Everyone does it for that reason? - Edit 1
Before modification by nossy at 29/02/2012 10:44:41 AM
And that reason alone? I know why you are supposed to think you do it, and if I believed that was all we were discussing, I wouldn't find it as rude. At the core, it's about believing you know better than someone, and deciding to do something to save their damned soul in case they Get It. That's pretty nearly the definition of condescension, even if it's done for pure love, as you state.
Limbo. So do Catholics.
Sharing one's faith is different. In fact, I like discussing this sort of thing, though I know one can't have this conversation civilly with just any type of person. Whether you truly believe it is all about love or no, it's still not an "unintrusive" concept.
Mormons believe there is a waiting period between death and the resurrection/final judgement during which waiting period the spirits of the dead are in various states of waiting depending on the state of their soul at death.
Limbo. So do Catholics.
Mormons believe that the gospel will be preached to all who did not accept it during this life, whether out of rebelion, ignorance, or anything in between. Baptisms are performed on behalf of all deceased, who, according to mormon belief, can choose to accept it or not. Even the mormons believe that the baptism is meaningless unless the deceased expressly accepts it.
Of course anyone can choose to be offended at this practice if they wish. But it is entirely unintrusive and done only out of sincere love for all people. You would actually have to go out of your way to even know if it had happened.
If people feel it is condescending, well it is no more condescending than someone trying to share their faith with you in an unintrusive manner. I've had people try to share their faith with me, I find it endearing, even if the tacit implication is that they think my beliefs are wrong, heretical, stupid, etc. I don't see how it is really effing rude.
Sharing one's faith is different. In fact, I like discussing this sort of thing, though I know one can't have this conversation civilly with just any type of person. Whether you truly believe it is all about love or no, it's still not an "unintrusive" concept.