Hi SoSick,
CTD's opinion on the matter is very much the Christian norm.
I perceive it as being the Young Earth Creationist Christian norm. I don't mean that as a slam in any way. I just want to point out that there are Christians that don't hold that point of view.
His reactions and opinions are normal for a YEC Christian. He doesn't believe the Earth is billions of years old and he says so. The problem is not his opinions but his manner in expressing them. He says that evolution is pure bunk but rarely provides anything beyond his assertion regarding that matter. Basically, he talks a lot but provides little information to support his case.
How is it that you perceive that you should be allowed to ramble on forever with what most Christians perceive as heretical Christian doctrine but no one else should be allowed to be speak?
This is a difficult point to contend with because it is about beliefs. Sometimes those beliefs get in the way of good analysis of the facts. You have said so yourself that evolutionists fail to see the Bible as authoritative regarding origins because their beliefs get in the way. The same could be said of Mormons or of believers such as yourself. That is called confirmation bias....we tend to see the things that confirm our belief and ignore those things that don't fit.
Just because you (and most Christians here) believe that a belief is heretical, doesn't mean that she should be given that label in a public forum. She would rightly take that as an insult and probably pay little attention to anything else you had to say. Besides, cries of "heretic" tend to be taken as an intimidation tactic to drive unwanted people away. Is that yours or CTD's intent?
I can't prove if Joseph Smith really saw God and Jesus in that field when he was 14 or if he made it up. You don't have proof either way yourself, but we both believe that it was not God that Joseph saw. So, what. Do our beliefs give us the right to treat other's with disrespect because of their beliefs?
From my point of view, if you want to talk about Jeanie's beliefs with her then provide quotes that show a contradiction between Mormon beliefs what the Bible says. Then let her tell her point of view about the contradiction.
I'm sure neither of you will be convinced to change to the other's beliefs but this is not about that.
Just my opinion
