Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski
But your desire to express outrage at institutional racism requires a climate wherein heterodox views can be freely expressed. And where we can accept a multitude of viewpoints without feeling threatened. I.e., a "big tent" church. It seems to me that a proponent of such an idea would be last one to criticize Mitt for being non-orthodox regarding polygamy.
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One of the main differences, is that much of the rejection of the past is motivated more by embarrassment. Does Mitt Romney have doctrinal problems with polygamy, like I have doctrinal problems with the ban? I doubt it. Rather, he is *embarrassed* to stand before Babylon.
Am I embarrassed by the racism of the leaders in the 1800s? Yes, a little. But I also understand that they were the product of their times, in a much different era. I am MUCH MORE EMBARRASSED by current church members who use racism to justify things.
Joseph Smith was a heretic. A rebel. Unabashed. Bold. Revolutionary. Confident. He didn't parse his answers so as to most fit with the contemporary Christianity, like we see when we see half-truths or evasions in church press releases or on Larry King.
Where did that spirit go?
When my friends and colleagues have asked about polygamy, I don't apologize about it at all.