Posted by:
Gordon B. Stinky
(
)
Date: April 20, 2020 02:59AM
Ok, so I accepted the friend request, and first thing the next morning there was a message: "why are you attacking the church."
I said, "What are you talking about?"
He said, "You know very well what I'm talking about." Of course, I did, but no need to be honest and direct when he's not gonna be.
I said, "No, I'm afraid I don't. Can you be more specific?"
He said, "your post about celestial marriage."
I said, "what about it?"
He said, "Your attacking the church."
I said, "Celestial marriage is not a church. It's a theological concept ascribed to by multiple churches that fall under the umbrella of Mormonism."
He said, "We prefer to be called Latter Day Saints."
I said, "I didn't call you anything. I'm referring to part of the 'theology' ascribed to by numerous groups and churches that basically fall under the Book of Mormon."
He said, "it's not Mormonism."
I said, "Here's an LDS website that describes reaching out to people who want to learn about 'Mormonism' (https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/using-the-term-mormon-). If they use 'Mormonism,' why can't I? BTW, the same page says it's ok to refer to members as 'Mormons'. And that's your church. But I wasn't even talking about your church, or any church. I was talking about a specific concept believed by multiple churches that fall under the umbrella of Mormonism."
He said, "Why can't you just be respectful of what other people want."
I said, "What people? I'm not talking about your church or its people. But, for the record, your church hosts a website that says it's ok to call its members Mormons, and refers to the theology as Mormonism. If that's not right, then they should change it. My experience is that most Mormons don't even know what's 'right' or 'official,' they just parrot what they hear other people saying. I made a joke about an individual theological concept practiced by multiple churches. It isn't an attack on your particular church."
He said, "Your a jerk."
I said, "In my experience, when a Mormon can't win a debate, they'll resort to an ad hominem attack."
And, with that, he unfriended me. Our FB friendship didn't last the weekend. Ironically, I got a friend request from his brother.