Robert Urbanek wrote:Utah has the ninth-highest life expectancy in the U.S., according to the CDC. Generally, moral living is healthy living.
No, I do not think it is moral living that makes them live longer. It is being in a large and socially active community with shared rules. The more socially active you are, and more social responsibilities you have? The longer your life expectancy. Also having a housewife or housewives in a home cleaning, cooking and taking care of laundry for you? And thinking you are the leader of a tribe called the family is a great thing.
It gives your life meaning. Nothing wrong with tithing. The problem is that the people giving them 10% of their lifetime income being invested and not spent on helping the poor and destitute in all the nations the Mormon church has missions in is IMMORAL.
They are investing in mundane society. Not religious society. The Mormons have big strengths. Living communally and having constant social obligations are very important for a long and meaningful life.
It is not exclusive to them. The Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda California USA have some of the longest-living people in the world. They are vegetarians and very socially active as well, without the magic underwear-controlling behaviors and thinking that Jesus lived in Utah, USA.
You need to be more analytical with your assessments Robert.
I find most of your posts basically worthless. Lack of depth of analysis. And also obviously prejudiced, borderline racist as well as sexist, and incredibly foolish in general.
One very well-documented documentary on the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons), basically proves that the church was like a cult. Also, mafioso, and violent with vendettas in a way that reminded people of the Italian mafia.
The Mormons are shamelessly arrogant too. They went to France hoping to be successful converting the French into that religion. They were telling the French to not drink wine, it was sinful and many other things that were frowned upon. The French giving up wine in general is a deal breaker. It is an integral part of being a Frenchman or Frenchwoman. Many French people are not religious fanatics in the Roman Catholic religion which is their traditional Christian faith. Very few are going to believe Jesus lived in Utah and that Joseph Smith was the prophet that inherited the Christian historical covenant.
It is obvious fake crap. But? Religion is about MYTH.
The USA voted in a Christian Protestant Black president like Obama with a Kenyan last name before voting in for a Mormon white guy with a European last name like Mitt Romney. WHY? Because the Mormons are strange in behavior. Many people do not like pushy missionaries. Mitt Romney's relatives live in Mexico in the North of Mexico. Some Cartel knew they were rich and decided to kidnap some Mormons and hold them for ransom. They came together and kicked those Drug dealer corrupt freaks in the ASS hard. They never messed with them again. Why? SOLIDARITY and being together as one in purpose. That is universally very powerful. Not just because they are Mormons.
Solidarity and loyalty to a group of people who share values, norms and behavioral expectations is one of the most if not the most powerful concept the world will ever know.
That is why if the money had gone to educating poor people, building homes, and creating wealth in poor nations without any need to have religious strings attached to it? They would have been one of the best social and religious movements in the entire WORLD.
Just 10% taxation on 16 million people for poor nations struggling with basic necessities could transform the entire world. But instead you have greed, mundane selfish shit and exploitation and that is why the world remains without needed change. Rotten values in ACTION. Not about ideas of God. But not applying spirituality to concrete material conditions. It is all hot air and hypocrisy.
That convinces no one over time. Only the ones who really do believe in sharing all with the least of humanity will truly be non hypocritical in their myth love. Or in other words their religious faith.