Do you still respect the titles?

[_truth dancer]

Do you feel this way about an politician. Like addressing a Senator as "Honorable" or your local Mayor as such? Or your Doctor doctor? Would you not call a catholic priest Father, or a minister pastor? In our society we have cultural conventions of civility. It is quite simple. Of course our civility in the USA is on the decline. Dress, language, culture, movies, magazines and so on reflect this.

Yes I feel this way about everyone.

We are all just regular people doing our best to manage life.

No one is better because of positions of power, or birthright or knowledge, or money or because they claim to be better than another.

A few months ago the Queen of England visited Williamsburg, and the event sort of made me sick inside... so many people "worshipping" her, bowing, groveling, etc. etc. I see it with movie stars, wealthy and famous folks, religious leaders (not just LDS ones).

What you call "conventions of civility," I call archaic terms of heirarchy and power... (smile). They need to go the way of the dinosaur!

:-)

~dancer~

[_Trevor]

From now on I ask that you all address me as His Pious, Honorable, Sage Master, the Magnificent One, Trevor, the Arch-Pontiff, Holiness of His Own Righteous Church.

Why? Because some god said so (believe it!). If you don't observe these formalities, I will consider you to be lacking in basic civility.

Carry on.

(I get the point, but there are times when I am puzzled by public reverence for some of these titles. Just because I have a Ph.D. from an accredited institution of higher learning does not mean that I love being called "doctor.")

[_KimberlyAnn]

I demanded the title "Cupcake Queen" and I got it! ;P

Everyone should respect my title and address me appropriately!

Her Highness,

KA

PS- I call my former Bishop by his first name now.

[_Yoda]

I demanded the title "Cupcake Queen" and I got it! ;P

Everyone should respect my title and address me appropriately!

Her Highness,

KA

PS- I call my former Bishop by his first name now.

All hail Queen Kimberly!

;)

[_Some Schmo]

Well, I'm not immersed in that culture. Any Mormons I know, I know from work, and I never tell them I was once a Mormon. Therefore, this is really a non issue for me.

However, if I did know someone who was a bishop or whatever, it wouldn't really matter to me. I'd just call them by their first name, and that would be that. I call everyone by their first name if I know them. If I don't, I call them "sir" or "ma'am."

Calling someone "bishop" would feel too much like I actually believed there was genuine meaning to the title (other than the meaning made up by the people who manufactured the religion). I wouldn't call a catholic priest "father" either. To me, a father is a male who has offspring, and that's it. It's not a matter of respect. It's a matter of integrity.

[_Yoda]

With me, it depends on how long I've known the person, and the circumstance.

If I don't know someone that well, and I'm at Church, I will call them Brother or Sister ______.

If they have been a bishop, I will address them as such, in a Church setting.

Our current bishop, however, I have known for years, and still call him by his first name.

I never address anyone outside of Church by their Church title. I know ward members who will say, "Hi Bishop ____" at the grocery store. I'm sorry. Outside of Utah, that's just weird.

;)

[_Infymus]

With me, it depends on how long I've known the person, and the circumstance.

If I don't know someone that well, and I'm at Church, I will call them Brother or Sister ______.

If they have been a bishop, I will address them as such, in a Church setting.

Our current bishop, however, I have known for years, and still call him by his first name.

I never address anyone outside of Church by their Church title. I know ward members who will say, "Hi Bishop ____" at the grocery store. I'm sorry. Outside of Utah, that's just weird.

;)

I've never liked the term "Brother" or "Sister". I was a convert at age 18, and when I kept hearing those terms, I had to push the "cult cult cult cult!' out of my mind. Now the terms are more sickening to me than ever, but what is worse is when Mormon clergy come into your home and tell you that "they love you". Gah! I hate that!

[_Yoda]

Now the terms are more sickening to me than ever, but what is worse is when Mormon clergy come into your home and tell you that "they love you". Gah! I hate that!

Just curious....Why are you allowing them into your home?

You certainly have control of that domain?

Sorry if you've answered this question before...I don't really know your background. Are you involved in a part-member family now?

[_Infymus]

Now the terms are more sickening to me than ever, but what is worse is when Mormon clergy come into your home and tell you that "they love you". Gah! I hate that!

Just curious....Why are you allowing them into your home?

You certainly have control of that domain?

Sorry if you've answered this question before...I don't really know your background. Are you involved in a part-member family now?

Yes, my wife is still LDS and to respect her wishes (a.k.a. to to fight about it), I allow her to follow her own faith.

I have a lengthy online BIO on my website The Mormon Curtain: http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_infymus.html

So otherwise they would be allowed in my home as neighbors, but not as Mormon Priesthood figures.

[_Inconceivable]

First names show respect for friendship or at least aquointance.

They are not my Bishop or Stake President anymore. I prefer not to use the term brother or sister as well. I wouldn't want them to mistake respect for a false hope in my return to the fold. I'm not coming back.