troyguitar wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 3:47 pm
SAWCE wrote:
I’ll agree that it should be left out of politics, but people here like to bash individuals for their personal beliefs when those beliefs have no effect on them whatsoever.
It does affect us all. Religious organizations teaching people not to think creates non-thinking citizens whose votes count the same as ours, thus
Religious organizations paying no fucking taxes means that WE are effectively paying for them to do that.
You and I are funding the God Hates Fags movement. That should sicken you.
Disclaimer: I can only speak about the Mormon church as that is where all of my religious experience is. I grew up in the church, my dad was our bishop for many years, mom served in several different roles within our ward. I personally never really believed in all of it, which is why I don’t actively practice today or really count myself as being Mormon. That said, I do believe that there is a god and that he has some sort of plan for us regardless of how shitty some things may seem.
I guess my experience growing up as Mormon is different than other people’s experience with religion. Having faith in a higher power isn’t teaching you not to think, it’s teaching you to have hope. Of course, other religions may be doing it differently, I obviously can’t speak for all of them and their teachings/expectations.
The tithes called into question funds the Mormon religion as well. I’m sure there are some tax breaks that they get, but the church is largely “self”-sufficient based on member contributions.
You’re right with the anti-gay stuff unfortunately. I know there are some more progressive non-denomination churches that are more open about sexuality, but that’s one area where the Mormon church is largely wrong, IMO. There are a lot more members of the church who are progressive/democratic/whatever you want to call them, and are openly gay and pushing for that equality, so hopefully the church as an organization comes around in time. However I also understand why they wouldn’t as their doctrine isn’t fire and brimstone with God hating groups of people like some religions are.