Why do people hate Mormons?

[Phillippanoa]

Let me be very clear from the get-go. I know many individual Mormons who are great people, intelligent, good citizens, wouldn't hurt a fly. I am not talking about Mormons in this post. In this post I am talking about the Mormon religion.

Mormonism is seen as heretical by both the Catholic and most Christian churches. Their beliefs about Jesus directly conflict with the Nicene Creed. Their beliefs about heaven are also not biblical. If a Christian cares about what the Bible says and thinks it's true they can't also agree with Mormonism.

John Smith is seen as a snake oil salesman. He made up his own religion. His claims about history are fallacious in the worst degree. This isn't a flood myth he has to get around, he talks about another tribe of Jews in the US who were mistaken for Natives. This is easily falsifiable. His story is ludicrous and is repeated like truth.

Mormons are seen as secretive. The church seems shady.

Mormon hate goes back to the old west when they went around killin' folk. (of course they got killed a lot too)

Many mainstream Mormons either do not know the theology of their church or they outright ignore it. I think it's the first, as you have to do super secret rituals to get high up in the church.

Mormonism is heretical, mystical, secretive and some claim abusive. This is why people hate Mormons.

hmm... where do you get your information from?

Nicene Creed? Didn't that come long after Jesus had died? Meaning that it is just as likely to be true. Also, to say that you don't like the LDS religion because many other christian denominations see the LDS beliefs as 'heretical' is an argumentum ad populum and therefore a fallacious argument

The kind of claims used here are just to incite hate. There is no discussion intended.

I would refute the rest, but it's getting late... I'll be back

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Let me be very clear from the get-go. I know many individual Mormons who are great people, intelligent, good citizens, wouldn't hurt a fly. I am not talking about Mormons in this post. In this post I am talking about the Mormon religion.

Mormonism is seen as heretical by both the Catholic and most Christian churches. Their beliefs about Jesus directly conflict with the Nicene Creed. Their beliefs about heaven are also not biblical. If a Christian cares about what the Bible says and thinks it's true they can't also agree with Mormonism.

John Smith is seen as a snake oil salesman. He made up his own religion. His claims about history are fallacious in the worst degree. This isn't a flood myth he has to get around, he talks about another tribe of Jews in the US who were mistaken for Natives. This is easily falsifiable. His story is ludicrous and is repeated like truth.

Mormons are seen as secretive. The church seems shady.

Mormon hate goes back to the old west when they went around killin' folk. (of course they got killed a lot too)

Many mainstream Mormons either do not know the theology of their church or they outright ignore it. I think it's the first, as you have to do super secret rituals to get high up in the church.

Mormonism is heretical, mystical, secretive and some claim abusive. This is why people hate Mormons.

hmm... where do you get your information from?

Nicene Creed? Didn't that come long after Jesus had died? Meaning that it is just as likely to be true. Also, to say that you don't like the LDS religion because many other christian denominations see the LDS beliefs as 'heretical' is an argumentum ad populum and therefore a fallacious argument

The kind of claims used here are just to incite hate. There is no discussion intended.

I would refute the rest, but it's getting late... I'll be back

I highly doubt that his intention was to incite hate. He clearly stated that he did not hate Mormons, and then went on to post things about the Mormon faith. He never stated his own opinions about the faith, he was merely highlighting popular opinions.


Rgds.,

[Mediterreania]

I have a mormon friend; I find his religious beleifs bizzare, but he is a nice person.

I suspect that because they are not a billion strong like Catholocism or Sunni Islam and are a fairly young movement.

If they were an ancient denomination, or had sustantially more followers - either they would be more widely accepted, or you would have bleeding hearts mocking Ebil Mormon theorems in response to bigotry being directed at them.

I don't like any religious denomination other than Tibetan Buddhism anyway. (But I don't like the Dalai Llama - what a spoiled brat.)

I only hate, wahhabism. (In the sense that I am not willing to judge them as individuals.)

Oh, I'm sure there's plenty of them around. Maybe they just don't wanna break their anonymity?

Meh - recovering Sunni. Which is almost the same thing really.

Why don't you go Shi'ite?

Become one of us, become one of us, become one of us...

[EnragedMaldivians]

Yes you could. I did. Did you see how the OP wanted opinions and I explained mine? Wow! Amazing!

It was spectacular. And I commented on it. Astounding!

And I meant to criticise the logic of the people who base their hatred of Mormons on those types of opinions; not yourself if you are not the one holding them.

Why don't you go Shi'ite?

It is illegal to be a shi'ite in the Maldives.

I find that Khomeni fellow very interesting however - not least because of his uncanny resemlance to Sean Connery.

[Kruplyan]

One of the few things they actually do right!

Because theocratic politics is inherently great.

*nods*

Yup.

Wait a sec, aren't you the same group of people who claim to have the urge to grab Conservatives by the throat and shout that Obama isn't a socialist? I wonder...

Todays life lesson for the kids: People will cry when you exaggerate their beliefs, but they will somehow justify exaggerating yours.

[Phillippanoa]

hmm... where do you get your information from?

Nicene Creed? Didn't that come long after Jesus had died? Meaning that it is just as likely to be true. Also, to say that you don't like the LDS religion because many other christian denominations see the LDS beliefs as 'heretical' is an argumentum ad populum and therefore a fallacious argument

The kind of claims used here are just to incite hate. There is no discussion intended.

I would refute the rest, but it's getting late... I'll be back

I highly doubt that his intention was to incite hate. He clearly stated that he did not hate Mormons, and then went on to post things about the Mormon faith. He never stated his own opinions about the faith, he was merely highlighting popular opinions.


Rgds.,

of course only the negative opinions. Though maybe not intentional, s/he does not promote all of the opinions as general opinions.

It is best to stick to facts and solid, valid arguments and counter-arguments

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Dude, Obama isn't a socialist?

Wait, Reagan was the best president ever?

Am I still talking?

[GothicLust]

Let me be very clear from the get-go. I know many individual Mormons who are great people, intelligent, good citizens, wouldn't hurt a fly. I am not talking about Mormons in this post. In this post I am talking about the Mormon religion.

Mormonism is seen as heretical by both the Catholic and most Christian churches. Their beliefs about Jesus directly conflict with the Nicene Creed. Their beliefs about heaven are also not biblical. If a Christian cares about what the Bible says and thinks it's true they can't also agree with Mormonism.

John Smith is seen as a snake oil salesman. He made up his own religion. His claims about history are fallacious in the worst degree. This isn't a flood myth he has to get around, he talks about another tribe of Jews in the US who were mistaken for Natives. This is easily falsifiable. His story is ludicrous and is repeated like truth.

Mormons are seen as secretive. The church seems shady.

Mormon hate goes back to the old west when they went around killin' folk. (of course they got killed a lot too)

Many mainstream Mormons either do not know the theology of their church or they outright ignore it. I think it's the first, as you have to do super secret rituals to get high up in the church.

Mormonism is heretical, mystical, secretive and some claim abusive. This is why people hate Mormons.

hmm... where do you get your information from?

Nicene Creed? Didn't that come long after Jesus had died? Meaning that it is just as likely to be true. Also, to say that you don't like the LDS religion because many other christian denominations see the LDS beliefs as 'heretical' is an argumentum ad populum and therefore a fallacious argument

The kind of claims used here are just to incite hate. There is no discussion intended.

I would refute the rest, but it's getting late... I'll be back

I got my information from decades of study. Here is a starter course for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church ... day_Saints

The Nicene creed basically sums up the Bible. It's accepted by most Christian churches as a good basic statement of doctrine. Read the Bible, it's all in there.

I do not wish to incite hate. I posted because it's a forum and I can post.

[F1-Insanity]

Hate is too strong a word here. Ridicule is what I do to mormons. Anyone who believes that total fraud Joseph Smith was some sort of holy man is in my opinion clearly nuts and in need of psychiatric treatment.

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.

So you would show hatred to a political ideology you oppose, even if it might not call for you to be murdered or tortured for all eternity, but religious groups (such as christians, jews and muslims) who believe anyone not of their group should be murdered (radical interpretation) or tortured for all eternity (mainstream interpretation) get a pass? I'd argue that's getting your priorities screwed up

And yes, mainstream christianity, judaism and islam clearly calls for unbelievers or those of different faith to be tortured for all eternity. Read their 'holy' texts, which leave no ambiguity about this whatsoever (at least not if you can read). Example: do people who are not christians get to go to christianity's concept of heaven? Answer according to the bible: the hell they do (pun intended). Because after all, what is the point of being religious if it doesn't make a difference if you get into that religion's version of heaven or not?

Fortunately, 'heaven' isn't real. Nor is 'hell'.

And I still think mormons should be laughed at. Joseph Smith a holy man

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

I highly doubt that his intention was to incite hate. He clearly stated that he did not hate Mormons, and then went on to post things about the Mormon faith. He never stated his own opinions about the faith, he was merely highlighting popular opinions.


Rgds.,

of course only the negative opinions. Though maybe not intentional, s/he does not promote all of the opinions as general opinions.

It is best to stick to facts and solid, valid arguments and counter-arguments

Well, as the consequences of these 'viewpoints' are real, the viewpoints themselves become relevant, or 'real', as well. This thread is titled "Reasons why people hate Mormons" and the Ambassador's comments were rather pertinent to the discussion. Even though they are misconceptions and not 'facts', they are still completely valid within the context of this discussion.

[Wilgrove]

Little Jimmy Osmond - Long haired lover from Liverpool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YriPIujLtsA

My ears just been raped.

[Sitkae]

Many people can't take them for their practices, like polygamy

I personally have no issues with them however

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Little Jimmy Osmond - Long haired lover from Liverpool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YriPIujLtsA

My ears just been raped.

And there I go clicking it because you quoted it.

Damn the Osmonds. My mom had LPs from them. She was a fan of Donnie.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Many people can't take them for their practices, like polygamy

I personally have no issues with them however

Polygamy is not an official Mormon church policy; as we have noted many times in this thread already, polygamy is a radical, extremist element within the church. I've used this rationale before, but I will use it again:

Saying that all Mormons are polygamists is like saying that all Muslims are suicide-bombers.

[Lackadaisical2]

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.

Oh no you didn't!
*sucks teeth, snaps fingers and sways head from side to side*

[GothicLust]

Many people can't take them for their practices, like polygamy

I personally have no issues with them however

Polygamy is not an official Mormon church policy; as we have noted many times in this thread already, polygamy is a radical, extremist element within the church. I've used this rationale before, but I will use it again:

Saying that all Mormons are polygamists is like saying that all Muslims are suicide-bombers.

Celestial polygamy is absolutely an official Morman church policy. Don't obfuscate.

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

My ears just been raped.

And there I go clicking it because you quoted it.

Damn the Osmonds. My mom had LPs from them. She was a fan of Donnie.

I'm pretty sure the fact that Donnie and Marie Osmond are completely insane is 100% separate from being Mormon. Those two are just the most inappropriate, jolly pair of delusional psychotics that this fine country has ever had the chance to witness.

[Wonderchicken]

Actually hardcore fundamentalist Christians are the ones most against Mormons, whom they do not regard as Christians. Fundies consider the Mormons basically a non-Christian cult. Strangely, they sort of have a point - Mormons don't consider Jesus Christ the Son of God, unlike most Christian denominations, and they have an additional Holy Book besides the Bible.

BTW it's kinda funny to me that if I misspell "Mormon" one of the suggestions from the spell checker is, of course, "Moron".

Most of that is true. Plenty consider us Mormons to be non-Christian. I see it differently, but hey: I'm Mormon. We do believe in additional scripture. It supplements and does not replace the Bible (we use the KJV). I'm curious, however, as to where you heard we don't "consider Jesus Christ [to be] the Son of God"? One of the first tenets of the faith is that "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

[EnragedMaldivians]

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.

Oh no you didn't!
*sucks teeth, snaps fingers and sways head from side to side*

To my knowledge, Catholicism doesn't ban alcohol unlike Mormonism, Islamic denominations - and Buddhism (not banned - but strongly discouraged).

From that regard, it is in fact, a highly commendable persuasion.

(Though I happen to hate red wine.)

[Mediterreania]

Yes you could. I did. Did you see how the OP wanted opinions and I explained mine? Wow! Amazing!

It was spectacular. And I commented on it. Astounding!

And I meant to criticise the logic of the people who base their hatred of Mormons on those types of opinions; not yourself if you are not the one holding them.

Why don't you go Shi'ite?

It is illegal to be a shi'ite in the Maldives.

I find that Khomeni fellow very interesting however - not least because of his uncanny resemlance to Sean Connery.

What about Sufism?

[F1-Insanity]

Polygamy is not an official Mormon church policy; as we have noted many times in this thread already, polygamy is a radical, extremist element within the church. I've used this rationale before, but I will use it again:

Saying that all Mormons are polygamists is like saying that all Muslims are suicide-bombers.

On a not completely unrelated issue: saying that the mormon church was officially racist was true right up to about 47 years ago, when the mormon church suddenly had a 'revelation' and changed its mind just in time for the passage of the Civil Rights Act. And in fact, until I believe 1979 you could not be 'black' and be a 'pastor' in the mormon church.

A racket, anyone?

[Cool Egg Sandwich]

Polygamy is not an official Mormon church policy; as we have noted many times in this thread already, polygamy is a radical, extremist element within the church. I've used this rationale before, but I will use it again:

Saying that all Mormons are polygamists is like saying that all Muslims are suicide-bombers.

Celestial polygamy is absolutely an official Morman church policy. Don't obfuscate.

The following is a quote from the late Mormon prophet, Gordon B Hinkley,

“This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church….If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church.”

It hasn't been an official church policy since 1890. So I fail to see how I am obfuscating the situation with 'extraneous information'.

[GothicLust]

Actually hardcore fundamentalist Christians are the ones most against Mormons, whom they do not regard as Christians. Fundies consider the Mormons basically a non-Christian cult. Strangely, they sort of have a point - Mormons don't consider Jesus Christ the Son of God, unlike most Christian denominations, and they have an additional Holy Book besides the Bible.

BTW it's kinda funny to me that if I misspell "Mormon" one of the suggestions from the spell checker is, of course, "Moron".

Most of that is true. Plenty consider us Mormons to be non-Christian. I see it differently, but hey: I'm Mormon. We do believe in additional scripture. It supplements and does not replace the Bible (we use the KJV). I'm curious, however, as to where you heard we don't "consider Jesus Christ [to be] the Son of God"? One of the first tenets of the faith is that "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

He's confused. What he was probably meaning is that you don't believe in the Trinity.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

And there I go clicking it because you quoted it.

Damn the Osmonds. My mom had LPs from them. She was a fan of Donnie.

I'm pretty sure the fact that Donnie and Marie Osmond are completely insane is 100% separate from being Mormon. Those two are just the most inappropriate, jolly pair of delusional psychotics that this fine country has ever had the chance to witness.

Agreed.

*hums 'I'm a little bit country/I'm a little bit rock n' roll' to herself*

I have a friend who, while studying in Utah, became a Mormon. After she returned home, her mother made her disavow her new faith. She belongs to a staunchly Catholic family. I myself claim not to understand Mormonism much. And as I said before, all one tends to see and focus is on the bad.

Meh, if they're happy believing what they do, w/e. Really.

[Esternial]

I think the people that Mormons hate the most are the ones asking them about magnets all the time.