The Mormon Church - dysfunctional and manipulative?
I think it is a good time to think about what Mormonism is, when a member of that faith is running for President.
I really didn't know a thing about Mormonism, and I'm not setting out here to 'bash them'. I decided to look-up information on the internet about the church., and though I won't ever be close enough to the LDS Church to assess whether or not it is dysfunctional, the non-biased information that I read did lead me to think it is an opportunistic and manipulative organization that exercises far more control over it's members than I thought any American would accept.
I wasn't planning to address this question to you folks on EP, but then I read a news report today about a group of Mormons who gathered in Utah for a small demonstration coinciding with their having submitted letters of resignation to the church, which is a requirement of the church for any members who want to be removed from the membership list.
11 Answers to "The Mormon Church - dysfunctional and manipulative?"
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Its a sick religion but they all are. Theirs basicly two types of mormon. The convert that came from outside mormon arias which is pretty much like a catholic or baptist or any other whackado religion. The other mormons com from old stock and are clanish, weird cult members brain washed from early childhood. These are found in old mormon arias especialy utah. Their minds are so subverted that it interfears with normal healthy thougt processes giving them a zombie like personality. I spent a decade in Utah, I know first hand.
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Thank you for your reply. You reinforce what I read on the internet about their church. I only disagree with your disparaging the Mormon faith with all other faiths, but that's another issue. I'm just astounded that Republican Americans are supporteing a professed Mormon for presidential office.
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HEY! The mormons aren't the only ones that are dysfuntional, manipulative, and aggressive, alright? EVERY organized religion on Earth is that way.
I don't mind people having faith in things that probably don't exist. Just because i've been very atheist/agnostic my whole life does not mean i do not have faith. Just because i do not believe in YOUR GOD or anyone ELSE'S god, does not mean i am not a very faithful person who believes in something even though there's no proof that it exists or ever will. I don't hate religion. But it's ORGANIZED religion that i cant stand, because it causes one's beliefs to directly impose upon, oppress, and interfere with other people's lives and beliefs. If there was no organized religion, if everybody was allowed to grow up and develop whatever beliefs their mind created, instead of being brainwashed to follow the doctrines of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Mormon, Buddhism, Satanism, and so on and so forth, then the world would be a much better, much more peaceful place. If God exists, i'm sure he just wants you to have faith in him, be kind and understanding to other people, and listen to other people's beliefs and tell them about your beliefs too. Not one single person on Earth is exactly the same as another person, so why should millions of people be forced to think that they all have to have the EXACT same set of beliefs, and that ALL other beliefs are wrong?Like (2)
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You have to check out sime internet information about the Mormon (LDS) Church and their beliefs to understand how and why they are so different and much scarier than any other religion.
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I don't like it when Churchs try to interfere with politics. They spent a shitload of money trying to defeat Prop 8 in California. Money that could have gone to actually helping people, which is what a Church is supposed to do.
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I suggest you read the book of mormon, its madder than most and by far the more exclusionary and reactionary of the sub-cults.
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The Book of Mormon was mostly plagiarized from a novel that had been published 5 years before. Some people will believe any fiction if its presented convincingly.Like (1)
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I didnt know that thanks shall check it out, but i can easily believe it. i found a copy, unbelievably, on the pavement discarded here on the streets of northern England. I read as much as i could and found it quite disturbing. I can recall little (i read it more than 25 yrs ago) but it left enough of an impression to remember it was distateful.
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manipulative and aggressive.
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personal experience of having a close family member be baptised and marry into the LDS have lead me to believe that there is a degree of dysfunction and manipulation in some areas.
There are recruitment techniques that one may find questionable and after speaking extensively with church seniors and missionaries, I very soon realised that it wasnt for me..! (I am too much of a rebel!)
Family member is now out of the church and getting divorced having learnt that she was too independent and strongwilled to live in such a controlled communal environment. (though obviously many are happy with the rules)Like (1)
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No, it isn't. As Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Church, said, he "teaches them correct principles and lets them govern themselves".
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And they need to stay off my doorstep.Like (1)
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I'm sorry, but tell me a modern 'religion' that isn't dysfunctional and manipulative (?)... We [in America] are obsessed with religion (especially in our politics) - it's not at all in alignment with the constitution or what our "founders" intended for us. Still - I agree a review of the religious identity of a candidate may be important. In this case, A Mormon is seeking to lead the Executive branch of our government - and could yield incredible power.
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It's a Church/Religion. What else does it exist for?
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Really, take 15 or 20 minutes to check them out on the internet and you'll see why the Mormons and their faith should be 'feared'. FlowersnButterfly's answer above will give you a taste of how Mormon's have been slowing moving into dominance in American politics and Judiciary..
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actually it has less control over what its members do than most other churches. in all honesty its no better or worse than any other church out there
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Why do you think it has less control?
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cause i grew up in it. ive been allowed to do things my way as long as it doesnt violate polocy n its been left at that.
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Best Answer (Chosen By Asker):
Posted by FlowersNButterflies Jul 1st, 2012 at 8:55PM
Good read: "Mormon America" by former AP writer Osteen. They are actually, underneath, a political action committee pushing an agenda. In the states they are truly active in, there are high mental illness rates (as published in a New York Times article, the 10 most ill states -- I have the article but I already packed away my back-up drive. Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Missouri, Rhode Island, can't remember the rest. In Nevada, where I live, they are 40% of the federal judiciary, and 2/3 of the Congressional representatives and the governor (again). About 35% of the State judges are mormon, and they keep pushing the mormon agenda for judicial selection rather than election (the "Missouri Plan"). They are less than 2% of the U.S. population but are putting themselves in the highest positions of power, and of course want the Presidency. Many are descendents of polygamy and they carry a higher than normal genetic dysfunction rate. The FBI was sued and lost by non-mormons who were discriminated against for positions of leadership. They have a high incidence of sexual abuse of girls. They cover up for each other by gaining power in high places. They are quite the cult. The rank and file don't know what it going on up on high. They do dislike women in positions of power and will work against it, homosexuality (really active here, they must be upset about the lack of DOMA enforcement now). Having had to deal with them (sued one, was threated but not sued by another, worked with three of them), they are terribly self-serving people who see non-mormons ("gentiles") as fodder for the beast. They still fear African-Americans. They modified their book of mormon recently when science proved it wrong, although they will tell you god cannot lead them astray because they are the "one true church". Very misogynistic. In the documentary, "Religulosity" you can see the mormon "mafia" running Maher off the grounds of their cult headquarters in SLC.
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Reply by freeandeasyo Jul 2nd, 2012 at 1:08AM
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