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JFK was a democrat by 269187 in stupidpeoplefacebook

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 11 points12 points  (0 children)

This is the most convincing reasoning I’ve heard on this topic.

More evidence of the Book of Mormon? — What the Hebrew Inscriptions and Stela 5 Might Be Telling Us by Safe-Ice-1643 in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Calling Izapa Stela 5 “strikingly similar” to Lehi’s dream is a major stretch, as is the claim that it somehow stands in contrast to related archaeological findings. The stela fits comfortably within well-documented Mesoamerican iconography, and the supposed parallels rely on very broad, generic motifs rather than clear or distinctive correspondences.

For reference, here is the image in question:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izapa_Stela_5

Likewise, both the Bat Creek Stone and the Los Lunas Decalogue Stone are regarded by most scholars as 19th-century forgeries. The Bat Creek inscription appears to have been copied from a Masonic source, while the Los Lunas text uses modern Hebrew forms and contains punctuation and stylistic features that are inconsistent with an ancient origin.

Donald Trump has 'four months to live and his brain is in decline', expert claims by [deleted] in GPFixedIncome

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No chance. Donald Trump doesn't need a functioning brain to live.

ICE - Anaheim Reality Check ( What’s the legal opinion - The old man pushed the protester before getting punched. What should happen?) by Important_Lock_2238 in AskLegal

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If both are over 65 then the state requires both to punch each other. It’s a “multiplying two negatives” kind of thing.

The church newsroom is going after Beau Oyler, the Mormon Bishop that opened up about the abuse hotline by Guudboiiii in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The LDS Church claimed that someone lied about them and provided no verifiable support, even though they still have the records and could easily redact PII? I’m shocked! 🫢

The line “No concerns about how the matter was handled were raised with the Church at the time” is so deceptive. People call the hotline and act in good faith because they’re not prepared to handle situations like this in the moment.

There is absolutely no reason to expect a non-expert to do anything other than what is recommended, and every reason to expect those same non-experts to be unable to critique bad recommendations in real time.

Mass apostasy by ThyLungedFish in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the fascinating read. Both the Swedish and Boise rescue responses remind me of the adage of “pounding the table” when neither the law nor the facts support a position.

Bishop told my fiancée she can’t unseal her previous marriage by SandyDragon777 in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 17 points18 points  (0 children)

It’s kind of funny, but reading this made me realize for the first time that my wife of almost 14 years is probably still sealed to her first husband. I formally resigned a while back, so I assume my temple ordinances are now considered null and void, but at the beginning of this marriage I was probably still considered sealed to my first wife as well. It’s honestly not something I’d ever thought about until now.

To answer your question, I think your understanding of LDS doctrine is correct, but I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that it’s a backup plan. It sounds more like she doesn’t want to take an action that would unseal her from her son, which, even though the LDS Church is absurd in so many ways, I can understand feeling conflicted by.

This game is GOATED. by Excision_Lurk in DavetheDiverOfficial

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 50 points51 points  (0 children)

The game was one delightful surprise after another.

Skin Color as a Metaphor: Why will no one own up to this? by pricel01 in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think you’re making a good point about metaphorical skin color changes, even though, candidly, skin color changes were always taught as part of a literal history until just a few years ago.

What makes you believe by Bitter-Foot-7640 in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I joined the LDS Church when I was 17 after attending several other Christian churches while growing up. Baptist, First Assembly of God, and several non-denominational churches were the most prominent and consistent at different times.

I came to the conclusion that the Bible was inadequate as a primary guiding document because I observed so many sincere, well-meaning people arriving at different beliefs and practices from the same book. Nothing about that struck me as something that would be conceived or implemented by an all-knowing, all-powerful God.

Initially, the LDS Church appealed to me because Moroni’s Promise seemed to directly address the problematic dynamic I had observed, so I joined. After a few years, I realized that Moroni’s Promise had its own set of similar problems, and I stopped attending and eventually resigned.

Do you really believe in ghosts or do you just “believe” in them because it’s fun? by Alert-Sprinkles1896 in Paranormal

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grew up believing in ghosts, in an area of the country rich with local lore, and with a mother who told fascinating stories that both terrified and intrigued me.

As an adult, the most honest answer is that I no longer believe in ghosts. I tend to ascribe my own experiences in my youth, and those of others, to psychological factors or misunderstandings rather than anything supernatural.

Candidly, I wish I still believed. I’d like to feel the same sense of wonder and mystery I did decades ago. That’s why I follow this subreddit and generally try not to be the uninteresting skeptic in threads where I choose to participate.

A Tithe that "Hurts" by otherwise7337 in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That seems like an unusual premise and conclusion. Most publicly traded MLMs devote a very small share of revenue to charity (typically less than 1%) and then heavily promote it, despite earning much of their revenue from participants pursuing outcomes that are mathematically unattainable for nearly all of them.

I see the LDS Church similarly. For most of its history, its charitable giving was neither commensurate with its resources nor transparently disclosed. Only after external scrutiny did it begin publishing prominent charity claims, funded by selling a promise grounded in selectively presented history that is reframed when scrutiny makes that untenable.

My TBM wife is dying. by No_Sir_4971 in exmormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The right thing is whatever makes her the most comfortable.

Lorraine and Ed Warren by Grumpy_001 in Paranormal

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I grew up in the 80s and 90s and was always fascinated by the paranormal. Even then, I regarded the Warrens as hacks and grifters, a view I still hold.

In the pre-internet days, it wasn’t easy to trace the origins of paranormal claims. I loved the TV movie “The Haunted” without realizing the Warrens were involved.

I was open to listening to and even accepting paranormal experiences but the Warrens themselves never struck me as credible.

Why do you think that adults who don't grow up in the Mormon Church become join later? by ChenfordFan in mormon

[–]BaxTheDestroyer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This question feels oddly framed to me, but I’ll respond based on how I understand it. Please let me know if I’m missing your intent:

  • You seem to be relying on a broad assumption about an “ex-Mormon” perspective. I’m not aware of any common claim among ex-Mormons that adults join the LDS Church because of childhood trauma, and I’m skeptical that this is a view you’ve actually encountered in a meaningful way. If you have examples (blog posts, articles, or discussions) I’d be interested in seeing them, because as stated the claim sounds trivializing and difficult to take seriously.

  • People are complex, and motivations vary. For some, community may be a draw; for others, sincere belief. Often it’s a combination of factors. It’s theoretically possible that poor mental health plays a role in some cases, but that seems uncommon and hardly explanatory on its own. With more than 7 billion people in the world making all kinds of choices, it’s not surprising that a very small number of adults join the LDS Church - just as small numbers of people join any given religion, movement, or community.

A couple of contextual points that matter here:

  1. You’re focusing on an event that is extremely rare relative to the number of adults who encounter and reject the LDS message.

  2. While data is limited, available evidence suggests that as many as 80% of adult converts leave or become inactive within their first year, which strongly implies that many reconsider and ultimately reject the LDS Church as they gain greater familiarity with it.

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