On Patriotism and War

The two thoughts that spurned this post...

I know I've mentioned it at least a couple of times in the past, but I still maintain that there is a better way to honor our military men and women, than sending them to die in the deserts of the Middle East.

I also have to wonder how people who claim to have Christian centered lives can support war, in which fellow human beings, both friend and foe will end up either dead or mutilated and live will be effects for the remainder of their time on earth.

So those are the thoughts I've been mulling over in my head, and then I came across a series of interesting posts on another blog, entitled Pure Mormonism.

I've really enjoyed Pure Mormonism, and perhaps if I share the sub-title of the blog, you'll understand why...

Free Agency, Christ Consciousness, Unconditional Love, and Other Forgotten Teachings of the Restoration

Despite some of the things I have said about the current LDS Church and it's leadership, I actually really like the principles behind Mormonism. Those were the principles before the plans for world domination, taking of young teenage girls as additional wives and blatantly racist and sexist policies. It was a good time, but it was unfortunately short lived.

Anyway, so for dissilussioned Mormons who are trying to find out why they now feel intense anger and cofusion about a religion which they thought was based on something other than what it is, you may well enjoy the blog.

For non-Mormons, it provides both a glimpse at a more loving, Christ centered view of Mormonism that perhaps is held amongst most people, and totally aside from that, the author definitely gives some food for thought.

But back to the topic at hand....

On November 12th of this year, Rock (the author) did a post entitled Should a Mormon join the Military? It was a very well thought out and researched piece. The comments are interesting, especially from a couple of Anonymous commenters who personified the very problems with the prevailing Mormon attitude towards war, which Rock had just finished explaining. Many of these also questioned his patriotism.

So on November 20th, Rock did a followup post entitled Don't Shoot I'm just the Messenger, where in he tries to clarify his position and defend the assertion that he disrespects the American Soldier.

And finally, just this past week, with another excellent post entitled What is the Age of Accountability for a Latter-Day Saint Serviceman?

Each of those posts, particularly the last one, are rather lengthy, however they are well worth the read. The final post about accountability concludes with a fictional account of an LDS serviceman entering the pearly gates. I'm not sure if I believe in physical pearly gates that we'll pass through after this life, but even if they are just a metaphor, I think this story provides a very different perspective and a very moving look at war and accountability.