It is also worth pointing out that, just like every other Christian denomination, not every member of the LDS church ascribes to every single one of the church’s teachings.
Hell no! I say keep 'em busy with meaningless shit and there’s that much less of a chance of doing real harm.
That’s my real objection, too, but I’m having fun positing different Heavens all existing concurrently. And within easy wing-flapping distance.
And it’s not trolling if it’s so preposterous nobody could take it seriously.
Not offended because obviously it has no effect, but it does feel like it’s done as an insult.
My personal take is that the absence of logic for these people is just hysterical, but I can see how someone who believes in The Magic in one form or another would be offended. It’s totally disrespectful, no matter how funny it is.
This atheist is.
Once more, it comes down to: keep your god to yourself and mind your own fucking business. You’re religious? Great, I’m not, I think religion is stupid, that your god doesn’t exist, and I don’t want you dragging me into your idiotic superstitions. I have my beliefs, you have yours, let’s keep them separate.
I would be utterly shocked if every single active member of the LDS Church didn’t believe in the importance of baptism for the dead. They might not all go to the temple and perform the ordinance, but I can’t imagine a member in good standing finding baptism for the dead objectionable. And I would bet money that most members in good standing views baptizing Holocaust victims as defensible if not entirely appropriate.
Oh dear, NinjaChick. That’s what you truly believe?
You’re in my prayers. I hope it’s not too late. If you were Catholic you’d have until just before you die to repent. The Mormons seem to give you longer, until AFTER you find out how sucky your afterlife is, which is cool.
Another Catholic here, with one really important question: Will there be canasta in Jewish Heaven? And if so, where can I sign up? Can we have road trips or something? Or can those of us in Catholic Heaven at least have someone sneak us matzoh ball soup and knishes and latkes?
I would, especially if this happened right after I was tortured or killed for being an atheist. But perhaps a better analogy would be Catholics praying for the soul of a Jew they just killed for not being willing to convert.
Well, thanks to my grandfather I figure I can at least get a day pass. But if you can’t you teach the rest of us how to play. There’ll be plenty of cards. Nice, new, Bicycles.
When people say they’ll pray for me I say I’ll think for them.
Of course, the comparison I was making was to the suggestion (or argument, or allusion or whatever) that if a group can get away with some offensive practice for a certain unspecified period of time, then it’s somehow no longer legitimate to protest it. But you may ignore the point if you wish.
Come to think of it, defenders of flying the Confederate flag will tell you that it’s not a hate symbol whatsoever, just a tradition and showing appreciation for an essential part of Southern heritage, and what’s up with all those people suddenly taking offense, they’re so needlessly touchy, and…
Nah, no parallels to be seen here at all. :dubious:
Wait, maybe I got some facts about this story wrong. The Mormons that are baptizing these dead Jews had something to do with their deaths? Because if not, then no, that’s not a better analogy.
:shrug: Ok. Personally, I don’t understand getting worked up over something that you feel so strongly cannot affect you at all. Anyone who wants to can pray for me or try to baptize me into their religion without my consent, and as far as I believe, they’re just wasting their time, not bothering me. There could be someone trying to turn me Hindu right now. If I’m eventually reborn as a cow, then I guess they were right. If they’re wrong, no harm done. It’s sort of like Pascal’s wager only without having to believe anything.
No problem. In fact, I can get the crazy great-grandmothers who taught me how to play to teach everyone else. Probably pinochle, too. They’re always looking for a new suckers … er, partners. We’ll just need to bring them Lucky Strikes and Pabst.
Canasta? Pinochle? Pabst? Lemme guess: they taught you euchre and cribbage, too.
Nope, since I wasn’t making the argument that “gee, it;'s been done so long it can’t be offensive”. No parallel.
Glad that you see that.
Of course, as I’ve stated before, I don’t se anything offensive about the practice. Judging from the above responses, neither do a lot of other people here. I do recognize that some people seem to find this offensive. I still don’t understand that, but YMMV.
I do agree that if you agree not to do something and then go ahead and do it anyway, that’s an offense. You’ve sullied your Word. If they said that they weren’t going to do it, they shouldn’t.
Finally, comnsidering that they do this pretty much in secret, how can you know if they’re doing it or not? More to the point, how do you know that other religious groups aren’t doing something you’ll find equally offensive? When I was growing up Catholic, the nuns used to pray for the Conversion of the Jews. Several years ago, I had Evangelic Christians praying for my conversion. There’s probably some group, somewhere, praying over you to make you see the light, or praying for your soul, or something. There’s nothing you can do about it.
No. Gin and rummy, though. Although, mostly that was so they would have excuses to drink gin and rum.
Then you haven’t been paying attention to the people who see it as all too reminiscent of the forced conversions of Jews in the past. Even if you are not religious you, as a compassionate human being, should be able to see why they are offended. You don’t have a dog in this fight? Fine, but don’t dismiss the feelings of those that do.
My understanding of LDS Heaven, which comes from studying with a couple of missionaries when I was in high school (I had some good LDS friends and wanted to know more about their beliefs), is that there are three levels of heaven. I forget the actual names, but basically there’s Awesome Heaven, Really Awesome Heaven, and Super Duper Awesome Heaven. Pretty much everyone gets to go to one of the heavens. Only if you’re a complete jerk do you go to Outer Darkness. I don’t think all unbaptized people go there. I’m not sure about communion with god. I’ve never thought about that being a heavenly attraction before.
Frankly, all of these theological beliefs are just so exhausting to me. So many rules! So much to remember! Much easier to be an atheist.