Offended

I try not to take offense at people and what they say. Because people say ignorant things...a lot. I guess I'm just a bit riled about something I read on FB today. A friend from law school commented about a political debate amongst the Republican candidates, two of whom just happen to be Mormon. And he said that the two Mormons were the most grounded in reality. Just to clarify, my friend did NOT single them out as Mormons and made no mention of such in his comment. He just said that Romney and Huntsman believed in reality.

BUT...SIGH, then one of his friends said, and I quote, "Strange to think the two Mormons are the ones seemingly grounded in reality, no?" Um, excuse me, what? I sincerely dislike the assumptions that Mormons are somehow bizarre, off the wall, living in lala land sorts of people. I really, really resent it. I find it to be an entirely unacceptable prejudice.

I do believe in Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I also believe in the Bible. Because I want to be clear, I am an active and faithful member of our church. And just to make an obvious point, how are my beliefs any more unrealistic than believing in the Bible? For example, is it different from believing that Moses could part the Red Sea? Or that God would rain down manna from heaven? The fact is, religions purport some strange, mystical happenings. I admit it. And if you are in one camp - say the atheist/agnostic group - then the whole lot of us, be that Mormon or otherwise, are not really grounded in reality. And so why should we be singled out for such treatment? And if you are religious, then how come it is completely acceptable for you to believe in the Bible as you see it, but you cannot allow someone else to believe something that seems entirely impossible? It's a double standard any way you look at it. And frankly, sometimes I really really get angry about that double standard.

Rarely do I ever feel a need to defend what I believe. Either you take it on faith or you don't. It is entirely up to each individual to exercise his or her prerogative to believe what they will. However, when it comes to reality, I am pretty grounded. I don't believe in some magical solution to life's problems. I believe in honest, hard work. I believe in helping out whenever you can. I believe in treating others and their chosen beliefs with respect. And indeed I do believe that God reveals himself to us, just as He did anciently. And why wouldn't He? I mean, if you really go in for a belief in God, how are we, as God's creation, any different from Moses or Jacob or Paul? And if you don't go in for that belief? Well, then I suppose my religion is just as crazy as any other to you. And more power to you.

Just don't single me and my religion out as the crazy ones, thank you very much.