Why are you LDS / Mormon?

[pancreasman]

Jeff chose to take offense at everything, but seriously, there are super smart Mormons. The gullibility of people I love and respect really gives me pause.

I do agree with this. People can and do believe the weirdest things. I suspect that more ludicrous beliefs (and yes, I agree Mormonism is one of those) can only be sustained by demoting the role of logic and reason and supplanting them with emotionalism disguised as authentic spirituality. Then it becomes a virtue to believe 'six impossible things before breakfast'.

I suspect I won't be getting Christmas cards now from my LDS friends. Wait, I don't have any. I wonder why?

[nrajeff]

So, does that mean that you give plausibility to them all?

Within reason, yes. It's a rare occasion when I say that something is impossible.

[nrajeff]

To the EXTENT that there's differing / conflicting accounts of the alleged "first vision"? No, Jeff.. I don't think so.

Or MAYBE the first vision never really happened! This is one of (if not THE) most important events in your Church's history, having to do SUPPOSEDLY with the "restoration" of Christianity, and Smith and his contemporaries couldn't agree on what actually HAPPENED? Wow. And you liken that to the "real" story of the first flag?

It's beyond my abilities to cure you of all your prejudices, so I won't try beyond suggesting that you educate yourself regarding the First Vision Accounts: A Harmony.

[Cow Poke]

It's beyond my abilities to cure you of all your prejudices, so I won't try beyond suggesting that you educate yourself regarding the First Vision Accounts: A Harmony.

More like a train wreck. When was the first time any account of the "first vision" was actually published, Jeff? Even in your own Church's publications?

[nrajeff]

I do agree with this. People can and do believe the weirdest things.

You got that right--some even believe that the best way to know God is to limit yourself to describing what He's NOT. : )

I suspect that more ludicrous beliefs (and yes, I agree Mormonism is one of those) can only be sustained by demoting the role of logic and reason and supplanting them with emotionalism disguised as authentic spirituality.

What do you think of studies that suggest that LDS people are relatively more educated--and that LDS are a rarity in that the higher their education, the closer they tend to embrace their faith ? (Compared to, say, Evangelicals)

I suspect I won't be getting Christmas cards now from my LDS friends. Wait, I don't have any. I wonder why?

Maybe it's the fact that they have all been brainwashed to eschew non-prejudiced, non-insulting people such as yourself?

[nrajeff]

More like a train wreck.

You're referring to the idea of you educating yourself on the issue?

[Cow Poke]

You're referring to the idea of you educating yourself on the issue?

In a way, yes... the more I read of Smith's accounts, and other accounts, and the conflicts between them, the more I see a train wreck.

But you missed this part....

When was the first time any account of the "first vision" was actually published, Jeff? Even in your own Church's publications?

[nrajeff]

In a way, yes... the more I read of Smith's accounts, and other accounts, and the conflicts between them, the more I see a train wreck.

But you missed this part....

I am waiting for you to tell me what you learned from your study of a harmony of the 1st Vision Accounts.

[Cow Poke]

I am waiting for you to tell me what you learned from your study of a harmony of the 1st Vision Accounts.

You can't answer the question, can you?

[nrajeff]

Jeff can get all a-bristle over my opinion again,

I hope it doesn't hurt your feelings too much to learn that I don't think much of your opinions. Over 47,000 posts--I hope that SOME of them are non-caustic.

but I am just in shocked amazement that people take that shyster seriously at all.

Maybe you will be shocked and stunned into silence? Can't hurt to hope....

[Dee Dee Warren]

You can't answer the question, can you?

Apparently not.

[Bill the Cat]

Within reason, yes. It's a rare occasion when I say that something is impossible.

So, you believe it is PLAUSIBLE that Joseph Smith made the whole thing up (as a possibility of the real story of the beginning of your church)?

[Sparko]

Apparently not.

it is typical Jeff. He must have played a lot of dodgeball as a kid.

[nrajeff]

Originally posted by Cow Poke
"You can't answer the question, can you?"

Apparently not.

I think he was asking me, not you, but that's okay if you want to admit that you can't answer it. As for myself, I CAN answer it. That doesn't mean I feel charitable enough today to do so without some quid pro quo from CP. He's getting spoiled and lazy, expecting that people will drop everything to answer 100 of his questions even when he is unwilling to answer 90 that are asked of him.

[nrajeff]

So, you believe it is PLAUSIBLE that Joseph Smith made the whole thing up (as a possibility of the real story of the beginning of your church)?

I'd put it one the list of possibilities, sure. Maybe at 10th or lower on a list of them, if I were to rank them from most probable to least probable.