Why do people hate Mormons?

[Zeth Rekia]

I've never seen a Mormon, so, I haven't an opinion about them.

[Nullarni]

While polygamy has been banned by the LDS church, the prejudice hasn't died.

Let's be clear on this:

Polygamy hasn't been banned by the LDS Church. Only EARTHLY polygamy has been banned, and to Mormons what happens on this Earth is far, far less important than the afterlife. In the afterlife, polygamy is still the rule. Each good Mormon man will be given his own planet to rule over, and will have "spirit wives" who bear him "spirit children" to populate that world. Polygamy is still a central and key element of mainstream Mormon theology.

Laughable. Simply laughable. I suggest you stick to subjects that you are not completely ignorant of.

[Bottle]

Let's be clear on this:

Polygamy hasn't been banned by the LDS Church. Only EARTHLY polygamy has been banned, and to Mormons what happens on this Earth is far, far less important than the afterlife. In the afterlife, polygamy is still the rule. Each good Mormon man will be given his own planet to rule over, and will have "spirit wives" who bear him "spirit children" to populate that world. Polygamy is still a central and key element of mainstream Mormon theology.

Laughable. Simply laughable. I suggest you stick to subjects that you are not completely ignorant of.

Excellent rebuttal, sure to convince many people!

[Andaluciae]

Quite. I was focusing more heavily on tangible bits us merry non-Mormons.

Fair 'nuff. Personally, I'm just as squigged out by their current endorsement of eternal polygamy in heaven, but I realize I'm probably not typical of most Americans or the majority American view of Mormonism.

Certainly can't blame you for the squigginess on that eternal polygamy bit. I didn't really know about that before...and it definitely creeps me out.

I mean, from my personal observations, we're all going to the exact same place when we die, Mormon, Atheist, Hindu, Catholic and David Hasselhoff:

Minneapolis.

[Ashmoria]

Laughable. Simply laughable. I suggest you stick to subjects that you are not completely ignorant of.

Excellent rebuttal, sure to convince many people!

where do they get the unmarried dead women to be their extra wives?

[Bottle]

Fair 'nuff. Personally, I'm just as squigged out by their current endorsement of eternal polygamy in heaven, but I realize I'm probably not typical of most Americans or the majority American view of Mormonism.

Certainly can't blame you for the squigginess on that eternal polygamy bit. I didn't really know about that before...and it definitely creeps me out.

I mean, from my personal observations, we're all going to the exact same place when we die, Mormon, Atheist, Hindu, Catholic and David Hasselhoff:

Minneapolis.

Calvin: "I wonder where we go when we die?"
Hobbes: “...Pittsburgh?"
Calvin: “You mean if we're good or if we're bad?"

[Iron Chariots]

I don't hate Mormons. I try very hard not to hate anybody, collectively or individually.
I do dislike and disagree with many of the tenets of their faith, but this is in no way exclusive to Mormonism.

And I'm sure Jews are thrilled with the Mormons posthumously converting Holocaust victims too.

Baptism for the dead does not mean that they are being converted, it is just a way of allowing them to have the option to do so.

Do you guys even care if it would have potentially annoyed/anger/offended the dead to be baptized --without consent!-- into a religion of which they were never a member? What about the families of these people?
Why do you guys baptize people who did not ask for it and whose families did not ask for it? Hell, you could at least ask the families if they can be found.

It's like... baptism rape or something.

One of my other issues is how massively bigoted the Church (and, sadly, most Mormons I have met do more or less buy into the official Church position) are against gay people and anybody else who does not fit into their narrow conservative outlook. But again, that's just like almost every Christian Church, not just the LDS.

[Bottle]

Excellent rebuttal, sure to convince many people!

where do they get the unmarried dead women to be their extra wives?

They don't have to be dead women. See, in a Mormon marriage, you are "sealed" to your spouse, for "time and eternity." This means that in the afterlife, you'll still be married. (Indeed, for a Mormon woman to get into the good heaven, she must be called through the veil by her husband, who must be a priesthood holder, i.e. a good Mormon man.)

So, if a man's first wife dies and he later remarries, then in the eyes of the Mormons BOTH wives are the current wives of that man. That is the case for almost every apostle of the Mormon church right now. They fully expect to have multiple wives in heaven.

It doesn't work the other way, though. A Mormon woman may only be sealed to one man at a time. If a Mormon woman's husband dies and she later remarries, she has to get the original seal broken if she wants to be sealed to her new husband.

EDIT: This also works with divorce. If a Mormon couple divorces, and the man later remarries, he gets sealed to the new wife while retaining the seal to his old wife. So, in Heaven, he has two wives. However, if the woman wants to remarry in the temple, she must obtain a temple divorce to break the seal between her and the first husband. This is not easy to obtain (you have to get permission from one of the 12 apostles who run the church, among other things).

[SuperCoolPeoples]

I'm not really sure why so many people dislike Mormons. My parents really dislike Mormons, for some reason. Like I said to them, though, it wasn't radical Mormons who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks.

I hope you aren't insinuating that Islam is worse because it's larger and so has a much greater scope for radicals because of this and comes from an incredibly different culture.

I'm sure radical Mormons would blow up a large percentage of the middle east if they could, seems to have been Americas policy for some time at any rate...

[Ashmoria]

where do they get the unmarried dead women to be their extra wives?

They don't have to be dead women. See, in a Mormon marriage, you are "sealed" to your spouse, for "time and eternity." This means that in the afterlife, you'll still be married. (Indeed, for a Mormon woman to get into the good heaven, she must be called through the veil by her husband, who must be a priesthood holder, i.e. a good Mormon man.)

So, if a man's first wife dies and he later remarries, then in the eyes of the Mormons BOTH wives are the current wives of that man. That is the case for almost every apostle of the Mormon church right now. They fully expect to have multiple wives in heaven.

It doesn't work the other way, though. A Mormon woman may only be sealed to one man at a time. If a Mormon woman's husband dies and she later remarries, she has to get the original seal broken if she wants to be sealed to her new husband.

EDIT: This also works with divorce. If a Mormon couple divorces, and the man later remarries, he gets sealed to the new wife while retaining the seal to his old wife. So, in Heaven, he has two wives. However, if the woman wants to remarry in the temple, she must obtain a temple divorce to break the seal between her and the first husband. This is not easy to obtain (you have to get permission from one of the 12 apostles who run the church, among other things).

so if a man is serious about building his future godhood he HAS to find a way to marry more than one woman during his life on earth..... problematical.

[Bottle]

They don't have to be dead women. See, in a Mormon marriage, you are "sealed" to your spouse, for "time and eternity." This means that in the afterlife, you'll still be married. (Indeed, for a Mormon woman to get into the good heaven, she must be called through the veil by her husband, who must be a priesthood holder, i.e. a good Mormon man.)

So, if a man's first wife dies and he later remarries, then in the eyes of the Mormons BOTH wives are the current wives of that man. That is the case for almost every apostle of the Mormon church right now. They fully expect to have multiple wives in heaven.

It doesn't work the other way, though. A Mormon woman may only be sealed to one man at a time. If a Mormon woman's husband dies and she later remarries, she has to get the original seal broken if she wants to be sealed to her new husband.

EDIT: This also works with divorce. If a Mormon couple divorces, and the man later remarries, he gets sealed to the new wife while retaining the seal to his old wife. So, in Heaven, he has two wives. However, if the woman wants to remarry in the temple, she must obtain a temple divorce to break the seal between her and the first husband. This is not easy to obtain (you have to get permission from one of the 12 apostles who run the church, among other things).

so if a man is serious about building his future godhood he HAS to find a way to marry more than one woman during his life on earth..... problematical.

Well, he can still go to Heaven with just one wife. And they, and their kids, are sealed together and get to be together in Heaven forever. So that's not too bad. It's just that to get to the BEST Heaven you need more than one wife.

[Kazomal]

While polygamy has been banned by the LDS church, the prejudice hasn't died.

Let's be clear on this:

Polygamy hasn't been banned by the LDS Church. Only EARTHLY polygamy has been banned, and to Mormons what happens on this Earth is far, far less important than the afterlife. In the afterlife, polygamy is still the rule. Each good Mormon man will be given his own planet to rule over, and will have "spirit wives" who bear him "spirit children" to populate that world. Polygamy is still a central and key element of mainstream Mormon theology.

So you're pissed about something that, as far as you're concerned, doesn't even happen?

How are they a direct threat to human rights here on earth?

[Bottle]

Let's be clear on this:

Polygamy hasn't been banned by the LDS Church. Only EARTHLY polygamy has been banned, and to Mormons what happens on this Earth is far, far less important than the afterlife. In the afterlife, polygamy is still the rule. Each good Mormon man will be given his own planet to rule over, and will have "spirit wives" who bear him "spirit children" to populate that world. Polygamy is still a central and key element of mainstream Mormon theology.

So you're pissed about something that, as far as you're concerned, doesn't even happen?

Of course not. I find it obnoxious that Mormons routinely lie about their beliefs, and I think the Earthly results of their sexist doctrine are harmful to women, but I wouldn't even say that either of those really "piss me off" so much as just irritate me.

How are they a direct threat to human rights here on earth?

Their political activities directly interfere with the human rights of gay and female citizens of my country.

[Kazomal]

So you're pissed about something that, as far as you're concerned, doesn't even happen?

Of course not. I find it obnoxious that Mormons routinely lie about their beliefs, and I think the Earthly results of their sexist doctrine are harmful to women, but I wouldn't even say that either of those really "piss me off" so much as just irritate me.

How are they a direct threat to human rights here on earth?

Their political activities directly interfere with the human rights of gay and female citizens of my country.

So they give money to anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion groups? Come on, be specific.

For some reason I can't remember if you live in the US or Canada? Or is neither right, and I'm thinking of someone else?

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Financial support is a big deal, especially in the United States with the way our political system 'works'. I would argue that their advocacy against womens' rights and gays' rights is tantamount to bigotry. If they had their way (Mormons), human rights violations would most likely be commonplace.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Today my friend said this to me when we were talking about a girl getting accepted to Brigham Young University

"I guess I don't believe in freedom of religion, because you know, they're just wrong"

Unfortunately I never got to finish the conversation, the bell rang and I had to get to a bus on the other side of the school.

Now, I'm an Atheist, and I honestly don't know a whole lot about Mormonism, or for that matter, even about what ever branch of Christianity my friend follows.

Now he is a pretty hardcore christian, but I've heard plenty of other people made nefarious comments about Mormons as well, even some who aren't all that religious.

Now, I kind of though interdenominational conflict was something mostly confined to the 16th and 17th centuries, and that the main aspect of Mormonism that other branches of christianity didn't like, polygamy, no longer exist in mainstream Mormanism, and for that matter hasn't for some time.




So, Why do people hate Mormons?



Do Mormons hate them back?

and perhaps a silly question, but

Is there a way to get people to be more tolerant?

I can't really answer this with reasons, because I do not hate Mormons. I am indifferent to them. But I can speculate from them financing Prop 8 to polygamy scandals, to the odd things they believe in. You name it.

Religion is something people, those who believe in God that is, wear on their sleeves. Perhaps the Mormon doctrine challenges what someone believes in and this creates hate. As I said, I can't answer this question with reasons, since I myself have none to hate them. But I do agree that it is about tolerance.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Well Nanatsu, those 'polygamist scandals' are perpetrated by radical, extremist elements with the Mormon community. Saying that you don't like Mormons because of polygamy is like saying that you don't like Muslims because of suicide-bombing.


Rgds.,

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Well Nanatsu, those 'polygamist scandals' are perpetrated by radical, extremist elements with the Mormon community. Saying that you don't like Mormons because of polygamy is like saying that you don't like Muslims because of suicide-bombing.


Rgds.,

I don't hate the Mormons. In fact, if you read my post, I said I am indifferent to them. I was just giving speculated reasons, in my opinion, on why some may hate them. *shrug*

[Sunny Marionette]

One of my best friends is Mormon, I don't hate her. Then again...she's not very strict. I think it's more of the strict Mormons that get on people's nerves because it's polygamy and all.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Well Nanatsu, those 'polygamist scandals' are perpetrated by radical, extremist elements with the Mormon community. Saying that you don't like Mormons because of polygamy is like saying that you don't like Muslims because of suicide-bombing.


Rgds.,

I don't hate the Mormons. In fact, if you read my post, I said I am indifferent to them. I was just giving speculated reasons, in my opinion, on why some may hate them. *shrug*

I'm sorry for being vague. I didn't mean to say that you hated Mormons, I was just pointing out the flaw in comments about 'polygamist scandals'. It's all good, i trust that you don't have hate in your soul for Mormons.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

One of my best friends is Mormon, I don't hate her. Then again...she's not very strict. I think it's more of the strict Mormons that get on people's nerves because it's polygamy and all.

Read the thread please...

POLYGAMY is not mainstream Mormon custom / practice. It's a radical element within the community...

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

One of my best friends is Mormon, I don't hate her. Then again...she's not very strict. I think it's more of the strict Mormons that get on people's nerves because it's polygamy and all.

Read the thread please...

POLYGAMY is not mainstream Mormon custom / practice. It's a radical element within the community...

I do recognize that this is a common misconception. The polygamy thing. Indeed, not all Mormons practice it. Sadly, when people want to dis on something, they try to find the 'bad examples'. Hence why, I think, people commonly think Mormons are all polygamists.

[Rolamec]

I dunno. Stereotypes of being polygamous? I mean anything that is new or misunderstood is viewed as strange (*cough* Roman Catholicism in the 1930s-1960s). I don't hate Mormons, a good friend of mine since I've known since childhood, who was like a grandfather, was a Mormon, he passed away recently from lung cancer. He was a nice guy, just trying to do the honest and right thing.

I wouldn't say Mormons are discriminated as much as Scientologists are. But really most Christian denominations have opinions about each other. Most evanglicals or "hard core" Christians don't view Catholicism as being Christian.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

I dunno. Stereotypes of being polygamous? I mean anything that is new or misunderstood is viewed as strange (*cough* Roman Catholicism in the 1930s-1960s). I don't hate Mormons, a good friend of mine since I've known since childhood, who was like a grandfather, was a Mormon, he passed away recently from lung cancer. He was a nice guy, just trying to do the honest and right thing.

I wouldn't say Mormons are discriminated as much as Scientologists are. But really most Christian denominations have opinions about each other. Most evanglicals or "hard core" Christians don't view Catholicism as being Christian.

Well, I think a lot of that has to do with the 'pomp and circumstance' of the Catholic Church. It is more like a country club than an actual legitimate religious organization. Many people have problems with the organization of the Catholic Church, and the corruption within. Scandals need not be mentioned as they are clearly known by even the undereducated.

I would like to clarify, I don't have any hatred for any religious group, or any other social / ethnic / racial group for that matter. I do foster a bit of hatred for certain political ideologies, but that is more of a distaste for misinformation and ignorance.

I just hate it when people think that strict Mormonism is adherence to polygamy. That is just blatant ignorance of the vast majority's religious beliefs.


Rgds.,

[The Matthew Islands]

Because they won't tell me how magnets work!

Seriously though. I don't hate them, never met them. I dunno why people dislike them. I know they massacred a load of people a long time ago, but I don't think that's the reason. Unless they are like those Jehovah guys who make people hide behind the sofas when they come knocking.