Wikipedia notes that "Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The term is often used by Latter Day Saints to describe persons or literature that are critical of their adherents, institutions, or beliefs.". It struck me as odd, yet accurate, the use of the terms "discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice" and i was curious about what motivates a person(s) to behave in such a manner? Is it an act of revenge? of atonement? of immaturity? is it part of some sort of quasi-healing process? is it biological? psychological? egotistical?
I also , find it peculiar that many so-called Evangelicals often share this Anti-Mormon sentiment in light of what their more learned members have stated: "I am now convinced that we... have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community. Indeed, let me state it bluntly to the LDS folks here this evening: we have sinned against you. The God of the Scriptures makes it clear that it is a terrible thing to bear false witness against our neighbors, and we have been guilty of that sort of transgression in things we have said about you. We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe...Indeed, we have even on occasion demonized you, weaving conspiracy theories about what the LDS community is 'really' trying to accomplish in the world" -Richard Mouw, President of the Fuller Theological Seminary
Well, that being said, i guess my inquiry is quite simple,
What motivates a person to actively be Anti-Mormon?
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
subgenius wrote: What motivates a person to actively be Anti-Mormon?
The problem here is getting a definition for anti-Mormon that even active believing members can agree on. Look up some of the discussions about this over at the other board to see that even they cannot agree. I would say one's feelings and motivations are key to one being an anti, and I would say how people generally view what a anti-Semite is the best definition of an anti-Mormon.
I might also add we might need to look at what motivates some anti-Mormons like yourself to act like believing Mormons here to make the church look bad.
Going by the definition you put forth I would say the same thing that inspires all prejudice.
"Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)."
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
subgenius wrote: Well, that being said, i guess my inquiry is quite simple,
What motivates a person to actively be Anti-Mormon?
A desire to tell the truth...
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator
subgenius wrote: Well, that being said, i guess my inquiry is quite simple,
What motivates a person to actively be Anti-Mormon?
A desire to tell the truth...
So, for you, the desire to tell the truth is expressed by "discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice".....got it!
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
just me wrote:Going by the definition you put forth I would say the same thing that inspires all prejudice.
"Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)."
Which is?
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
subgenius wrote:So, for you, the desire to tell the truth is expressed by "discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice".....got it!
This has the brilliant strategic insight of debate wins such as asking "when did you stop beating your wife?".
Your opening post presented two different versions of what antimormon means. One definition is narrowly focused upon negative versions. The other definition is broad enough to include both positive and negative versions. This allows a clever trick where somebody agrees to be part of the broad version because they see something positive then you get to switch categories and accuse them with the negative version.
If this is still too complicated a simpler observation can be made.
There are people who say things critical of the LDS church who are respectably interested in the truth. There are other people who say critical things who are malignant fanatics, out of touch with the truth. These two are not the same.
What motivates me is the desire to know the truth and stop the nonsense.
What motivates the Mormon to dedicate all they have to the building up of josephs kingdom on earth, to avenge his blood, to keep his secrets and swear on their life, to beguile and coerce and shower with love a total stranger who they don't know from 'Charles Manson' and give that person a calling to teach primary?
PrickKicker: I used to be a Narrow minded, short sighted, Lying, Racist, Homophobic, Pious, Moron. But they were all behavioral traits that I had learnt through Mormonism.
