Monday, December 28, 2009

Mormonism: How stupid do they think people are?

The answer is they hope people are very stupid indeed.

Everyone who uses multilevel marketing techniques to sell either a product or a way of life must really hate the Internet.

For out there on the internet you will find sites both for and against (for example): Amway, Noni Juice, Nu Skin, Mary Kay, Nature’s Sunshine Products, Herbalife, Nutra-Smart, XanGo, Living Scriptures, 4Life Research, NSA, Pharmanex, Quixtar, Shaklee, Covey, Kirby, Unicity International, USANA Health Sciences, Inc., Mormonism, etc., etc.

Some of the sites are purely bonkers with criticism that is unfair or based on a misunderstanding with someone. Others. however, have very valid and genuine criticism of the firm or organisation concerned.

The Mormon Church, however, is one of the few that actually warn people not toseek out critical information on it! To many people, this is the red rag to the bull. "If you don't want me to find out some information, then there's a reason why." And people use the Internet and discover websites like this one, or Recovery From Mormonism and the like.

Prospects (yes, Mormonism uses American Insurance sales terms for people thinking about joining their church) can see how many women (married and single) Joseph Smith had as 'wives' what the Danites were, which modern LDS leaders thought it better that a young lady allow herself to be murdered rather than raped and other such gems of LDS wisdom.

Many decline to join such a church. Or, if they do, keep their wits about them and bale out as soon as the nutty ways of Mormonism become all too apparent.

And that is why the Mormon Church doesn't want you on the Internet, researching all about the Mormon Church. No salesman wants to lose a prospect, do they?

4 comments:

Seth R. said...

Recovery from Mormonism is nothing more than one big group therapy session for very, very angry people.

It's probably the last place I'd go for "truth" about much of anything.

Last time I visited that website a couple jackasses were laughing about how the suffering at Martin's Cove was "no big deal" because the Cherokee Indians suffered more.

Classy bunch, the RfM crowd.

Matt said...

Seth, I don't want to show you up for being stupid. God knows, you have done a fairly comprehensive job of that yourself.

But why shouldn't "very, very angry people" have a place to receive group therapy?

DOH! You never thought of that, did you? And yet, when it was sitting there in your mind, I'll bet that seemed like the coolest zinger ever, right? And yet out here in the real world, it isn't that much, is it?

As for your remark about the Martin's cove thread, I do not believe you.

A died-in-the-wool Mormon lying to a former Mormon? It happens all the time. There's someone who, right this minute, is lying on RFM. But as he is lying for the Lord, that doesn't count, perhaps?

False witness is not attractive.

Seth R. said...

Fine. Stick your head in the sand if you want.

I never said that people shouldn't have a place to do group-therapy.

But you'd be stupid to go there for an objective view of reality.

Asking RfM for the "real story" on Mormonism is like asking an angry ex-spouse for dating advice on her former husband.

Sure, you might get some truth in there. But it's all going to be filtered through such a lens of bitterness, resentment, and self-justification that you'd be pretty foolish not to take it with a huge grain of salt.

Think what you like though.

Matt said...

I can think what I like, Seth? Oh, thank you! That's damned decent of you, old chap.

Look everyone! Seth gives us his permission not to be like him!

And I DO know someone who asked for dating advice on an ex-spouse. Apparently it was the tip off on the violence that swayed their opinion.