I fortunately had the experience of reading Ender's Game without knowing anything about the author. It really is an amazing book. Actually I think the interviewer did not know a lot about his personal views either. If she had been prepared for some of his opinions, I think things would have been a little less hostile.
Speaking of Ender's Game - I'm watching this awesome documentary on Discovery channel about turning civilians into killers (focusing on basic training for Marines) and the whole brainwashing process the military has developed over centuries. eeeek....I think I would really hate the military. I don't know how my sister has been able to cope with it. War really sucks. Even the preparing for war part.
Card's essay is a perfect example for why I've abandoned organized religion. It's nice to know that not all practicing Mormons buy into everything the LDS is selling - but if it isn't sexuality it seems as though there is something else about who you are that is unacceptable to official church doctrine, and I've always seen it as another way to control people and make them feel bad about themselves. Life is hard enough at times without the added guilt trip it seems most religions want to put upon you.
Of course there are exceptioins. I went to a few meetings of Wiccans when I was living in California, and a huge number of them were ex-Catholics, ex-Protestants, ex-Mormons. And some of them were even ordained ministers who knew a lot of religious history.
I thought it was just young people who were playing around at witchcraft - but it's a serious religion and I can see why leaders among established religions view it as such a threat. Especially for women, it's very attractive compared to the other offerings.
Getting back to the LDS position on gay people though. It's good to know not all Mormons believe in that shit - but I don't understand how gay people are sinful. I don't believe Jesus ever had anything to say on the subject in any of the gospels. Of course if you look at the old testament, then letting your daughters get raped and having slaves is okay. So you can probably find plenty of quotes about gay people burning in hell. But Christian stuff is all about the new testament. So how can it be justified? And it's not just the LDS - it's all the denominations of Christianity. Although some of the branches are much more open-minded than the others.
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Re: My turn to chime in!
Date: 2005-05-22 10:57 am (UTC)From:Speaking of Ender's Game - I'm watching this awesome documentary on Discovery channel about turning civilians into killers (focusing on basic training for Marines) and the whole brainwashing process the military has developed over centuries.
eeeek....I think I would really hate the military. I don't know how my sister has been able to cope with it. War really sucks. Even the preparing for war part.
Card's essay is a perfect example for why I've abandoned organized religion. It's nice to know that not all practicing Mormons buy into everything the LDS is selling - but if it isn't sexuality it seems as though there is something else about who you are that is unacceptable to official church doctrine, and I've always seen it as another way to control people and make them feel bad about themselves. Life is hard enough at times without the added guilt trip it seems most religions want to put upon you.
Of course there are exceptioins. I went to a few meetings of Wiccans when I was living in California, and a huge number of them were ex-Catholics, ex-Protestants, ex-Mormons. And some of them were even ordained ministers who knew a lot of religious history.
I thought it was just young people who were playing around at witchcraft - but it's a serious religion and I can see why leaders among established religions view it as such a threat. Especially for women, it's very attractive compared to the other offerings.
Getting back to the LDS position on gay people though. It's good to know not all Mormons believe in that shit - but I don't understand how gay people are sinful. I don't believe Jesus ever had anything to say on the subject in any of the gospels. Of course if you look at the old testament, then letting your daughters get raped and having slaves is okay. So you can probably find plenty of quotes about gay people burning in hell. But Christian stuff is all about the new testament. So how can it be justified? And it's not just the LDS - it's all the denominations of Christianity. Although some of the branches are much more open-minded than the others.