I think the LDS doctrine has been expressly designed to mask things people find unpleasant or scary regardless of the truth. The prime example is the concept of "the eternal family". In our western society death has become so alien and remote concept that the promise of everything eventually being again as it was is exceptionally alluring to many people. Of course, it is very unlikely that it is how the universe works. Like many other popular churches, the LDS church (even more so) projects the human society to the spiritual existence. This can be seen over and over again in the LDS materials, including God the father essentially being portrayed as an advanced humanoid entity. But how could anyone believe in that? And more so, how could many otherwise rather intelligent men and women believe in that? Perhaps a mental blind spot that appeals to a host of men and women who might otherwise be intelligent, but for whom one or more of the seemingly unpleasant aspects of life became too much to bear, and the LDS doctrine offered an apparent way out?

People enjoy paying for a 'Feel Good' religion ---- it is in our nature. Joel Olsteen (Christian preacher) does amazingly well as he will not say a negative thing about anyone or anything. I expect LDS to change doctrine to become even more feel good, I am waiting for them to come out with the "saved doctrine" ------ any sin can be repented of because Christ paid for it all so just endure by paying tithing and doing church work. Now no mormbot knows where they are under the 'Work, work, work' doctrine then if you did enough Christ will make up the difference. They could also learn a lot from people like Joel Olsteen as far as attracting and keeping the right kind of people.

they already kind of say that now. It's just that you have to confess it to your bishop first....THEN, "Christ" can forgive you after you've been shamed and shunned.

What about Brigham Young's idea that you do your brother a favor by killing him if he's a murderer, because some sins can only be paid for by the perpetrator's blood falling on dirt.

Guess I won't hold my breath for them to announce a repudiation of BY and the renaming of BYU.

Restoring eternal truths my ass.


Anagrammy

anagrammy Wrote:
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> What about Brigham Young's idea that you do your
> brother a favor by killing him if he's a murderer,

or adulterer, or covenant breaker. Blood atonement covered more
than what today (or even then) would be called "capital crimes."

The idea of eternal life plays straight to the human survival instinct. We don't want to die. Ever.

And the idea of heavenly rewards appeals to our craving for a life that is better than the one we have.

And we want justice -- all the bad guys punished, especially the ones who escaped punishment in the real world. And we want the victims to be rewarded.

So religion plays to these universal human cravings. Imagine trying to run a religion that promised nothing. "Worship this deity and follow these rules because, well, just because."

assuage the fear of death and loss and simplify religion to wed people to the cult and get them to part with their money.

All religion is geared toward masking the "ultimate" unpleasant concept -- the idea that we are finite.

Why can't we be happy with the fact that matter is neither created nor destroyed. We have always been in existence in some form or another as neutrons, protons, and atoms, etc and we will always exist.

Well,

Step 1: put all the fairy-tale good-stuff out there
Step 2: won't get there unless you are a tithe paying puppet.

May be a feel-good doctrine.
But in the end it is a feel-bad 'religion.'

Many people want to commit suicide, and many do.
Some humans are amazing--popular, good looking, smart, quick, rich, famous, able to attract others, etc., etc. Other humans are dense, handicapped, poor, unappealing, avoided by others, etc., etc. Most people fall in between the extremes. If you feel you have something worthwhile to live for, you want to live. Most people magnify their strong points, so most people have a desire to live.

What brought about your current situation? Blind chance. Unless, of course, reincarnation is true (or religion, for that matter). So you may have not had any say in your genetic makeup.