mormon news

from the mormon newsroom blog:

Religious Expression: A Fundamental Right
POSTED BY LYMAN KIRKLAND
At the On Faith blog this week, the question posed to the panel of On Faith religious leaders and experts addressed proselytism overseas:

What is the real problem with proselytism overseas by U.S. religious groups? Isn't sharing one's faith part of religious freedom? When does it cross the line into manipulation and coercion?

Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, On Faith panelist Michael Otterson explained that freedom of expression, including sharing one's faith with others, is a fundamental human right:

Everyone is and should be entitled to speak his or her mind on such matters, and everyone else has the right to listen, or not, as they choose. Because of the central importance of these rights, no person or government is justified in interfering with them.

ME: what is missing in the press release is the LDS response to the question, "When does it cross the line into manipulation and coercion?" the response is found in the original article:

...Mormons eschew any tactic that smacks of coercion, high pressure salesmanship, argumentation, or economic incentive. They invite--even persuade--but do not pressure or coerce...

which, in my own experience, is baloney. their tactics in gaining "converts" are very heavy-handed, emotional manipulation sales tactics. never mind what they put their members through once they're onboard.

interestingly, the panel member goes on to make the following quote from the church's scripture:

"We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied." (Doctrine and Covenants 134:2, 4, 9)

apparently, their not-so-covert political activity with Prop 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative (california, 2008) is not interpreted as having one religion trumping another (yea, even non-religion) in matters to be decided by the state.