Ministry of Venom

I do apologetics.  This involves reasoned arguments/debates to justify something, usually and in my case ... religion.  It's done in online forums.  I have been in forums hosted and/or dominated by LDS, atheists, and Christians.  I do this partially because I am a "Mother Bear" when it comes to my beloved church, and I try my best to correct the c--p.  Also I do it because I learn so much about other religions, including how they think.  I hope some of this increased understanding has gone both ways.  My personal rule is to be respectful of others at all times.

Those of you who know me, know that I am not the confrontational and argumentative type .... at least I don't think I am and no one has ever said otherwise ....  I've always gotten along with just about everyone I've known.

But online there is a large spectrum of attitudes ranging from kindness to nastiness.  And in all honesty, the worst have been some Evangelical Christians.  One of their major apologetic forums has a section for cults, and it is there one must go to discuss "Mormonism".   Now I know that there are wonderful Christians and for them, I am grateful.  I applaud the morality and good that they bring to our society.  But there is a certain group who hang out in the Mormonism section of this forum, and not one of them has an ounce of heart.  Not a one.  The mob mentality is alive and well online.

I have appealed to them time and time again.  I have tried to show them that we are not what they've been told we are.  I have borne my testimony of Jesus Christ repeatedly.  But the bigotry is staggering.  Having been in LDS circles forever, I've only known kindness and compassion.  That is my world.  I've only seen respect for other religions and continuous counsel from our church leaders to reach out and be kind to others.  So the difference in spirit as one walks into this forum is like being slammed with a load of bricks.

I have been accused of lying, evasion, manipulation, and whining countless times.  I have seen good people degraded and vilified.  If they are clearly shown by logic and facts that they are wrong, then they disappear from the conversation.  If I express kindness, they fall silent, or accuse me of entrapment.  Everything I say there is taken in a cynical light and the worst is ALWAYS assumed.  If one LDS acts out of line, it is paraded across the board.  If the Church does anything good, there is nothing -- absolutely zero acknowledgement.  Or else it is twisted to look evil.

Why do I go there?  Hope springs eternal, I guess.  I keep thinking I can change one mind.  Plus, as I said, I have learned a lot.  But some of what I have learned, scares me.

At best, hopefully, this is a small group of crazy zealots and does not represent the bulk of good Evangelicals.  But I'm afraid their feeling towards us spills out into a larger portion of the Bible Belt.  And I'm afraid this misguided zealousness will affect the presidential election.  I truly feel that many of these people will NOT vote for a Mormon no matter what.  It would not matter if Abraham Lincoln resurrected as a Mormon and ran for president.  Not even then, would a Latter-day Saint get their vote.  On the other hand, I have voted for many non-LDS Christians ..... in fact just about everyone I have EVER voted for was such.  And I will continue to do so.  I look for common values, not common titles.

I naively held the logical hope that with the historic election of our first Black president, the false perception that America is racist would crumble.  Now I fear that the election of a Mormon could very possibly stir up even more divisiveness in the hearts of they who cling to the c--p.

So if Romney does win the election, not only would the liberal Left be critical of his every breath, but these bigoted zealots of whom I speak, would join the leftist ranks with the catcalls.  Every possible outcome of this election is exhausting to even think about.  We are damned if we lose, and we are damned if we win.

Let's hope I am wrong.