What do you think is the oddest thing about the Mormon religion?

[Hamlette]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Spazito (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Having lived in Utah all my life, some things that seem strange to you I've never thought about because I'm surrounded by it and have been all my life. It's interesting to get the take of people who are just learning about Mormonism. What gives you the willies, or you find especially odd?

The underwear?

The no caffine or alcohol?

The golden plates?

That Jesus came to America?

That the garden of eden was in Missouri (not sure all Mormons believe this) or that Jesus will come to Missouri when the end of the world comes.

The fact that the president of the church talks to God?

The whole Book of Mormon thing and other writings?

Something I'm not thinking of?

[Brickbat]

1. The fact that anyone believes it at all.

[hifiguy]

22. +1 It is such an obvious con job

that it beggars the imagination that there are actually people dumb enough to fall for it. Pills that turn water into gasoline are a slightly less delusional proposition.

Not that any other religions are very well grounded in reality either, but Mormonism and Scientology give off such an obvious stench of scam that my cat would recognise it and walk away.

[Brickbat]

26. My 13-year-old asked about it the other day, since of course he's heard quite a lot about it.

When I gave him the quick-and-dirty version, he was horrified.

[COLGATE4]

49. +1. Perfectly said!

[BlueJazz]

2. What Hamlette said.

[MissMarple]

13. +1

[catbyte]

3. To me it's a tossup between Planet Kolob & I am a member of

one of the 7 Lost Tribes of Israel. But then there's the Magic Underwear...so much to choose from.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[bunnies]

4. All of the above. nt

[Curtland1015]

5. I never even knew the "magic underwear" thing EXISTED until a couple of months ago...

...but all big religions have their strange costumes and customs to me.

I wouldn't say Mormonism is THAT much weirder than any of the other religions. But being from NY, I never really heard much about it.

I dunno. I try my best not to judge people for their beliefs, but there's a mental block there for me when it comes to some of the religious stuff. "REALLY? TWO OF EVERY ANIMAL?", "REALLY, HE MADE MAGIC CANDLES?"... I guess "REALLY, MAGIC UNDERWEAR" would fit in that same category.

[Cleita]

35. I agree. I don't find Mormon beliefs any stranger than any other religion

either past or present. Most Mormon people I have met I liked. I found them to be very, nice, kind and willing to help a fellow human in need. I do find the state of Utah to be a theocracy and therefore some of the practices and culture that have emerged there are quite strange to the rest of us.

[Terra Alta]

6. the belief that good Mormons get their own planet when they die.

That might be pretty cool, actually. Not cool enough for me to convert to Mormonism, though.

[Quixote1818]

73. I want my own planet AND an Oompa Loompa NOW! nt

[slackmaster]

7. Their general insularity and secrecy

The rest of the stuff is just quirky doctrine, no stranger than things that you can find in just about any flavor of Christianity, or in any other religion in the world.

[sadbear]

8. Jesus and Jewish tribes in the Americas.

Seriously, it wasn't that long ago. There should be an archaeological record to support that belief if it were true. I suppose they have a "reasonable" excuse for that, though.

[grantcart]

9. that my great great great Grandfather was President of the Mormon Church

and that it wasn't until I sat next to Rick Romney in the 6th grade that I mentioned it to him and that he would then spend the rest of the year explaining to me how great Heber J was all the while I kept asking him how he could believe such nonsense.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. That a weirdo like Romney could become a Bishop?

If I were a Mormon I think I would prefer to do without his counsel.

[Raine]

11. The entire Mormon Cult and that anyone would join it is the oddest thing of all. nt

[KansDem]

12. I find it extremely confusing...

[CK_John]

14. That he made it out of NY without being drawn and quartered.

[KamaAina]

72. And Illinois

by the skin of his teeth.

[liberal_at_heart]

15. It's not the odd things that bother me

It is the fact that just like all other Christian denominations they want to oppress people's rights.

[Siwsan]

16. I was stationed, in Iceland, with a Mormon dentist

He was a lovely man with a great family, who deeply believed in his religion. I still have many happy memories of working and talking with him.

But, one day he was talking to me about his faith, and mentioned something about the wedding ceremony, where they take secret names. It's been a long, long time but it had something to do with finding each other on that planet they believe they go to, when they die. Anyway, he thought it was very funny that he knew his wife's secret name, but she didn't know his. I remember at the time it was such an odd thing.

Of course, he could have been joking with me, but it didn't seem like it, at the time.

[Spider Jerusalem]

25. Not joking, it's part of their "afterlife" belief

that a man gets a planet to rule over and populate with his wives (plural, since the doctrine dates to the days of polygamy), but only the ones he calls to come with him (by their 'secret names').

[Siwsan]

43. Thanks for the 'validation!

That conversation has always stuck with me.

[Cleita]

17. A few things.

In Salt Lake City, there are four Temple streets, going in four different directions. It's really confusing for the visitor.

When you ask directions to go somewhere, why you have to get a whole story on which saint and which prophet stood on that corner and when and why? No one does that anywhere. Even in Memphis no one connects any location with Elvis.

Why are those ruffly, calico prairie dresses sold in department stores and displayed in the windows? Nobody wears them anywhere else in the country.

Why is there a whole wall of LDS literature in the bookstores? I haven't seen anything like that in any other state of the union devoted to one religion.

I did get coffee. My husband wanted a drink and found out he had to join a club and get a sponsor before he could do that. There also was no way to find out where there might be a saloon because there were no signs or ads in the yellow pages.

Okay, maybe this seems petty to you, but to an outsider looking in, it's really peculiar because there is no equal in any of the other states, even those with religious types dominating the scene.

[Motown_Johnny]

18. Baptizing the dead is pretty far out there.

Not that all religions aren't strange.

[arcane1]

29. Beat me to it!

Though I would have a difficult time choosing just one.

[XemaSab]

19. That Joseph Smith managed to sucker other people into it

but I could say that about virtually all religions.

[Spider Jerusalem]

20. The idea that God is a space alien who lives on a planet called Kolob

and that every Mormon will get a planet of his own to rule over and populate in the afterlife (but only with the wives he calls by name to come with him).

[MissMarple]

21. Do many Mormons even believe in planet Kolob?

That totally creeps me out. It's like thumbing your nose at other Christians, assuming they are actually Christian.

[fried eggs]

23. Their racism and ties to big business

[Johonny]

36. +1

[pokerfan]

24. Everyone gets a free planet

in the afterlife that they get to rule as a god.

[Smilo]

31. Only men get a planet

....... women have to be good subservient beings to their masters and may have to share the man.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

39. Yea, well, I'm still not going to convert.

[Alduin]

27. The fact that people are so damn stupid to follow such nonsense.

[Avalux]

28. The post-humous baptism of non-Mormons without their consent.

I think it's horrible, and don't quite understand why they do it.

[Smilo]

30. The exclusion of so many

from the "hallowed halls".

[hobbit709]

32. When viewed from the outside, ALL religions appear equally silly.

[NashvilleLefty]

33. The South Park episode pretty much sums it up

especially the song they keep playing:
"Dum dum dum dum dum dumb, dumb."

[pokerfan]

44. yep

[center]

BLACKSMITH
There goes that kooky Joseph Smith


CUSTOMER
You know, he claims he spoke with God
and Jesus.

WOMAN
Well, how do you know he didn't?

SINGERS
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb

___________________

HARRIS
And so Joseph Smith put his head into
a hat, and read to me what the golden
plates said. I wrote it all down and
we're gonna publish it into a book.


MRS. HARRIS
Martin, how do you know he isn't just
making stuff up and pretending he's
translating off golden plates?

SINGERS
Lucy Harris smart smart smart
Smart smart smart smart smart

[/center]

[Smilo]

34. That lying for the Lord is quite acceptable.

Is that why we have so many Mormons in the Secret Service?

[jsr]

37. The FBI is also full of Mormons

J. Edgar Hoover preferred to hire Mormons for their loyalty.

So, Deep Throat was a Mormon, as was Richard Miller, the first FBI agent convicted of espionage against the United States.

[leveymg]

38. Their role in the takeover of the Howard Hughes empire

and their relationship with several intelligence agencies.

[indie9197]

40. Having to spend all eternity with your ex-spouse

If you get divorced

[dimbear]

41. I keep beating this drum, but it's important. Know the characters of the two great Mormon heroes,

Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Your heroes shape you. They are Mitt's heroes. Know about them. Tell your Protestant and Catholic friends about them.

[Mz Pip]

42. Getting to be a God of your own planet

If you're a good little Mormon boy or girl when you die and are judge by Jesus and Joseph Smith, you get to be a God of your very own planet.

I question the whole idea that God decided we needed some new material so wrote it on a gold tablet that could only be read by Joseph Smith (a known charlatan) with a peep stone. Then Smith manages to lose the tablets, twice.

IT's right up there with Scientology in weirdness.

[chelsea0011]

45. Their obsession with genealogy and gathering information on everyone.

[chowder66]

51. The posthumous baptizing of non-members.

[intaglio]

46. A hat with Urim and Thummim

Translating the now invisible golden plates.

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. That they own and run that big polynesian tourist place in Hawaii

[global1]

48. Mitt Rmoney....nt

[99Forever]

50. Same thing as every other religion.

That there are actually so many people gullible enough to buy into them.

Magic isn't real, but easily fooled sheeple are.

[murray hill farm]

52. Just about everything!

A fairy tale about how we came to be on this planet, but no more so than the Christian fairy tale about how we all came to be on this planet...or any other religious explanations. All silly stuff to explain something that has no explanation.

[calimary]

53. Their obsessive secrecy.

I was freakin' STUNNED when I learned that ann romney's parents weren't allowed to be present for her wedding to willard. Why? Because as non-Mormons, they weren't allowed into the church. I was FREAKIN' STUNNED!!!!!!!!!! HORRIFIED!!! WTF??????? If she were my daughter, I wouldn't have been outraged! And I would have demanded a different venue for the wedding. After all, the bride's family does traditionally foot the bill for the wedding, does it not?

They're SO damn secretive about everything it makes me wonder the same thing as I do about mittski's income tax returns. WHAT ARE THEY HIDING??? What's so sinister that it can't see the light of day?

[deaniac21]

54. That

Haile Selassie is revered as the returned messiah of the Bible, God incarnate. exhale....

[SmileyRose]

55. That a religion that believes in polygamy is fighting for "One Man One Woman".

and does it with a straight face.

[BeeBee]

56. As an athiest, I don't find it any more odd than any other religion. n/t

[Phlem]

57. The Hypocrisy!

plus it's just whacked.

-p

[Frustratedlady]

58. The ritual they have with the bride before she is married.

I don't know what happens, but it was my understanding the top honchos take her into a room and bless her or do whatever they feel necessary to approve the marriage or get her ready for the marriage. Does anyone know?

[mike_c]

59. mainly the god thing...

...but that's craziness that's not exclusively LDS, of course.

[modem77]

60. People living on the moon dressed like Quakers has to be the oddest

http://mormoninfo.org/moon-sun-inhabited

[DavidDvorkin]

61. It's just as absurd as other religions.

[El Supremo]

62. As long as they don't hurt anyone, they can believe all the kookie stuff they want to.

But everyone left out the paranoid stocking of large quantities food.

[LadyHawkAZ]

63. the extreme Moonie-ish mind control

Jacking the members up for 10% of their income and hoarding it. The sharply defined gender lines, disrespect of women, and glorification of overbreeding. The hatred of human sexuality. The interference in Utah government.

But yeah, the stuff you said too.

The entire religion is weird from top to bottom.

[treestar]

64. No caffeine

It's a relatively mild substance. How did this rule come about? And did they fail to prohibit say cocaine and heroin?

[2pooped2pop]

65. I think many things are strange

like the ones mentioned. The undies is the funniest so far. However, I have not seen the hate and anger from the Mormons that I see these days from the fundy "Christan" groups.

I think all the religions are ridiculous, but prior to when Bushco began paying them for votes under some other name, I thought that religion was a positive benefit to mankind. Now I see a lot of hate and non christian behavior.

The Mormons, so far seem to be a kinder gentler and more Christian acting than many of the other Christian groups I see. I may be wrong as I have only taken a peek and it's not enough to really judge.

Having said that, it won't stop me from going to some fundy teabagger sites and trying to stir up a fear of the Mormons trying to take over under the white horse prophecy. My apologies to the righteous police who will attack me for that but fuck that shit, those bastards aren't playing fair and all of mankind may be the stakes.

[NightWatcher]

66. that anyone believes it seeing as to how it was dreamed up by a convicted conman/fraud

Oh, btw, love this thread

[DrDan]

67. the "clannishness"

I lived in SLC for 4 years during my middle school years.

So . . . while still quite young and not in touch with several items on your list - what sticks out was how I was treated as a non-Mormon in Mormon country.

never accepted by next-door neighbors
never accepted by others in school
being an outcast

I'll never forget that feeling

[freeplessinseattle]

75. I hear ya! spent K-8th grade there as non LDS

Sorry you had to deal with that, especially at that age. Too bad we didn't have a kid's DU back then maybe we could have had a support group

Didn't it drive you crazy when meeting new people they always asked what ward you went to, right off the bat?

Then that look on their face when you tell them that you aren't Mormon, but not as bad as the look when they ask what religion you are, and I had to reveal that (gasp) I have no religion! oh, the mixed feelings of horror, with delight that I could be a ripe recruit.

Leading to their puzzled questions about "Don't you want to be a happier/better person?" when I made it clear I wasn't interested in being a member. How dare they presume I they are better and happier than me? At the time I knew on one level it was wrong, yet on another it did mess with my head.

They have this rep for being nice, but we both know they really aren't all that.

[chowder66]

68. What isn't odd is that a sexual deviant started a cult...that's keeping with tradition.

They almost always have some thing about molesting children (one or both sexes) and/or young women. Typically the founders and successors lust for control and later decline into madness after years of sating their lust and trying to keep all of the lies spinning. Some keep it together longer as the religion/cult grows and becomes more known about. "Keeping up with the Jones' syndrome".


The fact that Mormonism grew to the size it did, lasted this long and ever got mainstream says more about segments of our population that do not question or challenge the leaders and what they preach. Many don't even try to truly discover the real origins of a cult. It's one thing to believe in a god and privately convene with god but to take it too much further is where people begin to lose their way. They begin to "know god" and say and do things that they believe that god would have them say and do. That is acting as if they know the mind of god. That is a big no-no. It's ego, it's selfishness and it's dangerous.

[Skittles]

69. that anyone could seriously believe in that nonsense

[panader0]

70. Mitt Romney

[Bluenorthwest]

71. The secrecy of their practices coupled with the aggression of their evangelism is odd and offputting

They come to my door, I can not come to their door. They knock on every door in America for years on end begging to speak of their faith, but the minute one of them runs for President, he refuses to speak of his faith and they all run around saying they don't want any questions about their faith.

[HopeHoops]

74. rMoney - easily.

[Lunabelle]

76. The fact that a woman can't go to heaven

unless she is married to a righteous man.

[Enrique]

77. the part where they eat the dead guy

and drink his blood. And that is a guy they like.

Oh wait, that isnt Mormonism thats Christianity.

[madokie]

78. The whole shit'n shibang

I guess that goes with my non religious training. Actually I'm not religious so all religions seem odd to me. If it floats someones boat let it float it, thats not a judgment for me to make, it just doesn't float mine, is what I'm saying.

Anyone who holds a conversation with God and discusses things with him is going to be given a wide berth from me. I sure wouldn't be giving him or anything that he is part of any of my hard earned money thats for sure

I was raised southern Baptist but about the crusty old age of 14 I lost my religion. Lost my religion when, when I'd hear the preacher say stuff like that congregation down the road a piece were going to hell cause they didn't believe like he did. These were some of my friends families he was talking about so it got me to thinking and reading and once I realize there were literally thousands of different religions I decided they were all a scam. 50 years later and nearing the end of my life and I can't say I regret my decision made all those year ago.
Whose God would someone suggest I believe is the right one? Then give me a reason or two of why some ot the others don't make the grade then I might, NO forget that, thats never going to happen.

I'm with religion as I am with guns. I believe it is your right 'to be or to own' just don't push either off on me.

In the way I live my life except in believing I'm probably as good a Christian as you'll find anywhere. I live by the ten commandments as I was taught that at an early age and its done me good, I'm happy.
Peace and sure hope I didn't hurt anyones feelings by what I wrote and I hope it doesn't reflect in fewer seeing me as a friend. Cause I love you all LGBT, Brown, Black, Yellow, Red, White and what ever other colors I'm missing here. Olive maybe would be considered a color too.

[Spazito]

79. Your OP violates the SOP for General Discussion...

"Discuss politics, issues, and current events. No posts about Israel/Palestine, religion, guns, showbiz, or sports unless there is really big news. No conspiracy theories. No whining about DU."

Please consider re-posting in the Religion Group:

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