Is Mormonism A Belief System Or Way Of Life?

[sunstoned]

I am puzzled by the question. As others have said, why cannot it not be both. For many it is a belief system and a way of life. For others it is a a way of life. For still others, it is a belief system that is not an active part of their life.

I am also puzzled about all of this. Especially the part about kimchee.

[Bernard Gui]

I am also puzzled about all of this. Especially the part about kimchee.

Kimchee is the creation of culture, brought about by a belief system

as well as psychological pressures and shared trauma serving as

behavior modifiers. And, it is delicious.

Bernard

[Robert F. Smith]

Kimchee is the creation of culture, brought about by a belief system

as well as psychological pressures and shared trauma serving as

behavior modifiers. And, it is delicious.

Bernard

But not like Scots' haggis baggis? A dish consisting of the heart, lungs, and liver of a sheep or calf, minced with oatmeal, seasoned with salt, and boiled like a large sausage in the maw of the animal.

[Nathair/|\]

But not like Scots' haggis baggis? A dish consisting of the heart, lungs, and liver of a sheep or calf, minced with oatmeal, seasoned with salt, and boiled like a large sausage in the maw of the animal.

1.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy of a grace

As lang's my arm.

2.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hudies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o' need,

While thro' your pores the dews distil

Like amber bead.

3.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An' cut ye up wi' ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like onie ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

Warm-reeking, rich!

4.

Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:

Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,

Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve

Are bent like drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

'Bethankit!' hums.

5.

Is there that owre his French ragout,

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad mak her spew

Wi perfect scunner,

Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view

On sic a dinner?

6.

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,

As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,

His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,

His nieve a nit;

Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,

O how unfit.

7.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He'll make it whistle;

An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned

Like taps o' thrissle.

8.

Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,

That jaups in luggies;

But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,

Gie her a Haggis!

--Rabbie Burns

[IloveaMormon]

"Mormonism is the creation of culture, brought about by a belief system as well as psychological pressures and shared trauma serving as behavior modifiers. Science is seen as a welcome guest as long as it doesn't threaten the basic belief system (upon which it is demonized). "

I tend to agree with Pale Rider. Especially about the psychological pressure serving as behavior modifiers. I contend genuine, sustainable spiritual growth cannot be created out of fear or shame or judgment. Loving action towards our Creator, ourselves and our brothers and sisters must be born from love itself.

[Bernard Gui]

But not like Scots' haggis baggis? A dish consisting of the heart, lungs, and liver of a sheep or calf, minced with oatmeal, seasoned with salt, and boiled like a large sausage in the maw of the animal.

Sounds tasty, except for the oatmeal.

Bernard

[Bernard Gui]

Loving action towards our Creator, ourselves and our brothers and sisters must be born from love itself.

Exactly what is taught by the LDS Church.

Bernard

[IloveaMormon]

Again,I agree with Pale Rider.

"Most cultures (I believe) are shaped primarily in their infant stages and then go through less aggressive change as they evolve (with some exceptions, just generalizing here). I think the shared early persecution and pioneer experiences set the stage for close cohesion in the church. Once that pattern was established it became an integral part of the culture. Kind of an "Us against the world mentality" that sometimes serves the church well and at others not so well.........."

The 'us against them' mentality is in my view, a contradiction to what Christ taught... love thy neighbor (even if he's gay, single, drug addicted, not LDS, etc...) The retort I often hear from my LDS friends is that one can love someone and not accept them at the same time. I disagree. To truly love and respect people we must accept them and their chosen path even if it is different from our own. We must suspend our judgment and see everyone as our equal. Everyone. No judgments. No fear for their salvation if we all truly remember what our Father is to all of us. He is not to be feared. He Is THE Answer. The only answer possible. I surrender to His greatness and there is nothing to fear.

[Calm]

The retort I often hear from my LDS friends is that one can love someone and not accept them at the same time. I disagree.

I would suggest that what they is not "not accept them" but "not accept their behaviour"....there is a difference.

To truly love and respect people we must accept them and their chosen path even if it is different from our own. We must suspend our judgment and see everyone as our equal. Everyone. No judgments. No fear for their salvation if we all truly remember what our Father is to all of us. He is not to be feared. He Is THE Answer. The only answer possible. I surrender to His greatness and there is nothing to fear.

So you don't believe there are any cases where one shouldn't accept someone's "chosen path"? What about extreme cases where such paths lead to not only lack of tolerance, but violence.

How are you not judging the LDS chosen path in this statement? How are you not judging it (or at least your interpretation of it) as inferior to your own?

Edited September 21, 2011 by calmoriah

[thesometimesaint]

palerider:

Does the young convert in Zimbabwe "feel" the persecutions of the early Saints?

[IloveaMormon]

I would suggest that what they is not "not accept them" but "not accept their behaviour"....there is a difference.

So you don't believe there are any cases where one shouldn't accept someone's "chosen path"? What about extreme cases where such paths lead to not only lack of tolerance, but violence.

How are you not judging the LDS chosen path in this statement? How are you not judging it (or at least your interpretation of it) as inferior to your own?

I realize I am judging the LDS chosen path. I apologize. Until I fell in love with a wonderful Mormon man I had a neutral opinion of Latter Day Saints and the gospel they live by. They seemed decent enough. I did not see them as a cult but as a valid faith worthy of my respect. I would very much like to walk a path of love with the man I love but his faith dictates he reject me because I am not LDS. This is hard for me to take and sometimes I get so tired of being percieved as less than spiritually and I go off and get aggressive and downright judgmental. I need to get off the computer and go out and enjoy people instead of arguing with people online.