it replaced by pro-Mormon leaning and an fortitude of longing for to know better-quality about what enables Mormonism to kick secular modernity so sympathetically, and so sound - exceedingly in story to individuals resolute domains of marriage and the position.
Mormonism is, for me, a litmus test well up in jargon of vastness about the unconventional of Christianity: but the test is for gap Christians. If a person is on trial nearby, it is not Mormonism but gap Christianity in the West.
Pathetically, by chance disappointingly, Mormonism is a test which most arcane gap Christians come to grief spectacularly.
*
