Thanks for calling that to my attention! I need to start proofreading my posts more carefully. I have since fixed the post.
I'd say that, more than likely, it's the way others report on them that makes them sound strange. For example, if I were to post something to the effect that "Catholics practice cannibalism," that would shock and disgust anyone who doesn't understand the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. With a careful choice of words and a few out-of-context quote from "unofficial" Catholic sources, I could make a convincing argument for my claim. No matter how effectively I were to present my case, however, any Catholic would be able to see that I was intentionally misleading unsuspecting readers and trying to make Catholicism sound strange and even, perhaps, depraved.
One would have to be fairly depraved, and knowledgeable to do that. I hope no one does such just to denigrate someone else or their church. I tend to think that is wrong.
I think you'd agree that if you wanted to really come to understand Judaism, you would find a lifelong Jew to be a better source of information than a radical Muslim who would like nothing more than to have you hate the Jewish faith as much as he does. Of course, the reverse is also true.
Unfortunately, this is not always true- maybe, rarely true. You see, people in cults/false religions don't know they are in one. Asking them questions, then, is often pointless. Most have never studied their own beliefs bc mom and dad told them it was true or a good friend invited them to join the church and they didn't know its history or early doctrines or the character of its founders/leaders. Now, if they do know all about their church they are either totally brainwashed, deluded or they can prove it is true with, say, fulfilled prophecies or that its doctrines have always been in line with the Bible. There really isn't many, if any, other ways to prove a church true. sadly but happily, all churches, today, can be proved to be true (inline with Bible-if they profess to be Christian) or false. There aren't any middle-of-the-road churches, they are either true or false.
Thank you for that comment. I personally believe that God cares more about how we live our lives than He cares if we could score 100% on a multiple-choice test regarding Christian doctrines. Of course, He wants us to believe what is "true," and not be misled by what is not, but He wants most of all for us to love and serve Him by loving and serving one another. Some people seem to believe that "the end justifies the means" when trying to "save souls." I don't. I do not believe it's necessary to undercut another person’s position to make my position look good. People who have to resort to doing that don't have much of a position themselves, and it does not please God when He sees us intentionally spreading false information about other people's beliefs.
Are you saying or implying that those who tell the truth about other churches that portrays that church as evil, false or man-made are, themselves, bad people? It sounds like you are. Truth has always been a main force in out world. I can't think of anything that was built and survived that was built on any other foundation. It isn't mean, wrong or bad to inform others they are wrong. if that were true then the Mormon church, by that alone, would be false bc it teaches 'that all other creeds are an abomination in the eyes of God'. Talk about hate speech. Unless it is the 'only true church on earth that I, the Lord, am well pleased with'. In that case it wouldn't be hate, it would be an act of love. That road goes both ways, though. The same can be applied to those who say the same about the LDS church. So, who is the hater, really, the LDS for saying such a mean thing or the others who say the same about the LDS? Again, none of us can have it both ways. If we say things about others, as JS certainly did, then don't get upset when others say it about him/LDS. After all, JS threw the first stone with that remark.
Added- It all comes down to evidence (if one is unwilling to accept the Bible as the standard for Christianity, right and wrong). What does the evidence say? Are those who attack the LDS wrong or do they have evidence to show the LDS is? Are the LDS wrong or do they have evidence to prove the others are? Get the facts and you'll know the truth.
BTW, I do not condone those who stand outside of a church and protest while carrying signs. It doesn't serve the purpose of Christ- to save souls. if it did it would be fine. But it doesn't. it causes either fear or anger and often the feeling that we are right bc we are being persecuted- which, in point of fact it doesn't mean that at all.