Anti-Mormonism ineffective? So says bsix

[_Mephitus]

I think i have some information that might be really interesting to add.

Recent neurologists have been taking convicted serial killers and looking at brain activity rates in an attempt to see if there are physical differences between "normal" people and "killers". The information gleamed was rather interesting. heres one: http://people.howstuffworks.com/psychopath.htm Basicly, its not merely a chemical difference. The brain is wired differently. I can't find the specific study i want to note, but in it they did one exactly as the one above but they put in as a study group high intelligence people. They found that the brain activity related to social interaction was nearly identical. Smart people think less with the emotional part of their brain and use the logic portion of their brain to work through a social situation. that's why so many smart people are introverted or thought of as shy and innept in social settings. Their brain literaly "works" different.

argh....and it was on TV....i can't find it...

[_beastie]

Interesting, sono - TD started a new thread dedicated to just this, and I'll mention your post there to make sure people come back here to read it.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I think I have some information that might be really interesting to add.

Recent neurologists have been taking convicted serial killers and looking at brain activity rates in an attempt to see if there are physical differences between "normal" people and "killers". The information gleamed was rather interesting. heres one: http://people.howstuffworks.com/psychopath.htm Basicly, its not merely a chemical difference. The brain is wired differently. I can't find the specific study I want to note, but in it they did one exactly as the one above but they put in as a study group high intelligence people. They found that the brain activity related to social interaction was nearly identical. Smart people think less with the emotional part of their brain and use the logic portion of their brain to work through a social situation. that's why so many smart people are introverted or thought of as shy and innept in social settings. Their brain literaly "works" different.

argh....and it was on TV....I can't find it...

I know at least one smart person with sever emotional excesses.

[_Sam Harris]

I hate that idea, too, Dude. And I must admit, the fundamentalist kooks are the majority in EV'ism. There are always the liberal "mainstream" Protestant churches, but unfortunately they also tend to be the boring churches. I do hope I can bring some change in EV'ism (I managed to turn a bunch of fundie friends into liberals in college), but it's difficult to speak up about this stuff in a non-academic environment-- unless somebody directly asks about it. I don't want my church to think I'm intentionally indoctrinating their youth with my liberal ideas.

CK, I think that your mindset (and mine) are latching on a bit more than many think these days. I tried to explain a bit of what you have before, but few seem to want to hear or see past what they have experienced. You can be evangelical without being fundamentalist. It is true that most Christian fundies are EV, but fundamentalism expands past that. I'm busy with school these days so I don't really have time to play on here anymore, but I wanted to respond to your post. I'm EV as well, but I don't think Mormons are the spawn of Satan, and I could care less what you believe, so long as you act in an ethical manner.

Strange, as evil as evangelicalism is (though few seem to know what this word means or stems from), in school, a school founded by an EV, in my "worldviews" class, a great deal of what we discuss would be thrown out of most fundie venues. I've been through two accelerated semesters with this school, and have only seen one instance of people damning others to hell. There's a greater emphasis on one's personal responsiblity to be a "good Christian" and a good world citizen, and no pressure whatsoever to put up denominational lines. I'm pretty happy with it.

I'm glad there's one more person on this site who has a good and accurate view of what an Evangelical Christian is and does. We don't hate everyone who isn't "like us", and some (if not many) of us are liberal in our views.

Well said.

[_Gazelam]

How far back do you feel this attitude of universal acceptance goes among the EV's?

It sems to me to be a more modern attitude than an old and accepted one. Have Baptists always felt that the Baptism of a Methodist is accepted? I know the new attitude is that a baptism is not even a necesary ordinance at all.

Gaz

[_msnobody]

Remember that the same sociality that exists among us here will exist among us there.(D&C 130:2)

Why do some choose in this life to remain uneducated and not seek after knowledge? Why are their men who choose not to seek good employment and provide for their families? The list could go on. People are who they are. What God is looking for are those who will live a Celestial life by their own choice, so he knows who he can entrust with all that he has. Should someone inherit all that God has that must be constantly goaded into being good, or someone who is inantely good by their own choosing? That is the true test in this life. The path of Christ enhances and further instructs one in Godly attributes, service and overcoming the world and its deathly habits.

Those who do not desire these attributes will not take part in that culture after this ife, they will go where they are satisfied and happy, but they will not be part of any further creation. They have shown by their nature that they are not responsible over creation, and can therefore not be entrusted with any further progression.

A good series of verses on this topic are found in D&C 88:11-41

Gaz

Why does the LDS god require payment ($) in order for one to receive all he has?

[_Gazelam]

If you are refering to titheing, that is to teach a person th eLaw of concecration, or setting aside the things of the world in favor of the things of God. Titheing is the lesser law when compared to the full law of concecration known as The United Order, where people have all things in common. A law the church at this time is not prepared to live, being too caught up in the things of the world.

Righteous members of the church are asked to consecrate their time, talents, strength, properties, and monies to the establishment of the Lord's work and kingdom. Titheing pales in comparison to what has been asked of saints in the past. Called to serve missions in unknown lands, colonize wilderness areas, build temples etc...

All that our Father in heaven has and does is in an effort to exalt us and increase our Glory. We cannot gain the attributes of God if our hearts are set on the things of this world, which are no more than dust.

Gaz

[_Sam Harris]

How far back do you feel this attitude of universal acceptance goes among the EV's?

It sems to me to be a more modern attitude than an old and accepted one. Have Baptists always felt that the Baptism of a Methodist is accepted? I know the new attitude is that a baptism is not even a necesary ordinance at all.

Gaz

Hey Gazzie,

Long time no tease. :-)

I readily admit this attitude is new. And I'm glad it's here. And in thinking about why fundamentalism is so prevalent in the evangelical spin on Christianity, I have come to believe that it is only natural that it should be so vibrant here. The whole issue of Bible inerrancy is just fertile ground for some thumping fundie to go off damning people to hell.

But I think we're in a stage of being awakened as EV Protestants. We have eyes, we have consciences. Only the willingly stupid can close their minds and hearts to the rest of humanity. I think that in the past people have created religious boundaries out of fear, because that is how the church worked...and in some cases still does. But we are a people with more information at our fingertips these days. We can't just look to preacher for everything.

Week two of my worldviews class, we were talking about our own personal worldviews. And I always bring up the controversial in class, regardless of who likes it. So far, I've had no problems, in fact my teachers call me "refreshing", among other things. Will stop tooting my horn now.

I wrote about my trouble in believing that all non-Christians went to hell regardless of life lived. No one bashed me, no one quoted scriptures to prove me wrong. In fact, many came on and introspected with me. A very welcome change.

We don't have to stay prejudiced forever. But I think it makes the more "enlightened" (neither LDS nor EV) on this board and others feel good to see folks like us in a negative light, rather than step outside their experiences.

My grandmother is very fundie Christian. She used to tell me I was going to hell until I told her I'd take her with me.

Postscript: I haven't attended any church yet that feels that baptism isn't necessary for conversion. However, I do believe that it's what is in your heart when you do that, and even if you don't that matters. My grandma was baptized...and so were the rest of her fundie family....they're still hateful. What did baptism do for them?

[_Gazelam]

I think this stems from a loss of belief in authority. It used to be that the various churchs would claim authority from one source or another, but I think somewhere along the way that's was tossed aside.

You get alot now that don't claim baptism is necesary at all.

Next time your in class ask your teacher, maybe vefore or after, where he claims authority from to act in the name of God. I think the standard answer now is that if you have the spirit you have authority. This despite the numerous accounts of authority being passed down hand to head.

Is it this lack of authority and the distorted belief that authority stems from faith alone that now unites the churchs? After all, if theres no authority to dispute, whats the problem with blending all together?

[_Sam Harris]

Authority is a huge issue, Gaz. But I also feel it is overrated. God gave us dominion over the earth, not each other. We're so busy trying to be the boss that our very surroundings are falling apart due to our ambition.

My teacher is just that, a college professor. I hardly think he'd see himself as acting for God.

I let God act for Godself. Leave it to me, I'd bungle it.