In the spirit of MikeWaters' religious and political conspiracy theories

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Archaea

So you're demeaning of a black activist is not supposed to have racial overtones?

It's supposed to mean that someone that shoots the term racism around as if he's firing a machine gun doesn't really carry alot of weight when he trains his sights on me.

You'd see racial overtones if I commented on the white and black color of an Oreo cookie.

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by BlueK

how do you define racisim?

The belief that someone is inferior to you because of their race. If you say negative things about someone solely because of their race, you are a racist.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

It doesn't appear there is much of a struggle going on now. You look like you've comfortably settled into a very antagonistic view of the church and its leaders.

I'm sure your polite words of encouragement are appreciated!

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I'm sure your polite words of encouragement are appreciated!

Well, today alone he's called D&C 132 and the D&C as a whole a complete fabrication and he's stated in fairly uncertain terms that Joseph Smith conjured it all up simply so he could bang a bunch of underaged girls.

To me, that doesn't seem the hallmarks of a person that is ambivalent or struggling with the Gospel, it's more the screaming signs of a person that has gone through that struggle and settled in on a fairly intransigent position.

I don't think I was being all that impolite.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

I don't think I was being all that impolite.

You were both being impolite.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

If you're upset about artificial constructs being used to deny privileges/blessings to certain groups of people, I would submit that the delineation between the tribe of Levi vs not the tribe of Levi and Jew vs Gentile is just as artificial as black vs non-black; yet those were used by God for centuries.

Once again you've grossly oversimplified, but if it makes your argument easier so be it.

The last one can be used for illustration. "tribe of Levi" "used by God for centuries."

We don't have evidence that God authored that distinction, only that the Old Testament, as brought to us through a very complicated process records the Hebraic tradition of excluding non-Levites from holding the priesthood.

God tolerated it, but that does not mean he authored it.

Even if the Levitical priesthood were a construct of God, the distinction is at least genetic. The concept of race is man-made, non-genetic, especially when one sees the distinction that Africans were considered excluded blacks, but Fijians and Australian aborigines were not. And the one drop of blood or how much. It was very unworkable from the get-go.

These constructs come to us from tradition and perhaps misunderstanding of man.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by creekster

You were both being impolite.

At least I haven't tried to claim that another poster would be outraged if a black member was ordained as an Apostle.

[non sequitur]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

Well, today alone he's called D&C 132 and the D&C as a whole a complete fabrication and he's stated in fairly uncertain terms that Joseph Smith conjured it all up simply so he could bang a bunch of underaged girls.

To me, that doesn't seem the hallmarks of a person that is ambivalent or struggling with the Gospel, it's more the screaming signs of a person that has gone through that struggle and settled in on a fairly intransigent position.

I don't think I was being all that impolite.

I didn't take it as impolite. I wouldn't say I'm antagonistic, though. I simply don't believe. I don't believe in Vishnu either, but I don't consider myself antagonistic towards Hindus.

[BlueK]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

The belief that someone is inferior to you because of their race. If you say negative things about someone solely because of their race, you are a racist.

What about believing or acting on a negative stereotype?

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by BlueK

What about believing or acting on a negative stereotype?

I can agree with that. Though I'm not sure what acting on a negative stereotype would entail.