Tuesday, January 5, 2010

What Is A Bigot?

What is a bigot? According to dictionary.com a bigot is:

"One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ."

So anyone who publishes crap about those who no longer believe in the LDS church, for no other reason than that they left the church, is a bigot.

If you are unable to accept the fact that former believers no longer believe, then you are a bigot.

If you are a bigot, then you are basically an intolerant prick who can't accept anyone unless they are just like you.

I strongly believe in letting everyone believe whatever they want to believe. As long as their religious beliefs don't threaten my [or my family] physical safety, then I'm fine with it.

I can get on here and post about how the LDS think because guess what??? I know how they think. I used to be one. I am an expert on Mormon thinking because I thought that way myself for almost 30 years.

So those know-it-alls who think they are experts on ex-Mormons, and explicitly express their beliefs that ex-Mormons are evil and haters, those are the bigots. They are intolerant and arrogant.

The world would be a better place without bigots. In fact, the world would be a better place without religion.

No one likes bigots.

Do you know why they named unwanted and unsolicited email after the snack meat known as spam? Because no one likes it! No one likes SPAM.

UPDATE

I stated, "If you are unable to accept the fact that former believers no longer believe, then you are a bigot."

I retract that statement due to a comment from Ammon. I will leave it in the original post so that he won't appear to be commenting on a statement that no longer exists.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

It's actually pretty easy to accept that 'former believers no longer believe'. That doesn't make anyone a bigot. We're simply sad when we see a brother or sister who has abandoned the blessings of the priesthood. I don't really know how that translates to bigotry. By your very definition Anti-Mormons are also bigots. Interesting just as was stated in another post, Anti-Mormons always have a double standard. Perhaps you could look in the mirror first before you click the publish button on your next attack.

And just because you were a member of the LDS church for 30 years, doesn't really mean that you know how LDS members think because your perception may be coming from the wrong angle. I'm truly sorry that your problem with the LDS church has driven you away from God entirely. Perhaps that's the biggest tragedy here.

Mormon411 said...

Hi Ammon,

I see your point and I totally agree with you. Most Mormons are not bigots. If I made that impression, then I will change it.

This post was for Greg who is not only a bigot, but is proud of it.

I am sure that some anti-Mormons (I prefer the term ex-Mormon) are indeed bigots as well. But not all of them. I might say strong words against the church, but in the end, I respect every persons right to believe. Some might consider me a bigot. I do not.

Yes, I don't care for the church but I am not intolerant of Mormons whatsoever. If I was, I would have to abandon my own family.

You see my having lost "god" as a tragedy. I see it as a victory. I can't even tell you how much I love not believing. I love not having to take things on faith. I prefer to put my trust in things that I know are real.

Do a little reasearch on Christanity and you will see that it is no different than any other set of mythological religions.

In fact, a few posts back I put up a video that talks all about that stuff. I would recommend that you watch it. It is entitled, "The Empty Cross". You can also find it on YouTube.

You see, I didn't leave "god" because I was angry with him. I just realized that it's not true and that was it.

Unknown said...

Fair enough. I'll try to change my words to "ex-mormons". I do think your post came across as "all religious people are bigots", maybe that was my incorrect perception though.

I understand your point about not wanting to live on faith. I wouldn't want to live entirely on faith either. I know that God is real though. Not just because my primary teacher taught me to say that at testimony time but because of many experiences throughout my 38 years. Not all good experiences but in the end they strengthened my understanding of God.

I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant. I don't think I know everything or that I'm better than anyone, honestly. I have worked closely with a lot of people that the world would consider 'losers' but I have been careful not to allow that thought to creep into my thinking. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ anyone could end up in heaven with us (or in a kingdom above us for that matter).

But through my experiences I truly feel that I know Jesus Christ. I try hard to see others as God sees them and I hope that others try to see me the same way. Without religion in my life, I would have no real interest in humility or helping others much. I might be an exception and I don't mean to imply that you as an atheist don't help others. I don't know you, but for me I would have a hard time seeing the value in taking someone to an AA meeting for example. I don't have a drinking problem, so why spend my time there? But as a follower of Christ, I see the value in helping others and sacrificing my time for the sake of other people.

I don't think God or Jesus Christ are mythical. They have done more for my life than Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.