I'm going to read the book since I don/t pretend to understand the religion very well - its just that what I've seen of it so far turns me off to it.
Asking me to be more precise is a valid request. I would say that I dislike the Kings and/or Gods concept, but mostly I dislike the reproducion of children on a scale that would appear to be exploitive of the earth. I believe large families produce still larger numbers of children that consume scarce resources faster than they can be renewed - causing the less fornunate to starve. Also, I believe that this is unethical in a world where many have little or nothing. Further, the whole notion of kings in the afterlife (but not women) is a repugnant as the origonal statement by that Mormon prophet fellow (what's his name?) that blacks are the "seeds of satan." I know, he withdrew this statement after a prophetic vision, but a lot of people in the South had the same "vision" a bit to late. Call me judgemental of this religion. I am, (and this is definately a judgement), not a problem to me. I see this Mormon (LDS) movement as cultish, unethical, controlling, and power hungry, But,I defend your right to believe in it and defend the right to practice it - even that Racist Christian identity crap if you like it. I don't and I think it is more full of crap than Mormonism - so condem me for that religious persecution while you are at it, and, perhaps you will see the illogic of your line of reasioning. It is not the 50's, but a lot of what LDS does is like it. So, I would just recomend not subjucating women, admitting to past subjigation of minorities, current discrimination of gays, even a policy against mastrubation, monitoring the sex lives of ,arried couples, accountability for interfering generally in the private lives of belivers, and, environmantal responsibity per reproduction -- i.e. birth control.
Most of all, I would suggest a more open intelectual tradition that is inclusive of more scientific dialouge and free thought on issues such as modern astronomy, particle physics, quantum mechanics and biological evolution.
But, we all have the right to believe and practice as we choose. We don't, however, have the right to expect or demand the silence of critics such as myself :smile: (free speech). Here is some. "I don't care for religious fundamentalism in general, I'm not ashamed of saying so, and, I have as much right to say so as mormons do to knock on my door and try to sell me that cultish social control crap." :smile:
