Mormon Projecting: Signs Of A Narcissistic Organization
Unofficial Mormon Apologetics Highlight Detractors Problems Which Happen To Be Their Own!
Mormon apologists often use the same narcissistic tactics that narcissists use to deflect unwanted attention from themselves. Narcissists project onto others the very issues that they are guilty of. "Indeed, their sense of self-esteem and self-worth depends on how others perceive them, and they tend to deny flaws in themselves and blame others for their shortcomings, mistakes, and misfortunes. This is called projection, and people with narcissistic tendencies are projection-heavy individuals," according to Darius Cikanavicius, writer and certified mental health coach. Does this sound familiar? For any member or ex-member of the Mormon church, this sounds like the Mormon church and its leaders.
A week ago, Mormon apologist FAIR, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501c(3) corporation, published, ‘Yet another critical website pretending to be something it's not ‘— "LDS Discussions." on www.fairlatterdaysaints.org. This article suggests that most, if not all, what they deem as detractors or anti-Mormons, are guilty of 5 false or misleading tactics within their writings and other media offerings. And, of course, FAIR is as accurate as their name suggests, fair. Right? However, I would suggest that these five accusations are indeed narcissistic projections and, in actuality, are the tactics that the Mormon church and its apologists constantly use against others.
According to unofficial apologetics, "FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of LDS doctrine, belief, and practice." As it suggests in its logo, this organization asks critical questions and offers faithful answers.
I'm a big fan of critical questions. However, in my 35-year experience as part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the Mormons, critical questions were not supposed to be asked and were highly discouraged. At BYU, I worked as a researcher at The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute For Church History, and critical thinking was encouraged, however. My mentor, Dr. Ronald W. Walker, always believed professionally researched history should be written because, as he said, "If we don't write it, someone else will find it and write it. So it's better coming from us."
Sadly, faithful answers do not always translate into factual or 'true' answers. Faithful to the Mormon church maybe, but not always faithful to the profession of history and religion. Critical questions in the unofficial or official Church often lead to false or fake answers. Maybe the logo should read, Critical questions, Honest answers. Of course, that also may be a problem, as "lying for the Lord" is still taught, though not openly, within the Mormon community, no matter what the PR department suggests. Regarding honesty, serving God's needs comes first, way ahead of any other reason, whether in academia or the law in Mormon land or anywhere else.
Elder Woolley R. Sheepy, although wearing his beautiful American clean-cut business suit and Mormon-mandated white shirt and tie, will now proceed to speak to you with a very soft voice, occasional long pauses, and pretending to get emotional, so you'll think he's very spiritual while hiding his real wolve intentions. Let's examine the five tactics Mormon apologists accuse their detractors of (edited by author amending grammatical mistakes).
- Unsubstantiated claims. That is, presenting opinions as facts without giving any sources.
- Inconsistent use of sources. That is, using a source that fits their agenda and dismissing the same source when it doesn't fit their agenda.
- Relying on questionable sources. For instance, using hearsay accounts that we know to be full of other factual errors.
- Cherry-picking of sources. Using one source that fits their agenda while excluding other equally valid sources addressing the same issue but not fitting their agenda.
- Manipulation of sources. For instance, cutting off a sentence to make the statement appear something other than initially intended.
This list is interesting, to say the least, as it uses narcissistic projection loud and proud. And, of course, offers no apology for doing so. So my intention today is to take the same five tactics and simply point out how the Mormon church and its apologists use these same misleading tactics.
- Unsubstantiated claims. The Mormon church, as with every other religion, presents opinions and ancient caveman ideas as fact, and the only source they cite is their scripture. The scripture that they wrote. Point to remember here, just because something is old doesn't make it accurate. Just as today, if not more so at a time when people worshipped the Sun or trees, storytelling/scams were/are no different. The same beliefs can be seen in every culture and changed to fit the time and culture in power. There is no Christianity in Christianity; see Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Judaism, Norse, and many other cultures for those sources. There is a reason why Mormons are kept so busy. No time to read, research, or educate themselves. All cults act in the same way.
- Inconsistent use of sources. Well, this is a minefield. As above, it is using a source that fits their agenda and dismissing the same source when it doesn't fit their agenda—perfect use of projection. Mormonism has changed so much since its inception that it's almost unrecognizable. You are taught that God's doctrine does not change as a member. And yet, the truth is quite the opposite. God's ideology seems to change whenever the corporation, oops, sorry, the Church, or its bank balance is threatened. The next significant period of change within the Church and its doctrines, either positively or negatively, may well depend on who, from Elders Holland, Uchtdorf, and Bednar, survives over the next 5–10 years to become Prophet and lead the Mormon church. Will the Mormon church revert to darker times, or will it modernize to survive?
- Relying on questionable sources. For instance, using hearsay accounts that we know to be full of other factual errors. Having served in all local and regional leadership positions in the Mormon church over a long period and, in doing so, sat on many "councils," including "disciplinary councils," most of what I listened to were hearsay accounts full of factual errors. The advice we were given was to pray and leave it to the Holy Spirit to discern truth, oh yes, and make sure the Church's name was protected at all costs. As a result, there is a minimal effort in obtaining the truth. The main concern relates to maintaining the good name of the Church.
- Cherry-picking of sources. See #1, #2, and #3 above. Cherry-picking the scriptures to suit is always an issue with every religion. See 9/11 and many more religious murders and maimings.
- Manipulation of sources. For instance, cutting off a sentence to make the statement appear something other than initially intended. See Mormon teaching manuals and the use of scripture manipulation. Most members are unaware of the significant historical and religious challenges in Mormonism. The First Vision, Post 1896 Polygamy, Political Interference by the Mormon Church up to the modern day, and much more is not something members are aware of because these issues are not in the teaching manuals. And as that is all you are supposed to read, your knowledge is vastly limited. Mind manipulation of information in the Mormon church is a constant.
The truth of the matter is arguing over whether Joseph Smith said this or that or whether Joseph Smith as a seer, used a stone in a hat is irrelevant. Was Blood Atonement a true doctrine from God, or should the Priesthood be given to all men, notwithstanding the color of their skin? Should women have the Priesthood? Should tithing be stopped now the Mormon church has multi trillions of dollars? I find these questions trite. The only truth that matters is that the Mormon church is a scam and is fake. That being said, the same can be said of Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Christianity, and all the other manufactured religions, which are all of them, by the way.
Recently, Queen Elizabeth II was buried and memorialized by her Church, the Church she was the head of, The Church Of England. It was odd watching her funeral and being aware that the only reason The Church Of England exists is that in 1534 Henry IIIV wanted to have legal sex with other women, but according to the Holy Church of Rome, he wasn't allowed. So what's the next best thing to do? That's right, create your Church, and then you can have sex with whoever you wish. As I said earlier, just because it's almost 500 years on still doesn't make it real. The Church of England is a scam. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a scam. Sex and money started both.
© Stephen G. Arrowsmith 2022
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