Common Misconceptions (salvation, evolution, creation, hell, America)

[Albino]

Hello all! I am writing a small paper about religious misconceptions in America. So, I started doing some internet research and I came across this forum. I was thinking this might be a good way to get some first-hand thoughts. Might help me get an "A"

My paper is not about a specific religion, so no matter what you belive, please feel free to submit some misconceptions you have come across.

Very nice site you have here, btw

I wasn't sure which particular forum to post this in...religious debate seemed the most active, so...

Thanks in advance!

[jewscout]

first off welcome aboard Albino!!!!!!!

Well what sort of misconceptions are you looking for Albino?

Hope this won't be your only foray on our lil site!

[Green Gaia]

Namaste, welcome to RF.

Do you mean misconceptions in general or about specific religions?

[Seyorni]

Foreign misconceptions about American hyperreligiosity?

[Albino]

Originally Posted by Maize

Namaste, welcome to RF.

Do you mean misconceptions in general or about specific religions?

yes, that is what i mean. I also seek to know (a) what you think might have caused the misconception, and (b) what you did about it. (gave them a book to read, gave them a short lecture, directed them to a website, took them to church, let it go uncorrected, ect)

Also any thoughts you might have about how to eliminate general religious misconceptions across the board. Thats my next paper, ugh...

And thanks for the warm welcome!

[MrMorden]

i would be glad to help but i dont know where to begin!

[Scuba Pete]

NetDoc's Top Ten Religious Misconceptions.

10) God wants to make you rich.

9) Not being able to see the evidence proves there is no evidence.

8) Christians aren't allowed to think.

7) The "Religious Right" is concerned about your eternal salvation.

6) Evolution and Creationism are mutually exclusive.

5) The Invisible Pink Unicorn is a useful argument.

4) Christians are narrowminded bigots.

3) The First Amendment provides for the seperation of Church and State.

2) God is a meglomaniac.

1) God is some sort of cosmic Bell Hop.

[Seyorni]

Considering the multiplicity of religious opinions, Albino, if people "tried to do something" about every perceived "misconception", every interaction would turn into a sort of mutual intervention.

[DeepShadow]

Let's see, misconceptions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)....how long do you have? The obvious one is that we aren't Christian--if anyone disagrees (which no doubt they will) please start a different thread and I'll be glad to join. Beyond that, here are a few:

Mormons are polygamists. (we practiced it briefly, mostly to avoid being wiped out)

Mormons worship Joseph Smith. (He's the founder of the church. This is roughly equivalant to the accusation against Catholics that they worship Peter or other saints.)

The Book of Mormon is a reworking or reinterpretation of the Bible. (Simple lack of information: the Book of Mormon is a companion volume to the Bible, an account from another part of the world.)

Mormons don't read the Bible. (Usually in tandem with the last one, and for the same reasons.)

Mormons are racist. (We were later than other churches in allowing blacks to hold the priesthood, but this was only a big deal to people who misunderstood the nature of the priesthood...and that's too much info for this topic, so I'll just direct you to http://www.blacklds.org)


Some funny ones, too:

You have to ride a bike to join the Mormon church. (Missionaries are the most commonly identified LDS, and they are all the more visible because they ride bikes about half the time. The reasons for missionaries riding bikes are many, but they are all very practical reasons.)

Mormons have horns/tails. (Used to be a common accusation applied to the other side of any disagreement. One of my ancestors submitted to having her head searched to confirm she didn't have them. I also know a young man who was forbidden to go swimming with the neighbor kids because the kids' parents didn't want their kids to see he had a tail.)

Mormons prohibit caffeinated soft drinks, but own the Coca-Cola company. (We've been blessed financially as a church, with many investments, but this isn't one of them.)

Mormons can't eat off teflon (I'm assuming this one means we can't eat anything cooked on teflon; who eats out of the pan? As for a source, I'm guessing someone in or out of the church took the Word of Wisdom (a basic health code) to an extreme)

Joseph Smith made a prophecy about people living on the sun. (Whew! Not sure about this one, but I've heard multiple versions.)

Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are twin brothers who captain the Battlestar Galactica (Honestly, I heard this one from a friend at school who had just come from a youth group the night before and was eager to tell me all about my church. The tiny grain of truth in this statement is that the original creators of the Battlestar Galactica series were LDS, and had woven elements of the faith into the series. Beyond that, who knows.)

[DeepShadow]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

1) God is some sort of cosmic Bell Hop.

Deepshadow's addendum:

1a) God is a cosmic bully with a stick and a list of abitrary rules, just waiting for you to step out of line.