However, the doctrine of transubstantiation is still very much in force, meaning that the wafer and wine are both believed to be literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ. I find this doctrine to be beautiful in a lot of ways– being literally nourished by Christ’s sacrifice, Christ’s body being assimilated into one’s own body, etc. I also find it to be pretty weird, certainly as weird as believing that God is an alien from outer space (there’s some reductionist Mormon doctrine for you). Perhaps you never took transubstantiation literally, but that’s definitely not what’s being taught in CCD.

I don’t understand why making fun of baptism for the dead automatically equates to making fun of eternal families, and why you were so offended by it. It is funny to me how the church tries to corner this “eternal family” market, but the fact is that I would say that 99% of all people who believe in a hereafter believe that they are going to spend it with their families. Baptism for the dead makes actually no sense to me either. It seems to be just a way for Mormons to get their way in the end–if you aren’t going to join us down here, you’re going to join us up there. That way we know we’re not failing nearly as bad as it seems down here. People are just converting en masse on the other side. Whoopee!
Since we’re all going to be resurrected, why not wait until a person has his body back and then baptize them? Then wait for them to freely choose to be baptized too. Baptism by proxy just doesn’t make any sense–it’s massively impersonal and doesn’t have a good reason for why it has to happen. It’s all born of the arrogance of believing you are the one true church, you’re just going to see that better after you die is all. And to me, it’s just as ludicrous as many other things about mormonism, in my opinion, and I don’t think I’m being an asshole in firmly saying so.

So sure, Bill Mahr ain’t gonna appeal to everyone. But don’t just call him an asshole. Explain to me a little better where making fun of what seems to be a ludicrous ritual in the first place makes him an asshole.

I’m still always your fanboy Eliza and I miss you mightily. Hope you’re back posting soon, even if we don’t always perfectly agree.

For the most part I always agree with you. However in this instance you can not claim superiority and demand respect when you yourself don’t apply it

As both a former Catholic/ Mormon what I can’t stand is either one picking on each other

I also like your assessment of temple work for the dead. If traditions help people feel connected to the ones they love, then what’s the problem? (As long as those traditions don’t involve ritualistically sacrificing people or animals.)

But I also find Bill Maher amusing every once in a while… apparently I’m a bit confused…