Comments on: Things Worth The Effort…

By: 4thnephite

4thnephite — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:14:26 +0000

Sometimes the “Religious Right” hits me the wrong way. Such as if “they” have to say they are, they are not. I wonder why I get that feeling.

By: Lowell Brown

Lowell Brown — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:40:38 +0000

JL Fuller: I agree with John that “hatred” is too strong a word to describe Dobson’s attitude. I do think he lacks courage. I’d rather reserve “hate” as a description of those who really wish Mormons harm, and Dobson’s not one of those. He’s just a man with a constituency. This may sound harsh, but that’s what happens when one engages in priestcraft. No, Dobson’s not ordained, but it seems he might as well be. He’s like a minister who can’t afford to offend his congregation.

By: JLFuller

JLFuller — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:17:32 +0000

John
I have heard the “we hate the religion but not the people” nonsense all my life. Webster says hate is “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury ” . The National Prayer Day events, in which Dobson’s wife Shirley has a leadership role, forbid LDS members from speaking or even praying on behalf of the groups. His failure to stand up against this affront, when his voice was needed, makes him guilty. Sins of omission are just as damning as sins of commission. If he is going to take a leadership role in our society then he must reject bigotry and intolerance when it surfaces.

You rightly pointed out that Dobson was in a no-win situation. So are you. But you and others stood up for what you believe in. You take a traditional Christian position but yet you continue to do the right thing as you see it. Dobson didn’t. Dobson had an opportunity to take a stand for what he believed was right but said nothing. He took the easy way out and that makes him guilty. You don’t have to put the rope around the victims neck to be complicit in a lynching.

“We must temper our rhetoric to stand within reason..” you said. Maybe so - in communities where common courtesy and respect for others works well. But in a fight in the mud, I am not so sure.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:24:29 +0000

John,
I am sure that you have read comments from JL Fuller as I have on several different web sites. I have always found his comments to be enlightening, thoughtful, and respectful. However, as Latter-day Saints, we can not stand by and tolerate any longer the bigory against us without speaking out against it. I personally was unprepared for the outing of the anti-Mormon sentiments from our Southern Evangelical brothers and sisters that we have witnessed during this presidential primary. I agree with you that kindness, understanding, and yes love are necessary at this time, but remaining silent is not.

By: John Schroeder

John Schroeder — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:31:50 +0000

Mr. Fuller:

There are some assumptions in your comment that require a challenge. Dobson, I am sure, does not think Mormons are Christians, but I am equally sure he does not think they are “evil incarnate.” I think you step too far when you step into accusations of hatred with regards to James Dobson. He is wrong perhaps, but he does not HATE Mormons.

We must temper our rhetoric to stand within reason - baseless charges of hatred are as counterproductive as much of what has come from the creedal side of this discussion.

By: TVHall

TVHall — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:36:46 +0000

Your comment that atheists are “people of faith just like the rest of us” is a humorous irony I have noticed for some time. However, I take it a step further and recognize that they have faith in God as well. It’s just that their God is human intellect, in general, and themselves, in particular.

By: JLFuller

JLFuller — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:20:33 +0000

John says - “James Dobson, who receives particular ire in the piece, and has made any number of mistakes in this thing, cannot be blamed for this one. Bringing up the Mormon issue openly was for him a no-win situation.” On the contrary my friend. Dobson and every religious leader who has claimed, implied or explicitly affirmed that Mormon’s are not Christian and are evil incarnate are responsible. They created the myth and are responsible for its evolution into meme. There are logical consequences to one’s behavior and this is it. Their evolution from slavery to Jim Crow to “separate but equal” have been denounced. But hate and exclusion is so embedded into these people’s psyche that they have to have an enemy and Mormons are their target. I am afraid that until education and understanding take root, we will continue to suffer from the bigotry we have seen.

By: HaroldHutchison

HaroldHutchison — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:16:27 +0000

Huckabee’s silence about the Mormon-baiting in the primaries, and his inaction against the comments that appeared on his sites own blog say enough to this Mormon about where his heart really is.

The continued cheap shots also speak volumes.

I guess Huckabee’s decided to try to lie his way out of the hole he’s dug himself.