BTW, I believe people lie sometimes about their religion, but I never really understood it. What’s the point of having a religion if you don’t believe in it enough to stand up for it?
On the other hand, Peter denied Jesus 3 times, so who am I to judge? :-)
What’s the point of having a religion if you don’t believe in it enough to stand up for it?
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That was my thought. One of the things that got me to start questioning Mormonism was my preparing to go on a Mormon mission.
I was taking a Mission Prep course and the first day we were given a list (Oh how I wish I had kept it) of LDS doctrines we were not to teach or discuss. These included Jesus was married and probably a polygamist, that God had a God (eternal regression), that we could become Gods ourselves, that God has at least one wife (Heavenly Mother), that Jesus would return to Missouri, among other things.
At this time I was a total believing Mormon. I couldn’t figure out why, if we were the only church who had the truth (as the LDS teach), why couldn’t we be honest and upfront about our beliefs. I asked the professor and his response startled me. He said “If we told the truth, no one would join”.
I realized shortly after that I could not serve a Mormon mission. I was not going to pay to go out for 2 years to lie to people to get them to convert. I left the church about a year later.
About lying in general about being LDS, there is this view that people will take their comments (esp about antis or in favor of Mormonism) more seriously if they pretend they are not Mormon. Also, they will lie if they feel that it will help or benefit the Mormon church.
I don’t know any Christian who will lie about their faith. I am very upfront about what I believe and my faith, I am open about it. To me, lying about your faith is denying Christ.
And Peter repented shortly after. He didn’t keep doing it to further an organization.