Over the last week I have noticed something that greatly irritates me. I think I have finally been able to put into words why it irritates me.
This "something" is people using religious quotes to uphold their political opinions.
You may be someone that has done this at some point, maybe being unaware of the effects it has. Being culturally LDS I understand that by far the majority of LDS people are, in effect, Republican. I don't really have a problem with that per se, my issue has something to do with people assuming that all other people of a similar belief structure must agree with them politically because they share a belief system.
When people use religious quotes in such a nastily soiled area as politics if usually comes off as being condescending, somewhat like saying "I know better than you", or "you must not have a testimony if you don't agree". While I could in turn share with them quotes from the same sources... ei Book of Mormon, Bible, and Conference Talks... I do not, because what point is there in getting into a religious debate over political issues?
Not only does it come across really badly for the person quoting but it also makes the religious quote or person being quoted look like they too may be condescending... which often isn't the case. In effect soiling the quote and sometimes the religion.
So please remember as you go about discussing politics that if you put a $100 (something valuable to you, religion for instance) in a pile of cow poop (politics) it is going to get dirty.
6 comments:
I agree with you.
I'm LDS also, and my husband and I are frequently frustrated by people who think we're wrong (yes, I've been told that I'm "wrong") for having certain political feelings.
There are a few instances where the church has taken a stance on an issue that was moral as well as political, but for the most part they always tell us to study it out for ourselves and make prayerful decisions and support what/who we think is best. My husband and I spend a *lot* of time studying and thinking and discussing, and we're most definitely not republican (we're not democrat either, we're a little green and a little libertarian and a little socialist I think...go figure!) But the point is, we made our decision(s) based on research and feelings, not on following the crowd, therefore no thinking person has a right to be upset with us over it. I can respect an educated opinion, even if I disagree with it, but I cannot respect an UNeducated opinion.
Bravo!! Here!! Here!!
I soooooooooo feel this way. Sometimes I think Ben and I are the only democrats in the entire state of Idaho. Every other Mormon I know is full-on Republican. I can still be Mormon and be a democrat.
Oh, P.S., I forgot. CJane wrote about her Equality post that she wrote a couple of weeks ago. And is going to address it again tomorrow. She said she had some spirited e-mail exchanges with someone in Idaho. You?
LOL nope. Not me, I decided to completely ignore her existence because I didn't want to be ticked off by stupid stuff :)
Oh, and PS I'm not a Republican... so you know one person besides you and Ben that isn't... and my parents aren't either... heaven forbid!!! :)
Stumbled across your blog and I agree 100%. The other day a member of our ward called us and reminded me of where our caucus was being held. I told her that was great, but did she know where the Democratic one was. She was blown away and quickly got off the call. It made me laugh.
Cool blog, btw.
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