Can a religion rise above its past?

[Count of Montesano]

I was reading an interesting article on Slate.com outlining the sordid history of Mormonism. I'll link it below but in short, it talks about Mormon founding father Joseph Smith was a longtime fraud and convicted charleton who tried many rackets (including pretending to be a necromancer) before finally claiming to receive golden tablets from the angel Mormoni. The problem was Smith was illiterate (able to read a little but not write), so he actually hid for weekst behind a partition and "dictated" the tablets to a neighbor who could write. Of course, the neighbor was told that if he looked beyond the partition, God would strike him down. The resulting Book of Mormon would be a mish-mash of biblical text and theories by some 19th century historians that Native Americans were actually the lost tribes of Israel.

Here's the entire article:

http://www.slate.com/id/2165033/

Now, this article got me thinking - in all fairness to poor Joseph Smith, the fact that he started his religion in the age of mass media makes it far easier for current generations to call the founder of Mormonism out as a complete fraud. Yet almost without exception, all of the Mormons I've met in my life have been genuine, good-hearted, and devoted people who embody the ideals of Christianity better than most Christians.

So here's my question - and really it holds for not just Mormonism but also any religion - can the ends of a religion justify its means? Can a religion rise above its dark past - whether you're talking about past Crusades or 9-11 or fraudulent founding fathers - to become a belief system that brings out the best qualities in its practicioners?

[Chaigidel]

the people who would have been good anyway will still be good- and the bad will be bad

religions dont seem to attempt to reconcile past atrocity with modern validity

but I suppose the ends justify the means -- but the ends of these religions are just gratification for the leaders ( esp modern evangelism)just another power complex for evil men who wish to manipulate and abuse the trust of the weaker minded and more trusting among the species.

[enoch]

I was reading an interesting article on Slate.com outlining the sordid history of Mormonism. I'll link it below but in short, it talks about Mormon founding father Joseph Smith was a longtime fraud and convicted charleton who tried many rackets (including pretending to be a necromancer) before finally claiming to receive golden tablets from the angel Mormoni. The problem was Smith was illiterate (able to read a little but not write), so he actually hid for weekst behind a partition and "dictated" the tablets to a neighbor who could write. Of course, the neighbor was told that if he looked beyond the partition, God would strike him down. The resulting Book of Mormon would be a mish-mash of biblical text and theories by some 19th century historians that Native Americans were actually the lost tribes of Israel.

Here's the entire article:

http://www.slate.com/id/2165033/

Now, this article got me thinking - in all fairness to poor Joseph Smith, the fact that he started his religion in the age of mass media makes it far easier for current generations to call the founder of Mormonism out as a complete fraud. Yet almost without exception, all of the Mormons I've met in my life have been genuine, good-hearted, and devoted people who embody the ideals of Christianity better than most Christians.

So here's my question - and really it holds for not just Mormonism but also any religion - can the ends of a religion justify its means? Can a religion rise above its dark past - whether you're talking about past Crusades or 9-11 or fraudulent founding fathers - to become a belief system that brings out the best qualities in its practicioners?

The ends of a religion has to justify its means, otherwise every popular modern religion is screwed (they all have some evil, evil goings on in their pasts, present, and likely future).

I don't know if i would say that Mormonism was founded in a time of Mass Media - that seems like a bit of a stretch

I will not disagree that the Book of Mormon is a little too close to us for us not to find parts of it foolish and historically tripe, however, the Mormon Temple (Church) is one of the most successful corporations in human history. They were so far ahead of the competition that many modern corporations (some of them very powerful think Halliburton (sp)) are modeled upon their original organization. Not only is their structure one of the most common models for corporate success in the world today, their investment strategies are legendary in the realm of finance.

So in the case of the mormons;
assuming your addition that they seem to be "more Christian than other christians" (which I don't want to, but have to agree with) combined with my statements above, and lets throw in that out of the major Christian religions, they are the only ones without thousands of years of corruption and atrocity behind them

I would have to say that the ends justifies the means in their particular case at this point in time.

[Chaigidel]

btw i just wanna inject some anti-mormonism

down with the mormons!

let us cast down all images of john smith and Bringum young

yes bringum young because thats how he liked em

[verity_blues]

When something becomes institutionalized, even good-meaning religions, its over. We are human and we will taint what we touch.

From my christian persepective;

If any of the christian religions had EVERYTHING right, or even if any of the different versions of the bible had EVERYTHING right, then why would Jesus even come back a second time? When he does return, there will be no religions ever again nor will there be any of our current versions of the bible either. This world is flawed, our truths are flawed, the same goes for our religions, cultures, and even us ourselves as well! All we have to lean on with an ABSOLUTE certaincy is, FAITH. Without faith there is nothing, with it there is everything.
Sorta like what Saladin said at the end of The Kingdom of Heaven movie.

EDIT: I was raised as a Baptist in my home, but I was raised as a Child of God at the cross.