The irony of Mormon sponsorship of Prop. 8 is that Mormons are also

[JDPriestly]

an unpopular minority. In fact, Mormons may be much more unpopular in many parts of the country than are gays.

The Mormon beliefs offend many traditional Christians and Mormons have been the victims of violence. On the other hand, the Mormons gained a reputation for being violent themselves. This is not forgotten in some areas of the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism_and_violence

Finally, Mormons practiced and advocated polygamy and gave that practice up very reluctantly. Google this if you doubt me. I don't want to choose from the many websites on this.

What fools the Mormons are to pick on gays. Let's just say people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

The Mormons protest against government welfare programs, but their church has a welfare system (possibly funded by tax exempt donations????) that spreads their wealth -- but only to church members of course. Their welfare system merits some investigation and publicity. Are some Mormons on government welfare also receiving income from their church? I do not know the answer, but I think it is worth asking this question.

I know this is kind of an objectionable approach from one point of view. On the other hand, I wonder if the Mormon outrage at gay marriage is just a way of deflecting a lot of the flack they are getting on some other issues including polygamy.

It seems to me that gays might want to engage Mormons in discussion in general about tolerance. Perhaps gays could open the dialog by pointing out to Mormons the similarities in the kinds of prejudice that both groups face and have faced.

[cliffordu]

1. Aren't these people the same ones that keep all the geneology materials in a salt

cave somewhere???

Weren't they REQUIRED to keep a year's worth of food around for the end times or some shit???

[Jed Dilligan]

2. If it can't reform to fit into modern society like real religions,

I would be happy to see LDS as dead as the cult of Mithras.

[Kutjara]

4. The tragedy is the the "real" religions haven't reformed to fit society,...

...they've reformed society to fit themselves. Just look at how Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have cast a shadow over the societies in which they are dominant. Religion and society are in constant struggle. Unfortunately for all of us, we seem to be living in an era in which religion is winning.

[Jed Dilligan]

6. Give them some credit--Christianity and Judaism have changed a lot.

If you look at the vote breakdown on Prop 8 by age, instead of race and religion, you'll see that we actually are winning on this particular issue. By the next election, the most supportive group will experience a mass die-off, and we can expect the new 18-20 year olds to be even more supportive of gay rights than the current crop. A theocracy is an odious thing, but we aren't one yet.

[PennyP]

3. That's part of why they are so intent on this...

gives them cred with the evangelicals who look down on them.

[QC]

5. Their polygamy is not entirely in the past.

Though the "church" officially forbids it, in practice they look the other way. Utah is full of polygamists, and not all of them belong to renegade Mormon sects.

[cboy4]

7. Yea, there's plenty of irony associated with the Yes on H8

people.

Assholes.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Mormons were behind the Mountain Meadows Massacre of Sep 11, 1857

Mountain Meadows Massacre
Sept. 11, 1857

"I had many to assist me at the Mountain Meadows. I believe that most of those who were connected with the Massacre, and took part in the lamentable transaction that has blackened the character of all who were aiders or abettors in the same, were acting under the impression that they were performing a religious duty. I know all were acting under the orders and by the command of their Church leaders; and I firmly believe that the most of those who took part in the proceedings, considered it a religious duty to unquestioningly obey the orders which they had received. That they acted from a sense of duty to the Mormon Church." (...Life and Confessions of John D. Lee..., p. 213)

http://www.greaterthings.com/Topical/Mountain_Meadows_Massacre/

In case you are not familiar with these events, it is best known as the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre. It involved a number of Mormons, dressed up like Native Americans, who ambushed a wagon train heading towards California from Arkansas. After the pioneers on the wagon train surrendered, the Mormons slaughtered every last one of them, some by gunshot and some by bashing in their skulls when they ran out of bullets. All in all, 120 people were killed. Only 17 children under the age of 10 survived. The pioneers were buried in mass graves.

One might wonder why the Mormons would kill these people so mercilessly. Well, these people weren't Mormons. Thus they deserved to be killed, at least according to then President of the LDS Brigham Young.

http://bloggingpoints.blogspot.com/2007/01/mormon-massacre-at-mountain-meadows.html

[JDPriestly]

10. Thanks for posting the details on this.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

9. Many Republicans would NEVER vote for a Mormon for President (Mitt's problem).

You'd think as an unpopular minority, they would be more understanding.


Guess not.


Fuck the religion. Although I am sure there are some good individuals.