Seperated at Birth?

[corplinx]

Mohammed and Joseph Smith.

Mohammed saw Gabriel in a cave where noone else could see him.
Smith could read special plates nobody else could.

They were both murderers.

They were both polygamous.

Here's the stumper, why do people who claim Islam is a religion of murderers and terrorists because its founder was one not say the same thing about the the Mormons?

 

[geni]

I'm not that good on the history of the church of the latter day saints. Who did Joseph Smith kill?

 

[corplinx]

I'm not that good on the history of the church of the latter day saints. Who did Joseph Smith kill?

Oops, I got my LDS founders mixed up. Brigham Young was the murderer.

 

[Kopji]

'Murderer' is a label only used by Christian fundamentalists with a grudge and little interest in facts or truth. JS was actually being held in jail when attacked by a mob. You could probably argue all this does not sound very 'peaceful' but early Mormonism was fairly militaristic... Much like what Christianity has become.

Mormons: Big supporters of 2nd amendment rights and the right to self defense, etc. Even before it was popular. Perhaps someone would like to argue that JS did not have the right to defend himself when under attack.

"I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!' He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged. I afterwords understood that two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom, I am informed died." (History of the Church, Vol. 7, p. 100, 102 & 103)
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/josephsmithsdeath.htm

The claim of Mormons being 'terrorists' can hit a little closer, but one would also need to reflect on current US government claims that terrorism it is a 'new' kind of war requiring new tactics like preemption. (Oh hey, maybe they are lying to us...)

Terrorism has existed a long time. A search on the term "Mormon war" associated with the state of Missouri will yield plenty of examples of religious inspired terrorism in the 1800's.

And the Mormons did their share in return:
Mountain Meadows Massacre

There is a lot of similarity between Islam and Mormonism. The LDS magazine 'Ensign' has had at least one very recent article drawing favorable comparisons:

MUHAMMAD AND REVELATION
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints believe that Muhammad was an inspired teacher
raised up by God to teach His word.
http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/muslim.pdf

But to answer the question:
why do people who claim Islam is a religion of murderers and terrorists because its founder was one not say the same thing about the the Mormons?

Well they did. After the decades of senseless bloodshed and killing, Mormonism eventually became part of mainstream America. Surely a sad lesson in violence that warrants suppression and ridicule if we are to win the latest war on terrorism.

 

[Kopji]

Well at least nobody said 'what's mormonism?'

Joseph Smith was the founder you have in mind with the 'murder' accusation. Brigham Young came later.


"If the people will let us alone we will convert the world, and if they persecute us we will do it the quicker." - Brigham Young

 

[corplinx]

'Murderer' is a label only used by Christian fundamentalists with a grudge and little interest in facts or truth.

Or ignorant athiests like me who got JS confused with BY.

 

[Kopji]

 

[shecky]

Point is well taken. Even if the names are mixed up.

What always gets me is how some Christians take great joy condemning Islam by pointing out it's violent roots, when from the beginning to this very day, some Christians have been able to justify any repulsive, evil behavior in the name of Jesus, who was basically the proto-pacifist/hippy.

So, why is following a violent religious figure and being violent, worse than following a peaceful religious figure and being violent anyway?

 

[c4ts]

Mohammed killed people in a war. I don't know if that counts as murder.